Xela's Garden
Fruit: Apple -Cooker Bramley [V]
Genus: Malus.
Species: Malus domestica.
Planted before '85 in veg patch Vistabile
Height: 2m Over 5 years
Spread: 1.8m over 5 years
Sun Level: Sunny/Dappled
Where to Plant: Back border, Pots & Tubs, Allotments, Wall/Fence/Trellis
Flower/Fruiting Time: Blossom in March/April and fruit in September
Hardiness: Fully Hardy below -5 degrees
Soil PH: Any
Organic Suitability: high
Hints & Tips: Feed with Fish Blood and Bone and keep well watered for best results
[Source: www.gardenbargains.com/item-500008-fruits/bramley-apple-bare-root-fruit-tree.htm]
One day, at the very beginning of the 19th century, a young girl called Mary-Ann Brailsford planted an apple pip in her garden in Southwell, Nottinghamshire. It is not recorded where she came across this pip, but it began to grow, and by 1837 the tree produced its first fruit. These apples were very tart (owing to their high levels of malic acid), but that meant that when they were cooked into delicious pies and crumbles they retained their “appley” flavour. Nearly twenty years later, a local nurseryman called Henry Merryweather recognised the commercial potential of these apples and asked the owner of the tree for permission to take cuttings. Mary-Ann was long gone by this point and the owner of the garden was now one Mr Matthew Bramley, a local butcher. He agreed to the cuttings on condition that the apples were named after him. Poor Mary-Ann didn’t get a look-in, but amazingly her original tree is still growing and producing fruit. The descendants of that one small pip now account for 95% of all cooking apples sold.
Photos of this plant
Reminders for this plant
Due almost 16 years ago:
Prune
Once apple trees are established it's best to summer prune the spur-fruiting varieties. This will encourage the development of short flowering shoots or 'spurs' that go on to bear clusters of fruit. Summer pruning is ideal for keeping the trees in shape and involves pruning the soft, current season's growth before it has chance to become woody.
*
Do it:
late-June - mid-August
*
Takes just:
50 minutes for medium-sized tree
How to do it
1.
Cutting back main shoot by halfCut back the leading shoots of each branch by half their length to encourage the production of side shoots. Only prune the current season's growth in this way, cutting to just above a leaf.
2.
Cutting back side growth Cut back all remaining side shoots to two or three leaves from the base of the current season's leafy growth, cutting just above the bud.
Adam's Tips
Adam's Tip
"The soft stems and leaves that are cut off apple trees during summer pruning are perfect to add to the compost heap where they'll rot down quickly."
"Always prune to an outward-facing bud so that the centre of the bush or tree is kept open. This helps reduce problems with pests and diseases."
Due over 15 years ago:
Harvest
Harvest Early Sept to late October
Due almost 15 years ago:
Prune
Once apple trees are established it's best to summer prune the spur-fruiting varieties. This will encourage the development of short flowering shoots or 'spurs' that go on to bear clusters of fruit. Summer pruning is ideal for keeping the trees in shape and involves pruning the soft, current season's growth before it has chance to become woody.
Do it: late-June - mid-August
Takes just 50 minutes for medium-sized tree
How to do it
1. Cutting back main shoot by half. Cut back the leading shoots of each branch by half their length to encourage the production of side shoots. Only prune the current season's growth in this way, cutting to just above a leaf.
2. Cutting back side growth Cut back all remaining side shoots to two or three leaves from the base of the current season's leafy growth, cutting just above the bud.
Adam's Tips
"The soft stems and leaves that are cut off apple trees during summer pruning are perfect to add to the compost heap where they'll rot down quickly."
"Always prune to an outward-facing bud so that the centre of the bush or tree is kept open. This helps reduce problems with pests and diseases."
Due over 14 years ago:
Harvest
Harvest Early Sept to late October
Due almost 14 years ago:
Prune
Once apple trees are established it's best to summer prune the spur-fruiting varieties. This will encourage the development of short flowering shoots or 'spurs' that go on to bear clusters of fruit. Summer pruning is ideal for keeping the trees in shape and involves pruning the soft, current season's growth before it has chance to become woody.
Do it: late-June - mid-August
Takes just 50 minutes for medium-sized tree
How to do it
1. Cutting back main shoot by half. Cut back the leading shoots of each branch by half their length to encourage the production of side shoots. Only prune the current season's growth in this way, cutting to just above a leaf.
2. Cutting back side growth Cut back all remaining side shoots to two or three leaves from the base of the current season's leafy growth, cutting just above the bud.
Adam's Tips
"The soft stems and leaves that are cut off apple trees during summer pruning are perfect to add to the compost heap where they'll rot down quickly."
"Always prune to an outward-facing bud so that the centre of the bush or tree is kept open. This helps reduce problems with pests and diseases."
Due almost 13 years ago:
Prune
Once apple trees are established it's best to summer prune the spur-fruiting varieties. This will encourage the development of short flowering shoots or 'spurs' that go on to bear clusters of fruit. Summer pruning is ideal for keeping the trees in shape and involves pruning the soft, current season's growth before it has chance to become woody.
Do it: late-June - mid-August
see previous reminder for method
Due over 12 years ago:
Harvest
Harvest Early Sept to late October
Due almost 12 years ago:
Prune
late-June - mid-August prune the soft, current season's growth before it has chance to become woody.
see previous reminder for method
Due over 11 years ago:
Harvest
Harvest Early Sept to late October
Prune
Dec – Feb: Remove damaged or crossing branches during the dormant season
Due about 11 years ago:
Feed
Keep the base of the tree weed free, fertilise at the beginning of each year and water regularly during hot, dry spells.
Due almost 11 years ago:
Prune
late-June - mid-August prune the soft, current season's growth before it has chance to become woody.
see previous reminder for method
Feed
Mar: Keep the base of the tree weed free, fertilise at the beginning of each year and water regularly during hot, dry spells.
Due over 10 years ago:
Harvest
Early Sept to late October
Prune
Dec – Feb: Remove damaged or crossing branches during the dormant season
Due about 10 years ago:
Feed
See previous reminder
