Seek advice on which varieties suit your local area. Just one apple tree alone will produce fruit, but cross-pollination from other trees sets the best fruit. Purchase one or two years old trees and plant about mid to late fall. Apples will respond better to transplanting whilst in their dormant period. Plant trees of different varieties 10metres apart.
Apples are tolerant of a broad range of soils, but consider clay loam the best.
Test the pH of your soil. An acid soil requires 500 grams of lime and 250 grams of rock phosphate over each planting area. Dig planting holes just large enough for the root system. Plant the tree 10cms lower than the container's level. Supply enough organic mulch like hay or grass clippings for the soil to retain moisture and limit weed growth.