Varieties and cultivation of a dwarf apple tree

Peculiarities

Dwarf and semi-dwarf apple varieties that have replaced tall fruit trees have many clear advantages. They are equally popular today not only in Russia, but also in Ukraine and many other countries. In order to grow normally and fully develop, dwarf apple trees require a distance between trees when planting about one and a half meters.

At the same time, the harvest from such a site of planted dwarf and semi-dwarf apple trees can be harvested several times more. Harvesting from such fruit trees is much easier due to the fact that the crop grows at eye level and is easy to reach. Care is also easy, since the modest size of the tree does not require any tools for pruning branches that grow very high.

In addition, dwarf trees are capable of bearing fruit already in the second or third year after planting. Experts say that small growth contributes to good nutrition of trees and their receipt of nutrients in full. This is possible due to the fact that the size of the wood is small, and the roots give the tree a chance to receive the necessary elements. Also, it makes no difference to dwarf apple trees how high groundwater flows from the surface of the earth. Since their roots are almost on the surface of the soil. The same feature makes it possible for moisture during irrigation and applied fertilizers to better penetrate the soil and promote the growth and development of the tree.

Also, such fruit crops require less fertilizer than tall ones. By spraying the crown to destroy pests, you can save a certain amount of money. Also, dwarf trees are not afraid of autumn frosts, since they stop intensive growth in summer and manage to fall into a drowsy state before winter. They do not require not only pruning branches, but also crown formation. What is of key importance for those gardeners who cannot often visit their summer cottage in the Moscow region. Productivity directly depends on whether you have taken into account all the nuances of planting a dwarf apple tree. A variety of varieties of apple trees for the Moscow region and other regions of our country will help you choose fruit crops to your liking.

Such trees cannot be grown by yourself. They can be obtained by grafting on dwarf trees of common varieties. Experts and experienced gardeners advise purchasing young trees in specialized nurseries. This is where you can look forward to buying quality and viable seedlings. The crown of dwarf and semi-dwarf apple trees does not differ much visually from the usual one. But its growth is at the same time constrained. It is necessary to plant such crops on an area that is well lit by the sun, not shaded by tall trees or buildings. The southern and eastern slopes of your site are best suited for the growth of such fruit crops.

Differences

Low-growing apple trees can be planted on one hundred square meters of usable area in the amount of about 20 - 30 trees. Whereas on the same site earlier it was possible to place no more than 5 - 6 tall trees. Since inexperienced gardeners can often confuse dwarf apple trees with columnar ones, we will give some of the differences between such trees. Columnar apple trees have a crown with one trunk and small lateral branches. They have a huge plus - with a small crown available, a large number of fruits ripen on them. In this case, all the nutrients do not enter the root system, but namely the fruits. What is the difference between dwarf apple trees and columnar ones?

The grafted seedling on the surface of the junction of the stem and the root collar has a protrusion. This is clearly visible on a long-standing cut of the wild, directly under which the scion is placed. On those apple trees that have already reached the age of two years, there are characteristic large buds at the ends of the branches. In this case, the bole reaches a height of no more than 50 cm. Also, you will not see too many adult branches on such seedlings. As for the root system, the more fibrous and elastic it is, the more high-quality and viable a seedling can be considered. Unlike the dwarf one, in the columnar one you will see one trunk and almost complete absence of branching.

Video "Summer residents: dwarf apple tree"

Landing

This is not to say that dwarf trees require any particularly complex care and planting, but generally accepted norms for planting such fruit crops still exist. In order to be able to further carry out comprehensive full-fledged care of their trees in the conditions of the Moscow region, gardeners with many years of experience give recommendations to plant several different varieties of apple trees on the site. The landing pattern can be different, you can choose it yourself.

Most often, dwarf apple trees are planted focusing on such a scheme - the distance in a row is about 2.5 m, and in row spacing up to 4 m, it is recommended to plant trees in a row every 60 cm.

Such trees are advised to be planted on fertile lands, while making the recommended top dressing. Experts call chernozems the best soil option for them. Clayy and sandy soils are also good for this type of plants. Immediately before planting in the summer cottage, young trees must be carefully trimmed in order to facilitate the formation of the lower crown stem. After that, it will be necessary to cut off the growths after a year.

But this is done only when the apple tree bears fruit normally and pleases the owners with a consistently high yield. Correct pruning helps to produce normal-sized fruit and also prolongs the life of a mature tree and rejuvenates it.

The seedlings must be planted in a planting pit, the depth of which is about 50 cm. When preparing it, the upper layer of earth should be thrown off the shovel bayonet to the right, and the lower one - in the opposite direction. Before planting each seedling, be sure to spread the roots as best as possible. The tree must be lowered into a hole not lower than the place of its inoculation, and a hole should be formed around the trunk, the height of which will be about 15 cm. The planted plant must be watered normally. The rate is about three buckets of water for each hole. Mulching such a hole with humus has also proven itself well. Further, caring for seedlings in the Moscow region involves watering in the middle of summer, which should then be carried out every couple of weeks.

When the tree is several years old, caring for it should include the introduction of complex mineral fertilizers. Time-tested potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus, which are usually taken at the rate of about 40 grams of each product, are best suited. And the ground near the seedling, when caring for it, will need to be loosened and dug up.

As for the terms for planting dwarf apple trees, spring is considered to be the optimal time for planting them. But this must be done after all the snow on the site has melted.

If you plan to plant trees in autumn, then it should be done in the period from mid-September to mid-October. It will be correct to prepare the pits for planting in the autumn. Please note that your young trees will need supports, which will need to be installed after they are planted on the site. Further care of fruit crops requires pruning branches and timely watering. Caring for these wonderful trees will be within the power of everyone, even a novice gardener.

Apple varieties

Since 1960, significant warming has been observed in the Moscow region. In the middle of winter, frequent thaws are no longer uncommon, and it itself comes much later than it once was. In summer, we can talk about a lot of precipitation. Thus, these features of the Moscow region allow today the cultivation of dwarf apple trees of those varieties that are adapted specifically for this region. For the Moscow region, you can now choose the most suitable early-growing, winter-hardy and externally presentable varieties of fruit trees. We will tell only about some of them in more detail.

Grushevka near Moscow

This variety of apple trees was included in a special catalog of fruit trees in 1797. This species is an old and proven variety that is loved by summer residents for an excellent degree of frost resistance. Such trees allow for a rich harvest. They have a characteristic cone shape and begin to bear fruit in the fifth year of life.

Apples on their branches can ripen from the beginning to the middle of the last summer month. As for the appearance of the fruits, they are yellow-green fruits. Also, the characteristic blush is clearly visible on the surface. The taste of such apples is sweet and sour, they are distinguished by a very juicy center, which is characterized by graininess. Not all gardeners of the Moscow region prefer to grow such fruit crops, since they have relatively small fruits.

Snowdrop

This variety was zoned in the Ural region and in Western Siberia. It was the result of free pollination of an apple tree of the Vydubetskaya weeping species. Such a tree can grow up to 2 meters. It has a drooping crown, which should be formed parallel to the ground. It enters the fruiting period after 3 - 4 years. The yield from each plant can be up to 90 kg. It is able to withstand even low temperatures down to -40 degrees. Also tolerates drought easily. Differs in an average degree of immunity to the possible appearance of diseases and pests. It has fruits that weigh 170 grams. Apples have a light yellow color, smooth skin with a slight beautiful blush. The pulp of such fruits is dense, fine-grained. The shape of the fruit is round-conical. It has a sweet and sour taste and a rather pleasant aroma. It is recommended to harvest in early September. The shelf life is approximately 120 days.

Sokolovskoe

This variety appeared thanks to the efforts of scientists from the South Ural Scientific Research Institute of Horticulture and Potato Growing. It was zoned in 2002 and gained particular popularity in the Ural horticultural zone. The tree has a flat-horizontal crown. It can grow on different types of rootstocks from 1 to 2 meters. In the period of fruiting begins at 3 - 4 years. The yield from each fruit crop can be up to 65 kg. It is characterized by the presence of rather large fruits. They have a greenish-yellow surface with a dark red blush. As for the pulp of such fruits, it is quite dense in consistency, while quite juicy with fine grain. The taste of such fruits is sweet and sour and quite pleasant. Differs in increased frost resistance.Fruits after harvest tend to be stored for up to 110 days.

There are other excellent varieties of dwarf apple trees. For example, the Grounded One has quite large fruits. The mass of an apple of the Prizemlennye variety can be about 150 grams. These fruits are green with a deep red blush. Apples of the Prizemlennoye variety please with their high yield, which can be up to 130 kg from each tree.

Video "Apple Garden Technology"

How to grow a good garden, plant and care for dwarf apple trees - you will learn from the short video clip that we have given below.