Fruit trees are a long-term commitment, and a long-term food provider. I planted our apple and pear trees in the spring of 1983 - 38 years ago - and they are still very productive. Properly maintained apple trees can live 100 years. It is nice getting bushels of free fruit every fall.

G'day James, it makes me jealous to see all those apples sitting proudly on your trees without nets etc. Unfortunately, here in the subtropics, we are limited in what varieties we can grow and then we have to deal with the fruit fly and many other animals that target apple crops. Good to see you hitting it out of the park (some of those apples are as big as softballs). Cheers :)

Nothing brings more joy than harvesting your own produce. I watched this video with a smile from start to finish. 👍🌺🇦🇺

Hi James, I am from Trinidad 🇹🇹 and I have been watching your channel for years but this is the first time I've got the courage to make a comment. Although most of the stuff you plant doesn't grow in my country I really enjoy watching so thank you. I don't have space for a food forest but I really wish I did cuz your videos are so inspiring and Tuck just makes it even better. I am so surprised that he loves eating vegetables. Keep up the good work 👏

We planted 3 apple trees this past spring and this video has been so helpful -- thank you so much for all that you and Tuck do to help new gardeners!

Your enthusiasm for gardening is contagious. Keep up the great work!

Hi James, just wanted to say thank you for all the years of amazing inspirational, entertaining, informing, and uplifting content! Watching you interact and showcase your passion literally helped me get over my fear of the camera and show my own gardening off for those of us in the Southern Hemisphere. You are a gem! Not to mention you saved me a truckload of money in garden beds!!! ❤

William's pride and enterprise are my first two apple trees. They're growing great on a g890 rootstock (which is also disease resistant). Disease resistant is really important to me. It's nice not worrying as much about fireblight ripping through your trees... Orange pippin trees has an amazing selection of trees and you can generally get some of the premium rootstock varieties. I plant all my bare-root trees whenever they show up in late winter / early spring. Just dig your holes early if your ground is going to be frozen. :) There's a ton of things to think about for apple selection, here's a few thoughts. Most apples are diploid and good pollinators (but you still have some variation in bloom time, sometimes put into different groups). Triploid apples (i.e. Jonagold, Ashmeads Kernel, Liberty) are a bit trickier. They can't pollinate other trees and will need 2 different diploid trees to set fruit (or one self-fertile apple variety or a crabapple). Some apples are self fertile but most don't seem to be. We put in a crabapple to serve as an additional source of pollen and help ensure good fruit set. You can also graft your trees if bloom time / fruit set is a concern. Beyond that there's a bunch of other things to think about - chilling hours? Heat tolerance? When does the apple ripen? How long does it keep? Flavor - sweet / sharp? How firm is the fruit? Rootstocks are almost as important - some of the smaller rootstocks are pretty weakly rooted and you might have to permanently stake your trees so they don't fall over under the weight of fruit or in a wind storm. Usually the semi-standard (large semi-dwarf) and standard / seedling rootstocks are very well rooted and it's not a concern. As another tip, I'd highly recommend pruning your spur-bearing trees in the summer (as well as a usual winter pruning). The summer pruning totally helps with spur (fruit wood) growth, and you can also use it to manage vigor. My apples are open center, they're growing great.

Hey Prigioni, I just wanted to thank you with all my heart for your channel. I love watching you because you have so much enthusiasm and it seems like you’ve mastered a lot of the things that you grow. I’ve been growing heirloom tomatoes for the last five years straight because my dad turned me onto them. So this year after being inspired by you I found a good person on craigslist who had some bamboo and I am now in the 10 foot tall bamboo club. I think it’s an excellent idea I’ve been using his little dinky stakes from big box stores for way too long they’re just not big enough. Also I thought it was an awesome tip to plant the tomato sideways I had a buddy telling me plan them deeper and put rocks in the bottom of the hole and that would increase the root size. But I think your way is gonna work a lot better I don’t know why didn’t think of that. Also thanks for the Mykos tip. Your food forest looks awesome keep it up real good to see some healthy live in coming out here take care man if you’re ever out in California give me a call. I’ll hook you up with some of my tomatoes.

