Nowadays, in most areas of life, people are used to having all products and services available at all times and everywhere. As a gardener, you still have to ask yourself when certain types of plants can be planted.
When is the ideal time to plant an apple tree?
The best time to plant an apple tree is in autumn, ideally after the leaves have fallen and on a mild, humid day. Apple trees planted in autumn often show greater growth the following year compared to spring planting.
Autumn as the ideal time for fruit trees
The gentlest time to plant an apple tree is autumn, exactly at the time when the leaves have just fallen. At this time, the tree can be carefully lifted out of the soil at its current location and placed in the new planting hole. Since there is usually only limited dryness and heat in autumn. The apple tree can take root in the new place without having to be constantly watered. In contrast to spring planting, apple trees planted in autumn often show significantly greater growth the following year.
Protect the tree as much as possible
Even in autumn, care should be taken to use a day that is as mild and humid as possible to move the tree. Even if the apple tree has already been purchased in a pot, this soil usually falls away from the roots of the apple tree and drying out can occur. The planting hole for an apple tree should be dug sufficiently large and lined with loose humus. This means that the apple tree, which has shallow roots, can spread unhindered in its new location. When transporting the apple tree, care must be taken to ensure that the bark on the trunk is damaged as little or as little as possible. Any cracks that develop can otherwise be closed with appropriate tree bark wound products to make it more difficult for pathogens to penetrate. Before planting the tree, you should have a few things ready beforehand:
- a spade (€29.00 at Amazon)
- some humus or compost
- a watering can
- a wooden post and raffia to secure the trunk
Sowing apple seeds in pots
If you want to grow an apple tree yourself from a core, you have to bypass nature's natural inhibition mechanisms. Since certain substances in the apple core only allow germination after winter frosts, you must first stratify the cores in the refrigerator for at least 2 weeks. This is how you simulate winter and get the seeds to germinate.
Tips & Tricks
The green thumb usually gets particularly itchy in spring when everything sprouts and comes back to life. Apple trees can also be planted in spring, but you have to be even more careful about when to use mild rainy days for careful planting.
