Apple farming and irrigation in Kenya training is undertaken by Grekkon Limited’s agronomy team when installing irrigation systems or anti-bird nets for new apple farmers in the country. The apple tree is a hardy deciduous temperate fruit tree. This being the case, cultivars such as the Wambugu apple have been developed to grow in tropical climates where it is much more difficult to grow and produce apples
Currently, commercial apple growing is done in the areas of; Eldoret, Embu, Kericho, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Laikipia, Machakos, Makueni, Meru, Nakuru, Nyandarua, Nyeri and Taveta. In this piece, we respond to frequently asked questions apple growing questions by farmers
On the left is a Grekkon Limited agronomist at Wambugu apple farm in Laikipia county
FAQs
1.1. Apple tree temperature requirements. 3 degrees Celsius is low enough to break dormancy, and temperatures not exceeding 32 degrees Celsius have better productivity
1.2. Altitude. 450M asl to 2,700M asl
An apple tree’s true climatic zone depends on the cultivar developed to grow therein
Soil. In most soil types so long as they are deep and well drained
Fertiliser; The generic application is NPK 17:17:17 100kgs annually per tree is sufficient, plus 30kgs of manure every 2-3 years. To raise your fruit’s brix level, spray with Boron during the flowering season. For a proper tailored fertiliser regime, conduct a soil test and work with the laboratory recommendations
Rainfall. 800mm to 1,000mm annually
Pollination. Most are not self-pollinating so plant other cultivars as pollinators
Dormancy induction. Defoliate to induce dormancy when necessary
Pruning. Prune to the desired shape. The opened centre tree pruning technique is often used
Pests. Common pests to watch out for are; African bollworm, codling moth, and aphids
Diseases. Apple scab, powdery mildew, canker and wood root are key diseases
An apple fruit is at least 86% water. Sufficient water in your fruit harvest keeps the fruit crunchy, and with a long shelf life. Young trees require more water than mature trees. The average water consumption is 5 litres per day a tree to develop strong roots, leaves, branches and the fruit
Apple irrigation requirements are determined by the soil type, root system depth, and the rate of evapotranspiration. The active root system of apple trees reaches a depth of 90cm. In dwarf varieties, it goes up to 60cm
A button drip irrigation system on a young apple orchard
In cold temperate locations, sprinkler irrigation is better so as to protect the crop from frost damage. In tropical locations like Kenya where it’s hot most of the year traditional drip tapes with a wall thickness of 0.8mm – 1mm, and button drip irrigation are best. Rain hose kits or sprinklers can also be used if there is sufficient water, or a if the apple trees have been inter-cropped with shorter vegetables in between rows. The most commonly used sprinklers in apple orchards irrigation in Kenya are the micro sprinklers, and the rain gun sprinklers
Micro sprinklers watering an apple crop
A rain gun sprinkler installed by Grekkon Limited at Wambugu apple farm in Laikipia county
1. 1 acre from Kes 100,000
2. 3/4 acre from Kes 80,000
3. 1/2 acre from Kes 57,000
4. 1/4 acre from Kes 30,000
Prices may differ from farm to farm based on;
– main line/ sub-main line size pipe size. If you have a large farm and plan to expand your irrigation system in future but are starting with half an acre, them your pipes will be bigger than the one with only 1/2 an acre in total
– main line/ sub-main line size pipe thickness. Gravity flow will work with PN6, direct high pressure pumping will be from a PN8 thickness
– water source distance and height from the farm
– ground elevation
This is managed through growth these stages
Irrigation is critical from the budbreaking and flowering stage to during the beginning of fruit fill
They are integral part of apple farming and irrigation in Kenya where bird pests destroy entire apple fields particularly during the dry seasons
How to measure your apple tree anti-bird net size
An apple tree protected with a bird net
This method is the most cost effective as you only have your net covering where it’s needed. However, it is cumbersome, and as the trees outgrow the anti-bird net, the net will have to be changed
Another way is to use timber poles or steel frames support systems. The net is laid as a roof, and also covers the sides
A bird net raised 3M above the ground in a young apple orchard
This method is quite expensive and the cost implication over large acreages will outweigh the benefits. However, it is not cumbersome and the net will not be changed as a result of crop growth
Apples grown from seed take 5-10 years to grow, while grafted varieties take 1 to 3 years depending on the cultivar
Standard apple trees are 7.5M to 10M tall, while dwarf varieties are 2M to 6M high
With proper feeding and consistent irrigation, your tree will yield an upwards of 200 fruits per session, 3 times a year. The best marketable fruit weight is between 150g to 250g
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Very educational, will contact you about the green nets
Good afternoon Cecilia,
Many thanks for your compliment!
Best regards,
Customer Service
Very fascinating. What is the rootstock for wambugu apples variety?