Read and translate the text with the help of a dictionary. In most cases, the fruit produced from two apple trees will be more than sufficient to supply a family of four

Careful planning in selecting the apple cultivar and rootstock, locating and preparing the site for planting, fertilizing, watering, and spraying will greatly enhance the flavor and appearance of apples grown at home.

In most cases, the fruit produced from two apple trees will be more than sufficient to supply a family of four. In most cases, two different apple cultivars are needed to ensure adequate pollination. A mature dwarf apple tree will generally produce 3 to 6 bushels of fruit. One bushel is equal to 42 pounds. After harvest, it is difficult to store a large quantity of fruit in a home refrigerator. Most apple cultivars will quickly deteriorate without adequate cold storage below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Planting Apples should be planted in April when the soil is thawed and air temperatures are cool. Apple trees purchased in containers can be planted in mid- to late October. Apple trees should be planted where they receive full sun and where the soil is reasonably deep and fertile with good water drainage. If needed, phosphorus should be incorporated into the planting hole before setting the tree. Never expose tree roots to sun or drying winds so that they become dry before planting. After receiving trees, unwrap the package and make sure the roots are moist. Keep roots packed in moist peat moss, sawdust, or strips of newspaper until ready to plant. Keep the roots cool. Try to plant trees soon after they are received. Trees held for longer than a few days may bud out and can be susceptible to breakage. Dig a hole about 2 feet wider than the spread of the tree roots. The tree should be planted at the same depth as it was in the nursery.

Prune broken roots and shorten long roots to 12 to 18 inches. Use sharp pruning shears. Place the tree in the hole and arrange the roots so they aren't overlapping. Refill the hole with the same soil that was removed from the hole. To avoid air pockets, tamp the soil with your foot as the hole is filled. After the soil has been firmly tamped, slowly apply 1 or 2 gallons of water to the tree. This will hydrate the tree and help settle the soil around the roots. After planting, a 15- to 18-inch piece of hardware cloth should be placed around the trunk of the tree to prevent rabbit, mice, or vole damage. It should be placed about four inches into the soil. As the tree becomes older, do not permit the hardware cloth to girdle the trunks.

Fertilizing One month after spring planting, apply about a half pound of 12-12-12 fertilizer per tree in a circular band around the edge of the original planting hole. In subsequent years, fertilizer needs will probably increase. Young trees (one to six years old) should have 12 to 18 inches of new grow each year and 6 to 12 inches of growth thereafter. Growth above or below these figures would indicate too much or too little fertilizer. In a year when the blossoms are injured by frost and the crop is lost, do not apply any fertilizer because it will promote too much vegetative growth.

Early fruiting Keep all apples off young trees during the first two years. During this time it is important to develop a strong framework for the tree to support the crop in later years. Cropping the tree during the first two years of establishment can stunt it. In the third year, fruit can be left on the scaffold branches but should be removed from the central leader. Beginning in the fourth year, the central leader and scaffold branches can be cropped, but fruit should be selectively thinned.

Fruit thinning During a heavy bloom season, apples commonly set too many fruits. Remove all excess fruits during the first week of June. This is after the time of the last natural drop. In thinning, leave only one apple per cluster and space the apples not closer than 6 inches apart. Although this practice may seem drastic, it is essential for good-sized apples at harvest. When thinning, leave the largest apple in the cluster unless it is damaged in some way.

  Apples have many persistent pests. Pests may be controlled through good cultural practices and when necessary chemical control.

⇐ Предыдущая234567891011Следующая ⇒

Поделиться: