The best varieties of semi-dwarf apple trees

These trees are much shorter than normal species and are therefore ideal for small gardens. Chernozem is considered preferable for growing semi-dwarf apple trees, while salty soils containing sulfates and chlorides are absolutely unsuitable.

Growing apple seedlings on a semi-dwarf rootstock

Orchards on low and medium-sized rootstocks are laid in large tracts in the countries of Western Europe, America, Australia, New Zealand, etc. The share in new gardens of trees laid on low-growing and medium-sized rootstocks is more than 80%.

Semi-dwarf trees bear fruit as early as 2-3 years after planting, while vigorous ones enter fruiting at 5-7 years and give a much smaller yield. When growing apple trees on a semi-dwarf rootstock on small plots of land, you can plant more trees of different varieties with different ripening periods and extend the period of consumption of fresh fruits for a longer period.

Planting and caring for half-dwarf apple trees is easier, since it is easier to carry out spraying, tillage and fruit picking. With sufficient observance of agricultural practices for care, the quality of the fruits, their size, color, and taste sharply increase. The fruits have a marketable appearance and are well stored. For cultivation, abundant watering, thickened plantings and enhanced fertilizing of plants with fertilizers are needed. The root system of weak and medium-sized trees is densely branched and lies in the surface layers of the soil. Therefore, they can be successfully grown in areas with a close occurrence of groundwater.

Semi-dwarf apple trees are obtained by grafting the desired variety onto special clonal rootstocks, which reproduce vegetatively. The most acceptable is the rootstock MM-106. dwarf and semi-dwarf apple trees are grown on black soil, loamy chestnut, sod-podzolic and sandy loam soils. Brackish soils with a high content of chloride and sulfate salts are unsuitable for cultivation.

Timing and scheme of planting semi-dwarf apple trees

It is very important to choose a good place for planting semi-dwarf apple trees: it should be well protected from the winds with good sunlight and not shaded by tall trees and buildings. Better to use the southern and eastern slopes. It happens that often both low-growing and medium-growing trees have to be planted on the site.They must be placed in such a way that the smallest ones are placed in the extreme southern rows, and then the semi-dwarf ones must be planted.

The most important factor for the growing season is the temperature regime. Temperatures above +30 + 35 ° С inhibit all life processes of fruit plants and cause burns to skeletal branches and fruits, and severe frosts can cause freezing of the roots.

The best time for planting seedlings of semi-dwarf apple trees is autumn, since the roots of the seedlings will strengthen until spring, and the plant will continue to grow and develop without problems in the spring. Can also be planted in spring. But in the spring you should not be late with planting, as the buds of the trees can bloom, and they can dry out. Gardening can be carried out as one-year and two-year seedlings.

For planting semi-dwarf apple trees and the subsequent care of the trees, you must first prepare the planting pits. We prepare pits at least 50 cm in diameter and up to 50-60 cm in depth. We fold the dug out top layer of soil to one side of the pit, and the bottom to the other side. Add 1 - 2 buckets of rotted humus to each pit, add 30-40 g of complex min. fertilizers (nitrophoska), then we throw the earth from the upper dug layer into the hole, and then mix the mixture thoroughly.

We put seedlings in the prepared pits, straighten the roots and cover them with soil, first from the upper layer, and then from the lower one. We compact the soil around the seedlings with our feet and deepen them so that the grafts are 5-7 cm above the soil level. Immediately after planting the trees, we make circular holes and water well at the rate of 3-4 buckets per tree. After watering, the soil around the trees should be mulched with earth or humus with a layer of 5-7 cm.The standard planting scheme for semi-dwarf apple trees is 3 X 4 m.

Watch a video of planting semi-dwarf apple trees in amateur gardens:

Throughout the year, except for the winter period, watering must be carried out. Watering is carried out under the trees along the furrows or directly into the holes. The best effect is given by drip irrigation. Together with watering, we make fertilizing with fertilizers.

In the first half of summer, nitrogen fertilizer is used for all varieties of apple trees on a semi-dwarf rootstock, usually ammonium nitrate. In the second half of summer (at the end of July-August), phosphorus and potash fertilizers are used.

In late autumn at the end of October and in early spring, the trees must be well watered - to make a moisture charge. In the future, in subsequent years, we do crown formation, pruning and other agricultural practices.

The video of planting and caring for half-dwarf apple trees shows how these trees are grown:

How to properly prune semi-dwarf apple trees

Pruning half-dwarf apple trees is needed to create a biological balance between the root system and the crown. When transplanting, the root system decreases sharply and barely supplies the crown with nutrients from the soil, and vice versa, with a sharp decrease in the crown, the root system receives an insufficient amount of nutrients from the leaf apparatus and some of the roots die off.

From fruit-bearing trees, the crown takes up a lot of nutrients, since an apple tree has grown on a weakly grown rootstock with a small volume of root system, which on a strong-growing rootstock would be vigorous and consume many nutrients. If you do not regulate nutrition by pruning semi-dwarf apple trees and pinching branches, the tree will produce many small fruits. This means that with the help of pruning, you can control fruiting.

Before pruning semi-dwarf apple trees, it is necessary to take into account the quality of the buds and the sequence of their awakening in spring. The observant gardener knows that the apical buds of the shoots are the first to bloom and give a strong growth, called the continuation shoot. The shoot from the bud, located near the apical (but lower), is sometimes able to overtake the shoot of the continuation and therefore is called a competitor.

The buds located at the end of the shoot give rise to new shoots growing at an acute angle to it, and in the middle at a less acute or even at right angle. The buds of the middle part of the shoot awaken later and give less strong shoots than the apical or competing bud. But if you remove the apical buds, the middle ones develop well and give strong shoots (skeletal branches). Knowing the biological characteristics of the kidneys, you can choose and leave during pruning those of them that are needed for our purposes, i.e. you can control the development and formation of the crown.

Any pruning should be done in the fall or early spring, before the buds are growing. When transplanting from nursery to garden, the branches of the crown should be cut to 1/3 or 1/4 of their length, depending on how reduced the root system is. Depending on the variety, annuals are cut for external or internal buds, i.e. the continuation of the shoot is directed outward to increase the crown in width or upward so that the apple tree is more compact and the branches sag less. In addition, when pruning, the need for uniform development of branches is taken into account so that the powerful ones do not overtake and oppress others, who may gradually dry out, and the tree trunk will turn out to be abnormal in shape. The conductor is cut shorter so that the remaining branches are subordinate to it in development.

In transplanted trees, new sprouting is limited or even absent in the first year, while in biennial plants grown in a permanent place, the growth is normal. Thus, the development of the transplanted tree may be one year behind. For such trees, the following year, after pruning to the crown, pruning may be required to form second-order branching. In less developed or transplanted from the nursery, the formation of branches of the second order begins 1-2 years later, depending on the development.

And how to properly prune semi-dwarf apple trees to get second-order branching? For this, skeletal branches are cut over the selected buds at a distance of 40-50 cm from the trunk. From them, the shoots of the continuation of skeletal branches develop, on which several more shoots develop, incl. and branches of the second order, which are called semi-skeletal branches. They should be located on the sides of the skeletal branches, but so that the fork does not form at an acute angle.

All shoots that cannot be used as semi-skeletal branches are pinched and shortened to form fruit buds. Semi-skeletal branches on a skeletal branch should be at a distance of 25-30 cm from the stem in semi-dwarf ones - at a distance of about 40-50 cm. The next semi-skeletal branches should be at the same distance from others. Subsequently, on semi-skeletal branches, third-order branching develops, which are called skeletal branches. Branches of the fourth order develop on skeletal branches; they are called overgrown twigs and twigs, which are fruit shoots.

After completing the formation of the crown, pruning is stopped and thereby accelerate fruiting. During this period, pruning consists of removing broken, injured, or rubbing branches. But 4-6 years after the end of the formation of the crown, the yield decreases, the fruits become smaller. To prevent this, they carry out pruning for replacement - they remove branches with obsolete fruit formations, leave young ones and form branches with new fruit formations. Most of the harvest of good fruits occurs at one to four-year increments, so an increase of this age should fill the crown.

When a tree begins to bear fruit, more nutrients are consumed for the formation and development of fruit organs and fruits than before. With a lack of nutrition, the leaf surface decreases, the fruits become smaller and easily crumble from the trees. To prevent this, the so-called inductive pruning is performed annually, which enhances the growth of shoots and leaves.After pruning, shoots appear from the buds left at the cut. To enhance the flow of nutrients to the fruit, green shoots should be pinched over 4-6 leaves.

Watch the video of pruning semi-dwarf apple trees before performing this agrotechnical technique:

The best varieties of apple trees on a semi-dwarf rootstock

It is very important to make the correct and accurate selection of varieties for laying a garden. It is advisable to select zoned long-proven, winter-hardy and disease-resistant varieties with different ripening periods. It is necessary to select varieties of semi-dwarf apple trees in such a way that the period of fruit consumption is year-round. If the plot is small, it is enough to have two summer trees, three autumn trees, and five winter and late winter trees.

But if the area of ​​the personal plot allows you to lay an intensive garden, then the selection should be made at the rate of 5-10% of summer varieties, the rest of the area should be laid with autumn, winter and late winter varieties. Preference should be given to late winter varieties, as they have a long keeping quality.

Of the early summer varieties, the Ottawa variety of Canadian selection is ideal.

As you can see in the photo, these semi-dwarf apple trees have round, large fruits with a pink-red blush. Ripen in early July. They are followed by summer varieties in terms of ripening: Aromat de Vare, Airlie Mac, Discovery, Airlie Geneva, White Naliv.

Of the autumn varieties, large-fruited varieties of semi-dwarf apple trees are considered the best: Glory to the World, Glory to England, Kids Orange Ed.

There are a lot of winter varieties. It is necessary to select the best, with high taste and marketability, long-term keeping quality, high transportability. These are the following varieties: Golden Delicious, Renet Simirenko, Mutsu, Gloucester, Red Chief, Fuji, Jonagored Morens, Gala Mast, Jonagold Decosta, Rubinette, Topaz, Count Ezzo. Late winter varieties: Goldrash, Ligol, Eliza, Granny Smith, Pink Lady. The fruits of the Granny Smith and Pink Lady varieties are stored until June next year, without losing their taste.

The best varieties of semi-dwarf apple trees for the middle lane

Silver hoof. The tree is medium-sized or below medium-sized, with a round, well-filled crown. The main branches with a light yellowish bark, depart from the trunk at an angle close to right. The branches are straight and compact. Fruiting is concentrated on ringlets, spears and growths of the last year.

Shoots of medium thickness, straight, rounded in cross section, brown, strongly pubescent. Leaves are light green, matte, round and oval in shape, with a rounded base and a short-pointed tip. The lamina is flat, with slightly raised edges, medium pubescent. The edge of the leaf has a small double-gable serration. The petiole is of medium length. Stipules are small, subulate.

Pay attention to the photo of this variety of a semi-dwarf apple tree - its flower buds are rounded, medium-sized, pubescent. The flowers are medium to large, cupped and broadly cupped. The edges of the petals are solid, raised up. The petals are semi-closed, white, like the buds. The stigmas of the pistils are located at the same level or slightly rise above the anthers.

