Why an apple tree is a perfect Christmas present for the gardener in your life
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They come in all sizes, they blossom and you can eat their delicious fruit straight off the tree. On the other side of my village is an apple farm, and every year I wait eagerly for their sandwich board to appear, announcing the arrival of apple season. I’ll happily eat two apples a day until they put the sign back in the barn until the following autumn.
![[Claire Ratinon]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2023/04/04/Claire_Ratinon.png?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
A really great apple brings me an inordinate amount of joy – and the best apples I’ve ever eaten were picked right off the tree. So, if you’re looking for a gift for the hard-to-buy-for gardener in your life, an apple tree is a wonderful choice.
When it comes to choosing a tree for your growing space, there are a number of important aspects to consider. The first is picking the right size. Most apple trees are grafted (as are pears, plums and cherries), which means that the type of apple is spliced on to a rootstock, which determines the vigour of the tree’s growth, how long until it produces its first crop and its size once it’s reached full maturity. At one end of the spectrum are apple trees grown on M27 rootstock – which are ideal for small gardens and can even be grown in large containers. At the other end are those grown on M25 rootstock, which produce a traditionally sized tree, up to seven metres tall – a worthwhile investment if you’re in your forever home.
For your tree to produce fruit, its flowers will need to be pollinated, and each variety of apple has its own pollination needs. Those that are self-fertile can be planted solo, whereas those that require cross pollination from a nearby tree are grouped by the time their blossoms emerge: from group 1 (that flower early) to group 7 (that flower late). If you’re fortunate enough to have the space, you can plant two varieties that will pollinate each other. If not, check your neighbour’s plots for apple trees that complement your choice. If there’s a crab apple tree growing nearby, they’re a great all-round companion as they have a long flowering period.
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