Malus domestica

Malus domestica, more commonly known as the apple tree, is a deciduous perennial tree native to Central Asia and Afghanistan.  
Clusters of delicate, white flowers tinged with pink bloom in the spring and give rise to their ubiquitous fruit, apples.  Extensive cultivars of apple trees provide a multitude of different flavors, sizes, and ripening times.  One cultivar, 'Early Harvest', is able to produce ripe apples as early as late June.  Growing different kinds of apple trees adjacent to one another is recommended for their health, but it also allows for the added benefit of having ripe fruit at different times throughout the year.  Apple trees come in three general sizes: full-sized trees grow to a maximum of ~30 ft / 9 m, semi-dwarf trees grow to around 15 ft / 4.6 m, and dwarf trees can only grow to ~10 ft / 3 m.  It is important to plant apple trees outside of the reach of grazing animals, as continued consumption of the tree's foliage can cause serious health issues.  

Provide a location that receives sunshine for 8-10 hours daily for optimal growth and fruit production, though 6 hours is the minimum necessary to sustain an apple tree.  A slightly acidic, rich, well-draining soil mixture with sand and loam can help to produce healthier trees and fuller harvests.  An established apple tree needs regular irrigation, as they are not drought tolerant and only require an inch of water every 10 days or so.  Mold and fungal disease are significant problems for apple trees, especially in highly humid climates, making it practically mandatory to apply preventative treatments.  Fertilize apple trees in the spring by spreading a nitrogen-rich fertilizer 2.5 ft / 0.8 m away from the trunk and raking it into the soil.  Repeat this process in the summer, 3 months after the initial feeding.  Pruning to remove diseased branches and to create an open structure that allows light to reach the inner branches can help keep the tree healthy and ripen the fruit faster.  Plant container-grown apple trees any time before mid-autumn, and plant dormant bare-root trees in the spring.  

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3-6 hours of sun per day, with protection from intense mid-day sun

Water moderately, allowing the top 3cm to dry out between watering.

Malus Domestica

Malus domestica

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Ornamental

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