Fruits are of lower average size, weighing on average 80-90 g, one-dimensional, round, regular shape with a smooth surface, ribbing is not expressed or poorly expressed. The skin is coarse, dry, smooth, with a waxy coating. Subcutaneous points are invisible. The main color is thick cream, the integumentary color on most of the surface of the fruit is orange-red blurred or blurred slightly striped, strongly pronounced. The peduncle is short, straight, of medium thickness. The funnel is of medium depth and width, sharp-conical, weak rustiness, grayish-greenish. The saucer is of medium depth or shallow, with a smooth surface. The heart is medium-sized, onion-shaped, the seed chambers are open, small. The sub-calyx tube is short, of medium width, cylindrical, with an extension towards the calyx.Seeds of medium size, full, round, dark brown.

The pulp is quite dense, fine-grained, very juicy, sweet and sour good and very good taste, with a medium aroma.

The fruits of this variety of semi-dwarf apple trees, suitable for the middle lane, ripen in mid-August, last one to one and a half months. Remaining not removed from the tree until the end of August, they are poured, become translucent. Fruits are beautiful, one-dimensional, and tolerate transportation satisfactorily. The main purpose is fresh consumption, they are also good for processing into juices, compotes, jam, drying, etc.

The variety is self-fertile, well pollinated by other varieties. In view of the small crown, dense planting patterns of 5-6 x 3 m are needed. In harsh climatic conditions, fruiting ringlets are short-lived, therefore systematic pruning is desirable.

Trees begin to bear fruit in 3-4 years after budding and in 1-2 years bring a marketable crop. Fruiting is regular. The variety is fruitful. Winter hardiness of the Silver Hoof is good. The variety is relatively disease resistant.

Advantages of the variety: high early maturity, productivity, moderate tree growth, early ripening, attractiveness and good taste of fruits, suitability for various types of processing.

Disadvantages of the variety: with poor agricultural technology, the fruits become smaller, in damp years they are moderately affected by scab, fruits damaged by the moth are affected by fruit rot.

The variety is very promising for breeding winter-hardy, early-growing summer ripening varieties. With his participation, new elite seedlings superior to him were created, incl. from crossing with scab immunity donors.

Papirovka's daughter. A tree with a broad-pyramidal or rounded, densely leafy crown. Skeletal branches depart at a large angle, their fastening is strong. The bark on the main skeletal branches is gray-brown. Shoot-forming ability of the kidneys is average. The crop is placed both on the ringlets of perennial branches, and on young 2-3 year old branches and fruit twigs. In the nursery, the seedlings are medium-sized. The upper shoots retreat at an angle of 45-60º. The best vigorous rootstocks are seedlings of Anis, forest apple trees, garden forms of large-fruited whaleses.

Shoots of medium thickness, straight, moderately flattened, their bark is grayish-brown. The leaves are somewhat similar to the Anise leaves. They are round-ovate, dark green, with crenate edges. The leaf blade is larger than that of Anis, leathery, relatively thick, slightly shiny, which is not observed in Anis's leaves.

Fruits are of lower average size, one-dimensional. Rounded or flat-rounded in shape, tapering towards the apex. The surface of the fruit sometimes has a slight ribbing, more pronounced at the calyx. The skin is firm. The color of the skin is whitish-yellow, sometimes with a golden tan. Subcutaneous punctures are large, whitish, like Papirovka's. The peduncle is of medium length, less often long, extending beyond the wide, sometimes with slight corking of the walls of the funnel. The calyx is small, closed or half open, located in a narrow saucer, which often has lumpy steep edges. The sub-cup tube is long, funnel-shaped. Seed nest of medium size, onion or bulbous. Seed chambers are open or semi-open.

The flesh is whitish, juicy, slightly friable, often poured, with an excellent sweet-sour taste. The pulp is denser and more juicy than that of Papirovka, moreover, it does not become mealy.

The fruits ripen simultaneously on August 5-15. Consumption - August. After removal, the fruits can be stored for 10-12 days.

The variety is fast-growing. Bears fruit in the 4-5 year of the beginning of the growth of the oculum. Fruiting is sometimes noted in the second field of the nursery. At a young age, fruiting is annual. The highest productivity of the tree is manifested on well-fertilized, sufficiently moist soils. Regular pruning and protection from pests and diseases are a must.

Winter hardiness closer to Anis gray, surpasses the Papirovka variety. In dry years, when the crop is loaded, the fruits become smaller. The variety is moderately resistant to scab, less affected than Papirovka and Grushovka Moscow.

Advantages of the variety: fruits of the summer ripening period, with a denser and more juicy pulp in comparison with Papirovka, a pleasant sweet-sour taste.

Persian. The tree is medium-sized, with an oval, and with age - a spherical thin crown, with a few rather thick branches. Fruiting is mainly concentrated on ringlets, less on last year's increments.

Shoots of medium thickness, straight, rounded in cross section, with dark brown bark, medium pubescent. Leaves are green, flat, round (less often broadly ovate), with a cordate base and short-pointed apex, complex-sharp serration of slightly raised edges, wrinkled surface, on short petioles located at an acute angle (40-45º) to the shoot, with small or saber stipules lanceolate.

The flowers are rather large, saucer-shaped, white, the pistil columns are long, the stigmas rise above the anthers.

Fruits are of medium size, weighing 100-120 g and larger (up to 180 g), from round to wide-cylindrical, with almost indistinct ribs. The surface is smooth. The main color when taken off is greenish, later creamy, the integumentary color is a thick striped carmine blush on most of the fruit, with a bluish waxy bloom. The peduncle is short, the funnel is of medium size with a slight rustiness. Medium or narrow dyudtse, closed calyx. The heart is bulbous, the seed chambers are closed, the subasculum tube is narrow, conical. There is no axial cavity.

The pulp is creamy, juicy, coarse-grained, crispy, good or very good sweet and sour taste.

Fruits ripen by mid-September, are stored for up to 180 days.

