|
Untitled
|
Can You Grow Your Own Organic
Apples?
Organic Apple Tree Sapling with Rye Cover Crop
An apple a day keeps the doctor away! We all know that apples
are healthy, and can be really, really delicious. Unfortunately,
many apples that are sold in grocery stores are mealy, coated
with wax and almost flavorless. Yuck! If you're an apple lover
who has some extra time and some space in your yard that's
calling out for a tree, you might be able to grow your own
organic apples. Here's an overview of what you will need in
order to do so:
- Some cold weather--Apple trees have what is known as a
chilling requirement--this means that they need some cold
weather in order know when they are supposed to lose their
leaves, bloom and perform other milestone annual events. If you
live in one of the 40 or so US states that "have winter" your
apple tree's chilling requirements (often about 800 hours of
temperatures below 45oF) will be met. However, if you live in a
very warm area, such as Central or South FL or most parts of
other Southern US states, your apple trees will most likely
never bear fruit: maybe you can grow citrus instead!
- A large, sunny spot to plant your tree in-- If you are going
to grow your trees in a relatively "natural" shape, as opposed
to trellising or espaliering them, you will need a fairly large
area to grow them in. If you don't have much garden space, or if
you have a fear of ladders and heights, you should grow a dwarf
apple tree. A dwarf tree will be shorter than 10 feet tall when
it is full-grown and won't require very much space--about 40
square feet would be adequate. However, like all apple trees,
they will require plenty of sun (full sun is best), and
relatively fertile soil. Semi-dwarf and standard-sized apple
trees will require up to 300 square feet of space to stretch out
in.
Keep in mind that you will need to plant at least two different
varieties of apple tree that bloom at the at the same time in
order to ensure that your tree's flowers get pollinated, so make
sure that you have enough space for at least two trees.
- A suitable variety of tree--Sustainable and organic apple
growers should plant a disease-resistant tree that is going to
be small (or big) enough to fit their space and equipment (a big
tree calls for a big ladder) constraints. Keep chilling
requirements in mind when selecting your tree--if you plant a
variety with a low chilling requirement in an area that has
long, cold winters, you your tree may be apple-less most years
because its blooms consistently get frosted.
- The ability and willingness to give your trees consistent,
year-round care-- In most parts of the country, organic apple
trees will require frequent disease and pest monitoring. Unfair,
but true: those of us who live East of the Mississippi River
will have to do a lot more of this than our Western neighbors.
Eastern organic growers will probably have to count on spraying
their trees (with organically-acceptable materials such as
Sulfur to prevent fungus and Kaolin clay to reduce insect
damage) at least a few times a year. All apple trees should be
pruned at least once a year (in winter), fertilized twice a
year, and staked or trained as needed.
- Patience and Acceptance--These are qualities that are as
useful for apple growing as they are for just about anything
else: your tree will take several years to bear fruit, and when
it finally does so, it will probably be smaller and less
cosmetically perfect that "grocery store fruit". However, its
taste and freshness will be beyond compare, so you will be
rewarded if you can overlook your apple's imperfections.
Growing you own organic apples can be somewhat time consuming,
but once you get the hand of managing your trees, it will be
very rewarding as well.
|
|
digg it