It's January 24, 2022 and preparing myself for delivery from Raintree Nursery. I have my son and daughter and friend from church on stand by to plant 120 Trees, Bushes and bare root( strawberry, Sweet potato) PLUS 80 to 100 direct seed tasks. I cut my planting plans in half when I watched one of your video's describing the conditions of wood chips after 6 months. WISH ME LUCK!!! HUGS FOR TUCK AND A HIGH FIVE FOR YOU JAMES.

"I feel so Blessed and Thankful". Love it - THAT's how your joy just radiates! :D

Friend taught me " put a $10 tree in a $50 hole" meaning prep is important

Hi James! I hope you and Tuck are enjoying the week and all it's blessings!

I’ve been watching this guy for over 10 years. .

I’ve been waiting to plant an apple tree for our house and I’m glad I got to see your video before investing in a tree. I’m excited to get it ready during the fall to plant in spring, I appreciate you being real and showing us what you use! Much Aloha 🌺💚

I see happiness in your face while you’re explaining how you focus in your fruit bearing trees ❤️ and I know that’s the best feeling when you can harvest already 🥰

This video made my heart melt during harvest time 🍎 you're like a kid in a candy store, I love it

Great video James! Never missed your videos… because of you I got myself 9 garden beds. First year doing gardening.

James, your significant other is really lucky to have you and Tuck. Enjoy all your videos. LaNita

My Flaming Fury peach which was planted last year, produced a single peach this year (unexpectedly) and we ate it today. It was really good. Definitely the best peach I have had. Most of my fruit trees (peach, sweet cherry, apple) were planted last year or this spring but the peach we had today is just a preview of what will come in the years ahead.

Nothing better then reaping what you sow. pawpaw trees actually like staying wet but they're probably the hardest fruit to grow in my experience.

Ooh this is useful because my apple seeds just sprouted. Thank you for this wonderful video

I can feel the enthusiasm for plants this guy has.

I love watching your chips harvest agricultural products

Hi James!🖐 Thanks for sharing your amazing tips in growing apple trees!👏 Enjoy all your fantastic videos and tips!👏 I just purchased three fruit trees (Golden Delicious & Pink Lady apple trees and a Elberta Peach tree) this Spring (2021) and potted them in 18 gallon containers for now. The Japanese beetles started eating a few of the apple tree leaves but really homed in the the peach tree leaves. When they discovered my rose of sharon bush flowering, they changed and went for that. I was happy about that because I no longer had to capture and put them in a sudsy bucket of water! Blessings to you and Tuck!♥️ 🦋8/12/2021🦋

I've had issues with hornets and wasps attacking apples as they ripen. Once a hornet discovers your tree they keep coming back (with friends). For me, the solution was a kind of bottle that has a raised hole in the bottom. You put a mixture of white (malt) vinegar and sugar inside, close the top and hang it in the tree. The hornets/wasps are attracted to the bait rather than the apples and can't escape because the bottle is clear.

Thanks for yet another great video! I have already started checking out Raintree Nursery for my next tree and berry additions to my fledgling food forest. You and Tuck are true inspirations!

James, Once you have tried all the other possible solutions you then need to move to the next level. I understand you not wanting to use the sulfur, I wouldn't want to either. BUT sometimes you need to to set a crop to have a harvest. You never sprayed anything for the Plum Curcuilo _ you just tried to make the best of it and work around it. Now that you can use Surround, which is just natural Koalin clay, you are. You are a great example and an inspiration to us all. Tuck is the very best Garden Manager ever! Love how Tuck checks the produce to make sure it is of the highest quality before he let's you try it -- Hard working and self-sacrificing, he's the best!! Marjorie

Thank you for being so informative!!! I'm in Bergen County, NJ and your channel helped me so much! I've done my very first veggie/fruit garden!!!! I've been harvesting as everything grows. I go to Alpine Nursery in Belleville - they're great!!!

