You don’t have to own acres of garden to grow your own apples. All you need is the right kind of apple tree, compost and a pot. Then, as long as you remember to water and feed it, you should get showers of pretty blossom in spring, followed by your own crop of juicy apples in autumn.
Buying the right kind of apple is important, so it’s a good idea to get help from a fruit nursery. Apples are grown on a range of different rootstocks (the plant that provides the root system), depending on the size and form of the tree required. For pot-grown apples, the best rootstock is M26, which will produce dwarf trees either as bushes, cordons (single-stemmed, usually grown at an oblique angle) or minarettes (single-stemmed, column-shaped). Decide what shape you want — minarettes are ideal if you’re really tight for space — and whether you want more than one tree. If you only have room for one, choose a self-fertile apple such as Falstaff, Greensleeves, Fiesta or Red Windsor. If you buy two or more apple trees, make sure they are from the same pollination group, and look for disease-resistant varieties that crop well. Your supplier should be able to advise you.
Three easy steps to grow your apple tree in a pot
Plant a one-year-old tree (also called a maiden) in late autumn in a pot about 30-38cm (12-15in) in diameter. Put a layer of crocks at the bottom for drainage and fill with a loam- based compost. Place in a sheltered spot out of the prevailing wind. Increase the watering in spring and give it liquid feeds.
Prune your tree to shape it and make a good framework of branches that will bear plenty of fruit. Ask for pruning instructions when you buy the plant.
Repot your tree into a larger pot every year until it is fully grown. After that, prune the roots every three years or so and re-fill the pot with fresh compost.
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Each year seed companies and nurseries offer a wider selection of dwarf varieties of plants of all types. … Online Seed Catalog
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