• Idared – large, red apples with excellent storage life.
  • Szampion (Shampion) – sweet-and-tart, juicy fruit.
  • Gala – a mild, sweet flavour with a red-and-yellow blush.
  • Gloster – disease-resistant apples in a red-green colour.
  • Golden Delicious – sweet, yellow apples ideal for eating and preserves.
  • Lobo – juicy red fruit.
  • Jonagold – large apples with a balanced sweet-and-tart flavour.
  • Szara Reneta (Gray Reinette) – aromatic apples, great for preserves.
  • Oliwka Żółta – a less common but exceptional variety with a distinctive flavour.

Apple tree seedlings – rootstocks: the key to tree size and health

  • M7 – a medium-sized tree, disease-resistant.
  • P14 – medium-sized, for higher-density orchards.
  • M26 – a dwarfing rootstock, makes harvesting and intensive growing easier.
  • M9 – very dwarfing, ideal for small orchards and intensive production.

Fertilising apple trees – what’s worth knowing?

Proper fertilisation is key to the tree’s health and fruit quality:

  • In spring, apply nitrogen fertilisers, which stimulate the growth of shoots and leaves.
  • In summer, apply potassium and phosphorus fertilisers, which support fruit development and sweetness.
  • In autumn, use phosphorus-potassium fertilisers, which help the tree prepare for winter.
  • Organic fertilisers such as compost or manure improve soil structure and nutrient availability.
  • Regular liming of the soil is also important, especially if it is acidic.

Pruning apple trees – how and when?

Pruning apple trees is essential in order to:

  • maintain the proper shape of the tree,
  • remove diseased, damaged and unnecessary branches,
  • improve light access to the tree’s crown,
  • increase yield and fruit quality.

Pruning times:

  • Spring (before the growing season begins) – removing branches damaged by winter, shaping the crown.
  • Summer (June–July) – shortening shoots to limit growth and improve fruiting.
  • Autumn – in most cases autumn pruning is limited, so as not to weaken the tree before winter.

Apple tree diseases and how to prevent them

The most common apple tree diseases are:

  • Apple scab – appears as dark spots on leaves and fruit. It is prevented by spraying with copper or fungicides.
  • Apple powdery mildew – a white coating on leaves and shoots. It can be controlled with sulphur-based products.
  • Apple canker – rot of the bark and wounds. It requires removing the infected parts of the tree and using protective agents.
  • Aphids and other pests – regular inspection and the use of insecticides help keep the tree healthy.

Growing apple trees is a rewarding hobby and a source of healthy fruit. By choosing the right variety and rootstock, fertilising regularly, pruning and protecting the tree against diseases, you’ll ensure abundant harvests for many years. Remember that an apple tree needs systematic care, but the results are well worth it.

Apple tree seedlings – a care calendar for apple trees

Early spring (March – April)

  • Check the tree’s condition after winter – remove damaged and dry branches.
  • Carry out formative pruning of the crown.
  • Apply sprays against diseases, e.g. copper-based.
  • Nitrogen fertilisation to stimulate growth.

Spring (April – May)

  • Monitor the appearance of the first pests, such as aphids.
  • Possible insecticide sprays.
  • Watering young trees during drought.
  • Supplementary phosphorus-potassium fertilisation.

Summer (June – July)

  • Summer pruning – shorten shoots to improve access to light and air.
  • Monitoring and control of fungal diseases (apple powdery mildew).
  • Regular watering.

Autumn (September – October)

  • Fruit harvest.
  • Phosphorus-potassium fertilisation to prepare the tree for winter.
  • Removing fallen leaves and fruit to reduce sources of infection.
  • Protection against winter damage – securing the trunk against rodents.

Winter (November – February)

  • Checking the tree’s condition, especially for mechanical damage and disease.
  • You can carry out light pruning if the weather allows.