Tidbit of Health Info about the Wonderful Apple...
Apples are perhaps the most popular fruit tree and come in a wide range of varieties.
Studies suggest apples may well be the most healthy fruit to include in your daily diet.
Apples are extremely high in and important antioxidants, dietary fiber and antioxidants. Apples may help reduce the risk of developing cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.
Apples are also very good sources of dietary fiber, with a single serving providing 12% of the daily fiber requirement. The real value of apples lies in its organic compounds. It is rich in phytonutrients and flavonoids, such as quercetin, phloridzin, epicatechin, and various other polyphenic compounds
These nutrients are found in both the skin and meat of apples, so the whole apple should be eaten for the most benefits. The list of health benefits attributed to apples is long because of the vitamins, minerals, organic compounds, and nutrients present in them.
If you have an area three feet square space with good light, you have enough space to grow an apple tree, provided you keep it pruned to an upright shape.
Always choose an apple tree that performs well in different climates. Just to name a few Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Gala and Red Halareds are some good varieties to grow in zone 6 a/b.
Tips About Pruning...
How Often do I Need to Prune? It's advisable that you prune apples annually.
Should I Prune in the First Year? Apple trees should be pruned in the first year for the structure of the tree that is strong enough to support the crop. If you do not prune in the first year, the shoots will bend down or break in the future when too much fruit weighs them down.
Winter Pruning. You should prune in the winter anytime between when leaves start to fall until mid-March. It's ideal to begin pruning after cold weather so that the stalk has time to harden by January and February, but never prune right after a heavy frost.
Other Fruit trees to plant ....
Apples are not the only fruit that does well in the Tennessee mountains of zone 6 a/b.
Cherries, Pears and Peaches do well too. And if you have space to spare in your garden or mini orchard, blueberries and strawberries are a great addition.
Cherry trees : North Star, Benton, Stella, Sweetheart and Richmond
Pears : Bartlett, Conference, Rescue
Peaches : Candor, Elberta, Halehaven, Madison, Redhaven, Reliance
To Find more Information ....
Contact your local extensions office, they offer a variety of information on planting, growing and harvesting tips and can help with testing the pH of your soil, before you purchase any fruit tree.
And if you need more information on growing Fruit Trees in Zone 6 a/b, plant and take care of your apple trees, you can find out more here.