What varieties of apple trees on a dwarf rootstock are suitable for growing in a summer cottage?

Breeders are constantly developing new varieties of apple trees that differ in taste, size and other characteristics. Many gardeners grow dwarf apple trees in their summer cottages, which bear juicy fruits and can serve a decorative function. Despite their compact dimensions, fruit trees are not inferior in quality to larger varieties.

Features and advantages of the type

The category of low-growing trees has a small crown and grows to a height of no more than 3 m. The thin trunk of apple trees is reliable and can withstand a mass of abundantly ripening fruits. Provided proper planting and further care, the trees bear fruit in 2-3 years. The advantages of dwarf plants include the following:

1. Due to their low height, the trees are easy to process and collect fruits from. Gardeners who care for dwarf apple trees do not spend much time performing basic agricultural practices.
2. It is allowed to grow trees every 1-1.5 meters. Dense planting significantly increases the yield compared to classic tree varieties.
3. In strong winds and precipitation, a small amount of fruit falls to the ground. Even if apples fall, they are not damaged due to the small height of the trees.
4. The root systems of dwarf varieties respond more quickly to fertilizers and watering, due to which the crop ripens earlier.
5. Due to the structural features, low-growing plantings receive more natural light, and more vitamin C and sugars accumulate inside the fruits.
6. The process of development and ripening of the crop stops several weeks earlier than with standard varieties, which allows the fruit to be harvested before the first frost.

Main disadvantages

In addition to a number of comparative advantages, low-growing apple trees have several negative characteristics. The main disadvantage is poor cold tolerance, which is why plantings on dwarf rootstocks can freeze out at low temperatures.In addition, this variety requires regular and careful care to obtain a large harvest. The list of disadvantages also includes:

• deep digging of the soil when caring for plantings can lead to damage to the root system, since it lies in the upper soil layers;
• a tree of small height is more fragile, so when planting seedlings it is necessary to build supports;
• the fruits of dwarf varieties attract a large number of pests, so anti-parasitic treatment is required to grow a high-quality crop.

How are they different from regular apple trees?

When planting seedlings, inexperienced gardeners often confuse low-growing varieties with ordinary and columnar ones. Dwarf varieties are distinguished by a spreading crown, which reaches 3 m in diameter. Common species have a crown of one trunk, with a lot of branching.

Columnar trees look like an elongated trunk, on top of which fruits grow.

To distinguish dwarf apple tree seedlings, when choosing, you need to pay attention to the root system and trunk. In low-growing seedlings, the trunks have branches that appear in the early stages of growth. The root system has a fibrous structure, and its firmness and elasticity indicate the high quality of the seedling, resulting in abundant fruiting of apples. Standard varieties have tap roots.

Variety varieties

There is a wide variety of dwarf apple trees. Trees of different species differ from each other in the duration of ripening, growth characteristics in certain regions, and the size of the fruit. To choose the best option for planting on your summer cottage, it is important to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of each species.

According to ripening time

Depending on the period when trees begin to bear fruit, early-, mid- and late-ripening varieties are distinguished. Early ripening ones ripen at the end of July. One of the most common varieties is Melba, which bears juicy fruits weighing more than 100 g. Also known are the Candy and Chudny varieties, which produce fruits weighing 120 and 150 g, respectively.

Summer varieties have distinct taste characteristics, and their fruiting begins in the 3-4th year of the growing season.

Among the mid-season varieties, the Zhigulevsky variety is in great demand, as it easily tolerates low temperatures and produces a harvest at the end of September. The weight of one fruit reaches 200 g. The harvest can be stored throughout the winter without loss of taste.

Among the late-ripening varieties, we can distinguish the Bratchud and Bogatyr species. These varieties begin to bear fruit from the 4th-5th year, they are resistant to frost and have stable yields. The fruits of the trees are sweet and juicy if properly cared for.

By regionalization

To obtain a large harvest, it is necessary to grow a variety suitable for a particular region. Climatic conditions differ in different areas, so some varieties may not take root. For example, the soil and temperature in the Moscow region are in the middle zone, and apple trees grafted onto low-growing clonal rootstocks are in demand here. Experienced gardeners plant Melba, Zhigulevsky and Grushevka varieties in the Moscow region in the middle zone.

Clonal rootstocks should not be grown in Siberia, as they freeze out under the influence of low temperatures. The varieties Palmetta, Nezhenka, and Siberian Souvenir are resistant to Siberian cold. These varieties bring a good harvest when planted according to the 2.5 x 2 m pattern.

In the Nizhny Novgorod region, as well as in the Moscow region, the Zhigulevsky variety takes root well, which is valued not only for its earlier ripening, but also for its resistance to unfavorable climate. This variety of apple tree is practically not subject to scab and endures conditions of high humidity.

