Experienced grower's notes on Apple Tree

I've been growing plants seriously for over fifteen years and Apple Tree remains a reliable favourite. For anyone starting out: the most critical thing is mulching around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Everything else follows from that.

fireblight bacterial disease affecting pears and apples is the challenge that trips up most beginners and some experienced growers too. I've been growing mine in a large half-barrel container on a sunny patio for three seasons now and the results are consistently good. harvest of home-grown fruit with exceptional fresh flavour is what makes it worth coming back to year after year. fruitlet setting and development through summer is when I show it off — it earns its place fully then.