Apple Trees in France: One-Hectare Plot Establishment and Work Schedule

Quick Read / The Essentials of the Apple Tree

The apple tree (Malus domestica) is a fruit tree widely cultivated in professional orchards for its regular production and the diversity of its varieties. To ensure successful planting and optimal production, it is essential to prepare the soil, adjust planting density, and properly manage irrigation and fertilization.

One of the key factors for a successful orchard is selecting robust and suitable plants . As a specialist wholesale supplier of apple trees , Arboriverse offers you plants carefully selected to guarantee uniform growth and optimal yield.

If you want to buy apple trees , choose to plant them between November and March , with bare roots, in well-drained and structured soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5 . The ideal spacing is 5 to 6 meters between rows and 3 to 4 meters within the row , allowing for optimal air circulation and good tree development.

Drip irrigation is an effective solution for ensuring a regular water supply, especially during the first years and during the fruit growth phase. Cross-pollination is often essential for the fruiting of apple trees: it is essential to choose compatible pollinating varieties , such as Reine des Reinettes, Golden Delicious or Idared .

Thanks to its expertise, Arboriverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of apple trees , can help you select the right varieties for your region and your needs. To maximize your return and secure your investment, choose certified plants that are the result of rigorous selection .

Typical Layout for a One Hectare Apple Tree Plot

1. Preparation of the ground

• Soil Selection: Select a well-drained, rich soil with a light, well-drained structure and a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.5-7.5). Apple trees can be grown on a variety of soil types, such as sandy, sandy loam, loamy, clayey, and humus-rich soils.
• Soil Test: Perform a soil test and adjust fertility if necessary.
• Soil work:
  • Work the soil deeply (60-80 cm) to encourage good rooting.
  • Remove weeds and incorporate compost or well-rotted manure.
• Soil amendment:
  • Adding well-rotted manure: It is sometimes also advantageous to add 20 to 30 tonnes of manure per hectare (ask an agronomist for advice).
• Improve drainage: If necessary, add a layer of gravel or coarse sand to prevent excess moisture.

2. Planting

• Planting period: Apple trees can be planted at any time of the year, but the optimal planting period is generally between November and March. Planting is done with bare roots.
• Density: Planting density can vary depending on the rootstock and training system. Trellised systems can increase planting density. An individual staking system for each apple tree is suitable for medium planting density and full wind and spindle training methods.
• Spacing: The recommended spacing is 5-6 m between rows and 3-4 m within the row, or approximately 400 to 600 trees per hectare. An optimal spacing of 8 x 5 meters in high stems can maximize vigor and productivity.
• Planting holes: Dig holes 3 to 4 times larger than the root ball.
• Tutoring:
  • Staking is recommended for 1 to 2 years for apple trees, to help form the tree structure and facilitate harvesting.
  • An individual staking system for each apple tree is suitable for medium planting density and full wind and spindle training methods. This allows for maximum yield support and resistance to the worst weather conditions. Staking is essential to support the weight of the crop and withstand strong winds, frost, and early snow on the foliage.

3. Irrigation

• Irrigation system: Installation of the irrigation system (drip recommended).
• Water requirements: It is important to make a trench basin all around the trunk to keep the irrigation water when planting and avoid watering it every day.

4. Choice of varieties

• Pollination:
  • The Claque Pépin apple tree requires a pollinator to produce fruit. To ensure good pollination, it is often recommended to plant several trees of different varieties.
  • For good pollination and optimal fruiting, it is recommended to place the Festival Rouge® Apple Tree in the company of other pollinating apple trees such as Cybèle®, Harmonie®, Delbard Jubilé®, Reine des Reinettes and Delbardivine.
  • This variety is self-sterile, so it requires compatible pollinators such as Reine des Reinettes, Douce Moën, or Fréquin Rouge to ensure abundant fruiting.
  • The Golden Delicious, Idared, and Reine des Reinettes varieties are more suitable for pollination.
• Disease resistance:
  • Choose varieties that are resistant to common diseases such as scab and mildew.
  • The Arlet apple tree is susceptible to apple scab and powdery mildew, so it is important to take protective measures against these diseases.

10-Year Work Schedule for a One-Hectare Apple Tree Plot

Year 1 (Preparation and planting)

• Autumn :
  • Soil analysis and amendments if necessary (ideal pH between 6.5 and 7.5).
  • Deep plowing (40-50 cm) and subsoiling if necessary.
  • Addition of 30-50 t/ha of composted manure.
• Winter :
  • Planting trees with a spacing of 5-6 m between rows and 3-4 m in the row (400-600 trees/ha).
• Spring :
  • Installation of the irrigation system.
  • Initial training size.
  • Starter fertilization: 30-40 g/tree of balanced NPK fertilizer.
• Summer :
  • Regular watering (15-20 L/tree/week).
  • Mechanical weeding between rows.

