Small, but bold in the harvest: choosing a variety of dwarf apple tree

Dwarf apple trees attract gardeners both for their compactness and high productivity, resistance to diseases and early fruiting. In addition, unlike tall ones, they can be grown in an area with close groundwater.

The small growth of such fruit trees is not a sign of some genetic changes or ailments, but the consequences of grafting them onto a dwarf rootstock. That is, the same variety can grow or remain a dwarf tree.

The rootstock acts as the foundation of the future apple tree. Its choice affects the duration of the productive period of the tree, the timing of its entry into the fruiting and ripening phases, the taste, appearance and size of the fruit, as well as the duration of their storage.

But there are also varieties that are natural “dwarfs”, i.e. even on a regular rootstock, their height does not exceed 3 m. Some of the most popular are the following varieties of dwarf apple trees.

Variety Bratchud

The winter variety Bratchud, which was included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements in 2002, attracts gardeners with its extraordinary endurance, frost resistance and excellent yield. The full name of the variety is Brat Chudny, it is suitable for growing in all climatic zones. The tree is a natural “dwarf” with a flat-round crown with a diameter of up to 3 m.

The size of the fruits usually does not exceed average sizes. Their distinguishing feature is the presence of a small seam in the form of a strip. The skin is dry, with a glossy sheen. The main color of the fruit is greenish-yellow, later a purple blush appears.

The pulp of ripe apples is white, coarse-grained. It cannot be called juicy, but the taste remains pleasant. The variety is high-yielding, transportable, with a long shelf life.

Apple tree variety Zhigulevskoe

The autumn dwarf variety Zhigulevskoe is distinguished by its high yield, endurance and resistance to pests and diseases. A small tree (grows up to two to three meters) begins to bear fruit at the age of 4-5. A Siberian apple seedling is used as a rootstock.

Large round fruits of a striped coral-red hue have a sweet and sour taste. Their average weight is 120-200 grams, but there are specimens weighing 350 g. The skin of the apples is shiny, oily, the flesh is tender, juicy and coarse-grained.

Ripening is fast, the harvest can be harvested already in the first ten days of September, and in hot and dry weather - at the end of August. Apples can be stored for about six months.

Fertilizing apple trees

For fruit trees and dwarf apple trees in particular, the most important elements are phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium. They can be added to the soil, either individually or in combination with each other, as well as with microelements - boron, molybdenum, manganese and others.

If you decide to apply mineral fertilizers (it is best to do this in the second or third year, regardless of whether the trees bear fruit or not), remember that the tree can be overfed. Then all these additional substances will be deposited in the fruits, and the soil structure will become worse. It is recommended to apply no more than four kilograms of fertilizer per one hundred square meters of land.

Organic fertilizers, such as bird droppings and manure, enable microorganisms to multiply, the vital activity of which ensures the healthy growth of trees. But organic fertilizers need to be applied in small quantities. Otherwise, the tree’s ability to bloom and bear fruit may be reduced. Due to an excess of nitrogen, nitrates accumulate in fruits.

Variety Candy

It is no coincidence that the early variety Candy bears this name, because its fruits are very sweet and aromatic. Among the early ones, these apples are rightfully considered one of the most delicious. The variety owes its appearance to one of Ivan Michurin’s talented students - breeder Sergei Isaev, who obtained it from the Korobova and Papirovka varieties.

The tree is unpretentious in care, frost-resistant and has a unique ability to recover. The Candy apple tree begins to bear fruit in the 3rd-4th year and produces a harvest of up to 100 kg of yellow fruits with a dark orange or red blush.

Small apples (maximum weight up to 150 g) ripen at the end of July, have juicy, dense pulp and a specific honey aroma. However, they cannot be stored for a long time: under normal conditions - two to three weeks, and in the refrigerator - up to a month.

Rating of varieties

This selection contains varieties that are considered the best in a particular area.

According to tasting assessment of fruits

The tasting scale of fruit taste has a maximum of 5 points. The Konfetnoye and Melba varieties are considered the most delicious: they are the sweetest and most balanced in terms of the ratio of vitamins and sugars. But Bogatyr is called the most sour.

Resistance to diseases and pests

Of those that can be grown in the conditions of the Moscow region, there are a number of varieties that are the most resistant. Among them are Zhigulevskoye, Bogatyr and Grushovka Moskovskaya.

According to winter hardiness

Of the dwarf apple varieties, the most resistant for this region is the Bogatyr variety. Even though its roots are located close to the surface of the earth, it is not afraid of the most severe frosts. And young branches are not afraid of returning frosts and spring frosts.

By fruit size

The largest-fruited of the low-growing varieties is considered to be Streifling, also known as Autumn Striped. And the smallest of this list is Bogatyr, despite the name.

Apple tree variety Carpet

Gardeners are also pleased with the consistently high yield of the autumn apple variety Kovrovoe. It is early-bearing, resistant to low temperatures and scab. However, during a long winter, the lower branches may break off under the weight of snow.

The crown of the tree is horizontal, drooping. The size of the fruit exceeds the average size and can reach 200 g. The apples are flat-round, their main color is greenish-yellow, later saturated with a bright red blush. The pulp is creamy, coarse-grained and low-juicy, moderately aromatic, with a pleasant sweet and sour taste.

The fruits can be stored for up to two months.

Variety Legend

The early winter variety Legend appeared as a result of the combination of the Japanese Fuji variety and the domestic Lingonberry variety. A tree with a dense spherical crown and compactly located shoots.

