Apples

Overview

Apples are a popular fruit crop with almost 16,000 acres planted in Ontario. Popular varieties grown in Ontario include:

• Gala
• Honeycrisp
• McIntosh
• Ambrosia

General

Organic production

Orchard management

• Disease-resistant apple cultivars

  Learn about apple scab-resistant cultivars.

• Plant growth regulators

  Learn about chemicals to modify plant growth.

• Apogee®

  Learn about this plant bioregulator for apples.

• Apple rootstocks

  Learn how appropriate rootstocks can improve the economics of growing apples.

• Rootstock soil study

  Learn about commercial rootstocks and their soil suitability.

• Honeycrisp rootstock study

  Learn about the rootstocks that can be used with Honeycrisp apples.

• Pruning fruit trees

  Learn techniques to maximize fruit tree production.

• Dormant pruning

  Learn techniques to improve fruit size.

• Multi-leader trees

  Learn about the advantages and how to train your trees.

• Thinning of tree fruit

  Learn about thinning options to improve your orchard.

Irrigation

• Irrigation during water shortages

  How to use equipment efficiently and deal with water shortages.

• Permits to take water

  Get, renew or update a permit to take more than 50,000 litres of water.

• Irrigation scheduling for fruit crops

  Learn about sprinkler systems and which one suits your needs.

• Drip irrigation for high density orchards

  Learn about set up, design components, maintenance and scheduling.

• Good irrigation practices

  Learn the risks and protect your water to improve on-farm food safety.

Soil, fertility and crop nutrition

• AppleIPM

  Get information on nutrition, soil, and disease and pest management.

• Publication 611: Soil Fertility Handbook

  Guide on soil fertility and how to sample and test soil.

• Guide to soil and nutrition for fruit crops

  How to develop a soil fertility program that works for your crops.

• Soil management

  Learn about the ideal soil properties for orchards.

• Nutrient management

  Resources on manure, biosolids and more.

• Bitter pit control in apples

  Learn about this disorder that can cause serious losses.

Pollination

• Pollination tips and tricks

  Learn strategies for using honeybees to pollinate your orchard.

• Wild bees in apple orchards

  Learn how wild bees contribute to pollination.

• Crabapple pollenizers for apples

  Learn about pollen transfer, source, location and ratio.

Pest management

• CropIPM

  Information to help you identify, monitor and manage pests specific to your crop.

• Crop Protection Hub

  Find pest management strategies and information on pest control products.

• Weed identification guide

  Learn how to identify and minimize their impact on your crops.

Pesticide safety

• Pesticide Label Search

  Easily access digital pesticide labels online and on your phone.

• Pesticide contamination

  Learn how to avoid contaminating well or surface water sources.

• Effective spraying

  Learn about the elements that affect spray accuracy and wastage.

• Sprayers 101

  Learn about safe, efficient and effective agricultural spraying.

• Airblast sprayers

  Learn how adjusting your sprayer can affect your crops.

• Weather conditions

  Learn how weather affects spray application and what to do.

• Farm pesticide storage facility

  Learn about safety, rules, signage, structures and more.

• Handling pesticides safely

  Learn how to avoid spills and what to do if it occurs.

• Ontario Pesticide Education Program

  Get your grower or vendor certification and find training resources.

Harvest and post-harvest

Weather and climate

• Cool growing season

  Learn how to reduce damage caused by cool weather.

• Winter injury

  Learn how to reduce damage caused by freezing.

• Frost

  Learn how to reduce damage caused by frost.

• Excessive moisture

  Learn how to reduce damage caused by rainfall or over-irrigation.

• Insufficient moisture

  Learn how to reduce damage caused by a lack of rain.

• Excessive heat

  Learn how to reduce damage caused by hot temperatures.

• Hail injury

  Learn how to reduce damage caused by hail.

• Wind damage

  Learn how to reduce damage caused by wind.

• Freeze protection

  Learn about protecting crops from frost and freezing temperatures.

• Air pollution

  Learn how to identify damage caused by air pollution.