Orchard Work | Orchard Notes

Seedling Apple Trees – Let’s Give ’em a Go

In the face of all the best advice to the contrary, I’ve decided to try growing a new apple variety or two from seed.

We’ve had a mixed year on our allotment plot orchard. Here’s a round-up of the good, the bad and the downright ugly.

One of the most reliable fruits in the heritage orchard has a very long history and a very unique flavour.

A nurseryman provides details of a common method for storing apples, pre-fridges.

In which I apply a three-step apple i.d. process to see if I can find a match for these not-as-labelled apples.

Wondering how to i.d. a mystery apple or pear variety? Here’s a guide to: doing it yourself, asking an expert, and DNA testing.

Excess apple loads can cause serious problems at this time of year; a leaning tree is one of the easier ones to remedy.

Now is a the best time to hand-thin apple fruitlets, particularly on smaller trees and definitely on any that are growing in pots.

As leaves start to grow on your top-fruit trees it’s a good time to check your grafted plants for unwanted rootstock bud-break.

We’ve had a really good year for blossom in the back garden, with crab apple ‘John Downie’ putting on a splendid display.