Soil

The soil requirements depend on the rootstock the variety is grafted onto. Dwarf rootstocks require fertile and well draining soils. Larger growing apples with more vigorous rootstocks, which are more suited to large gardens and orchards, are better in heavier clay soils.

Position

Sunny sheltered positions are best. The ultimate tree size again depends on what rootstock the variety is grafted onto, the site, the pruning of the tree and how you train your tree. Dwarf trees, which I recommend for most gardens, grow to 1.5m while other apples can reach 6m.

Growing Guide

Apples can be divided into uses such as 'eating and ''cooking' varieties. Apples are best in temperate areas but those with low chill requirements will need cold temperate areas. Support the tree with a stake or frame. Thin fruit out in late spring/ early summer. Apples will be pollinated by nearby apple and crabapple trees. They can take 3-4 years to fruit while a dwarf tree on dwarf rootstock will fruit within 2 years.

Pests and Disease

Apples are not fuss free plants and growing them will test your patience. They are prone to canker, mosaic virus, scab and powdery mildew. Some varieties require a vigilant spraying control program; I have based my selections here on varieties that give the minimum of fuss. Spring will be the most important time to control pests and disease when two sprayings of lime sulphur or Bordeaux at pink bud stage (when flower buds begin to open and reveal a pink colour) and 10% blossom stage (when 10% of the flowers have opened). Spraying trees regularly during the fruiting season with a solution of 10% powdered lime mixed with water prevents fungal diseases such as apple scab. A spray of garlic and seaweed on the apple leaves can also help.

Pruning

An open vase shaped tree is thought to be the best shape to yield the most fruit but espaliered trained fruit trees can also yield a lot of fruit in small spaces and once trained can have many applications in the home environment (trained on fences, walls, along driveways, along a trellis around a vegetable garden or in pots). Some dwarf rootstocks have dwarf growth cultivars grafted onto them producing short spurs that do not need pruning. These are perfect for the home garden.

Tips & Tricks

· Dwarf apples are good in large containers, underplant with mint.

· Plant up a hot north or west-facing wall to espalier apples along.

· Columnar varieties can be planted as a row along a driveway, requiring less pruning than espalier but the same small depth.

· If you have only room for one tree, make sure its self pollinating.

· Spray with lime sulphur at pink bud stage to prevent apple scab.

Varieties

Climate is the most important factor when deciding on an apple for your area, the chilling time or a certain number of cold days are needed for fruit production. Specialist apple nurseries and your local nursery will be the best bet. Dwarf varieties such as the Ballerina apples (Bolero, Polka, and Waltz) are compact only growing to 4m high and 30cm wide. Medium sized fruit, all good for eating fresh. There are varieties on the market that are resistant to black spot and require little spraying. They are known as 'Rezista' Apples. Grafted apples, two or three on the same tree, can save space, add variety and prolong harvest, as well as solve pollination issues. They look great with lots of different apples colours growing on the one tree. In warm temperate areas try 'Granny Smith' and 'Pinkabelle' apple, dwarf grower good for containers and tastes like 'Pink Lady' apples.

Harvest and storage

Don't pull the apples from the tree, as you will remove next years fruiting spurs resulting in a smaller crop next year. Instead twist the apple around and around the stalk.

Keep apples in cool cellars, the basement (any area that does not drop below 0 degrees) as soon as the apples have been picked. Remove the damaged fruit

Apple tasting

Regular apple tasting takes place at Rippon Lea National Trust in Victoria; Petty's orchard in Victoria; Bob Magnus in Woodbridge, Tasmania and Owen and Noreen Pigeon's Loriendale Orchard at Hall in the ACT and Bilpin in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales.

Read on

We recommend 'All About Apples