APPLE CULTIVATION From seed to fruit complete information
Some interesting facts about your favourite fruit apple Apples are actually a part of the rose, or Rosaceae family of plants. This includes many fruit plants such as pears, almonds, apricots, cherries, plums, raspberries, peaches and more. There are more than 8000 varieties of apples grown around the world. It would take you more than 20 years to try them all if you ate one a day. Apple trees can live for more than 100 years. Half the deciduous fruit tree production in the WORLD is apples, and they're mostly produced in five countries: the United States, China, Turkey, Italy, and India. Though apples are naturally high in fruit sugar (like, really high), they also contain so much fiber that it doesn't really cause a blood sugar spike, and they actually have a very low glycemic index. This is why applesauce is softened and used as an alternative to refined sugar in some sugar free recipes. Apples are actually considerably better for you blood-sugar wise than many other fruits, such as bananas.
8000 varieties
There are more than 8000 varieties grown across the globe. However, the most famous varieties of apple are; Cortland, Golden Delicious, Empire, Fuji, Red Delicious, Pink Lady, Gala, McIntosh, Ida Red, Macoun, Winesap and Northern Spy.
Right way of apple farming can reward any farmer with enough fruit to enjoy
Climate Requirement
for Apple Cultivation Usually, apple trees require certain minimum chilling period for optimum growth and quality fruiting. It is recommend having 1000 chilling hours at below 7°C for best growth and yield. These conditions depend on the cultivar. However, extreme cold temperature will damage the apple crop. Abundant sunshine is required in growing apples since it is responsible for good fruit colour development. Apple orchard requires on an average 20°C to 25°C during growing period along with 100 to 130 cm evenly distributed annual rainfall. Heavy rain fall or fog during fruit maturity will result in improper apple fruit development. Avoid growing apples in areas where heavy winds are expected.
Climate (Temperature and sunshine) is the main factor that affects development of apple fruits. Apples can be cultivated at 1500 to 2600 meter above mean sea level (msl).
Apples can be grown in most of the soils. However, the best suitable soils are well-drained deep loamy soils rich in organic matter having pH value 5.5 to 6.5 with good aeration.
Soil Requirement and land Preparation
For Apple Cultivation Commercial apple growers should go for soil test and based on test results, any micro-nutrient gaps in soil should be incorporated. Land should be well-drained and deep with proper layout proposed for commercial farming of apple. Level the proposed layout by giving deep ploughings and remove any weeds from previous crops. If you are planning for commercial cultivation of apple on large scale, it is advised to for soil test to ďŹ nd out the soil fertility and suitability. Along with organic matter, any deďŹ cient micro nutrients should be supplemented as part of soil preparation.
When it comes to planting season, apple trees are generally planted in Jan and Feb months. Usually, propagation of apple tree is done through the budding and tongue grafting methods.
Propagation and planting in apple cultivation Commercial growers should be careful in selecting the planting material. Planting material should only from the registered/genuine nurseries. When these nursery grown plants are ready for transplantation in main ďŹ led, proper care should be taken during transportation. The system of planting is followed in apple cultivation is square or hexagonal. In case of valleys, contour planting of method is followed on the slopes. Planting pollinator in between main plantation is required for proper apple fruit setting. For planting, dig the pits of size 1 meter x 1 meter x 1 meter. Mixture of well decomposed farm yard manure (FMY) of 35 kg and 500 grams of single super phosphate and 50 grams of malathion dust should be incorporated in each pit. Carry out irrigation immediately after planting is done.
Spacing in apple Cultivation Spacing between plants depends on variety and method of planting followed. The Ultra high density (UHD) planting method accommodates more than 1200 plants per hectare and High density planting method (HD) accommodates 500 to 1200 plants per hectare. When moderate density is followed, this will accommodate around 250 to 500 plants per hectare land where in low density planting method the number plants are less than 250 per hectare.
Generally, 1 hectare land can accommodate in the range between 250 and 1200. There are four types plant density can be followed.
Irrigation in Apple Cultivation The apple plantation requires 115 cm to 120 cm of water per year. This amount can be scheduled in about 20 irrigations. Irrigation should be carried out immediately after planting is done. In case of heavy oods or rains, make sure to drain out the water quickly. Generally, in summer or hot days, provide irrigation at an interval of 7 to 9 days and winter season at an interval of 4 weeks. There is no need of irrigation in rainy season. The critical stage of irrigation is after fruit set. Minimum of 8 to 9 irrigation are required during this critical period. Drip irrigation can be followed in apple orchard as drip system has many advantages. In some countries like India, Government subsidy schemes are available on drip irrigation system.
Pest and Disease in apple cultivation Like all plants apples suer from their fair share of pests and diseases. They can be susceptible to a range of pests, diseases and disorders, A wide range of pests and diseases can aect the plant; three of the more common diseases/pests are mildew, aphids and apple scab.
Apples are subject to a variety of diseases that can cause minor cosmetic damage or more signiďŹ cant damage, such as reduced yields and even tree death.
Apple Scab The disease usually noticed on leaves and fruits. Affected leaves become twisted or puckered and have black, circular spots on their upper surface. On the under surface of leaves, the spots are velvety and may coalesce to cover the whole leaf surface. Severely affected leaves may turn yellow and drop. Scab can also infect flower stems and cause flowers to drop. The lesions later become sunken and brown and may have spores around their margins Infected fruit become distorted and may crack, allowing entry of secondary organisms.
Powdery Mildew Disease appearswhen the buds develop into new leaves and shoots. Small patches of white or grey powdery masses on under surface of leaves occur. Leaves grow longer and narrower than normal leaves and the margin is curled. Twigs covered with powdery mass. Aff ected fruits remain small and deformed and tend to develop roughened surface
Collar Rot Phytophthora collar rot attacks the lower 30 inches (76 cm) of apple trunks. Most infections start at the junction of a lateral root with the trunk. Infected bark becomes brown and is often soft and mushy or slimy when wet. Dark streaks often occur near the cambium and extend beyond the canker margin. If a canker enlarges for several years, only the marginal areas show the typical color and texture of newly killed tissue. The development of the canker is rapid, horizontally and vertically. The ultimate effect of collar rot is to girdle the affected limb, roots, or trunk, resulting in the death of that organ or of the entire tree.
Sooty Blotch Sooty blotch appears as sooty or cloudy blotches on the surface of the fruit. The blotches are olive green with an indefi nite outline. The blotches are usually one fourth of an inch in diameter or larger, and may coalesce to cover much of the fruit. The “smudge” appearance results from the presence of hundreds of minute, dark pycnidia that are interconnected by a mass of loose, interwoven dark hyphae. The sooty blotch fungus is generally restricted to the outer surface of the cuticle.
Woolly Aphid The aphids suck the sap and form tight clusters in the canopy. It can affect all parts of the tree, resulting in direct damage to fruit and limbs and a gradual decline in tree health. The sticky white 'wool' interferes with orchard operations such thinning and picking. The life cycle has both immature crawlers and two types of adults, with and without wings. The wingless adults produce live young which are all female. The aphids can have up to 20 generations in a season. The crawlers can overwinter in all parts of the tree including the roots.
Two spotted Mites Heavy infestations of two spotted mite cause leaf bronzing and defoliation. The mite overwinters either as an orange, inactive, fertilised female in debris at the base of trees or as an active two spotted form breeding on leafy hosts. Phytoseiulus persimilis is an important predator. Populations often build up in December to January and cause severe damage. Two spotted mites can be controlled with recommended miticides.
Fruit Flies Female fruit flies follow the scent of ripening fruit and lay their eggs. Female fruit flies can lay 500-800 eggs during their 6 month life. When the ovipositor is inserted in the fruit it results in a distinctive sting on the fruit surface. In warm weather eggs hatch in 2-4 days. Maggots take 6-8 days to develop. Infested fruit often drop to the ground. Mature maggots chew their way out of the fruit and burrow into the soil. The larva becomes inactive in the soil and develops into an oval brown pupa from which the adult fly develops.
European Red Mites The mites over-winter as bright red eggs in dense clusters on the undersurfaces of branches and twigs on trees. The eggs hatch after greentip. Further egg laying occurs during summer on the undersides of leaves. The mites feed by sucking the contents of leaf cells. Severe damage causes leaf bronzing and defoliation. Good coverage with a greentip winter oil spray is an effective early control measure.
Solving Agricultural
Challenges Using the latest mechanical movements HPM provides the best agro-chemicals for Dahlia cultivation . HPM is a highly focused research-driven agrochemical company. Every day HPM touches thousand of lives. At HPM, we want make agriculture better for farmers and families. In future we will do more than treat agricultural problems— we will aim to make a remarkable impact on farmer’s lives. Our life’s work is to improve agriculture, and we pledge to do so in a transparent and sustainable way.
Panther Broad Spectrum Fungicide belonging to the Phthalimide group. Panther is a protective and curative action. It gives tremendous protection against a wide variety of fungal infections in crops equally at seeding stage and in mature plants.
Panther serves both as a seed- dresser and as a foliar spray to control seed-borne diseases, soil inhibiting fungi and foliar/fruit diseases. It works by inhibiting respiration of numerous species of fungi and bacteria. Panther also blocks the ability of fungus to produce energy. Panther is eective fungicide of micronized particle size used for the control of brown rot, downey mildew, early blight and late blight in apple, cherry, grapes, potato and tomato etc.
Quantity :
1 Kg in 300-400 liter water/acre
Apple Scab
Karishma has broad spectrum of activity, both contact and preventive action. Multisite mode of action, Karishma interferes at different locations in the metabolism of fungi and inhibits or prevents spore production and germ tube formation.
This multi site mode of action of Propineb prevents development of resistance in the fungi. Superior formulation, fine particle size, better suspension in water. Karishma remains mainly on the plant -Rain fastness leading to better efficacy. Availability of Zinc- positive effect on crops as a whole and improve immunity of plants (Phytotonic Effect). Karishma suspension stays stable without settling down for long time. Controls complex of diseases on Chilli & Groundnut.
Apple Scab
Quantity : 300 g in 100 lit.of water /acre
Systemic fungicide with preventive and curative action. Absorbed by the leaves, with acropetal and strong translaminar translocation. SAVER is taken up by the plant and acts on the fungal pathogen during penetration and haustoria formation.
It stops the development of fungi by interfering with the biosynthesis of sterols in cell membranes. Although the mode of action permits protective and curative use, it is recommended to apply the product early enough to avoid irreversible crop damage and build-up of the disease.
Quantity :
15 ml in 100 liter water/acre
Apple Scab
Systemic fungicide with protective and curative action Its absorption into plant is very fast and provides long duration control. It disrupts the ergo sterol biosynthesis pathway, which is vital to fungal cell wall formation.
Rain fast after application of 2 hours of spray. It is having lowest waiting period among other powdery mildewcide. NIDAR when used as Prophylactic or preventive application does not allow the pathogen to get infected and establish in the plant. NIDAR highly eective fungicide against disease Scab and Powdery Mildew.
Quantity : 40 ml in 100 ltr of water / acre
Apple Scab
Time of application : When ďŹ rst symptoms of disease are noticed.
A multi-site contact inorganic fungicide. Sulphur is a non-systemic contact and protectant fungicide with secondary acaricidal activity. Hivet is a dust free, owable micronised sulphur granules, ease of measuring & handling.
It has instant dispersion and high suspensability in water, therefore it don't cause scorching. It has triple action as fungicide, micronutrient (Sulphur) and miticide. It has sustained action for longer eect. It helps in maintaining the appropriate PH of the soil, thereby better uptake of other nutrients. Better crop stand. It controls metabolic & growth processes within plant cells. It promotes nodulation in the legumes, thereby helps in nitrogen ďŹ xation.
Quantity :
750-1000 gm / acre
Time of application : It is recommended to spray sulphur early morning and late evening.
Powdery Mildew
It is a broad-spectrum fungicide with protective action. The product is fungi toxic when exposed to air. Broad spectrum disease control - Control diseases caused by all four major classes .
Apple Scab
Sooty Blotch
Kind of fungicides - Foliar sprays, seed treatment, nursery drenching. Fit for resistance management - Multisite mode of action, the risk of resistance development is very low. Cost eective - Cost beneďŹ ts for disease control over non-EBDCs. Provide nutrients - Manganese and Zinc as micro nutrients. Environmentally Safe - Low persistence in environment as it rapidly degrades is soil and water, no leaching potential.
Quantity : 30 gm / tree
MiteKill is a true miticide (Acaricide) of sulďŹ te ester group, which gives eective control of mites through its contact and fumigant action.
MiteKill is registered in 72 countries for the control of 36 species of mites. MiteKill is also eective against those mites which gained resistance against other miticides. MiteKill lives immediate protection to crops, because feeding activity of mites ceases immediately after its application. MiteKill is suitable for Integrated Pest Management
Quantity :
5-10 ml / tree
Two Spotted Mite
European Red Mite
Hitatox is highly eective against a wide array of insects, mites, and some nematodes. It s systemic product majority used o maize, cotton, paddy, sugarcane, potatoes, soybean & wheat.
