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11:30 am
January 9, 2011
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Hello All! I have 6 or 7 lovely flowering, fruit producing apple trees on my property. They are all at least 20 years old. I am finally in a place in life where I have the time to utilize the fruit. Heres my question: What can I do to help the tree produce the best fruit it can?
It has already set fruit. But in the past the fruit has turned spotty. Same with the leaves. I do find worms too, but not too bad. Any advice? Thank you!
2:21 pm
May 3, 2011
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When I had a fruit orchard it meant spraying the trees regularly to keep them pest free.
That in itself is a job and then you worry about the spray getting into the fruit. I did find out that apple trees are prone to having too much fruit one year and barely any the next. Some people spray them early after the blossoms fall with sevin(i think) to cause some of the fruit to drop so it wont have too many apples.
You have to decide if you want blemish free apples that are sprayed or take your chances with no spray and deal with the pests. Good luck…nothing is better than fruit from your own yard!
9:19 am
February 6, 2011
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We haven't sprayed ours before this year. They had blackish spotting, but it actually just washed off and the apples looked really good. We did have worms in some and are going to try spraying this year to see if we can keep them nice. We only have dwarf trees, so we want to get maximum numbers, but you may find you have plenty of useable apples without the hassle of spraying if you have a full-size tree. I even used the ones with worms and just cut out the parts affected. I used a peeler/ slicer and it was easy to see what needed to be removed.
6:30 pm
December 14, 2010
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All of this talk about spraying but no talk about pruning. Prune the trees severely every year. You are growing fruit not leaves and flowers. Most people don't prune enough. You still need to spray for about 8 to 12 kinds of pest but at least you won't be spraying non producing parts.
8:41 pm
January 9, 2011
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Yes, pruning. That is the #1 result when I googled Caring For Apple Trees. And I have never in the 20 years I have lived in my home, pruned the apple trees. Because it has been so long my husband thinks we could prune now. Even though its the wrong time of year. Do it now, he says, because it is in dire need.
So you think they are saveable? The trees set lots of fruit, have very few dead branches. And are 2 stories tall. the fruit has always been small, probably because of the lack of pruning, and the fruit always seemed tough. Not succulent.
10:13 pm
December 14, 2010
Online
The quality of the apple depends on the variety. The trees should be pruned every year in late winter. They should be cut back enough that there is no chance of breaking limbs because of exess fruit.
Google: rehabilitation of old apple trees.
6:20 am
January 9, 2011
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Ah, exactly what I was looking for Ross. I didn't think to word it that way. Thank you Ross.
2:32 pm
September 2, 2008
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I don't know much about apple trees, but with peach trees, you have to nip some of the small fruit in order to have larger peaches and lift some weight off the limbs. I would think this could also be the case with apples. Please don't prune unless it is the proper season, it will distress the trees (and shrubs, roses, etc) and can cause many problems.
2:10 am
February 8, 2009
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I had two neglected apple trees I had not clue how to prune and didn't know anybody who could.
Then I talked with an old farmer(I love to talk with retired farmers) and he "thought" me a few very simple things.
1. Prune when the tree is in rest, spring or fall. before the tree juices start or after they stop and the leaves have fallen off.
2. Remove all branches who are rubbing, crossing or who look out of shape.
3. NEVER remove more than 1/3 of the branches, leave the rest for next year.
I thought I damaged my trees quite a bit…but they got their leaves and look VERY happy.
12:54 pm
September 2, 2008
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Flatlander, that advice sounds good to me, all the 'experts' around agree about limbs that cross and prune no more than one third. Good luck and keep those trees producing. Home grown is so much better than apples picked green, then sprayed with who knows what and sent to the stores.
5:03 pm
April 20, 2011
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We planted an orchard many years back. Flatlander is right about the pruning. Pruning lets in light and makes for good support for the fruit. We always kept out trees pruned to a manageable height. Makes for easier picking. Another thing was thinning the fruit. It takes a little work but if you pick off all the little apples in a cluster and leave just one you get a nice size apple. Great for peeling, etc. If you are not limited for space planting a standard tree is the best. I like to thing that after I am gone the trees with care will still be living on. It is special to see an old orchard with trees that are over 60 years or more still going. Having an early, mid-summer and late bearing apple is good. Colder climates do better with a late bearing trees. Early bearing trees always get the buds frosted and you sometimes end up with no fruit. Planting a fruit tree provides such beauty and bounty so worth the work. Also we spray with a dormant oil spray in the late fall. Not harmful and helps keep the tree healthy. Aprilejoi you are blessed to have those trees.
5:48 pm
January 9, 2011
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Aw, thanks Bev. I feel that way too. They are lovely to see, provide wonderful shade and work so hard to produce a bounty. It's worth my time and effort to help the tree make healthier fruit. I plan to leave it alone until fall, prune according to standard practices and spray with a dormant oil. Next spring I will thin apples and such. I also like that the chickens eat the fallen fruit. No waste!
12:28 am
February 8, 2009
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I don't know if any of you butcher chickens and or turkeys (and pigs) but I always feed my turkeys the fallen apples, from my trees and from anybody who let me gather them.
It ads flavor to the meat.
8:56 am
August 24, 2010
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Here is a really good article : http://extension.oregonstate.e…..etrees.pdf
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