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BlackMothra starts with ... Hi everyone! I bought 2 dwarf apple trees recently (Granny Smith & Jonathan). The main trunk in the middle is tall but almost bare except for some leaves at the very top. The left & right branch that form 'Y' shape are also almost bare with some leaves at the tip. Now I see flowers start blooming at the tip of each branch. Should I pinch them off or let them fruit? The tree is so skinny I'm not sure if they can support the weight of the fruits. This is the first time I own any kind of fruit tree so I don't know what to expect. Also, is it a good idea to plant them in bottomless container (about 60cm in diameter) so I don't have to dig in too deep? TIA! | About the Author BlackMothra Ryde 5th November 2014 7:08pm #UserID: 10780 Posts: 2 View All BlackMothra's Edible Fruit Trees |
Brain says... You can stake the branches to take some of the weight should you decide to keep the fruit. Its really up to you but the general consensus is to pinch the flower/fruit to let the tree focus on getting bigger and stronger for future years. The tree will most likely grow to say 4m tall on a m26 rootstock, unless you really have soil or drainage issues, i would do without the bottomless pot. Imho! | About the Author Brain Brisbane 5th November 2014 10:49pm #UserID: 6289 Posts: 638 View All Brain's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author BlackMothra Ryde 7th November 2014 8:13am #UserID: 10780 Posts: 2 View All BlackMothra's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Brain says... If you read different sites, they quote different heights. I think climate has an impact to the variation in height and size. m26 is called dwarf but in reality is semi- dwarf as there are smaller rootstocks, m9 comes to mind. However, those trees are rarer. Dwarf is a relative term, compared to a full size tree, 4m is nothing. Mine are grown in pots and so far they are around 2m tall, but looking at the root system, they can double in size easy. My neighbour planted apples as well, not sure if they are dwarf or not, but they are at 4m tall and still growing. Not very clever when its between 2 houses and right on the fence line. Though the possums are having fun eatting all the leaves above the fence. If you want a fair bit of apples, grown in ground is better, and you can always prune the central leader to keep the height in check. Actually you are encouraged to give it a vase shape. | About the Author Brain Brisbane 7th November 2014 7:42pm #UserID: 6289 Posts: 638 View All Brain's Edible Fruit Trees |