Want to buy an apple tree..

heynonnynonny

Been looking at patio dwarf apple trees suitable for containers and have decided am definitely going to get one. I'm looking at either braeburn or golden delicious as these are the only dwarfling ones I can see on eBay. Does anyone please have any experience with growing either of these varieties? It says they are self fertile but there is an established apple tree next door but one would that help it to crop even more, and next question will it fruit this year?? So many questions!!

On eBay one tree is about 18 quid but on this http://www.vanmeuwen.com/plant/16089 you get 3 for £24, shame it doesn't tell you what varieties you get!

mi_jardin

I don't have either of those, but do have an Ashmead's Kernal on a dwarf root stock in a pot. I don't think you'll get anything this year as any blossom will probably get knocked off in transit. However get it in as soon as and it will have a good long season to get settled ready for next year.

ds1980

http://www.gardenbargains.com/item-500131/mini-orchard-collection-with-free-cherry.htm

i do say this a few times but ive got braeburn, morello, conference and victoria trees form them. ALl now in bloom in their first spring in 40 litre pots on the patio. Couldnt be happier apparently i may get a few fruits this year but shold eb fully fruiting in years 2-3.

thanks

SallyForth_2

You might want to look out for one of those Family apple trees, where they have two or sometimes three varieties on one stock. I believe these are small trees and can be grown on patios in containers.

Mojisola

ds1980 wrote: »

http://www.gardenbargains.com/item-500131/mini-orchard-collection-with-free-cherry.htm

i do say this a few times but ive got braeburn, morello, conference and victoria trees form them. ALl now in bloom in their first spring in 40 litre pots on the patio. Couldnt be happier apparently i may get a few fruits this year but shold eb fully fruiting in years 2-3.

I'm glad your trees are doing well but that website's blurb is ridiculous - "It's unbelievable but true - this is a genuine bargain offer that the commercial growers don't want you to find out about...Our trees come as 5ft tall, ready-to-plant specimens that quickly establish into 6-7ft tall heavy croppers. A 'Secret' root system restricts height, so there's a maximum yield of accessible fruit and no need for ladders or climbing."

Do they mean the "secret" root system that commercial growers explain on their websites so that you can choose the right tree for your situation - as shown on the RHS site http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=359

Kay_Peel

Hi HeyNonnyNonnyNonnyNo (you're not a folkie by any chance, are you? or a Morris Dancer?)

The thing that struck me about your original link was that the tree was so small and immature - only about 12 inches high. I think you'd have to wait a good many years before it bore fruit.

I must admit that I got mine from a garden centre. It looked like the apple tree equivalent of a rugby player - it was chubby, stout, with a good trunk and you could tell that it had been pruned and trained properly and was going to fruit. I paid about £20, I think, but it was worth it just to be sure that I would have apples that summer. The garden centre also gave a guarantee that if it failed in the first year, they would replace it - no questions asked, you just had to bring the thing back.

Alright, so I only got 5 apples that year - but it has cropped heavily ever since and the taste is just wonderful. You really can't beat it for showy blossom and delicious fruit, so I hope you find a good 'un.

Pipkin

One good thing with the Garden Bargains trees (I have them also and I'm not claiming to be 100% impressed with them) is that they too have a 100% lifetime money back guarantee..so nothing lost by trying.

tim_n

Kay_Peel wrote: »

Hi HeyNonnyNonnyNonnyNo (you're not a folkie by any chance, are you? or a Morris Dancer?)

The thing that struck me about your original link was that the tree was so small and immature - only about 12 inches high. I think you'd have to wait a good many years before it bore fruit.

I got one which was about 12" high - bore fruit the first year, about 16 apples (very impressive).

Didn't get any last year, but it's sending up branches now.

Kay_Peel

tim_n wrote: »

I got one which was about 12" high - bore fruit the first year, about 16 apples (very impressive).

Didn't get any last year, but it's sending up branches now.

Wow - that's fantastic, Tim. I won't be so cautious in the future and might get one myself. :T

Genuisscuffy

I've got a family tree thats got cox orange pippen and james greaves on it and last year got approx 20 apples - I got mine from the garden centre down the road and they delivered(!) for £24 - its in a pot and this year gave it some blood fish and bone and topped up the soil and there is loads of blossom.

Farway

tim_n wrote: »

I got one which was about 12" high - bore fruit the first year, about 16 apples (very impressive).

Didn't get any last year, but it's sending up branches now.

Be careful yours has not slipped into biannual bearing mode, heavy crop one year, sparse the next

Often is a problem with apple tree, but can be fixed by thinning out & pruning

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/AdviceSearch/profile.aspx?PID=280