Cultivation
SITE SELECTION
When planting and tending your tree please bear in mind the following:
Apple trees prefer a deep loamy, well-drained, slightly acid soil preferably on a south-facing slope. It would be best to give the tree as good a soil and site as possible.
Plant the tree against a south-facing wall for example. Allow plenty of air movement around and through the tree. A warm airy site will help reduce the likelihood of scab forming on the fruit and canker from causing dieback of the wood.
Both these fungi need humidity to flourish. As yet nobody knows whether the mother tree is disease resistant or whether it is disease free because of the island's unique climate.
Avoid frost pockets when choosing your site.
Very few apple varieties are self-fertile; they need another different variety that flowers at the same time to cross-pollinate. Obviously you have more chance of success if there are several potential pollinators nearby.
Root Stocks
All fruit trees aree grafted onto rootstocks. The rootstocks determine tree size. Bigger trees are more robust and produce more fruit, but take up more space. Always choose a bigger rootstock if you need extra anchorage, or your soil is poor (very wet, dry or rocky). Small trees can't compete with grass & weeds. If we assume that the Bardsey tree grows with average vigour, then the table below will give you an idea of how big your trees will eventually be and when they will come into fruition.
| Root stock | Height & Spread (in ft) | Age when tree will bear | Anchorage | Staking | Grass on orchard floor |
| M27 A | 4 | 2 | Very poor | Entire life of tree | Needs clean soil |
| M9 A | 7 | 3 | Poor | Entire life of tree | Needs clean soil |
M26 A |
10 | 3 | Fair | First 4 years | Short grass OK once established |
| MM106 A St Julian A Quince A Pr |
15 | 4 | Good | First 2 years | Long grass OK once established |
| M25 A | 22 | 7 | Very good | N/A | No problem |
The following 2 links are about the best information you can get that is readily available on the internet:
Growing Apple Trees in the Home Garden
The best site on the web explains how to train a centre leader
tree to the most light efficient shape
TRAINING & PRUNING APPLE TREES -
Ecological Agriculture Projects
This is the best site on the web for theory - very technical but well worth the challenge.
PLANTING, TRAINING, PRUNING, PICKING, STORAGE
Ask any 10 orchardists about any of the above and you will get 10 different answers!
Rather than add an eleventh I suggest you read:
THE FRUIT EXPERT by Dr.Hessayon @ £4.95.......a good cheap basic book with very clear diagrams
FRUIT by Harry Baker @ £8.99......A thoroughly comprehensive guide from the RHS with excellent precise line drawings
TRAINING & PRUNING OF APPLE AND PEAR TREES@ $29.95 by CG FORSHEY
available only via the internet. Extremely detailed and academic, it is paraphrased on the web site TRAINING & PRUNING OF APPLE TREES
