Key features
Final sizeMM106 3-4m in 10 years
FruitDual purpose (eating & cooking)
Pollination groupSelf fertile, group B
Cropping periodMid season (October)
Description
Granny Smith apples have achieved huge commercial popularity and are instantly recognised by their bright green skin and tart, tangy flavour. The best thing about growing your own Granny Smith apples is that the flavour is much improved if they are allowed to fully ripen on the tree, something that cannot be achieved with store bought apples. They are perfect for eating fresh or using in both sweet and savoury salads as they do not brown as quickly as other apple varieties. They are one of the best apples for home storage.
Granny Smith apples are dual purpose, tasting great in home cooked pies – a tip is to use slightly under-ripe fruit as the slices keep their shape better.
Being self fertile, Granny Smith apples trees don’t need another tree for pollination and so are the perfect choice for planting in your garden. The tree will grow to an easily manageable 3-4m in 10 years time. Named after Mrs Anne Smith from Ryde, New South Wales Australia, the Malus domestica ‘Granny Smith’ is thought to be an unintentional hybrid of Malus sylvestris and Malus domestica.
Planting Steps
1Preparation
- Pot-grown plants can be planted at any time of year, whereas bare roots need to be planted between November and March.
- Clear weeds and grass within a metre of the planting hole.
- Dig a hole as deep as the root mass and twice as wide.
- To help your plant establish more effectively, sprinkle Rootgrow in the hole.
2Planting
- Gently loosen the roots and place into the planting hole.
- Ensure the top of the plant’s compost is flush with the level of the surrounding soil and the graft union or collar of the tree is above ground level.
- Mix 50% of the original soil with 50% compost.
- Fill in the hole, firming the soil gently.
3Last Steps
- Water generously around the base of the plant.
- If you are planting either a single stem tree or mature standard tree, we recommend adding a staking kit and rabbit guard.
Aftercare Advice
Apple trees require a good watering regime for a couple of years whilst they establish. Water well and regularly through spring and summer, increasing in hot or dry weather. If planting in autumn, you may only need to water a little. It is advisable to keep the area free of competing weeds and grass during this period.
Prune young apple trees for the first few years after planting to create a healthy, goblet-like shape with one central leader and several side shoots. Straight after planting, you can remove the lowest laterals. Prune back other branches by between a third and half their length.
In the following years, remove any shoots growing out of the trunk to maintain a clear stem. Also remove any crossing, diseased or damaged branches. If your tree is looking overcrowded, remove some of the larger branches to open up the canopy. This type of pruning should be carried out between November and March whilst the tree is dormant.
For more detailed advice and video guides, please visit our Help & Advice section.
