Sulphate of potash - too late?

Hi all,

Just a quick one. I have recently been allocated an allotment and have transplanted my apple tree from home down there. It was in a pot in my back garden.

It has started budding and even has a few flowers on it. Is it too late to apply sulphate if potash around the base?

Cheers

 

Not at all, it's water soluble so will be washed down to the roots

 

Thank you very much, that's a job for tomorrow then

 

Sorry Craig, missed the main thrust of that message

 

I think you would have been better applying bonemeal when planting, it makes for good root growth.
Potash is for fruit development, and this year you really want it to put down a good root system for the future rather than expecting a good crop of apples.

 

Congratulations on the new allotment @Craig1987.

As for your newly transplated apple tree, I wouldn't expect much (if any) fruit this year, as trees get quite upset about being uprooted when they're awake. If it were mine, priority would go to keeping it very well watered over at least the next few weeks. No matter how careful you were, you will have damaged the roots when you dug it up and moved it. The tree's survival mechanism now will make it divert energy from top growth to root regeneration. Its damaged roots have to support the whole tree. It may sacrifice some leaves if it has to, but I certainly wouldn't expect it to expend energy on fruit production.

I think apart from loads of water, I'd lean towards Pete's advice to feed the roots, so I'd be leaning more towards high phosphorous than potassium/potash for this year. That said, I'm being a bit of a hypocrite because what I'd actually do is give it a load of manure for feed and mulch, and loads of water.

 

I didn't even think about using bonemeal, schoolboy error there!

I don't think the plant will even realise it's been moved. I bought it last year as a small plant covered in leaves from Lidl for £10. I planted it in a pot where it grew a few new branches.

We took it down to the allotment on Friday. I dug a large hole, put a nice layer of compost in the base and then we removed it from the pot. It came out in one lump. It was out straight in the ground, firmed in and then given a good drink. I went down again the day after where it still had all of its leaves and flower buds.

I will keep an eye on it. I will take your advice and feed it phosphorous instead for this year.

Ps. I created a thread in the allotments section. I'm keeping a diary in there. I'm due a major update

 

Ah now that's different. I missed the point about it being in a container. I thought it had been dug out of the ground and moved.

Still, loads of water though.

 

Do you know what rootstock it is on? Might be a dwarfing rootstock better suited to container growing than "field" ...

I wish Lidl et al didn't flog Apples - makes people make a snap decision without considering the longer term - which requires right rootstock, a pollination partner (different variety that flowers at same time - even self fertile varieties benefit significantly from a pollination partner) and, lastly, important to buy a variety that you like to eat - otherwise you spend a couple of years growing it, until you get a fruit, before you can decide if you like it or not - and if you don't its two year's growing lost :(

Apple trees yield a crop worth about £10 p.a. so paying anything up to £15-£20 from a specialist nursery - that helps folk choose the right variety for soil type / rootstock etc. is a better bed IMHO.

Sorry about the rat - not aimed at you - its just that I have read on the forums this year of loads of people buying fruit trees for a few quid from the discount-shifters and nearly all of them have not made informed choices ...