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APPLES (Malus pumila) Raintree Nursery specializes in growing flavorful, disease resistant apple varieties of top quality which do extremely well for backyard growers throughout most of the nation. We've selected the top old time varieties and the top new varieties from disease resistant breeding programs from around the world. Ever since the early American settlers brought their favorite varieties of apples to their new homesteads, the apple has been the fruit upon which most home economies have been based. A family may want only a couple of trees of most types of fruits; but lots of apple trees. A quantity of apple trees provides gallons of cider, ovens full of pies, quarts of sauces, butters and other delicacies. They also provide fresh fruit from August through May. Many apple varieties are KEEPERS. A family can have apples off the trees until November and then keep others without refrigeration until March or April. This eliminates the rush to preserve everything at once in the autumn. Each variety we offer has unique qualities which recommend it. Those varieties we list that are scab susceptible are still tolerable for the organic grower who doesn’t demand perfect fruit and can use the culls for cider. We have listed separately those varieties we think are the easiest for the organic grower. But don’t overlook those great tasting selections that might require a little more care! MINI-DWARFS We offer ‘mini-dwarf’ apple trees grown on our special EMLA 27 or P 22 rootstocks. They are easily maintained at only four to six feet tall. These highly productive, compact trees are perfect to grow in a small backyard. You can space them as close as 5' apart. Or place the tree in a fifteen gallon pot on the patio. You can train them to branch low (at 1'-2') to maximize fruit production. They begin bearing in the second year and each tree can produce a half box of fruit a season. The tree is not a gimmick. It is used extensively in Europe in commercial apple orchards and the per acre yields exceed American yields. USEFUL FACTS HARVEST: Consult catalog ripening order. Sample fruit; cut in half to check if seeds are brown. HARDINESS: USDA Zones 4-9, except as noted. SUN OR SHADE: Full sun. LIFE EXPECTANCY: 60+ years. YEARS TO FIRST FRUIT: 2-3 yrs. YIELD: Dwarf trees produce 30-60 pounds per season. Mini dwarfs 10-20 pounds. HOW TO GROW SOIL REQUIREMENTS: A well drained soil in an area with good air drainage. Likes a slightly acid soil. CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS: The mini-dwarf fruit trees should be staked. Balanced fertilizer, compost or manure can be used in the spring for the first few years. PRUNING: See "Tree Owners Manual" that comes with each order or pruning books and videos. HOW TO USE IN THE LANDSCAPE: Apple trees come in all sizes, depending largely on the rootstock they are grafted upon. On dwarf rootstock they are wonderful grown on a trellis or in one of a number of fan, cordon or espalier patterns. The crabapple trees are beautiful in the landscape, providing an attractive shape and color. Trees on very dwarfing EMLA 27 or P 22 rootstocks, or the columnar trees, produce fruit in a pot on a deck. IN THE KITCHEN: Apples have many different uses including fresh eating, cooking, pie making or for blending in cider. Also enjoy baked apples, dried apples, apple jelly and applesauce. We offer some of the best cider and cooking apples. Look for them!! Click your browser's back
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