By Wilson Asiimwe
Apples require extra care, especially when the temperatures rise beyond 32°C.
Apples grow best in well-drained loam soils and free from stones with a depth of 45cm and pH levels of 5-6.
The crop requires well-distributed rainfall of 1000- 1250mm throughout the growing season.
How to plant apples
Apples require a lot of sunlight to grow.
Farmers are advised to always contact district agricultural officers before planting apples.
An apple tree can yield between 100 and 300 fruits per season. There are two harvesting seasons in a year. The trees can grow to 20 or 30ft tall and the spacing should be 25-30ft apart.
Remove all diseased, dead or broken branches and all water sprouts.
Water sprouts are fast-growing vertical branches that usually have no side branches. All suckers should also be removed. Suckers are the fast-growing shoots that grow out of the soil from the roots below the soil surface.
How to control pests
A farmer should prune apples regularly to ease sunlight and air penetration into the crown of the tree. It is advisable to cut off any diseased branches, leaves or fruits.
A farmer should keep the garden free from leaves and branches debris because they harbour pests. The pests are aphids, tree borers, fruitworms, leaf miners, maggots, birds and codling moths.
Farmers should ensure that they spray their apple gardens twice every season to prevent pests and diseases.