The fruits are slightly ribbed, grow quite large, and are shaped like a truncated cone. The main color of apples is greenish with a yellow tint; as they ripen, the fruits turn red. Occasionally, burgundy stripes appear on their surface. The pulp is white, with a creamy tint, juicy, fine-grained with a strong aroma. The taste of the fruit is sweet, caramel.

The advantages of the Legend variety are frost resistance and immunity to most pests and diseases.

Variety Melba

One of the oldest summer varieties, Melba (it was obtained in 1898 in Canada, and in our country it was entered into the state register in 1947) still enjoys constant popularity. The variety is named after the Australian singer Nellie Melba.

Few people are familiar with her work, but many remember the candy aroma and sweet and sour taste of these apples from childhood. Juices were made from them, compotes, jams and marmalades were made. And they are especially good fresh, especially since they can be stored for up to three months.

The fruits begin to ripen in early August; when ripe, they are whitish-yellow in color with a bright red striped blush. Their flesh is snow-white, very tender and juicy.

On a dwarf rootstock, Melba actively bears fruit for 10-15 years. Like most old varieties, it is susceptible to scab and, to a lesser extent, powdery mildew.

Moscow red variety

But the high-yielding winter variety Moscow Red is resistant to scab and other diseases. Fruits and leaves remain healthy throughout the entire ripening period. The variety was bred by crossing Pepin saffron with the Brown Striped variety.

The tree is low with a compact spherical crown. The fruits are round in shape, without ribs. The main color of the fruit is greenish-yellow, becoming bright yellow as it ripens. By the time the fruit is picked, a rich red blush appears on the surface. The pulp is yellowish, with a pleasant sweet and sour taste.

However, the quality of the fruit, which can be stored until early summer, depends on the weather during the growing season. The variety also has average winter hardiness

Variety Low-growing

The autumn variety Nizkorosloye is distinguished by exceptional early fruiting and excellent productivity. Among the advantages is its high frost resistance: it can survive fairly low temperatures. But in rainy summers, the leaves are affected by scab, so preventive treatments and regular examinations are necessary to identify signs of the disease.

The trees are low-growing, the branches grow at right angles to the trunk. The fruits are medium-sized, round in shape, with large, clearly visible ribs. The color of the fruits is greenish-yellow; as they ripen, red stripes appear on their surface, merging into a solid blush. The pulp is greenish in color, dense, fine-grained, juicy, with a sour-sweet aftertaste.

Variety Snowdrop

The winter variety of apples Snowdrop has high drought resistance and winter hardiness. The slate apple tree with predominantly horizontal branches is a natural “dwarf”; its height rarely exceeds two meters. Young trees bear fruit almost every year.

The fruits are medium in size, although there are specimens weighing 300 g. Their shape is round-conical with small ribs. The main color of the fruit is light yellow, later they become covered with a dark red blush. The pulp is light white, very juicy and tasty.

The fruits are consumed both fresh and used for making jams, preserves and compotes. In fresh form, they can be consumed immediately after picking.

The Snowdrop variety is self-sterile. The best pollinators for it: Kovrovoe, Prizemlennoye, Sokolovskoye. Breeders use its genetic material to breed low-growing varieties.

Variety Grounded

Another natural “dwarf” apple tree of the Prizemlennoe variety is distinguished by its very fast growing season (up to 160 days), high yield and early fruiting. During the growth period, tree branches begin to grow horizontally, almost parallel to the ground, while their ends bend upward.

The fruits are regular and round in shape, their size is slightly smaller than average. The main color of the apple is greenish-yellow; as it ripens, a red blush appears, which occupies the entire area of ​​the apple. The pulp is greenish, dense, very juicy and rich. The fruits taste sweet and sour and are suitable for making jams and preserves.

The tree can withstand frosts down to –40°C, and bears fruit annually. The disadvantages of the variety are the small size of the fruits and the possibility of darkening of their pulp during storage.

general characteristics

Conveniently, the low-growing varieties are compact. They take up little space, so the process of caring for them is simplified. If necessary, dwarf apple trees can be covered for the winter; this is much more convenient. However, there is a drawback: small trees live a little shorter than usual.

The climate of the Moscow region is considered moderate continental. People tolerate it much more easily than plants. In summer, the humidity is quite high, which can be dangerous due to the appearance of fungal diseases. In winter there can be severe frosts that can damage the roots of the apple tree. This is especially true for low ones, the root system of which is close to the ground.

Variety Early sweet

The Early Sweet apple tree can withstand severe frosts with virtually no consequences. It is also resistant to scab. The tree is low-growing with a flat-rounded crown. It begins to bear fruit in the third year after grafting and bears fruit annually.

The fruits ripen at the end of July, they are medium in size and round in shape. The main color of apples is light yellow. The pulp is white, tender and sweet, with a light creamy tint. Like most early varieties, Early Sweet cannot be stored for long, a maximum of two weeks.

Variety Northern Sinap

The late winter variety Northern Sinap has a lot of advantages, which has become widespread in both public and private gardening, not only in the north, but also in the south of the country. The tree does not need constant care; its fruits are always of high quality.

With its abundant yield, winter hardiness, early fruiting and good keeping quality, the variety has won the sympathy of gardeners, both Russian and foreign. On a dwarf rootstock, it begins to bear fruit in the second year after planting. It has been noted that such a rootstock improves the appearance and taste of the fruit.

