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  • Amateur Gardening

    Focus on… Dessert apples

    Sep 15, 2020 5 minutes

    GROWING plump, crunchy apples to pick and eat straight offthe tree is the epitome of living your best life in the garden, so how do we ensure this dream becomes a reality? With so many enticing eating apple varieties maturing now, you might be tempted to plant some this winter, so let me help you. Aside from following my essentials checklist on the following page, what else is there to know?

    Choosing shape, size and site

    While very dwarfing rootstocks (such as M27) will sound tempting on smaller plots, I have found M26 easier to manage as the slightly greater vigour gives the trees more ‘pep’, and they can still be pruned to keep them compact. With flowers opening in May and bees essential for pollination, shelter is key (blooms can be damaged at temperatures of 2°C/36°F).

    “Consider a few varieties

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