Apple cultivation

  Apple 
      Scientific classification

•       Kingdom: Plantae

•       Division:Magnoliophyta

•       Class:Magnoliopsida

•       Order:Rosales

•       Family:Rosaceae

•       Subfamily: Maloideae

•       Tribe:Maleae

•       Genus: Malus

•       Species

•       Malus  domestica

Issues of apple in Mountainous regions

•       Less availability of certified varieties

•       No info  regarding fruit bearing age

•       No assurance of disease  free seedling

•       No information regarding climatic requirement of various varieties.

•       No orchard lay out  plan

•       No record available about the climate change seasonal change (ie) delay winter

•       No soil analysis facility available

•       No training for the farmer planting pruning  and General caring

•       No training for using pesticides. What kind of pesticides and fungicides used. Time of application etc.

•       No availability of reliable pesticides.

•       No training of fruit picking and packing.

•       No awareness about the processing of apple like for example Jam jellies marmalades.

•       No training regarding the fertilizer requirement and its application

•       No sanitation at all (Disease must thrive)

•       No awareness about the protection from hailstorm

•       Like netting etc

Solutions

Site selection

•       1 Soil can tolrate a wide range of soil. But analysis must be taken for general profile.

•       Avoid heavy, poorly-drained soils and low spots, since apple trees cannot survive if water remains standing in the root zone.

Air Drainage –

 It is important to select a site where the tree will not be in a "frost pocket", where cold air settles in low-lying areas.

•       In a frost pocket, low spring temperatures commonly kill the blossoms or developing fruit because cold air settles around the tree

Growing Dwarf Trees or Standard-Size Trees

•       Dwarf and semi-dwarf trees are easier to manage, and they produce fruits earlier than standard-size trees. However, some of the dwarf or semi-dwarf apple trees need to be supported since they have poor root anchorage.Dwarf apple trees will grow to be about 10 feet tall, Semi-dwarf apple trees will reach about 15 feet in height, while standard-size trees will be at least 20 feet tall.

•       Apple trees need full sun for proper growth and quality fruit production.

•       The early morning sun is particularly important since it dries the dew from the leaves, thereby reducing the incidence of diseases.

•       Apple planting sites should be free of spring frosts and have good air circulation.

•       Keep an area at least 12 inches away from the tree trunk free of grasses and weeds.

•       Mulch applied 2 to 3 inches deep over the root zone can help control weeds and conserve soil moisture.

Training

•       Clothes pins are used to hold young branches at desired branched angles

•       Tie down

•       Initial removal of water sprouts

•       Staking

•       Two years-old apple tree with lateral branches and central leader

Watersprouts

Vigorous shoots oriented from the upper surface of limbs are called "watersprouts". develop from dormant buds within the bark. If trees produce many 3- to 5-foot should be totally removed and the rest of the pruning should be more moderate to avoid excess vigor.  Nitrogen fertilization should also be reduced to control tree vigor. Nonbranched waterspouts shorter than 30 inches long, or those that are oriented more than 45 degrees from vertical can be retained

•       Apple trees should be pruned annually in  February

SITE SELECTION
Choose a higher site with a slope if possible so cold air will flow down away from the trees and will not accumulate around the trees.

•       Do not plant the trees close to a fence row, wooded area, or at the bottom of a hill, as cold air drainage will be impeded.

•       Apple trees require full sun and should be planted where the trees will not be shaded from large trees or buildings.

•       Tree Purchase and Preparation - Purchase a healthy 1-year-old nursery tree, 4 to 6 feet tall, with a good root system.

•       If the roots have dried somewhat, soak them in water for about 24 hours before planting. I

Alternate bearing Management

•       Fruit Thinning .To ensure good fruit size, return bloom for the following year, and to prevent tree breakage, it is necessary to thin the fruit.

•       Every apple blossom results in a bloom cluster of 5 to 6 blossoms.

•       Cut off enough fruit so that the remaining apples are spaced 4 to 6 inches apart, and leave only one fruit per cluster.

will harvest higher-quality fruit, potentially reduce insect and disease problems, and increase the chances for a full crop the next season

•       Regular inspection of nutrients profile in the orchard

•       Regular application fertilizers on schedule time

•       Split  application of nitrogen during rainy weather.

•       Placement of bee hives in the orchards.

•       In case of  delay winter and dry spell during flowering time.

•       Apply  water showers through pesticide spray pumps.

Protect the twigs during fruit harvest

•       To plant the apple tree, first dig a hole approximately twice the diameter of the root system and 2 feet deep.

•       Place some of the loose soil back into the hole and loosen the soil on the walls of the planting hole so the roots can easily penetrate the soil

•       The graft union must be at least 2 inches above the soil line so that roots do not emerge from the scion.

•       Ideal soil pH for apple trees is near 6.5.

Varieties

•       Red delicious

•       Golden delicious

•       Empire

•       Gala ( Star King)

•       Kala-kulu (Star crimson)

•       Kashmir Amri

•       Fuji

•       Queta Amri

Potential pollinizers

•       Red delicious, VS Golden delicious

•       Empire vs Golden delicious

•       Crimson Vs Golden delicious

•        Fuji Vs Empire

•       Golden delicious Rome

•       Kashmir amri  vs Fuji

•       Queeta vs  Golden delecious

•       Queeta Vs Red delicious

Varieties

The variety of apple selected should be based on fruit characteristics, bloom time and pollen compatibility.

Nurseries can also provide varietal information and pollen compatibility suggestions.

Crabapple trees can also be used as pollinizers.

if they bloom at the same time as the desired variety.

Air drainage

It is important to select a site where the tree will not be in a "frost pocket", where cold air settles in low-lying areas.

In a frost pocket, low spring temperatures commonly kill the blossoms or developing fruit because cold air settles around the tree.

Good air drainage, especially during early spring frosts, is critical.

Choose a higher site with a slope if possible so cold air will flow down away from the trees and will not accumulate around the trees

Fertilizer requirement

•       To know the exact amount of nitrogen requirement leaf analysis is the most reliable guide.

•       For all apple cultivars, do not exceed the maximum rates of 200 kg actual N/ha per year,

•       Individual fruit bearing plant.

•       4-6 Kg Decay poultry manure

•       7-8 kg Animal manure or (6 kg urea)

•       Phosphorus is not required in large amounts

•       Potassium is important for fruit colour

pH target

•       The target pH before establishing a new orchard is 6.5 on sandy soils and 6.0 on clay soils.

•       If the pH in established orchards is above 5.6, lime is not needed. In established orchards, when the pH on clay loam soils drops below 5.1, and on sandy soils below 5.6, apply lime.

•       This will raise the soil pH (reduce the acidity), and also supply calcium.

•       Use dolomitic lime (high in magnesium) on soils low in magnesium. Rates of application will vary with soil type and initial pH.

•       The buffer pH indicates the rate of lime to apply.

Micronutrients

•       Deficiencies of micronutrients or trace elements are widespread in apple plantings zones.

•       Boron (B) deficiancy  in alkline soils fruit drop premature

•       0.2 kg of available boron/1000 L water

•       Manganese (Mn)deficiency occurs occasionally in  all fruit growing areas of AJK spray manganese sulfate at the rate of 1.3 kg of available Mn/1000 L water

•       Iron (Fe) 1 or 2 trees in an orchard may exhibit iron-deficiency symptoms (interveinal chlorosis of new leaves.

•       as foliar sprays 0.50 kg/ha .

•       Zinc deficiency  in upland plantatation .

•       The symptoms are are short internodes, small narrow leaves 0.35 kg Zn/ha