2023

APPLE ORCHARD ESTABLISHMENT

APPLE Orchard Establishment

Afrostain Farmtech
12/28/2023
Apple Production (Malus domestica)

7.1 Introduction
Apples are sometimes referred to as pome fruits which imply that the fruit has central seeds.
It is a deciduous fruit which is grown essentially in temperate zones and require chilling
(low temperature exposure) during the winter period, in order to break the dormancy for
the trees to bear fruits sussesfully.

For this reason, apples are grown commercially in the cooler parts of Zimbabwe and main
area being Nyanga, Chimanimani, Odzani, Rusape, Vumba. Research has led to the
production of low chill cultivars that can be successfully grown in Chiundura, Masvingo,
and even Chiredzi.

7.2. Cultivars
Golden delicious, royal gala, granny smith, panorama golden, fuji. Low chill cultivars
include Anna, Michael, Elah and Israel.

7.3. Climatic Requirements

Temperature

Winter temperature is most important i.e. the cooler it is the better it is. Summers are
always warmer enough to ripen fruits but insufficient chilling in winter can induce delayed
foliation i.e. bud breaking is erratic and delayed. (inconsistent, unreliable, unpredictable,
variable, irregular)

Chilling requirements vary with crop type and cultivars e.g. pome fruits require more
chilling than stone fruits (apricots and peaches). Where mean temperature exceeds 12oc
delayed foliation is expected to occur. Apple requires an exposure of temperature of 7.2oc
for 10-12hrs to ensure natural flower and leaf bud development and subsequent (later)
attainment of full cropping potential. When cold is lacking the tree will suffer from a
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physiological disorder called “delayed foliation”. This problem of insufficient chilling
requirements can be overcome in the tropics by:

- Cultivar selection
- Carefull site selection
- Use of dormancy breaking treatments. DNOC (Dintro-Ortho-Cresol)

Aspect

Sites with westerly aspects are not suitable for deciduous fruits because they receive
afternoon sunshine and are sheltered from the cooling effect of the prevailing south eastern
winds. Southern and Easterly aspects get more chilling from the wind but would require
wind breaks to reduce wind force.

Rainfall

Apples require up to 1000mm/year. Irrigation is essential because the rains are concentrated
to ± 1/3 of the year. Irrigation is therefore done during the dry period./ increased rainfall
is assorciated with incidence of fungal diseases, difficulties in spraying and harvesting. Dry
spells during rain season make irrigation is essential for new plantings because the newly
planted trees are more susceptible to water stress.

Wind

Damage by wind in Zimbabwe is rare. Windy sites should be avoided because trees will
develop a lopsided head by growing away from the prevailing winds and this reduces the
potential cropping area.

Dry winds in spring desiccate young leaves and flowers and they and they also reduce
activitiesc of pollinating insects.

Strong winds cause fruit drop and damage the trees and cause bruises in fruits later causing
infection. Wind breaks are required to protect trees unless the site is naturally sheltered.

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Frost

Dormant buds of deciduous trees are resistant and are damaged by frost when swelling
starts. Flowers and small fruitlets can be killed by frost.

Most apple varieties bloom after frosting period is over therefore apples can be planted in
frost pockets to gain advantage with greater chilling.

7.4 Soils

Deep soils for root development, good water holding capacity and well drained fertile
soils are ideal. Avoid:

• Shallow soils with impervious subsoil.

• Very light sandy soils
• Soils that are water logged

A depth of 0.9m over a permeable layer such as gravel is regarded as minimal. Apples can
grow on a wide range of soil types. Clay loams to sand loams provided the subsoil is
permeable.

A pH of 5.5 (CaCl scale) is considered as optimum.

7.5. Propagation
Apples are propagated vegetatively because of the following reasons:

• Trees that are true to type are favoured by the market

• Vigorous trees are difficult to manage if raised from seeds
• Impact diseases and pest resistance
• Uniformity of characteristics
• Improve on fruit quality and adaptability

Grafting (mostly whip and tongue or cleft) and budding (mostly ‘T’ or chip) are the
methods being used to raise pome fruits so that the trees will be true to type. The rootstock
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has a considerable influence on the growth of the fruit affecting its vigour, cropping
capacity, size, age at which it bears its first fruits, resistance to pests and diseases and its
economic lifespan.

Rootstocks used in Zimbabwe are MM106 and MM111 and these are raised from rooting
cuttings collected from the mother plants during the dormancy season from June to the
end of July. It is also possible to use apple seedlings as rootstock.

7.6. Planting
7.6.1 Planting Time

This is best done during the dormant season when there is less stress. The land should be
cleared of all trees at least two seasons before planting to control Armillania spp which
causes root rot on trees. The land should be ploughed to 400mm deep but if the land was
under cropping just mark the planting holes.

7.6.2 Spacing

Spacing varies with the management system.

Use wider spacing were tractors are used 3-4m (inrow) x 4-6m (interow). Aim is to come
up with 400-1000 trees per hectare.

7.6.3 Planting procedure

• Planting holes 75 x 75 x 75 are dug

• Top soil is pilled separately from the subsoil

• Mix topsoil with the fertilizer compound Z 700g and 10kg compost manure
• Or you can mix top soil with 500g SSP and 300g KSO4 and 300g AN used as top
dressing at 3 weeks.
• Compound Z has Zinc and Anna is very susceptible to zinc deficiency.
• Return the mixture into the planting hole
• Apply 15l of water per hole 2-3 days before planting
• Put the seedling in the hole and ensure that the grafting union is above the ground.