Thank you and I love your garden! Early spring flowers under the trees, such as: hyacinth, tulips, daffodils, and also nearby planted bushes like forsythia and witch hazel are helping the trees pollination. Bee hives and white acacia are the combo we use on the Balkans for the orchards. Tagetes and calendula under the peaches and apricots are must against aphidis.

Those apples look DELICIOUS!!

Beautiful! Thanks for all the great info and I love how you’re so grateful! That is why GOD blesses you with such abundance! Hi, Tuck!

Aside from just being so darn knowledgeable, your energy is infectious! Thank you for these videos!

Blessings to all!

I moved to NC from NJ and started a garden. Having problems with grasses over growing 😣. I need to get more mulch. But!!!! I was telling one of my patients about your channel and she started laughing saying yours is the only channel she listens to!!!!! Just know your amazing influence is reaching so many of us and we love you and Tuck. Your joy and enthusiasm is so inspiring and brings so much happiness!!! Thank you, James!!!!! And TUCK!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️

I ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE A APPLE TREE, IT'S BEAUTIFUL!!!

Thank you for this! We just moved to our farm last week! Leaving our 5 year BTE established property for 34 acres farther north! Looking forward to ordering trees from this nursery for next spring!

Greetings from Texas. James and Tuck are always a breath of fresh air. We love this channel.

James and Tuck, thank you so much for this information! I've been wanting to grow fruit trees but wasn't sure how to go about it. This video (as all of them) was very informative, interesting and helpful! Thank you!🙃❤

Thank you for all the helpful apple seletion, maintenance and harvesting tips.

ROCK THAT MID-ATLANTIC 7A CLIMATE ZONE!!!!!

I planted 2 dwarf trees this spring. A Williams Pride and Liberty on your recommendation from Raintree. Great video.

The whitish color on the outside of your fruit is called the 'Bloom' of the fruit. It is a wax like coating that is made by the fruit to protect it from water loss. Ain't Nature Grand! Marjorie

Thank you for your video I learned a lot of how to get rid off the worms from my trees

This information was pure gold. Thanks, James!

what a blessed man with a blessed harvest, your hard work pays much!

Watching your videos makes my day better it is so relaxing and educational. Thanks bro 🤜

You did it! I am so proud of you frfr. Thank you.

Great video, very clear and passionate about how to get apple trees INTO THE GROUND. Clearly becoming a more confident presenter with each and every video, great guide to the green thumb lifestyle!

I'm jealous watching how happy you are while harvesting your best & delicious apples❤❤❤

LETS GO!!! I was hoping you would do an apple video at some point. I’ve been struggling with disease and pest as well while trying to remain organic. Thank you for sharing your methods. I will definitely apply.

Gorgeous apples...love how excited you are about veggies and fruit. It's so fun to grow your own❤️ and organic.❤️

James, I don’t know what’s better, your intros or your content ha! Love you channel and thanks for providing such relevant content. Let’s Go!

Every time i see someone who harvest apple in their backyard is such a stress reliever for me.

I would love ❤️ to grow apple trees 🌳 and other fruit 🍇 trees 🌲 , your produce is amazing 💯❣️

I LOVE watching and learning from you. My son, granddaughter and HER daughter WILL EAT FROM A FOOD FOREST BECAUSE OF YOU❣️❤️👏🏻😊😎🦩🌴👍🏻🌺 Imagine THAT for a moment!!!!! Or longer 😁❣️

You are so smart James.Thank you for helping us to become self suffcient...what we all need to be in this world.

I finally will harvest apples and pears this year. I'm so excited 😊 Thanks for the helpful tips.

I love you and Tuck. Y'all are such avid gardeners. Thanks so much.

