GROWING TIPS

Use a slow release fertiliser in early spring and again at the beginning of autumn. 

An additional application of potash in spring will help fruit development.

Water deeply and regularily while your apple tree is establishing, especially over summer.

Increase watering while fruit is developing to ensure sweet juicy apples. 

Apples can grow in a wide variety of soils, though they do prefer a soil that is well drained and humus rich. Add organic material such as well-rotted manure or compost to enrich your soil. 

Prune to shape in winter, taking branches back to a fruiting spur. Aim to create a vase shape, clearing out the centre of the tree, this improves air flow through the canopy. Remove dead, damaged or crossed branches. 

All apples need to cross-pollinate. This means having another variety of apple nearby with similar flowering times. Bees and other pollinating insects can travel kilometers so you could be lucky with a suitable pollinating tree in the neighbourhood, but to be sure of setting fruit plant a Granny Smith or crabapple nearby.

Fruit will develop over summer and will be ready to pick at the start of autumn. Pick when fruit is fully grown at 7.5cm diameter, fruit will continue to ripen off the tree so pick when still firm.