Permapotes

Apple tree

Apple tree: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar

The apple tree, Malus domestica, is a fruit tree in the rose family. A woody perennial, it loses its leaves in autumn and passes through a dormant period before growth resumes. Its oval leaves have finely toothed edges and accompany branches whose outline varies considerably with cultivar, rootstock and tree form. An apple tree may therefore be a large orchard tree or a much more compact feature in a garden.

Cultivated apple trees are generally grafted. The fruiting cultivar forms the part that bears the apples, while the rootstock influences characteristics such as the vigour and eventual size of the tree. Two trees of the same cultivar can consequently have different dimensions. This distinction explains part of the diversity among apple trees, alongside their fruit and overall appearance. Age, growing conditions and the combination of cultivar and rootstock also influence development over time.

The blossom has buds that are often pink, followed by white flowers with pink tones, usually with five petals and arranged in small clusters. It has ornamental value and attracts pollinating insects, including bees. Fruit formation depends in part on suitable pollination. Many cultivars crop better with pollen from a compatible different cultivar flowering at the same time; some have a degree of self-fertility. Blossom alone therefore does not guarantee a harvest.

Apples show considerable variety in shape, colour and texture. Their skin may be green, yellow, red, a mixture of shades or marked with russeted areas. Flesh ranges from crisp and juicy to softer textures, with different balances of sweetness, acidity and aroma. Red colour is not a universal sign of ripeness. At the centre, the core contains the pips, while the surrounding fleshy part makes up most of the fruit that is eaten.

Dessert cultivars are enjoyed fresh, while others have particular value in pies, sauces, juices or savoury dishes. Some retain their shape during cooking, whereas others break down more readily. Ripening periods and keeping qualities also differ between cultivars. In a garden, an apple tree combines spring blossom, seasonal foliage, varied flavours and a winter silhouette. Its appeal extends beyond an individual crop and forms part of the garden’s development across many years.

Apple tree
Apple tree
Characteristics
  • Exposure : Full Sun
  • Cultivation Difficulty : Easy
  • Mature height : 400 cm
Maintenance
  • Maintenance : Moderate
  • Water Requirements : Moderate
Other characteristics
  • Soil Type : Humus-rich
  • Soil pH Preference : Neutral
  • Pest Sensitivity : Moderate
  • Disease Sensitivity : Moderate
  • Weed Sensitivity : Moderate
  • Pollination : Insect-pollinated
  • Propagation : Cutting