How to Grow Your Own Organic Apples
Apples are kind of ‘England’s national fruit’, yet around 70% of them eating today are imported? Yet we have neglected orchards crying out for care, and community orchards where you can often help yourself for free!
If you buy apples in stores, choose organic as most others are covered in shellac (insects) to make them look waxy.
England has a huge variety of apples (it would take you 20 years to try all the apples on earth, if you eat a different variety each day!) All apples originate from one wild tree in the mountains of Kazakshstsan. The largest city (Almaty) actually means ‘father of apples’.
Did you know that the famous apple tree that inspired Sir Isaac Newton’s theory of gravity iin 1665 is still alive? And still bearing fruit in Lincolnshire!
Apples are related to many other foods including strawberries, pears, plums, cherries and roses. So why not grow your own (many ‘fresh apples’ in supermarkets are up to a year old, as they are kept in controlled-atmosphere storage rooms, then thundered down motorways to supermarkets, to be sold as ‘fresh food’).
If you buy organic, you can eat the apple skin to, which contains more vitamin K, dietary fibre and a powerful antioxidant (quercetin) to support brain and lung health). the fibre and natural fruit sugar, means an apple is a great way to slowly digest for an energy boost.
What you need to grow organic apples
A tree! Like many English fruits, apples grow on trees, but although this sounds complicated, apples grow very well in England as our damp climate helps to prevent fungal disease, without chemicals. Cox’s Orange Pippin is a good disease-resistant apple for our weather!
- Read up on pet-friendly gardens for plants and mulches (like cocoa) to avoid
- Use humane non-toxic methods to deter slugs/snails
- For indoor plants and greenhouses, use Feather Friendly bird tape to stop birds flying into windows (avoid facing indoor plants to face gardens).
Use fruit tree protectors (never use netting as this can trap birds and wildlife). Remove during flowering to let bees pollinate, or no fruit will develop.
For small spaces, you can buy smaller apple trees, ideal for patios. If growing larger trees, just check where you site it, to avoid it affecting house foundations. Apple trees need sunny sheltered spots with at least six hours of sunlight daily, to let damp leaves dry quickly.
Plant bare-root trees between November and March, while the soil is not frozen. Add plenty of good soil into teh backfill and choose a fertile well-drained loam with a PH of 6.0 to 6.5.
As grass competes with young tree roots for nutrients, ensure a 1-metre circle of grass and weeds is cleared from around the base (if removing turf, wet and gently roll it up manually like a carpet, giving time for little creatures to escape).
Another way to remove grass without harming insects is to just lay a single (10cm) layer of natural burlap, soaked brown paper or coarse wood chips over the crass, then scatter 2cm of compost on top (to attract worms and provide food for beetles). The grass will gradually die off, while natural air pockets will let wildlife shelter and find food.
Unlike plums (which should never be pruned in winter), apple trees are pruned during their dormant phase (November to early March). Remove dead, dying and diseased wood, as an open canopy enables sunlight to ripen fruit and wind can quickly dry the leaves.
Organic gardens will naturally attract birds and other wildlife to eat up unwelcome visitors. If you hang small terracotta pots upside down (stuffed with straws), this will attract earwigs, who will eat up codling moth eggs and aphids.
Where to buy sustainable apple trees
If you can’t find sustainable apple trees, buy online from Tamar Organics (culinary, dessert and cider apple trees). Cooking apple trees can be bought from Tree 2 My Door.
Just over the border in Wales, Tyn Y Berllan Nursery offers sustainable apple and pear trees, grown by a couple who offer this wonderful online wildlife-gardening course!
Ways to eat fresh organic apples
Apples are best avoided for kidney disease and severe IBS (and dental enamel issues due to malic acid). Avoid apple chunks for small children and swallowing difficulties.
Keep apples away from pets due to fruit/pips seeds with natural cyanide. Never feed equines horses without permission (can cause colic). If given permission to feed horses as a treat, feed cut up from a flat palm to prevent choking (discard the core).
Likewise, domestic rabbits and guinea pigs should only have them as occasional treats due to sugar (again core and remove all seeds). Cut into tiny pieces (no more than grape-size for rabbits or size of your thumb for guinea pigs).
- Eat them as they are – organic apples are delicious!
- Slice and pair with good vegan cheddar
- Dice and stir into thick plant-based yoghurt
- Waldorf Salad: Mix apple chunks with grapes, celery and walnuts in vegan mayo.
- Grate a whole apple into morning oatmeal as it cooks.
- Core whole apples (fill with raisins and cinnamon) and bake. Serve with vegan ice-cream
