General Culture:

Best grown in deep, loamy, moderately fertile, slightly acidic, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates average garden soils, but unamended heavy clay soils which waterlog easily and drain poorly should be avoided. Generally, the more dwarfing the rootstock, the greater the need for soil fertility. Needs full sun for maximum flower and fruit production. More than one variety must be planted in order to facilitate best pollination and subsequent fruit production. For basic cultural information on the growing of apples, see Home Fruit Production, Apples (University of Missouri Extension publication G6021), which is available for inspection or purchase at the Kemper Center Information Desk.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

Apple trees do not grow particularly well on their own roots. As a result, apple varieties sold in commerce today have all been grafted onto rootstocks which, inter alia, control the size of the tree. Rootstocks are generally classified as follows (tree height in parenthesis): dwarf (8-10'), semi-dwarf (12-15') and standard (18-25' or more). All trees bear full-size fruit, however. Most trees sold today for the home apple grower are grafted onto dwarfing rootstocks (dwarf or semi-dwarf), resulting in trees which, in comparison to standard trees, are (1) easier to manage (spray, prune and harvest) and (2) produce fruit at an earlier age. 'Braeburn' is a popular apple cultivar which may be purchased on a number of different rootstocks. The 'Braeburn' tree growing at the Kemper Center is grafted to a semi-dwarf rootstock which limits its growth to 12-15' tall. This cultivar features white blossoms which appear in spring and are followed by large, red apples with a balanced flavor, which ripen in mid-October (USDA Zone 5).

Problems:

This cultivar is susceptible to cedar apple rust, apple scab and powdery mildew, and is very susceptible to fire blight. Potential insect pests include aphids, maggots, codling moth, plum curculio and spider mites. Regardless of disease resistance levels, good cultural practices are always essential and some chemical spraying may become necessary in order to control pests.

Uses:

This apple cultivar is pruned and grown primarily with a view toward producing quality fruit, and its ornamental features are usually considered secondary. It should be grouped in a sunny location with other apple varieties. Spring apple blossoms and fall fruit add color and interest to the landscape.

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