Apple tree for pot

[cambourne7]

Hi Gang,

Right mother in law is complaining that she cant get any nice apples where she is.

Morrisons have some wonderful large pots and i was going to pick 2 up and pot up with 2 apple trees which would give her 2 crops.

I have to be careful though as she does not want anything that needs maintance, just an occasional water.

Any suggestions?

Cambourne7

[cambourne7]

[kt.]

Apparently there is one called Ballerina (something like that). It has one main thin trunk that grows quite vertical with little maintenance. The apples are produced from buds just off the main stem. Little or no pruning required apparently & does not grow very high. Not grown these myself though.

[Amazin]

Lilliput is a good dwarf. I've had mine for years and it's a great little producer - 40 apples last year.    ;D

Available from Spaldings.

[Spookyville]

I have seen those pots in Moggys - would they do for planting fruit trees in ? (plums/cherry/gages)? need to free up some space in the garden but won't be for awhile so would have to pot them up for a year or two I think.

WHat sort of compost/filling would they like?

any pointers appreciated :)

[Robert_Brenchley]

If she's growing them in pots she needs either Ballerina varieties (several available) or trees on a dwarfing rootstock.

[Jitterbug]

I have a 1 year old bramley (small root stock M107 ??) which I got as a bare root and since I am not sure where I want to plant it yet I have put it into a big pot for the timebeing.  Reading the comments above I hope that it is going to be OK for a year at least while I make up my mind.

Jitterbug

[Robert_Brenchley]

It'll be OK temporarily, or you could plant it somewhere out of the way on a temperoary basis. But if it's on MM106 (my guess at what you're half-remembering) don't keep it in a pot.

[Raisedbed]

We grow Ballerina Polka which is a sweet crispy red/green variety.  We started it in a giant tub and cared for it as best we could but to be honest these trees never do as well as when they are planted in the ground.   The leaf size is smaller and more prone to disease and the fruit is smaller.   Once we put it directly in the soil the leaf and fruit size were bigger and the whole mini tree looked healthier.    However it does look as though this variety may be prone to bi-ennial flowering, it's certainly been that way for us over the six years we have had it.  But it is just right for one or two people.  Last autumn we cropped about 30 medium sized apples and they were nice combination of sharp, sweet and crisp.  The ballerina has hardly made any height growth in that period.

[greatpalm]

The rootstock is all important if wanting to grow apples in large pots.

Any variety will do so long as it's on M27 or M9 rootstock. You may just get away with M26.

You will be able to pick these up at garden centres, though they may be a little on the pricey side. Homebase were selling them for £9.99, though you might not find the right rootstock.

Look for varieties such as Winter Gem, Scrumptious, Herefordshire Russet, Sunset.

So much better tasting than the supermarket ones.

Good luck.

[jennym]

Maybe I'm soft, but think it's a teeny bit wicked to try and grow an apple in a pot longterm, they really don't like it, and won't perform well for you.  :)
As a temporary measure it's fine whilst you find a place to plant the tree properly, but they do like a bit of room, the freedom of the soil is best.
If you must grow something in a pot, maybe a peach, or a fig? or if you have a conservatory, some form of citrus?

[chrispea27]

hi cambourne I think you need to make sure the 2 trees will flower at the same time unless the varieties suggested do not require this?

Better make sure there right with it being the mum in law?