Fruits until ripeness are sufficiently firmly held on the tree, then begin to crumble with the winds. Fruit transportability is good.

Trees begin to bear fruit in 6-7 years after budding and in 1-2 years bring a marketable crop. The productivity of the variety is good.

Winter hardiness Persians surpass that of the Central Russian varieties. However, with regard to fungal diseases, it should be noted that in the absence of spraying, the variety can be largely affected by scab. But in the arid conditions of the Orenburg region, northern Kazakhstan and the southern part of the Chelyabinsk region, scab does not appear.

Advantages of the variety: large-fruited, high marketability, taste and winter shelf life.

Disadvantages of the variety: instability to scab.

The variety is used in breeding - in crosses it gives good offspring, in particular, the Pervouralskaya variety was obtained from it.

Now many gardeners, paying tribute to fashion, are growing semi-dwarf apple trees. They take up less space, and they are rich in harvest. In this article we will try to figure out what are the advantages and disadvantages of half-dwarfs.

Features of the view

The semi-dwarf variety is grown vegetatively, and not as usual from seed. Thus, apple trees are grown on a semi-dwarf rootstock. The result is an apple tree that has all the properties of a donor and small growth. This saves planting space and makes harvesting easier. Apple trees on a semi-dwarf rootstock grow up to 3-4 m, and on a dwarf rootstock - up to 2.5 m. If you can plant ten ordinary apple trees in the garden, then there are about 26 dwarf trees.

True, at the beginning of fruiting, the semi-dwarf cannot boast of large yields, but due to the fact that the trees are located tightly to each other, the total harvest reaches tens of kilograms. The semi-dwarf variety differs from an ordinary apple tree in large buds, which are located at the ends of the branches, and a fibrous root system. And of course, in size.

The best varieties

Among lovers of apple growing, the Chudnoye variety is very popular. These apples are unpretentious to climatic conditions and can be grown in any corner of our country.Up to 80 kg of fruit can be harvested from one adult tree. Pouring apples retain their presentation for two months. The tree tolerates cold winters well.

The cultivation of the variety was carried out by the Ural breeders who like to take risks, so the frost under 30 ° C does not matter to the apple tree. Chudnoye has a pronounced immunity to scab. Although the apple tree itself needs pollination, it is itself an excellent pollinator for other dwarfs.

The Lobo variety is medium-sized. The tree begins to bear fruit early and bears harvest every year. The apple tree has a compact crown, which makes it easier to harvest, which usually begins in October. Apples have a sweet and sour taste and a wonderful aroma. The fruits are large and juicy.

Melba dessert apples are sweet, aromatic and surprisingly juicy. Summer variety. In August, large fruits appear on the branches. The apple tree begins to bear fruit 5 years after planting. In the refrigerator or cellar, the fruits will successfully lie until mid-November.

A very popular variety - Antonovka ordinary, which is perfectly adapted to winter, can be planted in areas with groundwater close to the surface.

Imrus is a semi-dwarf of winter ripening. The apples are juicy, large, sweet, with a pronounced sourness and very juicy. Fruits are distinguished by dense pulp

Landing

The landing site should be well lit and protected from the wind. The best option is the southern and eastern slopes. It is not recommended to plant in brackish soil.

Having chosen the soil and place, you can start planting. First, you need to dig a hole larger than the root system. Drive a support for the young into the middle. Pour the prepared mixture of soil and fertilizers at the bottom of the pit. We boldly plant a seedling on the resulting mound, spread the roots and sprinkle it with earth, not forgetting that the root collar should rise above ground level.

Care and cultivation

We have been growing dwarf trees in Europe for two hundred years. In Russia, even before the revolution, this type of gardening was practiced. To obtain the desired effect, it is imperative to have fertile soils and good care. The rule of successful cultivation can be summarized in short: feed and prune.

When growing apple trees, using a semi-dwarf rootstock, you can significantly extend the time for collecting fresh fruits. To do this, it is enough to plant trees in the garden with different ripening periods, since this does not require a large plot of land. Planting and careful care of half-dwarf apple trees is easier to carry out. This applies to harvesting, pest control, soil preparation. If you follow the necessary agricultural practices, then you can, with little effort, improve the taste and size of the fruits. The crop is stored for a long time, keeping its presentation.

Care involves abundant watering and enhanced feeding. The roots of these varieties are branched and do not go deep. Therefore, planting in areas with high groundwater levels is quite acceptable. Semi-dwarf apple varieties require highly fertile soil. Chernozem, loamy chestnut soil, sod-podzolic and sandy loam soil are suitable for them.

Successful planting is followed by watering (according to the scheme), top dressing, weed control, spraying from pests. Particular attention is paid to pruning, which is carried out regularly. Since the tree has a large number of fruits on the branches, in order to avoid breakage, the branches should be distributed evenly over the crown.

Pros and cons

Semi-dwarfs and dwarfs have recently replaced vigorous trees. There are good reasons for this:

• significant savings in garden space;
• easy care;
• great taste;
• useful composition, large fruits;
• easy to harvest;
• early fruiting (first fruits - after 3 years, mass harvest - after 4 years);
• high productivity;
• disease resistance;
• the roots practically do not rot and absorb moisture well (fibrous root system);
• low consumption of fertilizers and pests;
• growth stops in early autumn.

However, these apple trees also have a number of disadvantages:

• short-lived (after 15 years they grow old and do not bear fruit);
• the roots are close to the surface (they can freeze out in winter);
• fertile soil is needed;
• due to high yields, depletion and deterioration of taste can occur;
• very heavy fruits (branches can break, additional supports are needed);
• short shelf life of fruits.

We introduced you to the features of half-dwarfs, and whether to grow such trees or not is up to you.

Video "Pruning and shaping the crown of an apple tree"

From this video you will learn how to properly practice and form the crown of an apple tree.

