Apple trees to grow in a pot?

Discussion in 'Trees' started by Fat Controller, May 22, 2016.

  1. Fat Controller

    Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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    Are there any apple tree varieties that are suitable to be pot grown (even it that is one helluva large pot)? Preferably sweetish eating apples?
     
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    • WeeTam

      WeeTam Total Gardener

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      "James grieve" YUM YUM YUM ! :)
       
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      • Sian in Belgium

        Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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        James grieve is a beautiful Apple, I would love to have one. But it is highly susceptible to Apple canker, as far as I can tell. I have lost two trees, that completely failed to establish, later finding out that canker was in my existing trees. My fear would be that the stress of container growing could aggravate this?

        Other lovely apples - a russet (there are modern varieties too!), Laxtons superb, one of the modern cox-type?
        My advice would be to contact a specialist nursery, and talk to them about what you want, would like to grow, can provide for the tree, etc. Woo kindly recommended Keepers Nursery to me, we are delighted with the quality of help, advice, and trees we got!
         
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        • Fat Controller

          Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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          Thanks :) I will get in touch with them and Ashridge trees later in the year and see what they say. I might end up putting it in the ground (I've got a scraggy elder that wouldn't really be missed and would make a nice space for an apple tree...... :snork:) - I was thinking more along the lines that we rent this house, and should we have to move out, a tree in a barrel might be easier to take with us. I suppose in reality that is maybe a bit pie in the sky, as a tree in a decent sized barrel would probably weigh quite a bit and be a real sod to move?
           
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          • pete

            pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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            I think when regarding pot growing its more down to the rootstock rather than the variety.:smile:
             
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            • Linz

              Linz Total Gardener

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              Sorry to barge in FC..
              I bought a James Grieve from asda, it's on m27 rootstock and in a 55 cm wide pot. Any thoughts please @pete ? :biggrin:
               
            • Fat Controller

              Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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              Don't apologise @Linz - the more the merrier :)
               
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              • pete

                pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                I'm sorry Linz, but I'm no expert on rootstocks, seem to remember the higher the number the smaller the tree, but even that might be wrong:biggrin:
                Just tend to know that rootstocks are the key to small or large trees.
                I'm sure there is info on line regarding the most dwarfing rootstock for apples etc.:)
                 
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                • Linz

                  Linz Total Gardener

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                  Cheers FC

                  No worries Pete, just had mini google "M27 and M9 are therefore known as “dwarfing rootstocks,” and in a garden situation, they generally lead to disappointment."

                  Doh! :doh:

                  Edit: further reading is conflicting.. :scratch:
                   
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                  • pete

                    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                    Dont give up, try it yourself. If Had given up on plants regarded as tender by the "experts" half my garden would not exist, just give it a go.
                    Just seems to need more attention due to the small roots.
                    http://www.orangepippintrees.co.uk/articles/in-praise-of-the-m27-apple-rootstock
                     
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                    • Linz

                      Linz Total Gardener

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                      Just had a wee read..looks like I need to treat it like a baby. Thanks for that link :)
                       
                    • Sian in Belgium

                      Sian in Belgium Total Gardener

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                      The numbers generally increase as the tree size goes up, but by no means not always.
                      Here's the rootstock info from Keepers...
                      http://www.keepers-nursery.co.uk/rootstocks.aspx?fruittype=
                      To be honest, the extra care that M27 needs is what you would automatically provide / need to do to any stemmed plant in a pot.
                      Weeding around the base of a tree is actually recommended up to MM106. I always mulch and weed a circle around each tree (mix of unknown, M26 and MM106) as much to ensure that I am not tempted to mow too close, risking damaging the delicate surface bark.
                       
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