The crown of the tree is wide-pyramidal and of medium density. The fruits are relatively small (average weight 120 g), have a round-conical shape, yellow-green color with a brownish-red blush. Their white or slightly greenish flesh tastes sour-sweet, refreshing with hints of spice. Apples can be stored until summer and used for various types of processing.

Planting dwarf apple trees

Dwarf apple trees are planted in the spring. To do this, prepare a cylindrical pit 60 centimeters deep and 80 centimeters in diameter. Fertile soil is mixed with humus or compost (three buckets of organic matter for each hole). Before planting, a stake is driven into the ground, which will serve as a support for the tree. It should rise 1.5 meters above the soil surface.

Important! Position the root collar of the plant correctly; it should be at ground level.

Any variety of dwarf apple tree has a poorly developed root system. When planting a tree, it is necessary to carefully spread its roots along the ground so that there are no bends, after which they are covered with prepared soil. In areas with high groundwater, a small embankment is made 50 centimeters high and 2 meters in diameter. Imported land is used to construct the hill. At the final stage of planting, watering is carried out at the rate of three buckets of water for each crop. To prevent moisture evaporation, the area is mulched with humus or compost, as in the photo.

Pruning dwarf apple trees

Pruning of dwarf plants is carried out in two main periods, in the spring before the sap begins to flow and in the fall, after the leaves fall.

Important! Work on the formation of crop crowns is prohibited during frosts or subzero temperatures. Open plant wounds begin to crack and rot.

The main features of autumn pruning are:

• removing old damaged, disease-damaged or broken branches;
• crown thinning;
• removal of crooked shoots and shoots extending at a slight angle to the trunk;
• cutting off rubbing and tangled branches.

After autumn pruning, all wounds are treated with garden varnish.

Spring pruning of dwarf apple trees is carried out before the buds swell. During this period, frozen shoots are removed and a crown is formed. The middle and lower branches should be longer than the upper vegetative organs, which are located at the top of the tree. In dwarf apple trees, it is necessary to trim the top, which will stimulate the intensive development of lateral branches. Particular attention should be paid to the upper buds; they develop faster than the others and can cause intensive development of competitor shoots. Such buds must be trimmed. Other details about crown formation can be found in the spring pruning video.

Pruning dwarf apple trees depends on the age of the tree:

1. In the first year after planting, the height of the tree should be no more than 50 centimeters. The young seedling is pruned during the dormant period, with an oblique cut made on the bud located on the opposite side of the graft. This pruning will stimulate the development of side shoots.
2. In the second year of the apple tree’s life, the central conductors are cut so that the size of each side branch does not exceed 20 centimeters. Downward shoots are also removed. Subsequently, the side branches are shortened, but the conductors are not touched.
3. The formation of the crown in the third year of a tree’s life follows the same algorithm as in the second year. The work is carried out in early spring, the central conductor and side shoots are pruned to 20 centimeters.

An adult apple tree is pruned every year in spring or autumn, diseased and withered shoots are removed, as well as intertwining and downward-pointing branches. The main task is to preserve the pyramidal shape of the crown by removing vertical growths.

Variety Glory to the winners

The summer-autumn variety Slava Pobeda, proven for decades, has been appreciated by both professionals and novice gardeners. It has become widespread in gardens not only in the south, but also in the north of the country. Apple trees of this variety have good winter hardiness, but they do not tolerate drought well: without watering they can drop some of the fruits.

Saplings of the Slava to the Winners variety are grown on medium-sized and dwarf rootstocks. The mature tree is spreading and has a wide pyramidal crown. The light green fruits with a pale red “blush” are very tasty and aromatic, and can be medium or large in size. In the southern regions, apples are stored for up to two months, in the north – almost twice as long.

The apple tree needs pollinators to bear fruit. Melba, Antonovka, Priam, etc. are well suited for this purpose. You can collect up to 150 kg of sweet and sour apples from one tree.

Advantages of low-growing species

The popularity of dwarf apple trees among gardeners is ensured by a number of advantageous differences from trees of standard height:

• Easy to care for . One of the main advantages. For the first few years, you can care for the tree without any additional stands, standing on the ground. When the tree grows to its full height, in order to reach the upper branches, you only need a small indoor stepladder. This makes it much easier to thin out the crown, monitor excess branches, and pinch shoots. Spraying trees with a garden sprayer is also easy.

• Fast harvest

  . Removing fruits from tall trees is quite problematic. Various devices appear - stands, ladders, collection cups with sharp edges mounted on a stick. All this can be avoided if you choose a dwarf apple tree for breeding.
• Having planted a young tree, people wait for the harvest in about the 5th year . Diseases or unfavorable circumstances can delay a bountiful harvest for some time. Dwarf varieties, due to their smaller size and rapid metabolism, begin to bear fruit after three years.
• The best properties of fruits . On small trees they turn out surprisingly large, juicy and ripen well. One of the reasons is a thinner crown, which allows sunlight to easily penetrate the ovaries and growing apples.
• Higher yield . For dwarf varieties, the number of apples collected per season from one square occupied area will be greater than for standard ones.
• Tight fit . Thanks to its compact size, even a small area can be quite densely planted with trees, given that the distance between the holes should be at least two meters.

Expert opinion

Chernyaeva Tatyana Dmitrievna

Absolutely loves gardening and grows only organic vegetables

Ask a Question

It would be wrong to say that small varieties have no disadvantages at all. Due to the speed of metabolism, early ripening entails rapid aging of the tree - rarely do any specimens successfully bear fruit after 18 - 20 years of growth. A shallow and weak root system requires the absence of strong wind and garter. Despite their frost resistance, the need to cover dwarf apple trees is usually higher than that of ordinary ones. In addition, the shallow root system requires controlled forced irrigation.

