applegrowing

Apple growing, or apple cultivation, is the horticultural practice of cultivating Malus domestica for fruit. In temperate regions it is characterized by a need for winter chill and risk from spring frost. Soils should be deep, fertile, well-drained, with pH between 6.0 and 7.0.

Propagation is typically by grafting onto rootstocks that determine vigor and size; common rootstocks include dwarfing M.9, semi-dwarf M.26, and standard MM.106, with dwarf varieties enabling high-density plantings. Trees may be trained to central leader, open center, or other forms; pruning aims to balance vegetative growth and fruiting wood, and often occurs in winter while trees are dormant.

Pollination generally requires cross-pollination from compatible cultivars; bee activity is important. Pests and diseases include codling moth, apple maggot, aphids, fire blight, apple scab, and powdery mildew; management relies on integrated pest management, sanitation, resistant cultivars where possible, and targeted sprays or biological controls.

Irrigation should be sufficient to maintain even soil moisture, particularly during fruit set and drought; fertilization depends on soil tests and tree age, with nitrogen typical-year applications increasing with vigor. Harvest timing depends on cultivar and market, with harvest often in late summer to autumn; storage can be extended by cold storage or controlled atmosphere facilities, and consumer storage effects vary by cultivar.

Regionally, apple growing is concentrated in temperate zones in China, the United States, Poland, Italy, France, and Turkey, among others.

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