desire to grow dwarf apple tree

[Craig]

Hi everyone,

I am interested in growing a dwarf apple tree in a large pot or tub on my deck. When should I buy try and put it outside? Should I bring it in for the winter, wrap it or leave it alone? How big should the pot be? Any sites that would be of help or recommend macintosh like varieties?

Craig Staten Island, NY Zone 6

[sherwindu]

Hi Craig, I would start to buy your plant in Spring. It will save you trying to keep it safe over this Winter and will not take any growth time away from you. Most apple trees need a polinator, so if you want apples, you will need two trees which can pollinate eachother. Be sure and buy a miniature apple tree, or it will quickly outgrow the pot and get too large for your deck. You can leave it outside each Winter, if you protect it from strong winds and freezing temperatures. When the tree gets close to maturity, it will probably be too big to take inside. A heavy blanket of mulch at it's base will help protect it.

You can start with a small pot, but soon you will need a fairly large pot to accomodate even a miniature tree, which can grow from four to six feet high. You can check out my club's site

and check the section on Gene Yale. He grows over 100 varieties in his small suburban lot, all of course, of the miniature size. You can check the web for sources of these miniatures, like Raintree in Washington State. You can also look at Gurney's or Stark's for these trees.

Good Luck,

Sherw> Hi everyone,