- 1 Apple- Malus Pumila
- 2 Apple Nutrition Facts
- 3 Companion Plants
- 4 Apple Varieties
- 5 How to Grow Apple from Seeds?
- 6 How to Graft an Apple Tree?
- 7 How do you Care for Apple Tree?
- 8 Is an apple tree a perennial?
- 9 Is it good to eat an apple a day?
- 10 How to dry apple seeds before planting them?
- 11 How long does apple tree grow?
- 12 What could be the reason for apple tree leaves turning yellow?
- 13 Is apple safe for your pets to eat?
- 14 Apple Health Benefits
Apple- Malus Pumila
Apple is best known for its sweet fruit and cultivated worldwide. They are originated in central Asia and grows vigorously in Europe, China, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan. Trees become large if you start growing from seeds. Farmers often cultivate apples using grafting technique that reduces the size of the tree. It grows to a height of 2-4 meters. Leaves are dark green colored ovals with margins. Blossoms are produced in spring with the budding of leaves.
Apple fruit matures in late summer or autumn. Skin of ripe apple is red, yellow, green or tri-colored. There are many other varieties depending on color and size that are used in cider production. It tastes delicious when eaten raw. They are also used in cooking dishes, fruit salads, smoothies, pizza toppings, jams, sweets, and ice-creams.
Apple Nutrition Facts
Apple is the most popular fruit in the world and has many nutritional benefits that help to maintain a healthy diet. It is rich in vitamins, carbohydrates, minerals and fiber content. It contains vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, and magnesium that can cure various health issues.
Companion planting is necessary to improve the productivity and also to deter pests & diseases problem. Apple trees are compatible with chives, foxgloves, wallflowers, garlic, coriander, basil, fennel, daffodil, marigold, onions, horsetail, and nasturtiums. They do not grow well if they are planted with grass and potatoes as they damage the plant by spreading various bacterial and fungal diseases.
Apple trees are large if they are frown form its seed. there are more than 7500 apple cultivators all over the world depending upon the characteristics like size, shape, color, and taste of the fruit. Most of these species are grown for its commercial application in cooking, smoothies, beauty products and in medicine. here is the list of some apple varieties that you can grow easily in your home….
|S. No||Apple variety||Origin||Specification|
|1||Gala||New Zealand||oink to orange stripes|
|2||Fuji||Japan||Red skin with yellow spots|
|3||Granny smith||Australia||Green color skin|
|4||Honey crisp||Minnesota||Bright red skin mottled with pale green|
|5||Cripps pink||Australia||Pink skin with firm and crisp flesh|
|6||Golden delicious||West Virginia||Golden skin with white flesh|
|7||Ambrosia||England||Reddish yellow color skin|
How to Grow Apple from Seeds?
You can easily grow apples from seeds but might not be the same as you planted. If you wish to plant an apple tree from seed you need to consider several aspects to increase the success rate. To achieve this you need to collect 2 different kinds of seeds. Extract the seeds you are eating or buy from a store that thrives well in your climatic zone.
If you want to grow apple tree for fruits then buy a sapling tree from the nursery. Before planting cover the seeds with damp paper towel or peat moss and place in fridge with temperature bearing 40-50 F. Prepare soil and pot by selecting good potting mix soil with neutral pH levels. Fill the pot with soil and make a hole at the bottom for drainage.
Place it in sunlight and water regularly. After 2-3 weeks seed sprouts and grow taller & stronger. Apple trees thrive in full sun (more than 6-8 hours a day) when you transplant it to outdoors. Maintain the temperature about 70-75 F. Add mulch or N-P-K fertilizers to provide nutrients, retain the sapling moisture and to kill weeds in growing medium. It reaches to a height of 10-15 feet depending upon the variety. After pruning and caring, harvest apples when fruits turn reddish-yellow or no longer green color.
Prune the apple trees in late winter or you can also prune in spring or summer seasons. For this cut the dead branches and limbs properly for fruit setting by using gardening tools such as shears or cutters. If you have done pruning in a wrong way then there may be chances of reduction in the production of apple fruits.
To achieve pollination successfully, you need to have 2 different apple varieties that have compatible pollens. apple flowers attract flies, bees, and other insects to transfer the pollen from stamen to stigma. Generally, prefer cross-pollination to produce more sweet and tasteful fruits with high yield.
Pests & Diseases
Pests: scales, apple maggot, fruit fly, mites and aphids
Diseases: leaf spot, apple scab, rust, powdery mildew and fire blight
When pests and diseases affect an apple plant it shows the signs of holes on leaves or fruits, white coatings, and yellowing or brown foliage. To overcome pests and disease problem in apples, use commercial sprays available in supermarkets. You can also prefer organic methods prepared at home like adding baking soda, eggshells, and vinegar to the soil to deter pests and diseases.
|S. No||Element||Deficiency symptom|
|1||Magnesium||Yellow leaf veins, reddish brown tints|
|2||Calcium||Chlorotic leaves, stunted growth, reduces fruit yielding|
|3||Potassium||Browning of leaf margins, older leaves|
|4||Born||Brown leaves, black spots on fruit|
|5||Iron||Pale yellow interveinal chlorosis|
|6||Phosphorus||Dark green leaves with purple tints|
How to Graft an Apple Tree?
