APPLE | How Does it Grow?

Summary

Growing apples is a complex process that involves grafting, careful pollination, sustainable pest control, and expert harvesting techniques. At the Lyman family orchard, which has been producing apples since 1741, farmers use grafting to ensure uniform apple varieties. Bees are essential for cross-pollination, and pest control relies on eco-friendly practices to minimize pesticide use. With over 7,500 apple varieties to explore, apples can be enjoyed in many creative ways beyond the classic pie, offering endless possibilities for recipes and culinary experiments.

Takeaways

• 😀 Apple seeds are genetically unique and will not grow into the same variety as the parent tree, requiring farmers to use grafting for consistent crops.
• 😀 Grafting, a technique dating back to ancient Greece, involves attaching a bud from the desired apple variety to a rootstock to create a new tree with the same variety.
• 😀 The Lyman family farm, established in 1741, grows over 30 apple varieties on 100 acres, with 27,500 trees producing apples that are cross-pollinated by bees.
• 😀 Cross-pollination is essential for apple production, as it involves transferring pollen from one flower to another, facilitated by bees, to create fruit.
• 😀 To ensure high-quality apples, farmers remove some of the fruit before it matures, preventing overcrowding and allowing the remaining apples to grow larger.
• 😀 Sustainable farming practices, such as using Eco Apple certification, help reduce pesticide use by employing natural pest control methods like sticky traps and pheromone-based insect control.
• 😀 Pheromone disruption is used to confuse male and female insects, preventing them from mating and reducing the need for chemical pesticides.
• 😀 Apple harvest runs from early August to late October, with apples picked at 2-3/4 inches wide and at peak ripeness, then stored in low-oxygen conditions to be available year-round.
• 😀 Apples are packed with vitamins and fiber, particularly in the peel, making them a nutritious fruit for a variety of recipes beyond just apple pie.
• 😀 With over 7,500 varieties of apples, there is a wide range of flavors and uses, from adding them to salads and sandwiches to making apple-based breads.
• 😀 Bees are crucial to apple farming, with one beehive per acre used to ensure full pollination of the orchard, making them essential for a successful apple harvest.

Q & A

Why can't apple seeds be used to grow identical apple trees?

Apple seeds are genetically unique, meaning each seed produces a different apple variety. This is why farmers cannot rely on seeds to grow identical trees of the same variety.

What is the method used to ensure that apple trees grow the same variety?

Farmers use a technique called 'grafting,' where a bud from the desired apple variety is attached to the rootstock of another tree. This ensures the new tree will produce the same type of apple as the variety from which the bud came.

How old is the Lyman family farm, and how many apple varieties do they grow?

The Lyman family farm has been growing apples since 1741, and they now grow over 30 varieties of apples on their 100-acre farm.

What was the native apple species in America before European settlers arrived?

Before European settlers brought sweet apple varieties to America, only sour crabapples grew naturally in the region.

How do bees contribute to apple farming?

Bees play a crucial role in pollinating apple flowers. They cross-pollinate flowers by transferring pollen from one variety of apple to another, enabling fruit development.

Why is it important to prune apple trees continuously?

Pruning apple trees is vital to maintaining their shape and health. Regular pruning helps the trees grow properly, maximizes fruit production, and keeps them manageable throughout their life.

What is the 'Eco Apple' program, and how does it help reduce pesticide use?

The 'Eco Apple' program is a sustainable farming initiative that focuses on monitoring pest levels and using non-chemical methods, such as pheromone traps and mating disruption, to control pests. This reduces the need for chemical pesticides.

What is mating disruption, and how does it help control pests in apple orchards?

Mating disruption involves using pheromones to confuse male insects, preventing them from mating with females. This method reduces pest populations without the need for pesticides.

When does the apple harvest begin, and how long does it last?

The apple harvest begins in early August with varieties like Jersey Macs and Ginger Golds, and it continues through late October with varieties like Granny Smiths.

What is the benefit of low-oxygen storage for apples?

Low-oxygen storage helps preserve apples by slowing down their ripening process, allowing them to be available year-round while maintaining their freshness.