Variety Sokolovskoe

The winter variety Sokolovskoye was developed relatively recently. It is a natural “dwarf” with high productivity, but insufficient resistance to summer heat and frost. The apple tree begins to bear fruit 3-4 years after grafting.

The fruits are larger than average in size, flat-round. The shiny peel is usually greenish-yellow in color; as the apple ripens, it becomes covered with an expressive dark red blush. The pulp is cream-colored, dense and juicy, fine-grained. The taste of the fruit is sweet and sour with a pleasant aftertaste. They are consumed fresh and processed: in compotes, jams, preserves.

The Sokolovskoye variety is most widespread in the Urals. It also needs pollinators, for which it is better to plant varieties such as Bratchud, Carpet, and Snowdrop.

Popular varieties

What variety of dwarf apple tree is planted in your garden?

SummerAutumn

Most varieties of dwarf apple trees have high yields, early fruiting and other similar characteristics. The prevailing classification is based on the period when fruit can be collected.

Depending on this indicator, all trees are divided into:

• Summer.
• Autumn.

• Winter.

The first ones ripen in the summer; with enough sunlight, the crop can ripen as early as July. By August, the vast majority of summer varieties, having given a bountiful harvest, stop bearing fruit.

Autumn apple trees are covered with fruits in the summer, but ripening begins in the fall - in September and early October. Winter varieties can hang on the tree until the first frost without harming the taste - this only makes them sweeter.

Summer ripening

The fruiting cycle of summer varieties is shifted to the warm season. This allows you to harvest early, but it also has a downside: spring frosts in cold regions can pose a danger to early-swollen buds.

If we compare the properties of fruits, summer apples are less often used in canning and are mainly consumed fresh.

Melba

One of the most famous varieties in the rank of dwarfs, primarily due to its long history.

It was this species that was one of the first to be grafted onto low-growing rootstocks, which led to the development of semi-dwarf and dwarf varieties.

The variety was developed in Canada and named after the Australian opera singer.

Possessing good frost resistance, it can be recommended for planting in regions up to the Middle Urals.

The apple tree begins to bear fruit in the fourth year, and if the conditions are favorable, then in the third year.

At the same time, the high yield makes this tree suitable for the horticultural business. From one mature tree, up to 150 kg of fruit can be removed during the season. However, do not delude yourself: this is only possible with good care.

But it is really necessary: ​​Melba’s resistance to pests and diseases cannot be called high. She is prone to scab. In addition, despite the general frost resistance, severe and sudden frosts can have a detrimental effect on the next year's harvest.

The apples are medium in size, weighing about 140 - 160 g, the skin is tender, covered with a crimson blush. The pulp is white and dense, with a pronounced aroma and sweet taste.

Some even find notes of caramel in it. The ripening of apples can most often be observed in the first half of August. However, if the summer period turns out to be cloudy and rainy, this period may extend until the beginning of September.

Vladislav Alexandrovich

51 years old, Lipetsk

Melba is my favorite variety. I regularly bought the first seedlings from the nursery, then I decided to experiment myself. Just then an opportunity arose: on a mature apple tree, the trunk broke off above the first fork and had to be cut down. Then he took a cutting from the melba, cut the trunk lengthwise, inserted a cut into a couple of branches, then clamped it with a tin clamp through a thick cloth. For a long time there was nothing, then I looked - one branch had begun to grow. I think I just couldn’t stand the second one according to the rules. Now she has already stretched out, started to grow, and began to sprout forks. I hope that in a couple of years I will be harvesting fruits. So anyone can do selection. The main thing is to take scion only from the best trees that have the most stable yields.

— Vladislav Alexandrovich 51 years old, Lipetsk

Wonderful

It’s not for nothing that the variety is named so. He has a lot of advantages. Firstly , it is almost a natural dwarf: several generations of selection have led to the fact that the apple tree does not grow above two meters and forms a crown mainly in width.

This makes harvesting easier. Since tree branches are often thin, during heavy harvests, supports should be placed under them to prevent them from cracking or breaking.

Secondly , the plant is characterized by fairly high frost resistance. It is also tolerant of stagnant water. This makes it one of the favorite varieties of gardeners in the northern regions: with skillful actions, you can get a quite bearable harvest at latitudes north of the Moscow region.

Wonderful ripens in early August. The further north the region, the longer the fruit hangs on the tree. The dwarf species is striking in the size of the apples: there are frequent cases of mass harvesting of fruits weighing 200 - 210 g. The apples themselves are spherical, slightly flattened, have a green color, which, as they ripen, is complemented by a slightly reddish blush.

Mikhail Markelovich

66 years old, Tosno

In the Leningrad region, no one grows apples - it’s too cold and wet, the soil is swampy. Mostly pine and birch grow. When I retired, I was bored and decided to plant a garden. I decided to contact apples. I chose it based on properties. Chudnoe is a very good variety. They tolerate frost well and recover quickly. Once three of my apple trees froze, and in the spring they sprouted new shoots, although the old branches need to be cut down, but the trunk is alive. True, in order for them to produce a harvest, I try the same. The guys did a drainage system for me on the site; in cold weather I try to insulate the roots and wrap them up when cold weather sets in. The harvest, of course, is not like in the south, but it’s enough for me, and I don’t need to buy it in the store.

