AllotMe
GROWING GUIDES
Apples
Fruit
Moderate
Planting Schedule
Month by month
Sow Indoors
Sow Outdoors
Plant Out
Harvest
Sow Seeds Indoors
Not grown from seed for fruiting. Buy grafted trees on dwarfing rootstock suited to your space.
Outdoors
Plant bare-root trees from November to March while dormant. Container-grown trees can be planted any time. Choose a sunny, sheltered position.
Harvest
Lift the apple gently and twist — if it comes away easily, it's ready. Early varieties from August, mid-season September, late varieties October.
Month by month
Sow Indoors
Sow Outdoors
Plant Out
Harvest
How to Sow
- Buy a tree grafted on M26 (semi-dwarf) or M9 (very dwarf) rootstock for small gardens and containers
- Dig a generous hole and mix in compost
- Plant so the graft union (the bump on the trunk) sits well above soil level
- Stake firmly with a short stake and tree tie
- Water in thoroughly and mulch around the base, keeping mulch away from the trunk
Plant Care
- Water well in the first two years, especially during dry spells
- Mulch annually with well-rotted compost in spring
- Prune in winter (November-February) to maintain an open, goblet shape
- Thin fruit clusters in June ('June drop') to 1-2 apples per cluster for larger fruit
- Watch for codling moth, aphids, and scab — organic controls are available for all
AllotMe’s Tips
- Patio apple trees on M9 rootstock grow happily in large pots — you don't need an orchard!
- Most apple varieties need a pollination partner nearby — check pollination groups when buying, or choose a self-fertile variety like 'Braeburn'
- 'Discovery' for early eating, 'James Grieve' for mid-season, and 'Bramley' for cooking are all excellent UK varieties
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