“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.”
– Martin Luther
As an ardent survivalist, arborist, and aficionado of the apple tree, you can see why this is one of my favorite quotes. The apple tree may be one of the most valuable survival tools you can have if you own land. The only downside to apple trees is they take advanced planning and you will have to wait several years or more, depending upon tree type, before you have fruit. The plus side is that you can have bushels of fruit annually with minimal work and expense, much less than planting a garden. I would like to share with you my thoughts on apple trees.
Apple Tree Variants
There are hundreds of variant apple species. From tiny crabapples to the Peasgood’s Nonesuch with apples weighing in at nearly one pound each, you can find varieties bred to grow fast, weather tolerant, disease and insect resistant, timeliness of fruit ripening (early summer to late fall), fruit durability, and, of course, taste. Besides, anytime someone grows an apple from seed, it is likely to be a variant of some type and there is no guarantee it will produce the same fruit from which it came. Apple species should be chosen for your local weather conditions including zone type and annual moisture, as well as your ultimate use.
While I will go into usage a bit further, as a survivalist, while the taste is important, it is almost the last of my considerations. My retreat is in a colder area with a bit of altitude, traditionally a Zone 4. However, experience has taught me that Zone 3 is preferable for production as they tend to flower just a bit later allowing for our regular late frosts that will kill off the flowers and thus the apples. Of secondary importance is hardiness from insects, disease, and drought. While I can treat my trees currently, I want them to be able to survive, if necessary, without chemicals, fertilizer, or supplemental watering.
We also tend to prefer organic as well and these types of apple trees support this choice. Finally, my third consideration is when the fruit ripens. I plant several fruit trees a year and my final strategy is to have fruit ripening for harvest at differing times to allow a better return for collection and processing. When I go through this decision process, I find that the heritage trees are often better suited for my needs such as the Gravenstein or McIntosh. However, there are new breeds that are also ideal such as Red Baron or Zestar, which has recently been developed.Continue reading“The Innate Value of an Apple Tree – Part 1, by Northwoods Prepper”