— Mikhail Markelovich 66 years old, Tosno

White filling

This is a tree with a spreading crown and very high yield. Abundant spring flowering allows you to collect 180 - 200 kg from a tree, although not immediately, but after 10 - 15 years. Fruiting is periodic, but very long.

Even dwarf varieties produce a harvest after 25 years. The downside is that apples are prone to rotting - they can last no more than two weeks after picking. Also, fruits are attacked early by fruit caterpillars.

Early sweet

A winter-hardy variety that allows you to obtain at least a moderate harvest of fruits in the conditions of the Middle Urals and Western Siberia.

The apples are light yellow in color, with soft flesh that has a slight sourness, although the dominant taste is sweet.

The variety is distinguished by the fact that the collected fruits do not last long - they must be removed and immediately eaten as they ripen, or processed.

Candy

This is a summer variety, bred by S.I. Isaev for regions with poor soils and cold winters.

By crossing Korobovka and Papirovka, he obtained a productive variety. which produced a large number of fruits up to 450 kg from one tree.

The fruit has a pleasant smell and an exceptionally sweet taste, which is why the tree got its name. Suitable for both fresh eating and making jam or juice.

Autumn

Harvesting in autumn is considered optimal for most regions of Russia. These trees are not too afraid of spring frosts, but also manage to prepare for winter. The shelf life of the fruit is at an average level, quite sufficient so that without active consumption or urgent preservation, the crop does not go to waste.

Moscow necklace

Recently bred variety. The goal of the breeders was to increase winter hardiness and resistance to pests and at the same time high yields.

This produced a low tree with an elongated crown, the branches of which were quite densely covered with red-purple fruits. The skin is thin and prone to breaking. When apples fall from a tree, they begin to rot, so they are sent for processing.

undersized

The name of the variety is due to its size: an adult plant almost never exceeds 2 meters. It belongs to the autumn species, when the harvest is harvested in mid-late September.

The variety was bred quite a long time ago, it is recommended for planting in the Central Black Earth region, the precocity of this variety is high, frost resistance is also good, but only within the Volga region and the south of Russia.

To the north it is found much less frequently, as it tolerates prolonged frosts less well.

The fruits are not very large, green, and almost do not change color as they ripen; only occasionally can you see a pale crimson stripe on the side exposed to the sun. The pulp is dense, characterized by a sweet and sour taste, ideal for making jam.

Vasnetsov Fedor

47 years old, Cheboksary

The Low-Growing variety was recommended by a friend; he has a large garden and gave me a couple of seedlings. I planted them, they grew, they even produced fruits in the fourth year. For me this is considered fast, but it is a dwarf variety. And then, I remember, the frost hit early. I think the tree will freeze. He piled dry leaves on the roots, and wrapped the tree itself in plastic. So it stayed with me until spring. When I turned it around in the spring, everything seemed fine, it turned green, I’m happy, my neighbors had a lot of frozen stuff then. But then, when the apples began to appear, I gasped: everything was stained, and the more they ripened, the more stains there were. I brought a friend, he said, it’s a scab, a fungus, you, he says, kept the tree in polyethylene. It turns out that this variety has a tendency to scab in humid environments. They say that if the summer is rainy, this can happen. So, advice to everyone: if you wrap it up, it’s better not to wrap it in plastic, but in burlap, and if it suddenly gets warmer, it’s better not to be lazy and unwrap it.

— Vasnetsov Fedor 47 years old, Cheboksary

Antonovka

The famous apple tree, grafted onto a dwarf rootstock, can delight not only residents of the south. Winter hardiness is increased due to the rootstock, but the variety is quite capricious.

Resistance to scab is good, but worminess is the main scourge of the variety. As the fruits ripen, it is recommended to immediately pick them, otherwise they are prone to falling off. But the taste is sweet, the flesh is strong, and the shape is close to spherical.

Carpet

Recommended for breeding in the Urals and Western Siberia. Good frost resistance allows the tree to withstand cold winters without losses such as dead branches.

Summer residents love the variety for its rapid growth: within 3 - 4 years after planting, the harvest can be harvested.

True, with age it becomes periodic. To increase productivity, it is best to graft, after which a yield of 65 kg from one plant is no longer uncommon.

The fruits grow quite large, flattened at the bottom and top, the skin color is green with a scarlet blush. The pulp is softer and juicier on top, slightly dry inside. Apples are suitable for both direct consumption and processing. They last for about 1.5 months without spoiling.

Sun

A late-autumn variety, the fruits are picked from the tree at the end of September, in regions to the south - at the beginning of October. Productivity is regarded as average; the less sun, the less it will be.

The strength is immunity to scab, which spoils the presentation of apples. The latter are distinguished by their medium size, vertical elongation, and thick, oily skin.

The pulp is strong and homogeneous, and within a month after being picked from the branch it only gains taste. The aroma is subtle, pleasant, the fruit itself is sweet and sour.

Winter (late)

Winter varieties take a long time to ripen. Having appeared in the summer, young fruits grow and ripen for a long time, and can hang on the tree until frost. Once picked, they have good shelf life - sometimes until the next harvest.

Bogatyr

The variety was bred a long time ago, and since then has been in steady demand among gardeners. The reason is ease of care and very large fruits, which can reach a weight of 300 g.

Covered with thick greenish skin, the apples turn red as they ripen. The taste is xylo-sweet, the aroma is strong.

Antonovka and ranet, which served as parent plants, allow you to harvest up to a hundredweight from one tree. Pollinator plants are recommended for planting nearby.

Snowdrop

This variety is well known to gardeners in cold regions; they value it for its high frost resistance - the tree can survive at temperatures down to -40 degrees.

