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The old adage “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” has more than a grain of truth to it. We know, or should know, that we should be adding more fruits and vegetables into our diets. It’s nice to be able to grow your own apple tree, but not everyone has the space for an orchard.
What if you were to start small, say by growing an apple tree in a pot? Can you grow apple trees in containers? Yes, indeed! Keep reading to find out how to grow an apple tree in a pot.
Growing apple trees in containers has become an increasingly popular option for gardeners with limited space. With the right pot, soil, and apple variety, you can enjoy homegrown apples even if you don’t have an orchard. Here’s what you need to know about growing apple trees in pots.
Choosing the Right Pot
The most important consideration when selecting a pot for an apple tree is size Apple trees have deep taproots and require plenty of space for their roots to spread out Here are some pot size guidelines
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For a 1-2 year old dwarf apple tree, select a 10-15 gallon pot. This provides enough room for root establishment.
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For a mature dwarf apple tree, use a 20-30 gallon container. Mature trees need more space.
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For semi-dwarf varieties, go even bigger with a 30-45 gallon pot.
Make sure the pot has drainage holes to prevent waterlogging. You may want to place pot feet or a plant dolly under the pot to make moving it around easier.
Getting the Right Soil
Apple trees need well-draining soil to avoid root rot. Aim for a loam-based potting mix with compost added to retain some moisture. Mixing in clay balls, pebbles, or gravel at the bottom of the pot improves drainage.
Test the acidity of the soil and amend it to reach a pH between 6.0-6.5, which apples prefer. Fertilize your potted apple tree each spring using an organic fruit tree fertilizer to provide essential nutrients.
Choosing a Dwarf Variety
Full-size apple trees can reach over 15 feet tall, making them unsuitable for containers. Instead, select a dwarf or semi-dwarf variety grafted onto a rootstock that restricts size.
Some good dwarf apple varieties for pots include:
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Honeycrisp – Sweet, crisp yellow fruit. Grows 6-8 feet tall.
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Red Delicious – Classic red apple flavor. Grows 8-10 feet.
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Gala – Sweet, soft apples. Grows 6-8 feet.
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Pink Lady – Sweet-tart pink apples. Grows 8 feet max.
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Ginger Gold – Sweet, spicy flavor. Grows 8 feet.
Consult your local nursery to find varieties suited for your climate.
Providing Optimal Sunlight
Apple trees need full sun – at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Position your potted apple tree in the sunniest part of your yard or patio. If you want to overwinter it indoors, place it near a south-facing window.
Insufficient sunlight can result in fewer flowers and fruit. Dappled shade under larger trees is acceptable, but avoid dense shade.
Watering and Monitoring Soil
Consistent watering is crucial when growing apple trees in pots. Their limited soil volume dries out faster than in-ground trees.
In summer, check soil moisture daily and water whenever the top 1-2 inches become dry. Applying mulch helps retain moisture. Aim to keep soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged.
In fall and winter, you can decrease watering frequency since the tree is dormant. Wait until soil is dry 2-3 inches deep before watering again.
Providing Support with Staking or Trellising
The dwarf rootstock limits an apple tree’s height, but it does not affect the weight of its fruit. To prevent pot tipping from heavy apples, provide support with stakes or trellising. Use 2-3 sturdy wooden stakes placed equidistant around the pot’s perimeter. You can also install vertical posts and run horizontal garden twine between them to trellis branches.
Pollination Requirements
Most apple trees need a second compatible variety nearby to cross-pollinate for fruit production. For potted apple trees, aim to have two different varieties within 50 feet of each other for successful pollination.
If limited space prevents two trees, look for a self-fertile apple variety like Crimson Gold, Jonafree, or Ein Shemer. Just be aware that even self-fertile types will produce more with a pollination partner.
Pruning and Maintenance
Prune potted apple trees each winter to remove dead or diseased wood and encourage fruiting wood to grow. Cut back leggy branches and thin inner branches to open up airflow.
Monitor regularly for pests like aphids and mites. Spray horticultural oil or insecticidal soap to control outbreaks before they spread. Apply organic fungicides at bloom time to prevent apple scab.
Repot container apple trees into a slightly larger pot every 2-3 years as needed. This encourages new root growth.
Overwintering Potted Apple Trees
If you live in an area with cold winters, you’ll need to bring potted apple trees indoors before first frost. An attached garage or unheated porch works well.
