O l l t d o o r s
IN THE GARDEN
G r o w
a n a p p l e
f e n c e
These varieties are suited to backyards:
‘Chehalis’ produces
yellow-green apples
that are crisp and juicy.
Great for eating fresh,
baking, or cider. Harvest
in late September to
mid-October.
‘Akane’ is an early
bearer that pumps out
bright red fruit with
white flesh. It's a great
juicing or cider apple.
Harvest in mid-August
through late September.
‘Melrose' is a cross
between ‘Jonathan’ and
‘Red Delicious’. The
yellow-green fruit is
streaked with red and
has white flesh. Mid- to
late-season harvest.
Q
F o r b u y in g in fo rm a tio n se e p a g e 2 7 0 .
Cordoned apple trees
are as easy to grow as
upright apple trees, and
may start to yield fruit
in a year or two. Many
varieties are hardy to
Zone 3 or 4, and may
be planted in spring in
the North, spring or fall
in the South.
■ Choose semi-dwarf
and dwarf varieties.
■
Look for self-
pollinating varieties
(or buy more than
one variety so they’ll
cross-pollinate).
■
Plant apple trees in
a sunny place, at least
2 to 3 feet apart.
■
Use wires to keep
branches horizontal,
tying young branches
to them as they grow.
■
Prune off excess
branches and shoots to
keep the “fence” shape.
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SEPTEMBER 2009 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
