Apple Tree advice

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Apple Tree advice
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scarecrow

Joined: 15 Dec 2004
Posts: 115
Location: Manchester, Up North

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 04 4:07 pm Post subject: Apple Tree advice
I've got a dwarf Red Devil apple tree in quite a large pot. Its about 4-5 years old now, but only ever produces two or three apples, and only one of them is a decent size. If I plant it in the ground, do you think it would bear more fruit. If so, when is the best time to transfer it?

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45669
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 04 4:09 pm Post subject:
Any idea what rootstock it's on? If you're going to plant it out now is the right time, how tall is it?

scarecrow

Joined: 15 Dec 2004
Posts: 115
Location: Manchester, Up North

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 04 4:12 pm Post subject:

tahir wrote:

Any idea what rootstock it's on? If you're going to plant it out now is the right time, how tall is it?

Sorry to sound thick here, would the answer to your question be 'Dwarf Rootstock'?

It's about 7ft tall in the pot who's rin is about 2 1/2 to 3 feet high.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45669
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 04 4:26 pm Post subject:

There are loads of different degrees of dwarfing rootstocks, doesn't matter.

OK the best thing to do is plant it out, it'll need a proper tree stake and tree ties, make the hole larger and deeper than you'll need and incorporate some good compost and some phosphate and potash into the soil you've taken out. If the tree is pot bound then tease apart the root ball, if it's really bad prune out some of the roots that are growing around the pot.

Put a layer of your improved soil back in the hole, insert the tree, add more soil and shake the trunk a little to remove air holes, fill the hole until the roots are covered and the tree is at the required level (the graft union should be above the soil level), firm in well adjust the soil level, and water. The soil level will probably need raising again in a few weeks, at which time you should also apply a good thick mulch around the base of the tree, again not covering the union.

Hope that makes sense, let me know if it doesn't

scarecrow

Joined: 15 Dec 2004
Posts: 115
Location: Manchester, Up North

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 04 4:28 pm Post subject:
Great advice... One question, I may not be able to plant the tree straight away, whats my 'window of opportunity'?

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45669
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 04 4:30 pm Post subject:
Any time during the dormant period, i reckon you'll be alright till end Feb, possibly into March.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 04 8:53 pm Post subject: Re: Apple Tree advice

scarecrow wrote:

I've got a dwarf Red Devil apple tree in quite a large pot. Its about 4-5 years old now, but only ever produces two or three apples, and only one of them is a decent size.

Do you have any other apple trees near by? Apples tend to require polinators quite close by, that could explain why your tree has not produced much.

scarecrow

Joined: 15 Dec 2004
Posts: 115
Location: Manchester, Up North

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 04 10:53 pm Post subject: Re: Apple Tree advice

Treacodactyl wrote:

Do you have any other apple trees near by? Apples tend to require polinators quite close by, that could explain why your tree has not produced much.

No, I don't have other apple trees nearby, the neighbour has a pear tree amost other fruit trees.

I am quite sure that it was a self pollenating tree though.

scarecrow

Joined: 15 Dec 2004
Posts: 115
Location: Manchester, Up North

Posted: Thu Dec 16, 04 10:57 pm Post subject:

If this helps, here is some info about my tree.

Apple Red Devil / M27

Dessert apple. Pick late Sept, use Sept-Dec. Flower group C. Medium red-flushed fruits, strong fruity flavour. Tree heavy cropping, moderate vigour. M27 is a dwarfing rootstock giving trees about 1.5-2 m (5-6� ft) high.

A bright scarlet apple, the colour going right through to the flesh and staining it pink which means that you can produce a beautiful pink juice - given enough apples! Lots of fruity taste and a hint of strawberries.

anneka

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 158

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 04 2:14 am Post subject: planting trees
Rule of thumb is to plant deciduce trees early winter and evergreen late winter. As it's in a pot you will be ok anytime but it may do better to plant soon. Anneka

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45669
Location: Essex

Posted: Fri Dec 17, 04 10:11 am Post subject: Re: Apple Tree advice

scarecrow wrote:

I am quite sure that it was a self pollenating tree though.

Didn't think of that, even self pollinating fruits will fruit better in the presence of another pollinator

Tristan

Joined: 29 Dec 2004
Posts: 392
Location: North Gloucestershire

Posted: Wed Dec 29, 04 10:44 pm Post subject:
If u want a pollinator, why not try a crab apple, lovely flowers, small trees (most), decorative and useable fruit, also reliable pollinators for almost all apple trees due to long flowering season Tristan

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Thu Dec 30, 04 12:18 am Post subject:
I'd only add to Tahir's post, put the stake in the ground at 45 degrees, rather than parallel to the trunk. That way, you don't stab the root ball in teh head. And tie it to the tree with some old tights, failry low down, maybe 6-12 inches above ground zero, so they flex. You're helping the tree grow, not providing support to it for ever.

Tristan

Joined: 29 Dec 2004
Posts: 392
Location: North Gloucestershire

Posted: Thu Dec 30, 04 11:43 am Post subject:
Worth noting that if the tree is grafted on rootstock M26 it will need to be supported along the whole length of the trunk for it's entire lifetime, usually an 'H' shaped arrangement of posts and crossmembers works well Tristan

Guest

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 05 9:55 pm Post subject:
The fact that it has a flowering group indicates that it is not self-fertile. This is probably your problem. I've checked my bible, The New Book of Apples, which confirms this. I'm also thinking about growing Red Devil, and was advised by a commercial apple-buyer that it's not a reliable cropper. However, the New Book of Apples says it's a heavy cropper, so who knows.

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