Their crown shape is flattened. The tree is a genetic dwarf, that is, any seed or shoot contains short stature. In addition, this variety is a pronounced stylescent, that is, spreading branches to the sides that seem to spread along the ground.

The height of an adult tree remains at the level of 1.5 - 1.7 m. The early fruiting of the tree allows the first harvest to be harvested within three years after planting. Then, for several years, the tree pleases with consistently high results, but in the second ten years of its life it can present a surprise in the form of periodicity.

One year will be fruitful, and the other not. At the same time, illumination and care may hardly differ - blaming the factors is almost useless.

The size of the fruit is 130 - 170 g, the shape is slightly elongated, with barely noticeable ribs. The color is green, turning into yellow and pale crimson as it ripens. The skin is dry and smooth, the flesh is crisp and juicy, with some graininess.

Nikita Solodov

48 years old, Kurgan

Many people plant Snowdrop here and many people swear at it. So, they say, they bought a frost-resistant tree, stuck it in the soil, but it doesn’t bear fruit. I’ll say right away that an apple tree always needs care. They themselves grow only in the southern regions, in Rostov, Krasnodar and Stavropol. And here we need to not only look after them, but also plant them correctly. On the Internet they say to plant in the spring. But you need to plant stone fruits in the fall! You judge by the air, but you must judge by the soil. In spring, the soil is still cold, but the air has already warmed up, so you think it’s warm. And in the fall, if you don’t miss the deadlines, the air may already have cooled, but the earth is still warm, and the root is in the ground. I planted only in the fall, but before heavy frosts. If frost hits, then there is no luck - the tree will grow, but the fruit will be very mediocre. There is already an element of luck present here.

— Nikita Solodov 48 years old, Kurgan

Legend

A relatively new variety, it was developed by Professor V.V. Kichina by crossing the domestic variety Brusnichnoe with the Japanese variety Fuji. The descendant plant surpassed each of its “parents”.

It was added to the register of varieties only in 2008, but managed to gain popularity among summer residents and gardeners.

Its unpretentiousness in care, high levels of frost and drought resistance, as well as the successful spread of various types of fungi have made it a universal variety for cultivation in various regions of the country.

The apple tree is an early winter tree. The harvest is harvested towards the end of October. It is at this time that the fruits take on a rich raspberry-burgundy color. Before this they are colored greenish-yellow. The weight of one apple ranges from 170 to 200 g. The pulp is fine-grained, sweet, with a pleasant dessert taste. The harvest can be consumed fresh or processed.

Rostislav Arkadievich

57 years old, Khabarovsk

I keep several Legend trees on my plot, a good variety, quite frost-resistant, and the apples are delicious. They don’t require any special care, I don’t grow them for sale, but for myself, I don’t need super-harvests of a hundred kilos per tree. I get about 40-50 kilograms per season, and I don’t need more: neither I nor my wife like to tinker with canning. But everything is not eaten over the summer. I found a way out: I put them in wooden boxes, cover them with matting and lower them into the cellar. They stay there all winter. It’s a very easy-to-eat variety; after it sits, it becomes even more sweet. The main thing is not to knock it anywhere; if you hit it, it will begin to rot in that place.

— Rostislav Arkadyevich 57 years old, Khabarovsk
Sokolovskoye

This is a natural dwarf, its height does not exceed 2 meters, and some specimens are even smaller - 1.2 - 15 m. It is distinguished by irregular fruiting. The period when it is possible to collect about 60 kg from a tree can be replaced by an almost complete absence of fruits.

The tree does not like excessive dryness and harsh winters. Low temperatures in spring can damage the buds. Snowy winters are tolerated more easily by Sokolovsky, otherwise cold weather can lead to the death of branches.

The fruits are medium-sized, greenish-yellow in color, and when ripe, become covered with a crimson blush. The pulp is creamy, granular, with a sweet and sour taste.

Bratchud

A little strange name, which is short for “Wonderful brother”.

There is much in common between related varieties, however, as a result of selection, it was possible to achieve a shift in the timing of fruiting and harvesting.

The apple tree belongs to the slate species, its size is small, therefore it is used as a rootstock for breeding other dwarf species.

The color of the fruit is green with purple during ripening. The pulp is grainy, a little dry. Under suitable conditions (dry cool air 5 - 7 degrees, apples can be stored for up to 5 months.

Variety Sun

The late autumn variety Solnyshko, bred more than 20 years ago, has gained popularity due to its high yield, long shelf life, and ability to withstand severe frosts and winds. In addition, he is immune to scab.

The crown of the apple tree is rounded, not very thick. The fruits grow to a medium size, have an oblong-oblique shape, and the skin is smooth and oily. The main color of the fruits is greenish-yellow; as they ripen, they turn yellow and a crimson blush appears on them.

The pulp is white, with rare creamy inclusions, juicy and dense. Apples have a sweet and sour taste, with a rich aftertaste. They can be stored for a long time, practically without losing their taste. The fruits are consumed both fresh and processed.

History of selection

Natural dwarf apple trees are low-growing apple trees with a natural creeping crown.

They are hybrids from crossing the Eliza Rathke variety (Vydubetskaya weeping) with other apple trees.

They were bred by the famous breeder scientist from Chelyabinsk M.A. Mazunin more than 20 years ago.

In total, there are about 15 varieties of these extraordinary trees, each of which has both its own differences and common characteristics.

