Practical Gardening
THE humble apple has been with us seemingly since the beginning of time. It is even portrayed frequently as the Forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden and in many other countries and religions it is culturally and mythologically entwined.
Apples have played a part in my life since childhood when my father every year through the art of alchemy miraculously managed mix apple juice and sugar together to produce an elixir called cider that many locals seemed keen to take for their health. As a teenager my brother and I used to pick for a local farm which we throughly enjoyed, often being helped by the farmers two attractive teenaged daughters. It didn’t seem like work at all. Apples are genuinely a global fruit and are grown literally in every country in the world. Despite this Google ‘apple’ on your computer and you are unlikely to be directed to a site for the edible kind. A sign of the times.
At this time of year as you are stuck behind another combine harvester on the road it should trigger your thoughts to your apple trees. Harvest time means apple harvesting time. Of all the plants grown in Irish gardens the apple tree must be the most abundant. Every garden has at least one and can often be the only plant in the garden. Many trees are pretty decrepit looking producing what look more like crab apples than delicious eating apples. A few simple rules to try to help your apples stay healthy.
Don’t plant too deep, plant at the soil level mark on the stem. Don’t plant on a wet or waterlogged prone site.Try to plant in a sunny sheltered position. Clonmel in Ireland and Worcester in Britain are the traditional apple growing centres of each country and with good reason as both towns are central and therefore less windy. Stake with a heavy 75mm treated stake and tie with a heavy duty rubber tie. Even young trees produce a lot of additional weight when fruiting which makes them prone to blowing over. Plant at least two trees, these need to be compatable for pollinating to give the best chance of a good crop. Do all this and you will only have to worry about