Apples could reverse farmers’ fortunes

Mr Erick Banana has over 300 apple trees on three acres. Photos by Geoffrey Sseruyange.

What you need to know:

Commercial apple trees consist of two parts that are grafted together to form the tree. The “scion” is the top portion that branches and bears fruit and is grafted onto a “rootstock”.

Growing apple trees in the home garden can be fun and rewarding because it can provide your family with both income and nourishment. However, there are several factors you have to consider before planting for a big apple harvest.

Erick Mbarara is a model farmer cultivating three acres at Byaruhinda, Kamuganguzi Sub-county in Kabale District since 2001 and earns up to Shs18m from over 300 fruit trees. “I started with four apple trees but I multiplied to 100 trees per acre. There are two seasons in a year, with each tree yielding about 200 apples every year. We sell fruits in kilogrammes and also sell grafted trees,” he says. Apple variety and rootstock, site selection, proper planting, training and pruning, adequate fertility and pest control all contribute to healthy and productive trees.

Commercial apple trees consist of two parts that are grafted together to form the tree. The “scion” is the top portion that branches and bears fruit and is grafted onto a “rootstock”. The type of fruit is determined by the scion variety.

The rootstock can be a “seedling”, which produces a full size or standard tree, or the rootstock can be “size-controlled” or “dwarfing”, which produces a tree that is smaller than full size. Farmers say the rootstock determines the relative size of the tree but does not affect the type or quality of fruit the tree bears. “Different rootstocks are desirable because they can control the size of the apple tree, reduce the time the tree takes to bear fruit, and may offer some pest resistance,” says the farmer. Mr Mbarara says the tree size is relative and is shown as a percentage of the size that the tree would be at a full size seedling root-stock.

He adds that soil fertility and pruning can determine tree size, and therefore influence tree spacing. He says that apples require land with highland soils and the distance between trees is three metres by three, for trees planted in good, fertile soils and optimum growing conditions. The mature tree ranges between 12 to 20 feet tall, depending on the variety.

Ezra Kyomukama, a farmer in Nyamiyaga, Kitumba Sub-county, grows apples on two acres, which he says take four years to harvest. “A tree can bear fruit and also give you seedlings which you can then sell,” he says, adding that apple growing is challenging because it’s expensive to acquire seedlings and buds.

The variety of apples selected should be based on fruit characteristics, bloom time and pollen compatibility. Pascal Bizimana, a retired agricultural officer, says apples are temperate crops that do well in cold weather, so places like Kabale are ideal. “They grow in highland areas which are cold. Apple growing needs bi-model rainfall pattern that falls twice a year. They also require a lot of agronomy which is done manually because they need enough sunlight to be able to yield good fruits,” says Bizimana.

Grafted fruit trees take two and half years to yield fruit; “But the yields increase as the tree grows older.” Bizimana says the new crop that realised its harvest in Kabale in 2004 is grown in a few sub counties; “The more land and crops one has, the more earnings expected,” he says.

“It is a good crop because the yields are good and given the limited land, apples are one of the high yielding crops that can deliver prosperity to local people,” said David Bahati, the Ndorwa West Constituency MP, during his visit to one of the farms. He says the biggest challenges are the birds that feed on the fruit and the cost of the seedlings.

Requirements

You will need to plant at least two varieties of apple trees together in order to maximise fruit production and quality. Make sure the varieties you choose have overlapping bloom dates, so that they bloom at the same time.

•Apple trees require a lot of sunshine and should be planted where the trees will not be shaded by large trees or buildings. Follow tree spacing guidelines that pertain to the rootstock you have chosen. Do not plant trees near wooded areas or streams to avoid animal damage. Prior to planting, remove weeds either manually or with an approved herbicide that will not harm the young tree.

•If you are planting the tree on a lawn, remove the grass from the planting area in a four-foot diameter circle. Grass competes with young trees for available water and nutrients and can significantly reduce tree growth and productivity.