Apple ‘Gala’

These trees are self fertile, but fruit set will be improved if more than one tree is grown. They should be positioned close to another to encourage cross pollination. Plant apple trees directly into well drained, sunny borders that have been enriched with well rotted manure or garden compost. When planting apple trees in containers, repot into 30cm pots in a well drained, soil based compost such as John Innes No. 3. Plant trees at the same soil level as they were in their original pots and firm them into their new containers. Water well and position in full sun.

Feed and water mini fruit trees regularly throughout the summer. Remove some of the fruit in the first year to allow the tree to focus some of its energy towards growing strong stems as well as fruit. Mini apples require only light pruning in Spring to keep their shape. If flower buds are obvious, try not to prune them away as these will form the fruit crop later in the year. In spring, while the ground is moist, apply a mulch of well rotted manure or garden compost to the base of trees grown directly in borders. This will help to retain moisture throughout the summer.Container grown plants will require repotting into increasingly larger pots up to 60cm (2′) diameter as they increase in size.