Ripe juicy apples picked from your garden are much tastier than those bought at the market or in the supermarket. After growing apple trees, the gardener puts his heart and soul into this difficult business. But quite often it happens that the varieties that we loved from neighbors or friends are not suitable for planting on our site. Most often, this is due to the small area of ​​free land. Every year breeders develop new varieties so that we can make our wishes and dreams come true. In small areas, you can plant dwarf apple trees, which are not inferior in quality to their tall counterparts.

Features of growing dwarf apple trees

The process of planting and caring for mini versions of fruit trees differs little from other species. But some nuances still exist. For example, it is unlikely that it will be possible to withdraw a dwarf variety from the usual one on your own. If we are planting an apple tree for the first time in our life, we should not suffer with vaccinations and reproduction, it is better to purchase seedlings in horticultural centers or at the poultry market.

Are apple trees different from different rootstocks

What is a dwarf rootstock? Why are varieties with the same name considered dwarf, semi-dwarf or medium-sized? Let's try to deal with these questions that arise for any novice gardener.

To get a new apple tree, a seedling must be grafted. A branch of a certain type that needs to be grafted onto a tree is a scion. The place to which the cutting is transferred is the stock. Allocate:

• clonal stock (growing in a vegetative way);
• seed (an apple tree is grown from a seed).

Thus, the same variety can be bred on a dwarf rootstock, and on any other. When grown, for example, on seed, the same varieties Melba, Golden Delicious, Kovalenkovskoe and others have the characteristics of tall or medium-sized apple trees. They, grafted onto a dwarf tree, acquire the qualities of dwarf trees.

Breeders are constantly working to create "real dwarfs" that do not require grafting.

Important! When buying seedlings, you need to ask the seller on which rootstock the variety was grown.

How to choose a seedling

The tree must be healthy, with a well-developed root system. When buying, we inspect the roots for damage. The twigs should not be dry. Vaccination is required. If there is no vaccination, then we are dealing with a wild apple tree. But there are other points by which you can distinguish the variety from the wild:

1. The grafting site is traditionally located between the stem and the root collar. It has the shape of a small protrusion.
2. The developed branches in a varietal grafted plant should be at least four.
3. The 0.5-meter stem also indicates that we are purchasing not a wild, but a varietal apple tree.
4. A grafted dwarf seedling has many small and flexible roots, it does not have a taproot, unlike a wildflower.

   Varietal apple trees can be distinguished from wild ones by the presence of grafting and the number of developed branches.

Planting and caring for trees in spring

Dwarf apple trees, like ordinary ones, are planted in open ground in autumn and spring. Planting is carried out during the period of "hibernation" of plants, when the earth has already warmed up a little, but the tree buds have not yet blossomed. Gardeners are advised to prepare holes for seedlings in the fall, so that fertilizers are absorbed into the soil and the soil is compacted. If it was not possible to prepare the place in advance, we proceed as follows:

1. We dig a hole 60–70 cm deep. Its diameter should be at least 60 cm.
2. We stick a wooden stake into the landing pit.
3. Add fertile soil to the hole.
4. We pour in 0.5 kg of ash, a bucket of humus and 0.5 kg of superphosphate. Mix with the soil.
5. Cover with fertile soil. The layer thickness should be 2–3 cm so that the roots of the apple tree do not touch the fertilizer.
6. We lower the seedling into the hole, straighten the roots.
7. The inoculation should be above the ground at a height of 3-4 cm.
8. We compact the soil after planting the apple trees.
9. Pour 2-3 buckets of water under each tree.
10. We mulch the soil with humus.

Caring for dwarf trees is easy:

1. The root system is located in the upper layers of the soil, so we make sure that the soil does not crack, does not dry out. After watering, we loosen the ground no deeper than 5 cm.
2. At the beginning of spring, we whitewash the trees with lime.
3. Once every 2 weeks we feed with complex fertilizers: Azofosky, Ekofosky or any others.
4. In the spring, apple trees also need nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization. You can use wood ash, urea, nitrophosphate. We apply fertilizers according to the instructions on the package.

Video: planting a dwarf apple tree on an M-9 rootstock

Mandatory procedures in summer and autumn

Care in the hot season consists in loosening the soil and watering. It is important to ensure that the soil does not dry out or crack. As for the planting of dwarf apple trees in the autumn, it is similar to the spring one. In the fall, you need to carry out the following procedures:

1. Cut off old and overlapping branches from the tree.
2. We loosen the soil so that the pests cannot overwinter at the roots.
3. As a preventive measure, we spray the apple trees with Bordeaux liquid (1%).
4. For the winter, we cover the soil around the tree with a thick layer of humus so that the apple trees do not freeze out during the snowless period.

Video: we form a dwarf crown

Top dressing of apple trees

In spring, many plants lack nitrogen and phosphorus. Dwarf apple trees are no exception. We can use mineral complex fertilizers containing the necessary substances, including potassium.

Action plan:

1. Dissolve fertilizers in 10 liters of water according to the instructions on the package.
2. We make small pits in the soil, as if pushing the layers of the earth with a shovel. We pour fertilizers into them.
3. Then cover the trunk circle with mulch. You can use processed peat mixed with humus, sawdust, compost.

We carry out top dressing according to the plan:

1. In the spring, after the soil has warmed up.
2. During the flowering period. We use organic fertilizers: peat, compost, chicken droppings.
3. While pouring the fruit. For one adult apple tree we take a mullein (3 kg) and warm water (30 l).
4. After harvest. We need nitrophoska (150 g) and warm water (30 l).

Video: features of spring feeding

Overview of common dwarf apple varieties

The main difference is the crown diameter is no more than three meters. Quite often they are confused with columnar varieties.

When buying seedlings, it is really easy to get confused. For example, Melba, grafted onto a dwarf stock, is very similar to a columnar apple tree up to three years old. In adult columnar trees, the crown consists of one trunk on which the fruits grow. Dwarf apple trees have a branched crown.

It is quite easy to distinguish seedlings in the market or in the garden center: in a dwarf apple tree, the trunk and roots branch out. The columnar has no branching on the trunk, and the root has the shape of a rod.

The best dwarf apple varieties

The generally accepted classification is according to the period of fruit ripening. Allocate:

1. Early varieties (fruits ripen in summer). This is:
   • Candy;
   • Early sweet;
   • Melba;
   • Golden Delicious.
2. Mid-season varieties (ripen in early autumn):
   • Sun;
   • Sokolovskoe;
   • Grounded.
3. Late ripening (harvest is harvested before winter) include:
   • Bogatyr;
   • Carpet;
   • Snowdrops.

Dwarf varieties are classified according to cold resistance, taste:

• sour;
• sweet;
• dessert.

Table: popular varieties for the Moscow region and Central Russia

Photo gallery: dwarf apples of universal varieties

The fruits of the Grushevka of the Moscow Region are small, yellow with red stripes and spots, the taste is sweet and sour. Apples of the Arbat variety are of a beautiful wine color "with frost", very juicy and aromatic, sweet, there is a piquant acidity. juicy, dessert (sweet) Melba apples have a wonderful lollipop smell and have a sweet and sour taste, you can eat just like that or use in cooking. neat, round, with a beautiful striped color and a real dessert taste: better than sweets Autumn striped apples (Strifel, Streifling) are valued for their dense juicy pulp and sweet spicy taste Apples of the Belarusian sweet will definitely be appreciated by lovers of sweet fruits: the taste is clean, without sourness and astringency, honey notes are noted

The best varieties for Belarus

Gardeners of Belarus prefer to choose cold-resistant and high-yielding varieties for their plots, such as:

• Kovalenkovskoe. The variety is frost-resistant, mid-season, and has a high yield. Fruits are dark green, have a red blush on the sides, weight up to 170 g. Apples tolerate transportation well.
• Belarusian sweet is considered a semi-dwarf variety. By the age of eight, the tree reaches a height of 3–3.5 m. High-yielding, frost-resistant - easily tolerates temperatures as low as -36 degrees. Up to 35 kg of apples can be harvested from a three-year-old tree. The average fruit weight is 160-170 g, the color is greenish-yellow.
• Darunok. This is a variety of Belarusian selection, reaching a height of four meters. Late ripening and frost-resistant, it easily tolerates temperature extremes and spring frosts. High-yielding: more than 35 tons of apples are harvested from 1 hectare. Fruits are green and wine-colored, with a high sugar content (9%), juicy. The skin is thin, elastic. Darunok is resistant to diseases, including scab.
• Memory of Syubarova. A late ripening variety, frost-resistant, high-yielding: more than 20 tons of apples are harvested from 1 hectare. Fruits are light green with a reddish blush. Average weight 130–140 g. Juicy pulp, sweet and sour taste. The variety is scab resistant.

Photo gallery: Belarusian apple trees

Dwarf apple varieties for the Urals and Siberia

Every year the number of varieties is growing inexorably, and it becomes more and more difficult to decide on the choice for your personal plot. In the Urals and Siberia, gardeners are trying to grow tall apple trees. They have a more powerful root system, they are resistant to severe frosts. But there are several varieties that have been adopted by local gardeners. These are Melba, Bogatyr, Moscow necklace, Silver hoof, Land and Snowdrop.

• Snowdrop variety. Trees grow up to two meters, winter-hardy. Apples are intended for long-term storage. They are kept in cellars and basements for up to four months. Medium-sized fruit with a high sugar content (9.2%), yellow color with a reddish blush. The snowdrop begins to bear fruit at the age of three. The cultivar requires pollinators. The best for him are the Land and Carpet. A distinctive feature is a high yield: up to 80 kg of apples can be harvested from one bush. The variety is zoned for the Urals and Western Siberia.
• Grounded. Bred in the South Urals. The maximum tree height is 2.5 m. Winter-hardy variety. Often exposed to scab.The ground plant begins to bear fruit two years after inoculation, it has a high yield: up to 130 kg of apples can be harvested from one tree. The fruits are greenish-yellow with a deep red blush. The flesh of these sweet and sour apples is juicy, with a slight greenish tint. One of the best pollinators for this variety is Carpet. The variety is zoned for the Urals.
• Carpet. This apple tree grows to only two meters. Winter-hardy variety, zoned for the Urals and Siberia. Begins to bear fruit three years after vaccination. The yield is high: up to 60 kg of fruit can be harvested from one apple tree. Scab resistant. The best pollinators are Snowdrop and Earthy.
• Silver hoof. The variety was bred by the Ural breeder L.A. Kotov, named after the fairy tale of the same name by the writer P.P. Bazhova. Zoned in 1988 for the Urals and Western Siberia. Currently it is grown in the north of our country and Kazakhstan. Trees reach a height of three to four meters. It is a frost-resistant, self-fertile variety that needs pollination. The weight of one fruit is usually 80–90 g. Apples are rich cream color, with a red or orange blush on the side. The pulp is juicy, sweet and sour taste, creamy. The harvest begins in mid-August.

Interestingly, varieties zoned for the Urals and Siberia, such as Snowdrop and Prizemlenny, are popular in Ukraine. Gardeners appreciate them primarily for their frost resistance. After all, the temperature here can drop to -30–38 degrees.

