APPLE Cox's Orange Pippin
Cox's Orange Pippin is a sweet apple with rich and nutty flavoured flesh that is very aromatic, making this older variety still a hugely popular apple. This spur bearing variety ripens early to mid season.
General Apple tree information:
Apple trees will start to produce fruit between its second to fifth year depending on rootstock (please refer to rootstock tab).
Fruit will produce on either tips or spurs. Some varieties produces fruit on both (please refer to description above).
Fruit is ripe when the shaded side turns from green to a green/yellow colour.
The later the fruit ripens, the longer the storage life.
Apple trees perform best in temperate areas. Most varieties need plenty of winter chill, but there are low chill varieties available for warmer climates (please refer to description above).
Apple trees like planting sites that are sunny and sheltered. Soil preferences depend on rootstocks (please refer to rootstock tab).
Water apples well during early planting stages, in long dry periods and when fruit is developing.
Some apple varieties require a spray program to control pests and diseases that affect the tree, leaves and fruit.
To ensure large apples each year and prevent biennial bearing, thin apple bunches by half.
Pruning and Training:
It is best to prune apple trees in late winter so that cuts will heal faster with spring flush. To minimise disease entering the tree, paint cuts with pruning paste.
- Spur bearing: Reduce growth made the year before by a third. Cut just after a good strong bud that points in the direction you want the new branch to go.
- Tip bearing: All of the last years growth on main shoots should be pruned off to the first/second strong and healthy bud (unless new shoots are less than 12 inches long).
Prune into a modified central leader or vase shaped tree, or espalier against a wall or fence in triple horizontal cordon, candelabra or double-U shape.