Is it the iPhone?

Summer scorchers have passed and fall is in the air. Our plant today flourishes this time of year. Producing a mixture of red, green and yellow pomes; a fruit that develops a fleshy, skin coat and seeds hidden in the core. This iconic tree dates back thousands of years, with earliest accounts coming out of Kazakhstan.

We’re fortunate to have over 7,000 different species, making it the most diverse fruit in existence. Picking these delectable treats is a seasonal ritual for many.

Your doctor recommends you eat one per day to keep him away. You got it now? I’m sure you do.

This one is a slam dunk!

Time to pick over the apple tree.

Your climate must be suitable to grow an apple tree. Some trees are classified as “hardy” and grow better in northern regions, where spring and fall months are mild and damp. The other type is a “long season” tree. They grow better in warmer climates, found in areas further south.

Growing an apple tree is not hard. They do well in most sunny areas with well drained soil. That being said, growing a successful apple tree can be tricky. It’s fun to experiment growing your own tree from seed, but oftentimes the fruits of your labor will be absent.

I don’t recommend growing an apple tree from seed. It can be done, but seeds are not as prosperous as their parent tree. The process is fairly involved and it will take nearly a decade before substantial fruit forms.

If you’d like to give it a try, prep your seed in chilled soil for 3-4 months, until you get a seedling. Plant the tiny seedling in soil and nurture it. It will need 6 hours of sun with adequate water.

Other criteria to consider before planting:

  • Find an open area to allow the wind to dry out wet leaves. Leaves that stay wet are susceptible to fungus and disease.
  • The pollen from two different apple trees is needed to cross pollinate. The two trees must be different cultivars that produce flowers at the same time.
  • Pollinators like bees must be present for cross pollinating.
  • Spraying your apple trees must be done. They are notorious for attracting pests and contracting fungal diseases.

Having just one tree will not suffice, they need to cross pollinate, unless you are keen on grafting techniques. I hear it’s not as hard as one would imagine, but I have no experience with it. Some species can self-pollinate, but even they benefit from having neighboring apple trees.

Apple trees will flower before they produce fruit. Flowers are white or pink, depending on the type of apple. Once the flower is pollinated, the fruit forms at the base of the flower.

Make sure to always rinse your apples. Try not to peel off skin. The skin contains much of the fiber and flavonoids. Consuming the skin allows your belly to feel fuller, for a longer period. It slows down digestion and prevents the urge to eat again.

Other health benefits:

  • Antioxidant rich which can slow down the growth rate of cancerous cells.
  • Low in cholesterol and fat and a high source of Vitamin C.
  • Promotes a healthy heart, bones and immune system.

You can store apples at room temperature but they ripen quicker than if you refrigerate them. The best apples for cooking are honeycrisp and Granny Smith. They’re firm with a subtle sour taste which is ideal for baking pies. My favorite apples to eat raw are red delicious (not just a clever name), Fuji or Gala.

Our kitchen at home turns apples into all kinds of drinks and dishes. My two specialities are apple juice and applesauce. Both fairly simple and quick to make.

Apple juice

  • Cut up apples and place them in a pot. Add just enough water to cover the top of the apple slices. Set the water to boil for about 20 minutes, or until your apples are soft. We use coffee filters and place them in our mesh strainer. You’ll then want to ladle the hot juice while gently smooshing the apples. Once all the juice has been extracted, let it cool.
  • Add more water to dilute a strong tasting juice or add a touch of cinnamon or sugar to flavor your product.
  • Be sure to drink it within a few days. Unlike juice from a store, it has no preservatives. You can add a squeeze of lemon or lime juice to prevent the juice from turning brown.

Applesauce

  • Cut up apples and place them in a pot with water. Bring the water to a boil, then turn it down to medium for 15-20 minutes. Add cinnamon or sugar for flavor. Allow the apples to cool.
  • I use my food processor to whip them into a purée of sorts. A potato masher or blender does the trick just fine. It makes a great siding on many dinner plates.

As we depart the orchard, we discover a few fun facts.

Apples are made up of 25% air. This makes it possible to play the age old game “bobbing for apples”.

The apple tree is closely related to the rose bush, the pear tree and peach tree.

Johnny Appleseed was real (Appleseed wasn’t his real last name). He planted apple trees across America. He was claiming land by planting trees and then selling “his” land to others. Back then planting trees and starting an orchard meant you owned that land. Well played Johnny!

See ya next time.

Some of my troops enjoying their favorite apples.

29 responses to “Is it the iPhone?”

  1. Interesting and informative. Thanks.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Rosaliene! I’m glad you enjoyed it.🌱😁

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Very informative. I literally knew nothing about apple trees prior to reading this.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Liv! I’m glad you were able to take away so much from this article. 🍎😁

      Like

  3. Wow! I learned a lot about apples!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🌱😁

      Like

  4. Thanks for sharing! Apples are often quite delicious

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks for visiting Nia! I’m glad you enjoyed, don’t forget to subscribe so you can follow along. 🌱😁

      Like

  5. The alternative to having more than one tree for pollination is to graft bits of other varieties onto the one you’ve got, which is nowhere near as difficult as most people think it is. My (rubbish) Elstar is now two thirds Holstein, with five other varieties as well.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I have not experimented with grafting. I would love to give it a try sometime! Thanks Jim!

      Like

  6. Great post. I do love a good apple. We used to visit a u-pick orchard which, regrettably closed, sold, and became a high priced subdivision. Sigh … the price of progress.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much! I feel your sigh!! Thanks for visiting. 🌱😁

      Like

  7. I love your orchard of apple trees. Great to be harvesting now.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you very much! 🌱😁

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Most welcome and may you have a fantastic harvest year 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  8. A very informative post and I learnt much about apples… Apples don’t grow well here.. A friend send me some Bramley seeds… I love a good cooking apple however unfortunately they didn’t germinate.. We love apple sauce and I will definitely be trying your way of making apple juice.. Thank you for following CarolCooks2 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Carol. I’m glad you enjoyed and good luck making the apple juice, let me know how it turns out!! Also, you’re welcome 🌱😁

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Wow what an educational post. Thanks for taking the time to put this together!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you! It was my pleasure.

      Like

  10. I’m looking forward to apple season here in the Northeast – there are apple orchards everywhere. Thanks for the fine post…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You’re very welcome. Thank you for visiting! 😁🌱

      Like

  11. For some odd reason, eating an apple always makes me more hungry. No idea why, but it hasn’t stopped me yet. I eat at least one almost every day.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Its funny how it works out like that sometimes. Good to hear your such a big apple fan, I’m with you! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Great read Mike! Going to go make some apple crisp now!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much Melanie. Apple crisp mmmm sounds delish!!! 🌱😁

      Like

  13. We spend so much money on produce. This is a very appealing option!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m with you. Prices are soaring everywhere. A small backyard garden can save us lots of money! Thanks for the comment 🙂

      Like

    1. interesting take…

      Like

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