How to Grow and Care for Early Harvest Apple Tree

Plant Care

Low maintenance and adaptable, the Early Harvest Apple Tree grows well in various conditions. When cared for properly, it rewards growers with early, abundant harvests season after season.

Light

This apple tree requires full sun to bear its best fruit. This means shooting for at least 6-8 hours of full sun per day. Inadequate light can make the tree leggy, or result in fewer apples or weaker branches. Wherever it is planted, make sure it gets full unobstructed sun all day, especially if it’s near buildings or other larger trees.

Soil

It grows best in rich, well-draining soil that has a pH between 5.8 and 6.3. It will not tolerate heavy clay or overly wet soil that can lead to root rot. If soil is too compacted, incorporate organic matter, sand or compost to increase drainage. Apply mulch around the base to help retain moisture (water your plant well first) and keep weeds out.

Watering

Watering is particularly important for young trees. Newly planted apple trees should be watered deeply once or twice a week, ensuring the soil stays evenly moist but not soggy. Mature trees are more resistant to drought, but still appreciate deep watering during drought periods. Do not overhead water because this can lead to fungal diseases. Instead, use soaker hose or drip irrigation at the base.

Pruning

Regular pruning is important for the health and shape and fruit production of trees. 

When to prune: Late winter or early spring before new growth.

Begin by removing any dead, damaged, or unhealthy branches. Then, thin areas that are crowded to allow better air circulation, which helps reduce the threat of fungal diseases like apple scab. Young trees should be pruned for a central leader, or one statistically significant trunk with competing branches pruned. Spaced and structured branches give better exposure to the sun and bigger fruits.

A little annual pruning each year will help keep mature trees productive. Suckers (shoots that grow from the base) and water sprouts (vigorous vertical shoots) are removed so that the tree doesn’t put energy into unnecessary growth and can focus its energy on producing fruit.

Propagating

The Early Harvest Apple Tree is typically propagated through grafting, as apple trees grown from seed rarely produce fruit true to the parent plant.  However, it can be repropagated via cuttings or budding techniques.

• Grafting is a process of introducing a healthy branch from the mature tree (scion) onto a compatible rootstock. This technique promotes vigorous root development and stable fruiting traits. 
• Budding, a type of grafting, uses only a single bud, rather than a whole branch, and is done in late summertime.

If you want to experiment, sometimes you can use air-layering or rooting cuttings, although this tends to have a lower success rate than grafting. Whatever the method, propagating apple trees takes years, and you may wait quite a while before a new tree bears fruit.

Growing in Pots

Just have a small area, and an Early Harvest Apple Tree will do well in a large container. Make sure the pot is a minimum of 18-24 inches wide and deep to accommodate root growth.

Use a well-draining potting mix and position the container in a full-sun spot. Potted trees dry out quicker, so check soil moisture frequently and water as needed. While apple trees in the ground can also generally benefit from annual pruning, it is more critical in container-grown apple trees; it keeps the apple trees to a manageable size. In the spring, feed them with a balanced fruit tree fertilizer to promote healthy growth and fruiting.

Overwintering

Early Harvest Apple Trees can survive harsh winters in cold climates, but young trees do well with added protection. Insulate the roots with mulch around the base made from straw or wood chips. You can prevent sunscald and damage from rodents by wrapping the trunk with tree guards or burlap.

If planting in a container, move pots to an unheated garage or basement in winter to protect roots from freezing conditions. If left outside, insulate the pot and do not set it directly on concrete, which can exacerbate cold contact.

Blooming & Fruit Production

This variety of apple tree is one of the earliest to flower, developing fragrant white flowers in early spring to attract bees and other pollinators. It is partially self-pollinating and can set fruit on its own, but will greatly increase its fruit production when another apple tree is planted in the vicinity — varieties like Gala, Granny Smith and Red Delicious.

Once pollinized, the tree grows fruit very quickly (with apples maturing as quickly as June or July depending on your climate). Picking properly is crucial— apples must be firm, slightly yellow and come off the branch easily with a twist. If left on the tree too long, they can overripen and turn mealy.

Common Issues

As with all apple trees, Early Harvest may suffer from pests and diseases. Common problems include:

• Apple Scab & Powdery Mildew — Do not overhead water and thin for airflow. Using organic fungicides can be beneficial.
• Codling Moths & Apple Maggots – Use sticky traps or organic sprays as deterrents.
• Fire Blight – If branches look blackened and shriveled, prune infected parts right away to prevent spreading.
• Deer & Rodents – Use tree guards or fencing to keep young trees from being nibbled on.

A well cared and regularly observed tree will be a healthier tree and produce a more abundant harvest.

Summary

No home orchard will be complete without the Early Harvest Apple Tree, with its early fruiting, large cropping and beautiful flavours. Whether you grow it in the ground or a container, this tree will dote on you with seasons of crisp, homegrown apples, weeks ahead of the rest.