It is not enough to simply plant an apple tree, as regular care is required for a rich harvest. We have summarized in this article what these are and what you should pay attention to when cultivating this fruit tree.
How do I get a good apple harvest?
Apple trees should alwaysbe cultivatedin a sunny, protectedlocation. In addition, professional pruning, appropriate watering and fertilization, and checking for pests or diseases are essential. In addition, alternation must be prevented for many varieties.
Does it increase yield if I remove flowers?
This canfor apple varietieslike the Boskoop, which onlyevery two yearscarry well, helpfulbe. The sooner you thin out the flowers, the more fruit will develop this year and next year. However, this approach carries the risk that only a few apples will ripen in the event of a late frost.
By cutting off the small fruit sets, the risk of crop failure due to cold can be minimized. However, this measure is not as effective and an alternation can still occur.
Can the harvest be improved by tying down the branches?
Through thissimple meanstheapple harvestcan actually benoticeably increased:
- Hang socks filled with pebbles on the ends of the branches.
- Alternatively, the leading branches can be spread out using sticks.
- Depending on the space available, you can tie down branches using additional stakes.
How do pruning measures affect the yield?
If the tree is welllighted outand the vertically risingwater shoots are consistently removed,the fruit tree will grow stronger, plantplenty of flowers and therefore also fruits.
If you are unsure, you can learn how to prune fruit trees professionally in courses offered by many horticultural clubs and adult education centers.
Do I have to water and fertilize the apple tree until harvest?
Absencethe apple treewater and nutrients,it only supplies asmall number of apples and throws off the excess fruit. It is therefore important to water the tree regularly during long dry periods in midsummer.
Older fruit trees that have been in the same location for many years often suffer from a lack of nutrients. The result is the so-called June fruit drop. In this case, fertilize your apple tree in April and possibly a second time at the end of May with an organic fertilizer (€19.00 on Amazon).
How important is pest and disease control?
Among all possible causes,pest infestationis the one that iseasiest todetect. Fighting If you consistently control codling moth, apple scab, collar rot and calyx rot, this has a very positive effect on yields. You can also bring in perfect fruit that stores well and has an excellent taste.
Do pollen donors increase yields?
Fruit trees that bloom profusely, butbarely bear any fruit,lackoftenthe right pollinator. Apple trees are cross-pollinators and require pollen from another apple variety to produce fruit. You can find out which apple tree is suitable as a pollen donor from special pollinator lists.
Tip
It doesn't work without hard-working helpers
When crop yields are poor, bees and other insects that play a key role in fertilizing the flowers are often missing. Therefore, settle beneficial insects through targeted measures such as insect hotels and ensure suitable food sources even after the apple harvest.