Video: dwarf apple trees for the gardens of the Urals

Semi-dwarf apple varieties

In addition to dwarf trees, there are also semi-dwarf apple trees. What is the difference between these varieties? Apple trees, grafted on a semi-dwarf stock, below the dwarfs, are resistant to various diseases. Their height reaches only two to three meters. These trees begin to bear fruit in the second year after grafting. The apples are large, juicy and sweet. The best semi-dwarf apple trees include:

• Imrus. The variety is mid-season, frost-resistant, high-yielding. The fruits are large, sweet and sour. The crop is harvested from mid-September. This tree is also called the "unkillable Russian apple" due to its high immunity to powdery mildew and scab. Zoned for the Central Chernozem and Central regions of Russia.

  Apples of the Imrus variety are large, yellow in color with a reddish blush

• Lobo. The variety is medium late, the fruits are harvested at the end of October. Apples are sweet and sour, juicy, raspberry-purple in color, covered with a dense waxy coating. Fruit weight varies from 100 to 180 g. The variety perfectly tolerates transportation, zoned for the Central Black Earth Region of Russia.

  Lobo apples are easily recognizable by their rich crimson color with "rime" (wax bloom)

• Antonovka is ordinary. A high-yielding variety of late ripening, characterized by increased frost resistance. Grows well near groundwater. Fruits weigh from 100 to 125 g. The pulp is dense and juicy, the taste is sweet and sour. More than 20 varieties of apple trees have been created on the basis of Antonovka.

  Antonovka is loved in Russia and the CIS: the sweet and sour taste of these yellowish green apples reminds of childhood, because in the past this variety was very popular in the USSR

Breeding novelties

Recently, breeders have been working tirelessly to create new fruit trees. They do not need to be grafted onto a dwarf stock, they are natural dwarfs, more compact than their predecessors. The fruits of natural low-growing apple trees are large in size. The creation of new varieties takes time, but breeders can already please us with the following options:

• Moscow necklace;
• Autumn striped;
• Grounded;
• Carpet;
• Snowdrop.

Some of these varieties are zoned, others can be grown on the territory of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and in other regions.

Gardeners reviews

The creation of full-fledged dwarf apple trees has been worrying breeders for a long time.The main goal of the experiments is still the formation of a miniature tree with large fruits and high yields. Perhaps, in the near future, breeders will be able to develop a variety that will become ideal for most gardeners.

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It can be difficult to find a place for a spreading apple tree in a small garden, but this does not mean at all that the owners of modest household plots should abandon the idea of ​​growing fruit trees. There are many varieties of low-growing apple trees that have a compact, decorative crown, do not require much space and please with a good harvest. When choosing such a tree, you need to pay attention to its main characteristics, such as winter hardiness, yield, early maturity, and fruit taste. For example, in the proposed article we will talk about which apple varieties should be preferred for the Moscow region and the central regions of Russia. After reviewing the information provided, surely everyone will be able to choose a suitable fruit tree for themselves.

Variety of dwarf varieties

The climate of the central region of Russia is characterized by low temperature indicators and unstable weather conditions, in which not every apple variety will be able to fully grow and bear fruit. However, many dwarf fruit trees show high resistance to the Moscow region climate, which does not negatively affect the yield and quality of the fruit. Dwarf apple trees in the Moscow region take root well and do not require enhanced protection from freezing.

Important! Dwarf trees are fruit plants up to 2.5 m in height.

In addition to their high resistance to unfavorable climates, dwarf apple trees have some other advantages, which include:

• Compactness and decorativeness of the crown. Its diameter can be up to 2 m.
• A dwarf fruit tree will successfully fit even in the smallest garden.
• The high height of the bonsai allows for easy harvesting.
• Unlike most common varieties, dwarf apple trees bear fruit annually.
• The high quality of the fruit is not inferior to the fruit of tall apple trees.
• Dwarf apple trees tolerate frost well and do not require intensive care.
• A well-developed root system of dwarf trees can spread to a depth of 1 m over an area of ​​up to 8 m2. It successfully nourishes the apple tree and provides a good yield of the plant.

It is thanks to the listed characteristics that many gardeners prefer dwarf apple trees. Competent selection of such varieties for the garden allows you to collect fresh fruits throughout the summer-autumn period, and then set aside a certain amount of fruits for the winter for long-term storage. To get this opportunity, it is necessary to simultaneously grow apple trees of different ripening periods in the same garden: early, mid-ripening and late varieties. We will try to describe some of them in detail later in the sections of the article so that the gardener, having read the information, can make the right choice for himself.

Early varieties of low-growing apple trees

The first fruits of the apple trees suggested below can be tasted by the end of June. These first fruits are the most valuable, because they ripen at a time when other varieties of apple trees only form ovaries, and buying apples in the store is still "a pretty penny." Among the early dwarf apple trees, the 3 most successful species should be distinguished:

"Melba"

This variety is very fruitful, its apples are distinguished by excellent appearance and taste. Thus, each fruit of the Melba variety weighs more than 200 g. Fruits have a leveled rounded or slightly elongated shape. The skin of such fruits is bright green.By the time of ripening, a yellow tint appears on it, and a pink blush on the sunny side of apples. The taste of the fruit is excellent: the pulp is very tender, juicy and sweet, there are caramel notes in its aroma.

To evaluate the external quality of the early Melba apples, you can view the photo below:

"Candy"

The "candy" apple ripens a little later than the fruits of the Melba variety proposed above. In terms of fruit taste, these two types of apple trees compete with each other with dignity. "Candy" fruits are not very large, weighing up to 120 g. Their shape is round. The fruit is covered with a matte, light yellow skin with small scarlet stripes. They taste very juicy and aromatic. The pulp of "Candy" apples is dense.

"Wonderful"

Apples of this variety ripen in the middle of summer. The first harvest of dwarf apple fruits will be tasted already in the 4th year of crop cultivation. The fruits of the "Wonderful" apple tree are of medium size, weighing up to 150 g. Their taste is dessert, the pulp is juicy and sweet. It has a bright fresh aroma. Fruits are covered with a delicate skin, yellow-green in color, sometimes with a bright blush.

