Comments on: Growing an Apple Tree in a Container

By: Fern

Fern — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 21:38:35 +0000

Debbie–Assuming you bought an apple that is well-suited to your climate, I’d move your tree near a wall to protect it from strong winds. If you live in a severe climate, you can wrap the pot to protect it from extreme temps. More details on that here: http://lifeonthebalcony.com/how-to-protect-your-container-garden-from-frost/

By: Debbie Thompson

Debbie Thompson — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:42:36 +0000

My husband planted several apple trees this summer and we potted some volunteer trees that are 10″ to 2′ tall, now what do we do with them. We would like to bring them in off the deck but we are not sure of over winter care. Thanks, Debbie

By: THe Diary of an average orDinary guy ;-) » Blog Archive » things you can grow it up in a containar ,,,, 66 things basically :D

Thu, 27 May 2010 16:53:51 +0000

[...] Apples can be grown in a container; you can also grow them on the balcony or other small space using a [...]

By: Surround yourself with oxygen and food, inside « … do the eco.nomics

Surround yourself with oxygen and food, inside « … do the eco.nomics — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:08:57 +0000

[...] Apples can be grown in a container; you can also grow them on the balcony or other small space using a [...]

By: Fern

Fern — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:39:44 +0000

Bo–I don’t recommend growing an Apple from seed. For more info on why, check out this post: http://lifeonthebalcony.com/save-yourself-the-heartache-dont-grow-fruit-trees-from-seed/. As to what is going on with your particular plant, it’s really too hard to diagnose without at least seeing a closeup of the leaves that are dying and the plant in general. Can you upload one or two pics somewhere on the internet, and post the link?

By: Bo

Bo — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:28:09 +0000

Thanks for creating this site! I have an apple tree grown from seed in a 16″ diameter pot that is approx. 10 months old and 30 inches high. It’s been a rocky road trying to guess about watering, fertilizing etc. As a result, because of my experimentation, the tree is not doing very well at the moment.

I was keeping it as dry as possible without going too far but we had a very hot spell a couple of weeks ago (So. Calif.) and some of the new small leaves close to the stem started to yellow. I (foolishly) watered with Miracle Grow added and that seemed to make things worse.

Then, I got ‘help’ from a gardening forum and it was suggested that I might have burned the roots so I was advised to ‘flush’ the soil with large quantities of water. Which I did.

That was about 10 days ago. Now, all the small new leaves are dying off and some of the large ones too. I have not watered for 10 days as the soil seems moist enough.

Recently, I decided to move the tree into a more shady area with morning sun only.

Have I killed the tree and is there any way I can bring it back?

By: Mel

Mel — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 23:40:46 +0000

I’m not underestimating the difficulty of sucessful grafting at all. Because it is no more difficult than tasks people do regularly, cutting vegetables, sewing, driving if you can do any of these you can graft apple, they are very aminable. If you don’t want the trouble that is fine, but it is an achievable choice should one want to try.

I did say if one does not mind the risk of growing from seeds, I did not say your were guarenteed a tasty apple. The reason we have to many cultivars is because people did try. Not ideal, perhaps, if you are limited on space , but again of you wanted to you could and you could reduce the fruiting time by grafting some scion from the pip onto a very dwarfing rootstock and once established drop the branches down to encourage fruiting growth , you would get fruit far sooner than ten years. I know of experts who have trees fruiting from pips in 2-3 years, by bending the lead shoot towards the ground & tying down once the shoot is about 1.5m high.

By: Fern

Fern — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:23:49 +0000

Mel–People can learn how to do anything, that doesn’t mean that most people want to go through the trouble. I thunk you’re underestimating the difficulty of successful grafting for the average gardener. Moreover, while some trees grow from seed are great, many of them aren’t. Most people don’t want to tend to an apple tree for ten years only to find out the seed they planted had crab apple for a pollen parent and tastes awful.

By: Mel

Mel — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 10:36:37 +0000

Ferm- whilst I agree most people don’t know how to graft, it does not mean they can’t graft. Grafting apples is acually very simple and easy to do and most people can achieve results. Don’t be put off by thinking it is some great art. The worst that can happen is the graft union fails & you have to retry next year. My kids have been able to graft since they were 10. As for access to scion. In the US there are lots of scion exchanges (lucky lot) in the UK there is one a year but there is also a scion exchange yahoo group. Scion can also be obtained for any apple tree , amnd sourcing it this way locally gives you a chance to see what thrieves will in your location.

On apple seeds & pollination. Most apple trees are self sterile they need another partner to produce fruit. Again don’t buy into the myth that trees that grow from seed are weak. Generally they are not because they need to be strong to survive at all. But they might be huge or have horrible fruit. People tend to forget every single (bar sports) apple cultivar we have grew for a seed on its own roots. It was cloned because it taste good ! I know of several trees from the 19th C in the UK that are now famous cultivars, the original tree is still standing & fruiting that is not a weak tree.

Many new cultivars were grown by chance planting by ordinary people so if you want to wait 6-10 years for fruit and you don’t mind the risk it might not be a tasty apple I say give it a go. But if you want a specific apple pips from that apple are not the way to go.

By: Fern

Fern — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:22:45 +0000

Heather–Unfortunately, apples and peaches will not cross pollinate. A Granny Smith needs 600 chill hours, that might be a close call in many parts of Southern California. If you have a full sun spot that tends to be a cold pocket during the winter, that would be the best spot for your Granny Smith.