Year 2: Tree Training

• Winter :
  • Formative pruning (removal of low branches, selection of 3-4 main branches).
• Spring :
  • Fertilization: 50-60 g/tree of NPK fertilizer.
  • Preventive phytosanitary treatments.
• Summer :
  • Watering: 20-25 L/tree/week.
  • Manual thinning of the first fruits.

Year 3: Start of production

• Winter :
  • Light maintenance pruning.
  • Removal of dead wood.
• Spring :
  • Fertilization: 80-100 g/tree of NPK fertilizer.
  • Phytosanitary treatments.
• Summer :
  • Watering: 30-35 L/tree/week.
  • Thinning: keep 10-15 fruits/tree.
• Autumn :
  • First harvest: 2-5 kg/tree.
  • Estimated yield: 1-2 t/ha.

Year 4-5: Production Growth

• Winter :
  • Maintenance size.
  • Renewal of fruit wood.
• Spring :
  • Fertilization: 120-150 g/tree of NPK fertilizer.
  • Complete phytosanitary program.
• Summer :
  • Watering: 40-50 L/tree/week.
  • Thinning: keep 20-30 fruits/tree.
• Autumn :
  • Harvest: 8-15 kg/tree.
  • Estimated yield: 4-8 t/ha.

Years 6+: Full production

• Winter :
  • Fruiting size.
  • Removal of old branches.
• Spring :
  • Fertilization: 200-250 g/tree of NPK fertilizer.
  • Reasoned phytosanitary treatments.
• Summer :
  • Watering: 60-80 L/tree/week.
  • Thinning: keep 40-50 fruits/tree.
• Autumn :
  • Harvest: 20-30 kg/tree.
  • Optimal yield: 10-15 t/ha.

Annual recurring operations

• Phytosanitary treatment: Follow local recommendations for treatments against diseases and pests.
• Irrigation: Adapt irrigation according to needs and climatic conditions.
• Weeding: Keeping the soil clean around trees by mechanical or chemical methods.
• Fertilization: Adjust fertilization based on soil analyses and tree needs.

Pruning techniques

• Pruning can help prevent certain diseases by promoting better air circulation and removing dead or diseased branches.
• It is advisable to prune at the end of winter before the buds appear to thin out the heart of the plant and improve fruiting.
• Trigemma pruning (or "3 eyes") is an easy method to implement for apple trees.

Other recommendations

• Soil maintenance: In spring, lightly plow the base of the tree and incorporate a special fruit tree fertilizer.
• Weeding: Weed frequently to keep the soil at the base of the tree clean.
• Mulching: Lay down a natural mulch with straw or pebbles.
• Monitoring Tree Health: When purchasing seedlings, make sure the trees are healthy and well-maintained.
• Regional Adaptation: Make sure the apple varieties you offer are adapted to the specific region of your customers.

This calendar is a guide and should be adapted according to local conditions, variety specificities and field observations. Pruning and thinning are essential techniques for optimizing apple production in professional orchards.

To summarize: the Apple Tree

Apple growing relies on thoughtful planting, careful irrigation management, and optimized pollination to ensure consistent and profitable production. Well-prepared soil, balanced fertilization, and regular pruning are essential to ensure a healthy and productive orchard.

The recommended spacing in a traditional orchard is 5 to 6 meters between rows and 3 to 4 meters within the row , or a density of 400 to 600 trees per hectare . For trellised systems, the density can be increased to 1000-1500 trees/ha to optimize productivity. Staking is recommended , especially in the first few years, to stabilize the tree and facilitate its formation.

Drip irrigation provides controlled water supply , which is essential for the growth of young plants and the quality of the fruit . Thinning the fruit improves its size and quality, while avoiding excessive loading that could weaken the tree.

When it comes to pollination , most apple tree varieties require a compatible pollinator to fruit properly. Therefore, it is crucial to select varieties that are suited to your orchard. Maintenance pruning helps promote the formation of new fruiting branches and improves air circulation, thus limiting the risk of diseases such as scab and powdery mildew.

To ensure the success of your orchard, it is essential to source certified plants that are adapted to your growing conditions . Arboriverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of apple trees , supports you with rigorously selected plants to ensure sustainable and profitable production .

If you're looking to buy apple trees , we offer solutions tailored to the needs of professional arborists. Our experts will advise you on how to optimize your orchard and ensure abundant and regular harvests.