Apple trees in containers

Has anyone any experience of growing an apple tree in a pot?

I don't have anywhere in the ground in my garden where I could plant a tree but I have a large patio and i would love to grow my own apple tree. I believe I need one which has an M27 rootstock but other than that I don't know what to look for. Has anyone had sucess with one? Would I need more than one tree to pollinate and if so, does it have to be of the same type or a different one?

How long would a tree be happy in a pot?
Carrie

 

You can grow apples in containers, especially if they are grafted onto a dwarf rootstock.

The bigger the container the better, and ensure that it never dries out completely (or that it's not always waterlogged!)

Technically most apples need to be planted with a compatable pollinater... howerever.... if you're in an area with lots of aple trees in surrounding gardens this isn't as important.

I would still think about growing one or two in the ground..... if they are on a dwarf rootstock , they really don't take up much space, and are easilly trained as a cordon (single stem) or as a 'stepover' (trained horizontally 2-3 ft high).

The main problem with apples in pots is that if they dry out on summer, they will drop all the developing friut, and generally if they aren't looked after properly they will be more prone to disease.

 

I hadn't thought about a cordon or stepover. The cordon sounds like the one I would be most able to place in the ground although I wouldn't know how to prune it. I presume I can buy one which is already classed as a cordon.

I doubt if there are apples trees close by. My neighbours aren't gardeners and just seem to have grass or grass and box. So, do I want another apple the same or do I need a different type?

 

I would'nt bother with pots and go for ground planted dwarf trees like ballerina. My 2 attempts at growing fruit trees in pots met with expensive failure despite lavishing lots of tlc on them.

 

Carrie, in your situation, I would get a family tree. This is one where you have two varieties grafted together, eg, Coxs Orange Pippin and James Grieve. :thumb: