How To Grow Fortune Apple Trees Best Practices For

Care Instructions for Fortune Apple Trees

Ever consume a Fortune apple? You’re losing out if not. You might want to consider cultivating your own Fortune apple trees because Fortune apples have a very distinct, spicy flavor that is not found in other apple cultivars. Information about growing and caring for Fortune apple trees can be found in the following article.

Information on the Fortune Apple Tree

The New York State Agricultural Experiment Station at Cornell University has been creating new apple cultivars for more than 125 years. Among these is Fortune, a 1995 cross of Northern Spy’s red variation Schoharie Spy and Empire. Fortune is a relatively new development. It’s important to distinguish these late-season apples from Sister of Fortune or Laxton’s Fortune cultivars. Fortune apples, as previously mentioned, have a distinct spicy flavor that leans more toward tartness than sweetness.

The apple has medium-sized green and red flesh that is creamy in color and firm yet juicy. This cultivar was created with growers in the United States’ northern regions in mind. Though it keeps well in storage, up to four months if refrigerated, it hasn’t gained much traction in the commercial market, perhaps because it has more qualities of an old-fashioned heirloom apple.

The fact that it is a biennial producer is another factor contributing to its low popularity. In addition to being delicious when eaten raw, fortune apples also work well when cooked into pies, applesauce, and juice.

How to Raise Fortune Apples

Plant your Fortune apple trees in the spring to ensure optimal growth. Choose a location that receives six or more hours of direct sunlight per day, rich soil, and good drainage. Create a hole that is roughly two feet (61 cm) deep and twice the diameter of the root system. Use a shovel or fork to scrape down the sides of the hole. If the roots have dried out, soak them in a bucket of water for up to 24 hours. Make sure the tree’s roots are not twisted or packed tightly inside the hole before carefully loosening them. After positioning the tree such that its graft union is at least 2 inches (5 cm) above the soil line and the tree is straight, start filling in the hole. Tamp down the soil as you add more soil to the hole to eliminate any air pockets. Give the tree plenty of water.

Apple Tree Care Services in Fortune

When planting, avoid fertilizing to avoid burning the roots. One month after planting, fertilize newly planted trees with a high-nitrogen fertilizer. Reapply fertilizer in May and June.

Fertilize the apple in the spring and once more in April, May, and June of the following year. Make sure to space fertilizer applications at least 6 inches (15 cm) from the tree’s trunk. To train a tree, prune it when it is young. To reshape the tree, prune back the scaffold branches. Pruning should be done annually to get rid of any branches that are dead, diseased, or crossing over. During dry spells, give the tree two good weekly waterings. Mulch the area around the tree as well to help it retain moisture and discourage weed growth, but make sure the mulch stays away from the tree trunk.