Apple tree variety "Wonderful"

The late summer variety Chudnoye is recognized as the best pollinator for all “dwarfs”. For him, it is recommended to plant Anise Sverdlovsky as a pollinator. The variety has good resistance to scab and tolerates frosty winters without problems, suitable for cultivation in all zones of Russia.

The tree is low-growing (natural “dwarf”), the crown is formed in a horizontal plane, almost spreading along the ground. The fruits are large, larger than average in size, some weigh up to 200 g. The shape of the apples is flat-round, the main color is yellow-green, and as they ripen, a rich bright red blush appears.

The fruit pulp is juicy, with a fine-grained structure, sweet and sour taste, with a pleasant aftertaste. Sweet desserts are prepared from them: jams, preserves, compotes, juices, mousses, etc. Apples can be stored for up to a month, which is unusual for early varieties.

Planting and caring for a dwarf apple tree

• Planting: early spring or mid-September to mid-October.
• Flowering: in May.
• Lighting: bright light or partial shade.
• Soil: loose, moist, fertile, light, preferably loamy.
• Watering: young apple trees are watered three times a season at a consumption of 5 buckets of water per tree; fruit-bearing trees are watered 3 to 5 times: before flowering, during it, before the ovaries fall off and before the fruits begin to ripen. When grown in sandy loam soil, 4 buckets of water are enough for one tree; in clay soil, 5-6 buckets are required. After the dry season, in October, moisture-recharging watering of apple trees is carried out to saturate the soil to the depth of the roots, spending 10 liters of water for each m² of garden. If groundwater lies high in the area, winter watering is not necessary.
• Feeding: regular - once every two weeks. Both organic compounds (mullein solution, chicken droppings) and mineral ones are used as fertilizer. Feeding can be carried out at the root and along the leaves.
• Pruning: in March-April - sanitary and formative, in the fall - sanitary.
• Reproduction: vertical and horizontal layering, green and lignified cuttings, grafting.
• Pests: apple and plantain aphid, apple sawfly, glass beetle, codling moth, moth, leaf roller moth, copperhead, comma scale insect, fruit striped moth, blue armyworm, currant leaf roller, rowan moth, moth peeled, subbark and fruit leaf roller, fruit moth, pear honeymoth, gypsy, ringed and oakleaf silkworms, leaf miners, blood and red gall aphids, red apple mite, goose, winter moth, green apple aphid, western gypsy bark beetle, sapwood, pear tubeworm and sawfly, eastern codling moth, apple flower beetle, upper-sided fruit beetle moth, brown fruit mite, hawthorn moth and hawthorn circle moth.
• Diseases: witch's broom (proliferation), bitter rot of fruits, milky sheen, mosaic, mosaic ringing, powdery mildew, fly beetle, tinder fungus, common cancer, scab, branch death, pome fruit rot, subcutaneous viral spotting, rubbery, rust, flattened branches, glassiness of fruits, black cancer and cytosporosis.

Read more about growing a dwarf apple tree below.

What is the difference between dwarf apple trees and tall ones?

The differences between tall and dwarf trees become noticeable even at the stage of choosing a particular seedling. When purchasing, dwarf seedlings can be distinguished by their external characteristics. For example, by large buds at the ends of branches or a fibrous root system with small roots. Tall apple trees, by comparison, have a tap-like root system.

The roots of dwarf apple trees lie shallow, so such trees can be planted in areas with a groundwater level above 1-1.5 m.

In the garden, dwarf apple trees are always easy to distinguish by their compact size, neat crown and regular fruiting. These trees reach a height of 2-3 m and begin to produce crops in the third year.

Features of growing dwarf apple trees

The process of planting and caring for mini-versions of fruit trees is not much different from other types. But some nuances still exist. For example, it is unlikely to be possible to develop a dwarf variety on your own from an ordinary one. If we are planting an apple tree for the first time in our lives, there is no need to worry about grafting and propagation; it is better to purchase seedlings at gardening centers or at a poultry market.

Do apple trees from different rootstocks differ?

What is 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 in any novice gardener.

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

• clonal rootstock (growing vegetatively);
• seed (apple tree is grown from a seed).

Thus, the same variety can be bred on either a dwarf rootstock or any other. When grown, for example, for 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 “true dwarfs” that do not require grafting.

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

How to choose a seedling

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

1. The grafting site is traditionally located between the trunk and the root collar. It has the shape of a small protrusion.
2. A varietal grafted plant must have at least four developed branches.
3. A standard of 0.5 meters in height also indicates that we are purchasing not a wild, but a varietal apple tree.
4. The grafted dwarf seedling has many small and flexible roots; it does not have a tap root, unlike the wild one.

   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. We carry out planting 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 advise preparing 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, 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 planting hole.
3. Add fertile soil to the hole.
4. Pour in 0.5 kg of ash, a bucket of humus and 0.5 kg of superphosphate. Mix with 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 and straighten the roots.
7. The graft should be above the ground at a height of 3–4 cm.
8. After planting the apple trees, compact the soil.
9. Pour 2-3 buckets of water under each tree.
10. 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 or dry out. After watering, loosen the soil 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: azofoska, ecophoska or any others.
4. In spring, apple trees also need nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizing. You can use wood ash, urea, nitrophoska. We apply fertilizers according to the instructions on the package.

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

Mandatory procedures in summer and autumn

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

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

Video: forming a dwarf crown

Fertilizing 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 holes in the soil, as if pushing apart the layers of earth with a shovel. We pour fertilizer into them.
3. Then we cover the tree trunk circle with mulch. You can use recycled peat mixed with humus, sawdust, and compost.

