Apple tree depression

About 4 years ago i bought an apple tree that was 3 different varieties on a dwarf stock. Year 1 nothing, OK probably what i expected. Year 2 still nothing so worked out the ground was horrid and planted into a big pot. Year 3 looking good now, loads of leaf, some blossom and 2 apples. One of which i knocked off when throwing something to the wife and apple number 2 about the size of a ping pong ball being eaten by a tree rat. Move on to this year, year 4, fantastic growth, loads of blossom and even lots of each variety of apples, Mmmmm cant wait for the autumn to eat these!. Last week in the gales when opening the curtains there she is, lying flat on the ground, no, not blown over in the pot but sheared right through the trunk (?) part white wood and part brown. All i want in life is to walk into my garden, pick an apple from a tree and eat it there and then, not too much to ask is it?. Ok then where to from here? Can you nice people tell me what variety is the quickest to fruit, not a massive one but gives a good crop also does not require me to pollinate it as i will forget, maybe any reccomendations as to where to buy from as well?
Any advise please as i am sick to death of nipping to ASDA for me apples.
Thank you
Mike

Oh pardon me, hello everyone this is my first post, and as i am not very good as a gardener i very much doubt i will be able to offer much help in with questions but i will be lurking in the background.
Mike

 

Hello and welcome, If you buy a pot grown apple etc, the age of the tree will have a large bearing on future cropping. Some of the offers in sesonal shops leave a bit to be desired quite often soft growth and sometimes past the best time for purchase. I would buy from a good horticultural outlet, look for a good shape and not too much root show on the bottom. 'Pot grown' can be purchased any time. It would be a good idea to transfer it to a large pot without disturbing the root ball in Summer. Staking will be required for the first few years. One of the biggest problems with pot growing is accurate feeding and watering. But there is nothing nicer than a fresh juicy apple so do go for it.

 

Many thanks Hans, that is exactly what i have done this very morning. B&Q �£9.99 Braeburn with would you believe it already an apple on board. It is already in its new pot as well, boy have i been busy. Thanks again
Mike

 

Well done, and next year you will have a few more, maybe quite a few more apples.

 

Is B&Q a good place to buy trees from?