Latest Update 8th April 2020.
Espaliered Dwarf Apple Tree.
- In November each year, the fruit on my apple trees are thinned to one apple on each fruiting spur. This increases the size and quality of the remaining apples at harvest time.
- When new growth stops in mid summer it is pruned back to 20mm above basal clusters. Where there is an apple, the new growth above it is removed. This focuses the plant's energy on growing its fruit, and later it encourages the plant to develop new fruiting spurs.
- I don't prune apples in winter except when the initial structure is being fashioned or later changes to the structure are required.
- Granny Smith apple trees are self fertile, but benefit from a suitable cross pollinating apple tree nearby. So I have a grown a dwarf Gravenstein apple tree alongside it to encourage cross pollination.
- I use a pheromone trap to intercept male codling moth during the mating season, and I use pest exclusion nylon socks to keep any moth larvae away from my apples if their fathers manage to evade my trap.
- These nylon net socks are small enough to be fitted over the apples as soon as they set on the tree. They expand with the apple as it grows.
- Codling moth larvae can be detected in an apple from a dark brown stain and frass (excrement) at the entrance to their tunnel. If they do manage to evade the exclusion measures taken, remove the apple with the larvae still in it.
- Although I use hot composting techniques which kills pests like these, I don't like to risk them escaping so I put them with their apple in a sealed plastic bag and disposed of them in the waste bin.
- Variety: Granny Smith. Gravenstein
- Family Group: Rosaceae.
- Garden bed type: Drip line irrigated.
- Plant Spacings (centres): 2000mm (espalier).
- Cross Pollinating Apple Trees: (List).
- Good Companions: Nasturtium, Marjoram, Wallflower, Apple Mint.
- Climate: Warm Temperate.
- Geography: Southern Hemisphere.
- This food is very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium.
- It is also a good source of Dietary Fibre and Vitamin C.
- More from nutrition data.self.com.
- Full sun.
- Minimise soil disturbances to maintain a natural soil structure.
- Do not allow the soil to dry out.
- Apply a 60mm layer mature compost on top of the soil surrounding the tree once a year in early winter, and cover it with a thick layer of fresh straw mulch.
- Propagate apples by grafting, budding or layering (read more).
- Thin established trees to one fruit per fruiting spur at the end of November.
- Prune back to fruiting spurs when leaders stop growing in mid summer, and prune the current year’s growth to 20mm above basal clusters.
- Cut out any crossed, dead and diseased branches. (see demo).
- Sharpen and sterilise your secateurs before cutting into living tissue on any plant.
- Leave the apples on the tree until late autumn. They are at their sweetest when they begin to show a light yellow blush on their skins (Granny Smith).
- We only have a couple of espaliered dwarf apple trees, so we don't have a lot of surplus fruit to contend with.
- We use our Granny Smith apples in pies and preserve our small surplus as pie filler with other fruit like rhubarb or blackberry. We use a pressure cooker to sterilise the jars and their contents.
- Codling moth.
- Use a pheromone trap to intercept male codling moth during the mating season, and use pest exclusion nylon socks to keep any moth larvae away from your apples if their fathers manage to evade your trap.
- These nylon net socks are small enough to be fitted over the apples as soon as they set on the tree. They expand with the apple as it grows.
- Codling moth larvae can be detected in an apple from a dark brown stain and frass (excrement) at the entrance to their tunnel. If they do manage to evade the exclusion measures taken, remove the apple with the larvae still in it.
- Hot composting techniques kills pests like these, but don't risk them escaping, put them with their apple in a sealed plastic bag and disposed of them in the waste bin.
- This is a useful video about codling moths.
- Powdery mildew.
- A monthly foliar spray of aerated compost tea helps control powdery mildew, but if an infestation occurs, spray the affected foliage with an organic fungicide (like Eco-fungicide in Australia).
- Alternatively, a solution of 1 part cows milk to 9 parts water makes a reasonably effective organic pesticide against powdery mildew. It needs to be applied early before the fungi gets well established, and frequently to keep it in check.
- General:
- Regular applications of aerated compost tea boost the natural defences of apples by colonising the leaf surfaces with beneficial microbes. They defend the plant against airborne pests and diseases.
- Similarly, proper soil preparation including regular applications of home made compost boosts the community of beneficial soil microbes, who defend the tree's roots against plant pathogens.
