Granny Smiths

Just looking at fruit trees now.....

5ft 'Granny Smith' Dual Purpose Apple Tree | M26 Semi Dwarfing Rootstock | Bare Root £19.99

Looking at granny smiths as it's the fav apple of my husband and I.

Just wondering if these are the type that can be "espaliered"?

 

Hmmmm! Snorky
You can but more tricky simply because GS is not a spur bearer as far as I know. I have never grown GS....love it though and prob my favourite apple too. Perhaps others on the forum grow it as an espalier
As an espalier it would not look as "neat". ......you need to retain last season's wood for fruiting, not easy trained as espalier or cordon
If you really want GS how about free standing bushes?
Otherwise go for a spur bearer for reliable fruiting and a balanced tree

 

Hmm. Then maybe this is a variety I should consider when/if we hopefully get the field we are after. That way it doesn't have to be cordon/espalier. I might just stick with the pear tree idea for now.

 

Might be wrong, but I dont think GS is a good one for the UK.
Its an Australian apple, likes a bit more heat, as I say, I could be wrong.
Personally I think there are many better apples than that, but people all have different tastes.

 

I did wonder that @pete , I was shocked to see it for sale so assumed it must be ok.

My neighbour has got an apple tree thats at least 50 years old and the apples on that are very similar to granny smiths - maybe I should try and graft something off that instead?! (not that I have any idea how to graft an apple tree lol)

 

I planted an orchard of apples, pears, plums and others a few years ago.
I researched suitable trees for the area and even consulted with a noted apple expert down here for recommended standard and cornish varieties; esp with regard to diseases like scab and suitability for the local climate.

This orchard produces fruit galore and most apples are easily pickable on short sturdy trees

Pete is correct......I checked on GS and it does require more heat to do well; hence a popular australian tree

 

Well to graft your own apple you really need a reliable rootstock to start off with, unless you intend grafting onto a branch of an existing tree.

 

Well I did wonder if I could attempt to graft a branch on my bramley on my allotment. I saw some prog. on tv a while ago and a bloke had graft 4 different apple varieties onto one tree!

 

Yes you can do that, although I've done a bit of grafting over the years I'm probably not the right person to ask, my attempts were always a bit hit and miss.

I've found budding to be a bit easier than actually grafting of a scion, takes slightly longer and done at the other end of the growing season.

 

@pete when you talk about budding Pete , I've done alot of rose's on to root stock , is fruit tree budding done much the same way?

 

The way I do it, yes, but the professionals do it differently.
Worth a read, Chip budding / RHS Gardening

 

I grow Granny Smith and as Verdun says it is more a tip bearer than a spur bearer which I can imagine would make espalier a bit more challenging.

Are 'stepover' or super dwarf apples popular in the UK? I imagine they would make a nice short hedge of bushes.

 

ah @Cassie , just realised you are in Aus! Never heard of stepover apples!

 

Not an "aussie" thing...Stepover apples are very popular and have been for a few years now. On M27 rootstock they sre great for edging or defining veg patches, path edges, etc. Trained along single wires about 40 cm high between stout posts......I have done this with 3' galvanised posts and galvanised wires. Literally they are "step over" trees. Monty often features them on GW!

 

@pete cheers I'll have a read when I've a few minutes ...