Holly's Homestead — Stone Fruit Tree
Apple
Malus domestica · Rose family
DIFFICULTY Moderate
TYPE Deciduous perennial tree
MATURITY 2–4 years to first fruit
TYPE Deciduous perennial tree
MATURITY 2–4 years to first fruit
Sun
Full sun
Water
Regular, deep
Soil pH
6.0–6.8
Spacing
3–6m depending on rootstock
Depth
graft union above soil
01Chill hours & pollination
Apples need a winter chill period to fruit well, and most varieties need a different variety nearby for cross-pollination. Both matter more than almost any other factor for a good crop.
02Planting
Method
Plant with the graft union above soil; stake for the first 1–2 years.
Soil
Well-drained, moderately fertile.
Timing
Plant bare-rooted trees in winter while dormant.
03Growing care
- Choose a variety matched to your region's winter chill hours.
- Plant a compatible pollinator variety nearby, or graft multiple varieties onto one tree.
- Prune in winter to an open, airy shape.
- Thin developing fruit if very heavily set, for better size and less limb strain.
04Problems
- Codling moth — larvae tunnel fruit; use pheromone traps and bagging.
- Black spot — fungal leaf and fruit spotting in wet climates; choose resistant varieties.
- Woolly aphid — white fluffy colonies on bark; prune out and treat.
- Poor fruit set — insufficient chill hours or no pollinator; check both.
05Harvest & storage
Signs
Fruit comes away easily with a slight upward twist, seeds have browned.
Method
Twist and lift rather than pull straight down.
Curing
None needed for eating fresh.
Storage
Cool, dark, ventilated. Many varieties keep 2–4 months.
06Companions & rotation
Plant nearby
ComfreyDaffodilChivesAvoid nearby
Walnut (allelopathic)Rotation note
Not applicable — long-lived perennial tree.