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 • In windy areas stake the trees using subsoil, make a basin 1m2 and 15cm high.
Apply 10l of water to the basin

7.7. Fertilizer requirements (After planting)

1. During non cropping years topdressing using compound J at 350g/tree once per
year. It contains 0.1% Bo
2. Cropping years- apply 500- 1000g SSP/tree, 250g KSO4 and 1000g AN/ tree.
Time of application
After bud
Nutrient At bud break Early Autumn
break
N 1/3 1/3 1/3

P ½ 1/2 -----

K ½ 1/2 -----

Fruit trees utilize a fraction of the fertilizer as nutrients are neither leached/ became
unavailable. Apply the fertilizer when most needed by the plant. The time of max nutrient
requirement is early spring and after harvesting.

Nutrients taken up in spring are used for plant and fruit development

7.8. Irrigation
Apply water when necessary for the established trees. Mulch should be added to the basin
to reduce water loss by evaporation. Various methods of irrigation can be used which
includes sprinkler and basin methods.

The basin method is the most common and the cheapest. Basin should be expanded each
year to allow for the extended root system

7.9. Pruning
It involves cutting off some branches from the tree. The main objectives of pruning are to:

• Produce a well balanced tree (capable of supporting a heavy fruits) with young
growth and every shoot receiving sufficient light and air.
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 • Development of structurally strong framework capable of supporting heavy fruit.
• Produce a well balanced branch bearing and vegetative growth. Pruning stimulates
buds to grow and the plant start to produce after a period of 2years.
• To remove excess vegetative growth. During summer season trees are active in
growth and they have excess water shoots (shoots with no buds, unfruitful). These
shade the fruits hence poor fruit colouring and poor quality.
• To encourage early and sustainable production
• To shape the trees and space tree branches for optimum light penetration.
• To remove dead and diseased wood.
• To maintain a practical plant size which is easily managed e.g. harvesting and
spraying.

There are basically two phases of pruning:

a) Pre-bearing phase
This is very important and it is during this time the tree is shaped. Any mistakes
made at this stage are difficult to correct. In Zimbabwe most deciduous trees are
pruned to an open center which comprises of short trunk with 3-4 major branches
of equal sizes arranged so as to allow each to receive maximum sunlight.
b) Bearing phase
i) Pruning in first year

In the first year the tree should be cut back in the first and leave the stem. This
allows plant to concentrate on replacing the roots lost during transpiration. This is
done also to induce of scarfold branches

7.10. Apple Pests

Pest Damage Control

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 Fruit fly Lays eggs below the fruit skin. The larvae Malathion can be used as
hatches and begins feeding from the bait. Rotten fruits should be
inside and causing rotting of the fruit. burnt to reduce the spread of
adult flies..
Fruit piercing Ripening fruits are attacked. Bore small Malathion sprays with a
moth holes on the fruit skin to suck juice from sticking agent can be used to
the fruit. As a result there is formulation control the pest.
of dry spongy tissue under the skin.

Scales Fruit flies secret toxins into the plant Orchex and malathion sprays
during the feeding process. This causes can be used to control the
reddish to purple colour on leaves, shoots pest.
and fruits. Death and dieback can result Prunings also help reduce the
from heavy attacks. rate of infestation. Burn the
removed infected parts of the
plant.
Aphids Suck sap from plant leaves resulting in Spray with Dimethoate, or
curling of leaves. This reduces the Malathion
photosynthetic area, hence low yields are
obtained.

7.11. Apple Diseases

Disease Signs Control

Bitter Pit Small sunken spots, like hail damage, later Apply Calcium Nitrate at Zinc
becoming dry with dead tissue beneath Max with Agral 90 as wetting
the skin. Symptoms may not become
apparent until after harvest. agent

Bitter Rot and Sooty An internal fruit rot which appears on the Apply a full cover spray of
surface as a circular, light-brown sunken Dithane M-45, Captan 50%
Blotch
lesion. WP. Where heavy infestations
of bitter rot have been
experienced, spray at
fortnightly.

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Cankers and die back Twigs die from the tip and under severe Supply enough water, and
conditions the whole tree can dry up. Prune affected parts. Apply
fungicides and paint cut
surfaces after pruning to
reduce the spread of diseases.

Other common diseases of apples:

Scab, Powdery mildew, Black rot and leaf spot, Rusts and Collar rot.

7.12. Harvesting
The maturity indices for apples are as follows:

• the base skin color of the apple changes from green to yellow as the fruit matures
• flesh color also loses its greenish tint and turns yellow or white
• a mature fruit will be crisp and juicy
• a pleasant taste is the final indicator of fruit maturity.

Apples are harvested into crates and immediately taken to the grading shade where they
are weighed and graded. Grading is done according to size, colour, variety, disease and
insect damage.

They are then packed into khaki envelops ready for marketing which can be either local
or regional or international market.

7.13. Summary
Apples are important fruits grown for a variety of uses in the industry and at home. Lack
of chilling requirements is one of the most limiting factors in its production.

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