How to Grow a Pink Lady Apple Tree in Washington

Pink Lady apples are a trademark brand of the Cripps Pink variety apple.

The Pink Lady apple was one of the first apples to be marketed as its brand name, rather than as a variety, such as Red Delicious or Macintosh. The Pink Lady apple is grown under a license and then marketed through specifically licensed resellers. This is done to keep the quality of the apple high. The Cripps Pink apple is the variety of apple from which the Pink Lady comes. Pink Lady apples are often found in the state of Washington and are a popular treat on orchard tours.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Fertilizer

Instructions

1. Purchase a Pink Lady whip that is at least 1 year old. It should be between 2 and 3 feet tall with a trunk at least a half inch in diameter. It is more important, according to the Texas A&M University Extension, to purchase a small tree with a good root system than a large tree with a small or poor root system.

2. Choose a location for the tree that has full sun and good drainage. Dig a hole large enough to receive the roots easily without bending them from their natural position. The soil should be cultivated deeply before planting. An area about 3 feet around where the tree will live should be weed and turf free and completely cultivated.

3. Soak the roots of the tree in water about an hour before planting. The tree should be planted in the early spring while it is still dormant.

4. Place the tree in the hole so that the graft or bud union is not more than an inch above the soil line. Work the soil in carefully around the roots. Once the hole is half full, firm the soil with your feet and then finish filling in the hole, packing the soil firmly again.

5. Water the tree thoroughly so that the soil is soaked around the roots. Watering like this will make sure any air pockets are filled in and the soil is compacted around the roots.

6. Prune your tree regularly before spring to remove undesirable limbs and train the tree properly. While the tree is young, remove or cut back unwanted branches to keep from having to cut large limbs later on.

7. Fertilize your tree with nitrogen each year and test the soil to see if other nutrients are indicated. Scatter 1 cup of 21-0-0 NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) fertilizer over a 2-foot circle at the base of the tree if the tree has grown at least 6 inches.

8. Fertilize the tree again the following spring in the same way, but over a 3-foot circle. Repeat this again in April, May and June, recommends Texas A&M University Extension. After 4 years, fertilize it like a mature tree.

9. Control weeds around the base of the tree, especially in its young years, so that it doesn't have to compete for nutrients and water.

References

• Apple Orchard Tours: Washington Apple Country
• Washington State University; Heirloom Apples; Karen Palmer; March 2003
• Orange Pippin: Pink Lady Apple
• Texas A&M University; Home Fruit Production: Apples; Larry Stein, et al.; April 2003