Provide continuous bright light and water sparingly over winter. Avoid exposing trees to temperatures above 70°F, as they require winter chill hours under 45°F.
In spring, re-acclimate trees to sunlight and warmth gradually before placing them outside full time after the last frost.
Enjoying Fresh Apples
With the right care, dwarf apple trees thrive in pots and produce full-sized, delicious apples. Expect fruit 2-3 years after planting if grown from a young whip. Mature potted trees may fruit their first season.
The Limited root zone of containers means apple trees produce smaller harvests than orchard trees. But for fresh, homegrown apples in a small space, growing apple trees in pots is a great solution!
Before Planting Apples in Containers
There are a couple of things to consider before planting apples in containers. First of all, choose your cultivar. This sounds easy, just pick the variety of apple that you like best, right? Nope. Most nurseries will only carry trees that grow well in your area, but if you wish to purchase your tree online or from a catalog, you may not be getting one that will do well in your region.
Also, all apple trees need a certain number of “chill hours.” In other words, they need a minimum of time where the temps are under a certain amount – basically, a set amount of time that the tree needs to stay dormant. Pollination of apple trees is another consideration.
Some apple trees need another apple tree nearby to cross-pollinate with. If you have a truly small space and no room for two or more trees, you need to find a self-fertile variety. Keep in mind, though, that even self-fertile trees will produce a lot more fruit if theyre cross-pollinated.
If you have enough space for two trees, be sure you are planting two varieties that bloom around the same time so they can pollinate one another. Also, just because an apple tree is labeled dwarf doesn’t necessarily mean its a suitable container grown apple tree.
The rootstock that the tree is grafted onto will determine the eventual size. So what you are looking for is a label referring to the rootstock. This system is a more reliable method for determining if the tree will do well in a container. Look for a tree that is grafted onto P-22, M-27, M-9, or M-26 rootstock.
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Next, consider container size. They are measured by volume or diameter, so it’s sometimes hard to pinpoint exactly what size you need. For your first year apple baby, look for a pot that is either 18-22 inches (46-56 cm.) across or one with a volume of 10-15 gallons (38-57 L.).
Yes, you can grow apple trees in smaller containers, but if you are in doubt, bigger is better than smaller. Whatever the size, be sure it has drainage holes. Get a wheeled base to put the pot on so you can easily move the tree around.
How to Grow Apples in Containers | A Detailed Guide
FAQ
What size pot is best for apple tree?
Christy recommends starting with a container that’s at least 20-inches in diameter and at least 24 inches in height.
What is the best apple tree to grow in a pot?
Karen Tillou, manager of the Arboretum, recommends M27, M9 or P22 rootstocks as best for container-grown apple trees. Karen says that these are the most dwarfing kinds of rootstocks, but they absolutely require staking/support even in a pot.
How long does it take an apple tree to bear fruit?
- Dwarf Apple Trees: These can start producing fruit in as little as 2-3 years.
- Semi-dwarf Apple Trees: These typically take around 3-5 years to start bearing fruit.
- Standard Apple Trees: These can take 5-10 years to start producing fruit.
- Factors Affecting Fruiting Time:
- Tree Variety: Different apple tree varieties have different maturation rates.
- Rootstock: The type of rootstock used can influence how quickly a tree starts fruiting.
- Climate and Growing Conditions: Apple trees thrive in regions with distinct seasons.
- Pollination: Most apple trees need a partner tree for cross-pollination.
- Proper Planting and Care: Ensuring the tree is planted correctly, receiving adequate sunlight, water, and nutrients, and regular pruning can promote earlier and more abundant fruit production.
- Tree Variety: Different apple tree varieties have different maturation rates.
Can you grow apples in a pot?
Apples are ideal for growing in pots and dwarf rootstocks can provide full-size apples but on compact trees. They can also be grown in various trained forms in containers, including cordon or columnar, and are one of the best fruit trees to espalier.
Can you grow an apple tree in a container?
Available to order below is a comprehensive range of compact Apple trees, which produce high yields of fruit, but are very low maintenance. Suitable for growing in the modern garden, each variety can be grown in a large container or planted straight into the ground, and in time will be smothered in gorgeous tasting fruit.
Should you plant an apple tree in a pot?
A pot limits that space, so choose dwarf or semi-dwarf apple trees. These have shallower root systems that are happier in containers,’ says says Evan Torchio, tree expert and CEO of Tree Mender. When you’re on the hunt for the right apple tree to plant in your container garden, you want to keep in mind how tall and wide it will grow.