We carry out feeding 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 fruit. For one adult apple tree we take mullein (3 kg) and warm water (30 l).
4. After the harvest. We will need nitrophoska (150 g) and warm water (30 l).

Video: features of spring feeding

What is the difference between dwarf apple trees and columnar ones?

Columnar apple trees are often confused with dwarf apple trees. However, these are two different forms of fruit trees. Dwarf apple trees are low trees with a spreading crown, which can reach a diameter of 3 m. Columnar apple trees have a well-defined trunk with short side branches. In shape it resembles a column, in the upper part and along which fruits grow. In order not to make a mistake when choosing a seedling, pay attention to the following signs:

• a columnar apple tree grows in one trunk, with virtually no side branches;
• The root system of a dwarf apple tree is fibrous (for a columnar apple tree it is taprooted), the more elastic it is, the healthier the tree.

However, even among columnar apple trees there are varieties on dwarf rootstocks.

Dwarf varieties of apple trees are intended for small areas with close groundwater. They take up little space, quickly begin to bear fruit and produce a bountiful harvest. The fruits of low-growing apple trees are stored for quite a long time, have a marketable appearance and have a pleasant taste and aroma. Be sure to plant them in your garden to appreciate all the advantages of plants.

Differences between dwarf and regular apple trees

Dwarf apple trees

The differences between ordinary and dwarf apple trees become noticeable already at the stage of choosing planting material. Dwarf seedlings even have external differences: they have large buds and a fibrous root system consisting of a large number of small roots.

In garden plots, adult dwarf apple trees have compact sizes and a crown located almost close to the ground. Their height rarely exceeds 3 m. Another important difference between these varieties is regular and abundant fruiting. The yield of dwarf apple trees ranges from 50 to 130 kg of fruit per plant.

Dwarf apple trees are often confused with columnar apple trees, but they are completely different tree shapes. The crown of dwarf apple trees is spreading. It is often wider than it is tall, although not by much.

Columnar apple trees have a well-defined elongated trunk with short branches on the sides. In some ways, their crown resembles the crown of a cypress tree. The fruits of columnar apple trees are visually located along the trunk.

The main differences that you should pay attention to when choosing seedlings, so as not to make a mistake, are the following:

• columnar apple tree has one trunk, practically no lateral branches
• root system of a columnar apple tree

Dwarf varieties are intended for growing in small gardens

They take up little space and quickly begin to bear fruit, producing abundant and constant harvests from season to season. The fruits of such apple trees have good shelf life and tolerate transportation well.

It should be noted that dwarf apple trees are not some new plant species. They are obtained by grafting a varietal cutting onto a clonal dwarf rootstock. That is, in fact, dwarf trees are not obtained from seeds, but are propagated vegetatively. Most often, nurseries graft varietal material using the budding method. Sometimes grafting cuttings onto the roots of a wild apple tree is used. Rootstocks grafted in this way have even better characteristics than other types of dwarf trees.

In addition, there are also so-called semi-dwarf varieties of apple trees. Similar to dwarf ones, they are grafted onto a clonal rootstock, but with average growth rates. In this case, the height of the semi-dwarf tree is slightly higher (up to 3-4 m). This creates certain inconveniences when harvesting in the upper part of the crown, but at the same time it is much easier to care for such varieties, since they are more mechanically durable and resistant to various external influences.

Thanks to such an operation, a long trunk and the resulting large skeletal branches are “isolated” from the structure of the tree. Consequently, the resulting trees represent a root system on which the crown is immediately located. The height of such a structure rarely exceeds 2.5 m.

Dwarf apple variety Legend

Despite such an operation, the trees have good indicators of fitness, frost resistance and life expectancy. At the same time, apple trees retain all their varietal characteristics: from the size of the fruit to the time of growing season, flowering and harvesting.

If dwarf trees are properly cared for (watered, fertilized, pruned on time, etc.), they are able to bear fruit with virtually no loss in yield for 20-30 years. In comparison, tall apple trees live about 5 years longer, but their yield rates decrease significantly over time.

But the main disadvantage of dwarf apple trees is their relatively weak roots. Because of this, under the influence of a large mass of fruits, as well as weather phenomena (wind, snow, etc.), trees can bend to the ground and even break.

In addition, the location of the roots in the upper layer requires the implementation of certain procedures when caring for apple trees, concerning, in particular, watering. The top layer of soil is often seized by a crust, so to retain moisture in it, the tree trunk circle should be mulched. Various materials can be used as mulch: you can fill the tree trunk circle with sawdust, you can pour peat, straw, etc.

Apple tree seedlings on dwarf rootstocks

An alternative is loosening. First, water the apple trees with 1-2 buckets of water, then carefully loosen the soil around the tree to a depth of no more than 5 cm so as not to damage the root system.

The use of fertilizers for dwarf varieties also has some features. Since the root system is located close to the surface, it is recommended to slightly (20-25%) reduce the concentration of fertilizers when applying so as not to damage it. Typically, this refers to mineral fertilizers, such as urea or superphosphate. If the trees are fed with organic fertilizers (humus, mullein), use the usual doses, similar to those for apple trees of normal growth. Some gardeners generally recommend planting dwarf trees on more fertile soils than tall ones in order to reduce the amount of fertilizer applied.

Despite this careful approach to fertilizers, foliar feeding is rarely used for dwarf apple trees.

However, in terms of the combination of advantages and disadvantages, dwarf apple trees have more advantages and, with proper care, are a more profitable way to grow high and stable yields.