|
Apples require a balanced
diet with plenty of humus in the soil to retain
moisture – without which the fruits will
not make any size and will lack juice. As apples
require magnesium in the soil, lime is best given
when the ground is prepared, as magnesium carbonate,
about 525g per sq m (1 lb per sq yd). Apples also
require potash; for heavy soils give 33g per sq
m (1oz per sq yd), doubling this amount where
the soil is light and the potash easily washed
away. The amount of nitrogenous manures will depend
on variety. The most vigorous apples will need
little, for they require no assistance in making
new wood. But those of more compact habit need
as much shoddy or farmyard manure as can be obtained,
and cooking apples need more nitrogen than dessert
kinds. Nitrogen will intensify the green colouring
of the cooking apples, whilst potash will bring
out the scarlet and crimson colourings of dessert
apples. Where possible, use organic nitrogenous
manures, which will supply the necessary humus.
Young trees will suffer a shortage of nitrogen
if planted directly into grass. In its nitrogen
requirements, grass will be in competition with
the trees, so it is important when planting in
grass first to make a circle of 60cm (2ft) diameter
and to remove the turf from this area before preparing
the soil. In areas of low rainfall, all apples
will benefit from a thick mulch of garden compost
or farmyard manure given in June to check moisture
evaporation. Trees growing in dry districts will
also require more nitrogen, and if after two years
they have made less than 30cm (12in) of new growth,
give each tree a 66g-per-sq-m (2oz-per-sq-yd)
application of sulphate of ammonia early in spring
when growth recommences.
Lack of potash may be shown by the leaves turning
brown at the edges and becoming crinkled, whilst
the fruit will be small. Potash will also release
the phosphates in the soil, which are so important
in building up the size of the fruit and stimulating
root action. So in spring give each tree a 33g-per-sq-m
(1oz-per-sq-yd) dressing of sulphate of potash.
Magnesium deficiency, which causes the leaves
to turn pale green, is corrected by spraying the
foliage with magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts)
at a strength of 25g to 1 litre (4oz to 1 gal)
of water. In difficult soils, these apples will
do well: in limestone and chalk, Gascoyne’s
Scarlet, Barnack Beauty, Charles Ross, St Everard;
in wet, badly drained soil, Lord Derby, Grenadier,
Monarch, Laxton’s Superb; in cold, heavy
clay, Newton Wonder, Adam’s Pearmain, Pott’s
Seedling, Wagener.
|
