Growing Apples

GROW YOUR OWN APPLES

                                    

Delicious and crunchy apple fruit is one of the most popular fruits. This wonderful fruit is packed with rich phyto-nutrients that in the true senses indispensable for optimal health. The antioxidants in apple have much health promoting and disease prevention properties; thus truly justifying the adage, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Apples are easy to grow, productive and there are varieties and growth forms for every garden. You can even grow them in containers. Here is what you will need to consider if you are thinking of growing apple trees in your yard this year.

Planting And Growing

• The key to successfully growing apples is to pick the right spot. All apples do best in full sun and moist, well-drained soil.choose a planting site that gets full sun, is convenient and has a big enough space to grow. With pruning, expect the tree to eventually reach a height of 20 ft or so).
• You can plant apples anytime from spring to fall. As is the case with most trees and shrubs, dig a hole that's twice as wide as (but no deeper than) the pot your apple tree comes in. 
• Carefully remove the tree from the pot, loosen its root ball, and spread the roots so they face outward. Fill the hole with the soil you dug out (don't fill the hole with amended soil), and then water the tree well.
• Then spread a mulch of hardwood chips or hay a few inches thick, in a 3 ft circle around the tree. This will help retain moisture and keep grass from growing and out-competing your young tree's roots for water and nutrients. Wait a month or two before considering adding a slow-release nitrogen source.

Training And Pruning Your Apple Tree

• Apples should be pruned every year to get the best crop. Timing and method of pruning depends on the type of growth form and rootstock.
• Like many trees, apples have a central leader - a main, upright trunk - that the branches grow out from. If your tree starts to develop a second, competing central leader, remove the competing branch. This helps keep your tree stable and healthy.
• Also cut out any branches that grow toward the inside of the tree. Your apple tree will stay healthiest if you prune it.
• The best time to prune your apple is in late winter or early spring, while the tree is dormant. Always remove any branches that have died, as well as shoots that pop up around the tree's roots and the fast-growing shoots called water sprouts that grow vertically out of the branches.
• It's beneficial to remove the flowers or developing fruit the year you plant an apple tree (or the following year if you plant it in the fall). This helps the tree become established faster.

Harvesting And Storage

• Apples come to harvest from midsummer through late fall. The best way to know if apples are ready for harvest is to taste them; select one and try it. Also consider skin color and fruit drop. 
• Apples are usually ready for harvest when they reach full color; full color may vary according to the variety. 
• A mature apple will come away from the tree easily; lift the apple up and twist in a rotating motion. It should not be necessary to cut an apple from the stem.
• Late ripening apples usually come to harvest more quickly than long-maturing early and mid-season varieties.
• Storing and preserving. Apples will keep for 6 to 8 weeks in a cool place; a refrigerator just above 32°F is best. 
• Late-maturing apples are better keepers than summer apples.

Few Health Benefits Of Apples

• Cures breathing problems- Five or more apples a week (less than an apple a day!) has been linked with better lung function, most likely because of an antioxidant called quercetin found in the skin of apples.
• Good for your brain- Apple fruit has been linked to an uptick in acetylcholine production, which communicates between nerve cells, so apples may help your memory and lower your chances of developing Alzheimer's disease.
• Apples boost your immune system- Apples are considered a good source of immune system-boosting vitamin C.
• Naturally Beautiful Skin- Applying apple paste on the skin makes the skin feeling supple and refreshed.
• Diabetes Management- The pectin in apples supplies galacturonic acid to the body which lowers the body's need for insulin and may help in the management of diabetes.

Slow Cooked Baked Apples Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 -5 baking apples
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/3 cup craisins
• 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup butter, softened

Directions

• Scoop out center of each apple and and leave cavity about 1/2 in from bottom.
• Peel top of apples down about 1 in and brush lemon juice on top.
• In bowl, combine craisins, pecans, brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter. Spoon mixture into apple cavities.
• Pour 1/2 cup water in sprayed crock pot and arrange apples inside.
• Cover and cook on low 1-3 hrs or until tender.
• Serve warm or room temperature with caramel ice cream topping.