Minature apple tree

[Bellyrub1980]

Hiya,

I'm a complete gardening novice. Our garden is just a rectangle of grass which we mow and that's it.

We've been given a miniature fiesta apple tree. It's currently in a tub. It's very pretty, and I'd love to keep it. However, my boyfriend is nervous about planting it in the garden for fear that it will get too big.

Can we put it in a large pot or container instead? Will this automatically restrict it's growth?

At the moment it's about 2 and a half feet tall and already has some pink blossom on it.

Does the label say what root stock it's on - often M followed by a number? Some fruit trees are grafted onto dwarfing or extreme dwarfing rootstock so they are limited in height/spread whether grown in a pot or in the ground.

It's probably grafted onto a dwarf rootstock so it shouldn't take over. How big is too big?

Oops, x post.

On the label it says M.24. The hand writing is a bit odd... It could be M.21 or M.2+

Does that make sense?!

Okay, according to the website it will either be M25, 26 or 27. No other info about planting on the website.

Hmm, the website info doesn't help you much because M25 is a really vigorous one (max 6m tall) and M27 is the most extreme dwarfing (max 1.5-2m tall) - I think M26 is somewhere in between. Haven't heard of an M24. You call it a miniature tree in your post - is that how it's described on the label? If so it's probably on M27 in which case you'd be find to put it in your garden, just keep it well watered and mulched.

Yes, that's how it was described by the person who gave it to us as a gift. It's lovely, and a shame the handwriting isn't very clear for that number.

I'll send the company an email and see if I can get any more information.

This link gives you all the info on rootstocks.

In my experience (professional gardener for 15 years) any plant, bar summer bedding/basket type stuff, is happier in the ground. Plants kept in tubs and big pots require a strict watering and feeding regime that most of us don't have the time for.

That one hot weekend when you are away and didn't manage to arrange for a neighbour to come round and water your plants could spell the death knell for your apple harvest.

Release the prisoners say I!

It will be a lot of work to keep it alive in a little pot.

Plant it in the ground and then prune it to keep it small.

Okay, have had confirmation it's an M27. Thanks for your replies.

Hi Bellyrub I have an M27 in a huge pot for the past 8 years, and it is doing very well, although I have been disappointed by it's height (115cm). Hope to plant out soon (when I have a garden!) But just to let you know it can work. I have not minded it well or fed it ever, but the pot is huge.

Just be aware that it needs another apple tree to pollinate it so that you will have apples! Mine hasn't had any since the first year when it must have been pollinated before I bought it - have just bought a second tree and looking forward to apples in the Autumn!!

Castlelough is right that pollination is important, though in urban areas you will often find there are apple trees in neighbouring gardens that will do the trick. It's worth looking around while your tree is still in blossom - if you can spot other apple trees blooming you probably won't need a pollination companion.