Grafting apple trees involve the combination of rootstock and scion of another variety. Through grafting, you can produce desirable fruits. Here is the procedure that illustrates the grafting mechanism in apples…
- Plant apple trees that grow well in particular area.
- Select 2 desired varieties 1 for rootstock and the other for Scion.
- Cut scion branches and rootstocks of apple trees using cutters or sharp shears.
- Now graft the scion on rootstock before the buds are ready to open and wrap it with a floral or masking tape.
Plant the newly established plant in a pot containing rich fertile soil. Store them at room temperature i.e. 70-80 F. You can also graft several scions onto a rootstock to produce different apple varieties.
How do you Care for Apple Tree?
- Harvest the apple fruit only when it matures.
- Make sure the seeds should not sprout when placed in the fridge.
- Make sure the plant receives sunlight for a minimum of 6-8 hours a day.
- Do not overwater, as the plant cannot survive and may result in root rot.
- Keep children and pets (dogs & cats) away from the plants when you fertilize.
- Fungicide on plants is essential to prevent disease and produce high-quality fruits.
- Bend a stem horizontally for a week to promote slow growth, branches, and pruning.
- Transplant it to the larger pot, when the seedling is outgrowing its pot and water regularly.
Is an apple tree a perennial?
A tree is said to be perennial if the maturity time is more than 2 years and produces fruits. Appletree is the perfect example of woody perennials. They may take several years to grow and finally produces flowers and fruits.
Is it good to eat an apple a day?
Apples are comprising of proteins, vitamins, and carbohydrates like vitamin C, flavonoids, phosphorus, calcium, and iron which not only improves your heart health but also overall health. There many health benefits for you to eat an apple a day.
How to dry apple seeds before planting them?
Before sowing the seeds in a well-drain soil, wash them with warm water and allow it to dry for some time (6 hours). It helps the seeds to speed up the germination process. Now the apple seeds are ready to be planted in the soil.
How long does apple tree grow?
Dwarf apple varieties can grow up to 5-7 feet tall and produces fruit after 2-4 years. Normal varieties can grow to a height of 20 feet tall and takes 3-6 years time to reach maturity stage. on an average the life expectancy of apple trees is about 100 years.
What could be the reason for apple tree leaves turning yellow?
Yellow color leaves can be due to adding too many fertilizers or sun. Lack of water can also be the reason for your apple leaves turning yellow and wilting. To overcome this problem use organic fertilizers and sprays to improve the soil fertility and to keep the moisture levels.
Is apple safe for your pets to eat?
Apple fruits are safe for your pets like dogs and cats to eat. But do not feed your pets with the seeds as they contain a toxic compound called cyanide which can cause severe health issues. Also, do not give core to your dogs as it can be a choking hazard. The best way to serve apples is simply by slicing apples which makes easier for your pets to eat.
Apple Health Benefits
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Yes, it’s absolutely true as it has many nutrients that help to cure all sort of diseases starting from cataracts to digestion, cancer, diabetes and much more.
Eyesight: Eye problems are unpreventable. Apple contains vitamin A, vitamin C that helps to treat night blindness and poor sight.
Cancer: Consumption of flavonoids rich apples help to reduce the risk of developing pancreatic cancer up to 23%. Apple peels also have the potential to fight against cancer cells in breast, colon, and liver.
Dental care: Scrubbing actions of foods like apple helps to keep the mouth clean by removing stains on your teeth, gums & tongue. The anti-bacterial properties of the fruit keep bacteria & viruses from infecting the body.
Pregnant women: For pregnant women, it is important to have healthy and nutritious food. Making it in your diet helps to protect baby from wheezing, boosts energy, improves digestion and strengthens bones and lungs.
Parkinson’s disease: It is a disease of nervous system marked by muscular rigidity and slow movements. It is due to the deficiency of neurotransmitter dopamine. Research shows that people who eat high fiber content fruits (Apple) have the capability to protect against the disease by the breakdown of nerve cells.
Blood glucose levels: It is necessary to control sugar levels in blood for diabetic patients. Polyphenols in apple reduce the intake of carbohydrates from other sources. Also reduces the fluctuation of sugar levels in the blood stream and improves overall health.
Improves heart health: It lowers the cholesterol levels in the body and fights against cardiovascular disease. Epicatechin is a flavonoid that lowers the blood pressure. An apple a day reduces the risk heart strokes by 9%.
Eating apples or its supplements in excess amounts may result in…
- Weight Gain
- Damages Teeth
Start growing apples from seed that produces sweet-tasty fruits and monitors your overall health. If you have amazing ideas about growing apples in your home, please share your experience with us.