Patio Apple 'Elstar'

Where to Plant
Choose a sheltered position in full sun, avoiding obvious frost pockets where possible as apple blossom can be vulnerable to late spring frosts. Plant in fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil.

Planting in the Ground
Water the tree thoroughly before planting. Dig a hole around twice the width of the root ball but no deeper than the root system. Carefully remove the pot and gently loosen any tightly circling roots.

Position the tree so the top of the root ball sits level with the surrounding soil, keeping the graft union above soil level. Backfill with soil, gently firm and water thoroughly. Stake the tree if needed while it establishes.

Growing in a Container
'Elstar' can also be grown in a large, sturdy container with good drainage. Use a suitable soil-based compost and make sure the pot has plenty of drainage holes. Container-grown trees need more regular watering and feeding than those planted in the ground.

Watering & Feeding
Water regularly during the first growing season and during prolonged dry spells. Don't allow container-grown trees to dry out, particularly while blossom and fruits are developing. Feed in spring with a suitable fruit tree fertiliser.

Pruning
Prune during the dormant season to maintain a healthy, well-balanced framework. Remove dead, damaged, diseased, crossing or badly positioned branches and any shoots growing from below the graft union.

Do I Need Another Apple Tree?
Yes. 'Elstar' is not self-fertile, so grow it within pollinating distance of another compatible apple that flowers at around the same time to help ensure a good fruit set.

Pollination Group 3
'Elstar' belongs to Pollination Group 3. Choose a compatible apple from the same or a neighbouring flowering group with an overlapping flowering period.

Spring Blossom
Pretty spring blossom appears before the fruits begin to develop. Bees and other pollinating insects visiting the flowers help transfer pollen between compatible apple trees and encourage a good fruit set.

Developing Fruit
'Elstar' is known for producing heavy, regular crops. The apples develop through summer, ripening to greenish-yellow with an attractive red flush and crisp, juicy flesh.

Top Tip:
If your tree produces a particularly heavy crop, thinning some of the young fruits can give the remaining apples more room to develop and help prevent branches becoming overloaded.

When to Harvest
'Elstar' apples are generally ready to pick in September. Harvesting time can vary slightly according to the weather and growing conditions.

How to Tell When Apples Are Ready
Cup an apple in your hand and gently lift and twist. A ripe fruit should come away from the branch easily with its stalk attached. If you need to pull firmly, leave it to ripen a little longer.

Enjoying Your Harvest
Freshly picked 'Elstar' apples have crisp, juicy flesh with a distinctive honeyed sweetness and refreshing tang. Handle the fruits carefully when picking to avoid bruising.

After Picking
Keep sound, undamaged apples somewhere cool and check them regularly. Bring fruits indoors as you need them and remove any that begin to deteriorate.

Top Tip:
Pick apples individually rather than pulling at clusters. This helps prevent ripe fruits dropping and avoids damaging the fruiting spurs that can carry future crops.

Fresh from the Tree
'Elstar' is at its best eaten fresh, when you can really appreciate its crisp texture, juicy flesh and honeyed sweet-sharp flavour. Slice into lunchboxes, fruit salads or simply enjoy straight from the tree.

Make Your Own Apple Juice
The juicy, flavoursome fruits are an excellent choice for pressing. Their natural combination of sweetness and acidity produces a refreshing home-made apple juice without needing lots of other varieties for flavour.

In the Kitchen
Try sliced 'Elstar' in salads, serve with cheese or use the fruit in cakes and desserts where its sweet-sharp flavour works particularly well.

Top Tip:
Chill freshly pressed juice before serving to make the most of 'Elstar's naturally refreshing flavour.

Potted Fruit Trees
You will receive an established young fruit tree in a nursery pot, ready to plant straight into its final position in the garden or a suitable large container.

What to Expect Through the Seasons
Fruit trees are deciduous, so their appearance naturally changes throughout the year. Trees delivered during autumn or winter may have yellowing leaves or no leaves at all as they enter dormancy. Fresh new growth will appear again in spring.

Ready to Plant
Your tree can be planted into its final position on arrival. If growing it in a container, choose a substantial pot with good drainage and keep it regularly watered while it establishes, particularly during warm, dry weather.