When to plant Apple trees
Calendar windows
Dates shift with your latitude — they are calculated from your local last-spring-frost date, not from a fixed calendar.
At a glance
Overwinters outdoors in a temperate garden.
Practical notes
Plant bare-root in winter dormancy with the graft union a hand’s width above the soil. Most varieties need a second, compatible tree nearby to set a decent crop. Prune in late winter, thin the fruitlets in June.
Knowing when to pick
Cup the apple and lift-twist gently — a ripe one parts from the spur without pulling. The pips inside should be dark brown, not white.
Storing the crop
Late varieties keep three to six months at 2–4°C, wrapped singly in paper. Store apples away from other produce — the ethylene they give off ripens everything nearby.
Crop rotation
Permanent planting: never replant a rose-family plant straight into its own old site.
Grows well with
Keep apart from
Watch for
Full guide: apple trees diseases and pests (6) → with spread routes, compost verdicts and the prevention this list justifies.