Cortland Apple is a mid-late season bloomer that ripens in late September. It’s an older selection with white flesh and red skin. It is excellent for cider, cooking, and eating. While mostly used for fruit production, apples have lovely blossoms in spring that attract pollinators. Semi-dwarf apple trees are easier to maintain, making them the perfect fit for a home orchard or edible landscape.
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GROWING ZONES
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4 – 7
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|---|---|
| Attracts Bees | yes |
| Attracts Birds | yes |
| Attracts Butterflies | yes |
| Bloomtime | Spring |
| Deer Resistant | no |
| Edible | yes |
| Fall Color | yellow |
| Flower Color | white |
| Fruit Color | red |
| Garden Uses | specimen, fresh |
| Leaf Color | green |
| Plant Size | 12-15′ x 12-15′ |
| Soil Conditions | Normal |
| Sunlight | Full Sun |
Plant Features & Videos
What Does a Bare Root Plant Look Like?
How to Plant and Care for a Bare Root
How Do We Dig Our Bare Root Plants?
Planting and Care
Planting & Care for Edible Plants – Apples
Preparation
- Apple trees need well-drained soil that’s not too wet. They like soils that are moderately rich and retain moisture as well as air. Use mulch combined with straw, hay, or some other organic material to keep soil moist and provide nutrients as they decompose.
- Be sure to choose a sunny site. For best fruiting, an apple tree needs “full sunlight,” (6-8 hours of direct summer sun daily). The best exposure for apples is a north or east facing areas.
- Spring planting is recommended in central and northern areas. Where fall and winter weather is generally mild and moist, fall planting is successful.
- Proper spacing for each size tree is important. Semi dwarf – 12-15’ of space, dwarf – 8-10’ spacing, and standard apple trees 30-35’ of space.
- Dwarf varieties will need some type of support to grow.
Opening Plant Material
- Bare Root – Cut open the bundle (top and roots are tied) and separate all the plants. Soak roots in buckets of water until planted (soak for at least 24 hours). Each plant type will be labeled separately for identification. Do not expose the roots to sun. They should never dry out. Keep roots covered. All bare-root plants must be trimmed when planted. Be aware that when you receive your plant it’s in a state of dormancy and will look very bare, this is normal.
Planting Bare Root
- Dig a hole at least 6″ wider and the same depth as the root mass. The crown or graft of the plant should be slightly higher than ground level where it was grown at the nursery.
- Trim off the broken roots and branches.
- Do not use any fertilizer packets as this many “burn” your plant.
- Spread the roots and fill halfway with soil, then water until soil settles completely saturating the soil and planting pit.
- Re-adjust plant and fill the hole with the rest of the soil.
- Back-fill the balance of the soil and water well.
- Scroll to the bottom and click on the orange rectangular box “Handling & Plant Guidelines” to see an illustration on planting bare root plants.
Pruning – After planting (young tree)
- Be sure not to heavily prune your plant too soon. Follow the instruction below for how to prune right away.
- Prune and remove any broken or damaged branches or roots from shipment.
- Remove branches that may be too low. This will also help promote faster top growth.
- Additional pruning to help in transplanting can be achieved by selectively removing branches that are too close or otherwise might not be proportionate with the rest of the tree.
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