Hi James .. I'm going to grow some fruit trees when I relocate to zone 7 in the spring. Your channel is a wonderful source of knowledge for me. You certainly have found your calling in life, and keep up the good work !!

your garden is an inspiration - honestly - and your energy is osm - great motivation

Long term sustainability is a challenge I wish more folks attempted. One things all folks have in common is food.

Thanks for the guide love your videos and I can really see your passion for gardening especially when you and your assistant (tuck) are harvesting！

Hey James, and Tuck from Mid Wales, UK. Just love your enthusiasm, it has such a feel-good factor! I wonder if we could actually put chopped garlic in between the rows of plants to keep slugs and cabbage whites away, or grow it between all the plants - just a thought from a previous video of yours I watched earlier. I'm always trying out new ideas and doing little experiments in my garden. Recently I took cuttings from my sweet potato foliage, put them in water and they produced roots. Maybe it is a cheap way of making slips, as in the UK it takes months for them to grow and they are very expensive to buy-in. Anyway, keep it up, my friend. Keep smiling and take good care.

Thanked James, Tuck is absolutely so Adorable!

Your a proud papa. Thanks to all your growing tips I harvested beautiful Cauliflower and Broccoli shared with my neighbors and nice Fumes 💟

Love the apples but i love Tuck more he's such a cute little dog

Hi James. Trying to grow a golden delicious and a crab apple tree in North Florida. The crab apple will pollinate with the golden delicious just fine, right? You have the ideal yard! Thanks for the tips!

I love your gratitude. Its amazing.

Thank you! Just planted our first ‘triple-play’ apple tree last year. Great tips!!

Great video! Thank you James and Tuck

you help us so much ! all the world, climate change and reconnecting people with nature - and you purify me and I have a dream a vision which slowly I'll try to manifest to the world as education is most important at this moment and you are one of this great teachers! we can create world wide movement through planting healthy seeds :)

Hi James...thanks for this. Stay healthy.

Thanks!

The video we needed!! Thanks James! 🙏🙏🙏

Thank you for that advice. When I get the space I will give this a try.

Thank you James, lots of good info!

I and my three year old grandson. He enjoys a lot with your cute dog.

Thanks for sharing I will do this this year.

Brilliant information I planted fruit trees last year wish I had this knowledge then. Thank you.

About 67% of the fruit grown in the U.S. is for fresh consumption, while 33% is used for apple products, such as juices, applesauce, and slices.

Just ordered my first apple trees. Can’t wait to plant in the spring

I Got A Lot Of Knowledge Today And You Are Bless Thank You For Blessing Us

I learned my family has an apple named after them bcuz great great grandpa brought it as seeds to Hawaii from Portugal called Bugado apples. I've been looking for it and now watching your videos is helping me prepare for if or when I find it by considering your tips! Maybe now I'm getting prepared it will show up 😊 TY so much for your informative channel ❤

I feel you on the whole being greedy thing. I lost 32 pears about a month or so ago because I wanted to get all the pears I could. The morning I decided I was gonna string up that branch, it snapped a few hours later. I was able to ripen and can some, but most didn't do well.

Prepping for apples trees. Thank you!!

Stunning apple!

Everything looks good!

Excellent info James. Thanks again 🦋🐞🐝

Wow love that old rose kind of an apple💗😊💐😊

Beautiful harvest!

So knowledgeable. Thanks so much!

Thank you, love your garden.

Great video amigo. Excellent and simple explanation of how to do the right thing in the orchard. I love how you keep those apple trees and other fruits.superb presentation.

Save your spurs! Don't pull apples off the tree, you kinda have to pivot the apple around the stem-spur junction and it should just pop off cleanly. Stefan Sobkowiak - The Permaculture Orchard has an excellent video on how to carefully harvest apples. Spurs are really long lived (10 years or more), don't beat them up :)

that william pride apples were fantastic

Wow beautiful Apples

so much info as usual, Thanks James

Those apples look great! Thank you for all the useful information I plan on using them this spring. Thanks for the video- Mechelle Olson

So many tips for apples here. It's always the energy in your delivery for me.😄😄