Apples can be categorized as dessert, processing, or storage varieties. Dessert apples are best eaten fresh while processing apples hold their shape well for cooking. Storage apples are bred to stay crisp and flavorful when refrigerated for months. Home gardens are best suited for dwarf or semi-dwarf trees that take up less space but produce more apples per square foot. Most apple varieties require another variety nearby for cross-pollination. Common pests like codling moth and apple maggot can be monitored and controlled through traps, removal of debris, and organic sprays.

1. Apples

2. CHOOSING PLANTSRipen July through October By choosing different ripening times, can have 4-month apple harvest that extends

3. Dessert applesBest apples for eating freshCan be cooked or preserved, but best when fresh

4. Processing applesUsually more tartMake best pies and sauceFirmer flesh so don’t turn to mush when cooked

5. Storage applesBred to remain crisp, flavorful when stored under refrigeration or root cellar through winter Ripen late, tough skinsMany types taste better after several months of storage

6. Heirloom applesOld varieties being brought back into productionMany have superb flavorDrawback - seldom have disease resistance

7. Disease resistanceApples naturally disease proneNew class of disease-resistant apples that are flavorfulResistant to scab, fireblight, rustExamples: Liberty, Freedom, Prima, Jonafree, Williams' Pride, Redfree, Dayton, Novamac, Nova Easygro, Sir Prize, Macfree

8. Size selectionMost apples graftedDesirable top grafted onto hardy rootstockRootstock determines size of tree standard 20-25 feet semi-dwarf 10-13 feet dwarf 6-8 feet

9. Size selection Dwarf, semi-dwarf trees strongly recommended for home garden Take up less room Provide more apples per square foot of canopy Begin to bear earlier Easier to pick Easier to prune Easier to spray

10. PlantingGive plenty of room to spread without crowding20-25 feet between semi-dwarfs10-15 feet between dwarfs

11. Cross-pollinationMost need another variety planted nearby for cross-pollinationCan be accomplished with wild apples and crabapplesTo assure good crop, plant pollinatorMost resources give extensive lists of appropriate pollinatorshttp://www.fruit-tree.com/applepollen.html

13. Pruning and trainingUse central or modified central leader method of pruningThin in late winter for improved air circulation

14. Pests, diseasesFor absolutely clean fruit, necessary to use spray program with fungicide, insecticideAttitude adjustment - accept fruits that aren’t spotless, perfect specimensWill allow reduction of spray programs

15. Plum curculioOverwinter in woods and hedgerowsEmerge after petal fall, lay eggs at night when above 70 degreesSmall, crescent-shaped cuts in fruit made by females to lay eggs Can place cloth on ground and shake tree vigorouslyWeevils "play dead" and will fall onto cloth - gather and dispose ofBotanical spray

16. Codling mothWorm in apple - usually codling moth Overwinter as eggs under loose barkfemale moths lay eggs on developing fruitCaterpillar larvae burrow into fruit to corePheromone traps – monitoringBotanical sprays effective for controlCorrugated cardboard strips around base of tree in early spring - first generation of caterpillars emerges from apples and pupate under cardboard. Removing cardboard every couple of weeks, destroying pupal cases reduces populations

17. Apple maggotFly larvae burrow leaving brown trails, unusable fleshTraps - hang red spheres covered with TanglefootFlies attracted, get stuckOne trap for every 100 applesLeave 9-18" of open space around trap

18. Apple scabFungal spores overwinter in fallen leavesAs leaf, flower buds open, spores released into air to and on leaves and budsDry weather – less infectionWet springs - severe 1. Resistant varieties2. Clean up all debris to reduce overwintering spores3. Sulfur sprays

19. Fruitworm, leafrollerCaterpillars - feed on surface of fruitCareful monitoring – pheromone trapsControl- Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) as soon as they emerge from egg

20. Harvest, storagePicked when ripe rather than letting them ripen off the trees (exception - storage apples)Twist apple off branch, leaving small portion of stem attached. Don’t puncture or bruise Freeze - peel, slice, dip in ascorbic acid or lemon juice. Bag and freeze.