Learn more about apples

Learn more about apples at one of the many Apple Days taking place around the country.

Late autumn is the perfect time to plant an apple tree or three - you'll find an excellent selection now on sale at your garden centre. But choose carefully: an apple tree is a long-term investment which could provide delicious crunchy fruit not just for you, but for your kids and your grandkids too.

You'll usually need at least two trees, both in the same 'pollination group' (that is, flowering at the same time in spring) to get a good crop. Tried-and-tested local varieties are a good bet as they're best adapted to your conditions, but sometimes the names can be unfamiliar and it's hard to know which one would be best for you.

That's where Apple Days can help. Celebrating everything apple-related, these lively events showcase more kinds of apple than you knew existed and are a great way of finding a variety you like. There are tastings and apple-related activities for all the family, as well as plenty of expert advice, including the identification of any unknown apple varieties already growing in your garden. You'll find hundreds of apple-related events across the country on www.commonground.org.uk.