How to graft trees

Dwarf trees can be propagated in several ways. The easiest way to do this is by budding. The procedure is carried out in early spring, when the first leaves begin to grow. The essence apple tree budding consists in the fact that a bud with adjacent tissues is cut out from a one-year-old scion shoot, which is inserted into a cut on the trunk of the rootstock.

Growing apple trees on dwarf rootstocks

When planting trees on dwarf rootstocks, there are a number of things to consider. First of all, the grafting site of the seedling should be located above the surface of the soil, since otherwise the plant will begin to actively grow prematurely. It is recommended to distribute the roots of the seedling evenly around the trunk, avoiding bending upward.

It is better to plant apple trees on rootstocks in the spring, before the onset of stable hot temperatures. Planting seedlings requires the mandatory construction of supports that will help the plant not to bend during strong winds and the ripening of heavy fruits.

Rules for caring for dwarf apple trees

The process of caring for seedlings involves regular implementation of basic actions - watering, loosening, plowing, fertilizing and protection from pests. To grow healthy trees, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:

1. Inspect plantings regularly to promptly detect signs of disease and the presence of pests.
2. When plowing and loosening the soil, be careful, since the root system of seedlings is at a shallow depth.
3. Before planting, prepare a place for the seedling, making sure the quality of the soil and the absence of blown through winds.

It is also important to consider the time of year when caring for apple trees. Depending on temperature conditions, there are certain nuances in processing seedlings.

In summer

When caring for summer, special attention should be paid to watering. The soil around the trunk must always be kept moist and not allowed to dry out. In hot weather, the activity of pests increases, and special chemicals should be used to repel them.

in autumn

In the autumn, most of the dwarf varieties ripen. By the time of harvesting, the tree trunk area must be constantly cleared of falling leaves, fruits and weeds. When the area around the trunk is cleared of plant debris, you need to loosen the soil to eliminate lumps and disrupt the thermal insulation of pests living in the soil.

By mid-autumn, disinfection should be carried out to prevent the appearance of new harmful insects.

After harvesting, it is necessary to fertilize using fertilizer with a high content of mineral components. After this, sanitary apple tree pruning in order to remove dried leaves and eliminate thickened plantings.

in winter

Caring for fruit-bearing trees during the winter is a prerequisite for obtaining a good harvest next season. When frost occurs, it is necessary to regularly monitor the condition of the insulation that covers the roots and lower part of the trunk of the apple tree. During winter, the covering material can be chewed through by hares or mice. There is also a risk of damage to the insulation due to heavy accumulation of snow.

To prevent tree crowns from breaking, you need to constantly monitor the amount of snow on the surface. If a thick layer of snow forms on the branches, you should shake it off. Otherwise, after the onset of heat, the snow will melt, and under its weight, fragile branches will break.

in spring

In early spring, the branches of new seedlings need to be pruned for further active growth. If the tree has been growing for several seasons, then in the spring pruning is required to give shape and for sanitary purposes. One of the important stages of spring care is treatment against diseases and harmful insects. It is also recommended to attach hunting belts to the trunks of dwarf apple trees to catch pests.

After the snow melts, you need to start making sure that the surface of the soil around the trunk does not dry out. Each watering should be completed by loosening the soil to a depth of 50-70 mm. To reduce the frequency of watering and retain moisture in the ground, you can mulch around the trunk. In early April, during clear weather, you need to whitewash the lower part of the trunk. It is also necessary to fertilize using complex or nitrogen fertilizer.

Features of crown formation

The crowns of apple trees are pruned twice a year to give shape.. The crown should be trimmed in spring and autumn, when new shoots have not entered the intensive growth phase. To increase the volume of the crown, young shoots should be directed outward. This will help make the tree more compact in appearance, while the branches will not stick out in different directions.

Most often, the need to trim the crown arises when planting on a summer cottage with little free space in the garden.

Diseases and pests, ways to combat them

Apple trees grown on a dwarf rootstock are subject to the same diseases as classic varieties. With improper care, negative external influences or constant cloudy weather, there is a high probability of the appearance of diseases such as powdery mildew, scab, mosaic, rot, and cytosporosis. In order to timely monitor the appearance of the disease, it is necessary to regularly inspect the seedlings and, when the first signs of infection are detected, begin fungicidal treatment.

Copper sulfate solution, colloidal sulfur and Bordeaux mixture are suitable for combating diseases.

Among the pests that are dangerous to the fruits of dwarf apple trees are caterpillars and butterflies. Insects chew through fruits and leaves of trees, which leads to a reduction in the quantity and quality of the harvest. To repel pests, it is necessary to spray the vegetation with special preparations.