Phorate 10% G an organo phosphate compound with cholinesterase inhibition action.It can be incorporated into the soil by in furrow or drilling application. It gives knockdown and longer duration of pest control. It is readily translocated through roots in the plant system. It also kills insects by contact and fumigant action. It is economical to use as single application provides eective pest control.
Wolly Aphid
Quantity : 100 -150 gm / tree
It is a broad spectrum carbamate insecticide, nematicide and miticide having systemic action. Don is used against a variety of insect, pests, nematodes and mites damaging various crops.
It is very eective against leaf roller, shoot and stem borer, aphid, jassid, thrips, gall midge. It is also eective on hoppers in paddy, cotton, sugarcane, maize, millets, brinjal and others vegetables.
Wolly Aphid
Quantity : 166 gm / tree
Systemic Oragano phosphorus, which controls Aphids and Thrips.
Exhibits both contact & stomach action. It is a broad spectrum insecticide. It has short life in plant tissues. Rapid degeneration in the soil thus no problem of residues.
Quantity :
594-792 ml / acre
Stem Borer
Aasra is a unique new generation worldwide spray booster and activator which make the agrochemicals such as Insecticide, Fungicide, Herbicide, Plant Growth Regulator, Fertilizer and Micronutrient perform better
Aasra solution spreads quickly, and provides enhanced spreading of agrochemicals on the leaf surfaces and leads to better spray coverage, which improves the eďŹƒcacy of the agrochemical used. It is when added to spray water tank lowers the tension of spray water on leaf surface, which promotes the better spreading and penetration of Agro product. Aasra is compatible with most agrochemical formulations and can be used on a wide variety of crops.It has improved deposition of the agro product which enhances its coverage and retention on foliage. It ensures the solution doesn't wash o even after immediate rain. Aasra is designed in such a way that it ensures proper wetting of leaf surface, which makes the pesticide or agro product uptake and absorption rapidly by the plant. It ensures the proper penetration of the agrochemical product into the plant by reducing the droplet sizes of the spray. It is suggested to uses Aasra with agrochemicals at 0.025%-0.1% dose. General recommendation is 5 ml/ 15 lit. of water.
Quantity :
5 ml in 15 ltr of water
HPM GOLD is unique product containing microbes as Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) and has broad spectrum action in granular form. It contains granular spores and other propagules of VAM Mycorrhizal Fungi in a granular carrier and has broad spectrum fertilizer activity.
Due to high solubility in water it is absorbed rapidly through plants and roots, resulting maximum supply of compost and micronutrient to the crop. roots growth with excellent root setting, resulting greenness by vanishing yellowing in crop. It helps in greater utilization of nutrients, and provides plant protection from disease causing organism to the root and also makes insect resistant plant. It is completely safe to use HPM Gold. It also combats with the drought and stress loss by the crop. Its mycelial threads penetrate inward into the root, thereby increasing the surface area for absorption and translocation of essential plant nutrients including Phosphorus, Nitrogen, Sulphur, Calcium, Zinc and copper.
Quantity :
4 kg / acre
24 Karat is unique combination of Sea weed extracts and GA . Gibberellic Acid acts synergistically with plant metabolism and accelerates the growth functions of the plant.
Also improves the physiological efficiency of the crop by stimulating the hormonal and enzymatic activities and increases the yield and quantity of the crop produce. 24 Karat mobilizes reserves in seed to germinating point leading to breaking of seed dormancy and faster germination 24 Karat stimulates cell division and elongation that causes internodes to stretch leading to better growth of the plant. Improves taste and quality of fruits , and enhances their marketability specific to crop. Improves photosynthesis and plant metabolism, Improves leaf area and root system. Regulates GA: ABA ratio leading to less flower and fruit drop. It increases stem length in flowers grown for export.
Quantity :
1.2-2 ml in ltr of water / acre
Harvesting in Apple Cultivation When it comes fruit yield, fruit yield increases from 8th year to 18 year and thereafter remains stable (constant) for 30 to 35 years. Some varieties even produce apples after 35 years based on agro climatic conditions and variety chosen. Make sure to pick the fruits before they are fully ripe.
Apple orchards start bearing fruits from 7th or 8th year. However, it all depends on the cultivar selected. Usually, the economic life of an apple tree is more than 35 years.
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