| Apple
trees are deciduous, fruit bearing trees that grow primarily
in the northern hemisphere. They prefer the dry climate and
warm summers of Canada and America, and cannot be grown in the
tropics, or above the Arctic Circle. There are some apple trees
that are now cultivated in Australia and New Zealand. When grown
in the wild, apple trees often have thorns on the branches,
in order to protect the fruit. |
Apple
trees are also flowering trees, and it is the pollination
of their flowers that will allow for fruit to grow. When planting
apple trees in a garden, it is important to know that many
apple trees do not self-pollinate. For this reason, only one
apple tree in the garden may not be able to produce much,
if any fruit. To solve this, plant several different varieties
of apple trees with similar flowering times to allow for cross-pollination.
Apple
trees should be planted in November, if possible. They can
also be planted up to the end of March. This is when the soil
is most friable. The apple trees should be planted firmly,
with the soil pressed down hard around the roots. The apple
trees should then be tied to a strong enough stake, for support
until the roots take hold. Mulch should be applied around
the base of the apple trees, to help retain moisture during
the first growing period.
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| The
fruit of apple trees come in many different sizes and colors,
ranging from almost cherry sized to grapefruit sized, yellow
and green to red. The fruit from apple trees should be eaten
directly from the tree or within a week of harvest. Fruit
that will be stored from apple trees should be kept in a cool,
dark, moist and frost-proof location.
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