Apples

Fruit number in apple trees results from a variety of factors, including planting density, orchard system, pruning and thinning practices and also crop nutrition.

Apples size is influenced crop nutrition together with pruning and thinning practices. Size is a critical characteristic for grading apples. A minimal size is required on all grades and evenly shaped and sized fruit are desired for all markets.

Crop nutrition plays an important role on increasing apple weight. Apple weight is an important element for increasing yields. Provided that a desired quality is maintained, the aim of growers is to produce heavier fruits.

Colour of the skin is a very appealing apple quality to consumers. Therefore, growers generally seek to improve fruit colouration. Crop nutrition can help to achieve the desired appearance.

Nutrition can influence apple firmness. Nitrogen, potassium and calcium are the most important nutrients.

Many disease-causing pathogens attack apple trees often leading to rotten fruit and storage rots. A balanced crop nutrition programme leads to a more robust, heathier tree more able to resist infection.