Apple tree – planting and care

Scientific name (Latin): Malus domestica
Family: Rose family (Rosaceae)

Apples are typically divided into three main categories: summer apples, autumn apples, and winter apples. This classification tells us what time of the year the different apples ripen and should be harvested.

There's great variety among apples, with thousands of different cultivars to choose from. They can be sweet or tart, and different varieties are suited to different parts of the country. The trees sold today have been specifically cultivated to thrive in our various hardiness zones and to be resistant to diseases and pests.

Apple trees rely on cross-pollination to produce fruit, meaning there must be another variety of apple tree nearby. In suburban areas, this is usually not a problem, as other compatible apple trees are commonly found in the neighborhood. However, if you live in a remote area, it may be wise to plant two apple trees that can pollinate each other.

You can also purchase multi-variety ("family") trees, where two or more varieties are grafted onto a single rootstock. In this case, the different branches pollinate each other, meaning you only need one tree. Be careful not to remove any of the branches or varieties when pruning.

Below you'll find an overview of which varieties can be used for pollination. The varieties listed on the left are available in Plantasjen's selection and are pollinated by the varieties listed above.

Apple trees should be planted in a sunny, sheltered location so that the fruit develops enough sweetness and ripens quickly. This is especially important if the variety is borderline suitable for your local hardiness zone. Hardiness also depends on how long a summer the apple variety needs to fully ripen. Additionally, ensure there's ample space around the tree so it can grow to its full potential.

Watering, feeding, and pruning are essential for achieving delicious apples and a healthy apple tree.

• Watering
  Maintain evenly moist soil around the trees, watering them during dry spells.
  
• Feeding
  Young apple trees don't require much fertilizer, but remove grass and weeds in a radius of about 1 meter around the trunk to prevent them from competing for nutrients. Fertilize using composted organic manure in spring. Apply about 2–3 kg of compost onto the soil in April or May.
  
• Pruning
  The key to having a beautiful apple tree that produces abundant fruit is pruning. Pruning your apple tree is very important, and doing it imperfectly is far better than not pruning at all.

Young apple trees should receive formative pruning, ideally between March and April. If pruned later in spring, you risk disturbing buds and bark. Older trees require maintenance pruning, preferably in the JAS period (July, August, and September).

Also, remember to pick all apples from the tree when harvesting, as leftover fruit can cause damage to next year's apples.

• Formative pruning (for young trees)

When planting, you can tie down branches that are still flexible, ensuring a good, open angle between branch and trunk. Once the branches have matured and stiffened into the desired position, you can remove the supports. When starting to prune, trim back the growth point (top branch) to prevent the tree from growing too tall—it should remain easy to pick the fruit. Shorten side branches and remove branches growing upward or inward toward the tree's center. Aim for an even distribution of branches around the entire tree.

Branches should point outward, and the crown should remain airy and open. Vigorous, long new shoots should receive minimal pruning to calm growth, while shorter new shoots should be pruned more aggressively to stimulate growth.

• Maintenance pruning (for mature trees)

A mature tree that has begun bearing fruit should maintain a healthy balance between fruit production and new growth. If the tree grows too vigorously, reduce fertilization, prune less aggressively, and consider bending down some branches to slow vegetative growth and encourage flowering and fruit production.

Trees showing limited growth and excessive fruit-bearing will yield lower-quality fruit and need more intensive pruning to encourage new growth. Thinning out developing fruits may also help achieve a balance between vegetative growth and fruit production.

Older trees benefit from rejuvenation pruning, preferably performed gradually over several seasons to avoid a burst of rapid new growth. It's important to maintain an even distribution of branches of varying ages—essential for continued good fruit production.

If you're the patient type, you might want to try growing your own apple tree from a seed found inside a suitable apple variety. You'll need plenty of time—expect 10 to 20 years before the tree bears fruit—but imagine the feeling when you finally pick that first apple! If you're motivated to try, it's best to start in late winter so your seedling has the whole growing season to become as large and strong as possible.

Let the seeds dry for a few days before planting them in seed-starting soil—one seed per pot. It's wise to plant several seeds, even if you only want one tree, since not all seeds will necessarily germinate.

1. Place the pots in a bright location at room temperature.
2. Water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist—not too dry, not too wet. As your seedling develops leaves, you can occasionally mist them with water.
3. Once the seedling reaches around 10 cm tall, repot it into a larger pot filled with regular potting soil.
4. The tiny apple tree won't thrive indoors for long, so plant it outside early in the summer. Follow standard fruit-tree planting guidelines, even though your seedling is smaller than a fully grown tree purchased from a nursery.

1. Apple trees are among our most widespread fruit trees, originally native to Asia.
   
2. In Scandinavia, we have both wild apples and cultivated apple varieties.
   
3. Depending on the variety, apple trees can grow from 5 to 12 meters tall.
   
4. Apple trees bloom with white or pink flowers during May and June.

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