The apple varieties listed above should be planted on the south side of the site in early spring. This will ensure the successful survival of the crop and contribute to the early ripening of the crop in the future.

Important! With a lack of heat, apples of early varieties ripen 1-2 weeks later than the due date.

Mid-season varieties

Mid-season varieties of dwarf apple trees in the Moscow region bear fruit in early autumn, smoothly replacing the harvest of early apple trees. There are quite a few low-growing mid-season varieties suitable for the Moscow region, but the following are deservedly recognized as the best of them:

Zhigulevskoe

This apple has been known to experienced gardeners for many years. The variety begins to bear fruit as early as 3-4 years of cultivation, it is highly resistant to winter frosts, diseases, pests. "Zhiguli" fruits are large, weighing up to 350 g. Their shape is rounded, slightly flattened, the skin is golden-red. Fruit taste is sweet and sour. The pulp of apples is tender, coarse-grained.

Important! The advantage of the Zhigulevskoe variety is the long shelf life of fresh fruits. In the presence of special, cool conditions, it can be 5-6 months.

"Shtrifel"

The Shtrifel variety is one of the most famous in the central regions of Russia, including the Moscow region. It can also be found under the names: "Autumn striped", "Streifling".

Important! Dwarf apple trees "Shtrifel" are obtained by means of a rootstock of a tall variety on a low-growing fruit tree.

The harvest of the Shtrifel variety ripens in September. Its quality is high: the weight of apples varies from 150 to 200 g, the shape of the fruit is slightly elongated, the skin is green-yellow, with bright longitudinal stripes along the entire surface. The taste of the fruit is rich, harmoniously combines acidity and sweetness.

Important! The root system of Shtrifel dwarf apple trees is located in the upper soil layer and can suffer from severe winter frosts.

To prevent freezing, fruit trees must be insulated with burlap.

"Grounded"

Apples of the "Land" variety perfectly tolerate wintering and are very rarely damaged even by the most severe frosts, which means they are excellent for growing in the Moscow region. The taste of such fruits is sweet and sour, the aroma is very bright. Fruit color is greenish-red. Already in the 3rd year after growing the seedling, the gardener will be able to taste the first harvest of large fruits. It is worth noting that the number of fruits ripening in the season is large and stable from year to year.

In addition to the listed mid-season varieties, it is worth noting the Sokolovskaya apple tree, which also successfully wintering in the Moscow region and gives a good harvest of very tasty fruits. Their weight is average, about 90 g, the color is yellow-green.

Late varieties

Late varieties of apples have excellent keeping quality.They can keep their freshness at a temperature of + 3- + 60C until the onset of the new season. At the same time, the taste of such fruits only improves with storage. Among such late-ripening varieties, the following types of dwarf trees can be noted:

"Grushovka Podmoskovnaya"

The history of this winter variety has been going on for many decades, but it still retains its relevance, primarily due to the high resistance of apple trees to unfavorable external factors.

Fruiting of this variety is slow and occurs only in the 5-6th year of crop cultivation. Apples of this variety are relatively small, weighing up to 90 g. Their shape is rounded, slightly elongated. The surface of the fruit is covered with a robust yellow skin with a bright blush on one side. The taste of the fruits "Grushovka Podmoskovnaya" is excellent, sweet and sour. As apples are stored, the acidity in their taste almost completely disappears. The aroma of the fruit is bright and fresh.

Important! The variety "Grushovka Podmoskovnaya" is resistant to decay.

"Bogatyr"

The late-ripening variety "Bogatyr" is distinguished by the highest resistance to fungal and bacterial diseases and extremely low winter temperatures. The apple tree "Bogatyr" gives its first harvest in the 5-6th year of cultivation. Its fruits are relatively small, weighing no more than 100 g. Their shape is round, slightly flattened. The color of the fruits is yellow-green, with a slight pink blush. The taste of apples is sour, similar to the taste of the notorious "Antonovka" varieties.

Important! The Bogatyr dwarf tree is spreading and requires annual pruning.

More information about the Bogatyr apple variety can be found in the video:

"Moscow necklace"

This undersized apple tree can become a real decoration of the garden, because its fruits are painted in the original dark red or purple color, which can be seen in the photo below:

These unique apples ripen in mid-October. The crop yield is average, the palatability of the fruits is excellent: large fruits are very juicy and sweet, stored in special conditions for 6-7 months.

Along with the listed late varieties of apple trees for the Moscow region, it is worth noting fruit trees of the Arbat, Carpet, Snowdrop, Bratchud varieties and some other types of culture.

Conclusion

Growing apple trees with different fruit ripening periods on his plot, the gardener will be able to receive a regular flow of fresh healthy fruits for his whole family. And late varieties will allow you not only to enjoy the harvest in season, but also to preserve it throughout the winter. In the article, we proposed several types of apple trees with different ripening periods, which are great for the Moscow region, since they are characterized by the highest resistance to unfavorable external conditions and freezing. After studying the information provided, everyone will be able to make a deliberate choice and successfully grow wonderful dwarf fruit trees on their site.

Reviews

Semenova Ekaterina, 37 years old, Obninsk

Since childhood, I love Strifel apples. A huge tree of this variety once grew at my grandmother's in the village and, evaluating its dimensions, I did not even try to plant a seedling in my tiny plot. But a few years ago I found out that there is a "Shtrifel" grafted on a low-growing tree. Now my favorite apples are growing on my site. The tree is compact, and apples to taste, well, just like from childhood.

Vasilkova Miroslava, 29 years old, Podolsk

We have recently purchased a plot and are now selecting trees for a new garden. They decided to plant dwarf apple trees, because they are unpretentious, take up little space and have a good yield.

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