APPLE TREES | EARLY RED ONE & GRANNY SMITH
Our apple trees are grafted onto a M9 dwarf rootstock. Widely used by commercial orchards, but also ideal for most gardens and small orchards. They produce lots of apples in a small amount of space, and from a young age.
M9 apple trees generally have spindly branches and are quite compact, so they will not take over or dominate a small garden.
They can be planted close together, ideal for an apple tree hedge, against a wall, or be espaliered. They are also good in containers.
These apple trees need to be grown in areas with sufficiently cold winters. In South Africa this kind of climate is experienced on the highveld and the high-lying zones in the Western Cape. THEY ARE NOT SUITED TO COASTAL OR SUBTROPICAL CLIMATES.
We have a family relationship with Caledon Valley Nursery who have been producing top quality apple trees to the apple growing industry in Southern Africa for over 30 years. The business has ample access to fertile land so trees are always produced in rich virgin soil to prevent any root borne diseases. They are also all grown under hail nets.
All our trees have been grown to strict phyto sanitary principles and been cared for according to an intergrated pest management programme, IPM.
tree characteristics
Varieties:
Early Red One and Granny Smith
Chilling:
Apple trees need to be grown in areas with long cold winters.
Tree size:
Dwarfing, about 3m high and 800mm wide.
Pollination:
They require a pollinator, which is the Granny Smith.
Flowering:
They produce pinkish-white blossoms late September.
Bearing:
The M9 encourages precocity, resulting in early bearing trees, within 2 years.
planting
Site selection:
At least 6 hours of sun a day. In the urban areas, avoid a west facing wall, the late afternoon sun can be very harsh.
Soil type:
Fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil, pH between 5.8 and 7.0
Nutrients:
Feed apple trees with a calcium nitrate fertiliser, and compost.
Planting:
When removing from bag, try not to disturb the roots. Place in prepared hole, leaving 10-15cm of the rootstock above the soil. Trees on dwarf rootstock need to be supported, either on a wire trellis or bamboo stake.
Containers:
At least a 50L container, use good potting soil and compost, again leaving 10-15cm of the rootstock above soil.
Watering:
Newly planted apple trees require moderate watering weekly. An established apple tree requires only infrequent watering but be sure to water all trees during prolonged dry periods.
Pruning:
Once a year, late winter/early spring.
small trees, big apples
Apple tree stockists:
Gauteng:
Schaffler’s Nursery, 28 Johannesburg Rd, Lyndhurst, 011 786 0323
Monkey Fountain, 6 Bram Fischer Dr, Pine Park, Randburg, 011 782 4430/ 011 782 4130
The Garden Shop Parktown, 167 Jan Smuts Ave, Parktown North, Johannesburg, 011 447 2368
Plantland, The Wilds, cnr Atterbury Rd & Olympus Drive, Pretoria, 012 991 3061
Colourful Splendour, Marlborough Ave, Randburg, 011 447 5817
Lifestyle Garden Centre, cnr Ysterhout Dr &, Beyers Naudé Dr, Randpark Ridge, 011 792 5616
Stodels Bryanston, 278 Main Rd, Bryanston, 011 463 5773
Ryans Nurseries, 18 Hawley Road, Bedfordview, 011 455 1632
Freetstate:
Greenside Nursery, Tafelberg Ave, Spitskop Small Holdings, Bloemfontein, 051 451 3001