Dwarf apple trees. The best varieties and their description. Dwarf apple trees: planting features Dwarf and semi-dwarf varieties of apple trees

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

Features of growing dwarf apple trees

The process of planting and caring for mini versions of fruit trees is little different from other species. But some nuances still exist. For example, it is unlikely that it will be possible to bring out a dwarf variety from a regular variety on your own. If we plant an apple tree for the first time in our lives, we should not suffer with vaccinations and reproduction, it is better to purchase seedlings in gardening centers or in the bird market.

Do apple trees differ 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 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 to a tree is a scion. The place to which the cutting is transferred is the stock. Allocate:

• clonal stock (vegetative cultivation);
• 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 of Melba, Golden Delicious, Kovalenkovskoye and others have the characteristics of tall or medium-sized apple trees. They, grafted on dwarf, 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 stock the variety is grown.

How to choose a seedling

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

Planting and caring for trees in spring

Dwarf apple trees, like ordinary ones, are planted in open ground in autumn and spring. We plant 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 landing pit.
3. Add fertile soil to the hole.
4. Pour 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 pit, straighten the roots.
7. The vaccine should be above the ground at a height of 3-4 cm.
8. We compact the soil after planting 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, loosen the earth 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, ecofoska or any other.
4. In the spring, apple trees also need nitrogen and phosphorus top dressing. You can use wood ash, urea, nitrophoska. Fertilizers are applied 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 and does not 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 the old and crossing branches of the tree.
2. We loosen the soil so that pests cannot overwinter at the roots.
3. As a preventive measure, we spray 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. Fertilizers are dissolved 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 the earth with a shovel. We pour fertilizer into them.
3. Then we cover the trunk circle with mulch. You can use recycled peat mixed with humus, sawdust, 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 manure.
3. While pouring fruit. For one adult apple tree we take mullein (3 kg) and warm water (30 l).
4. After the 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 that the diameter of the crown is not more than three meters. Quite often they are confused with columnar varieties.

When buying seedlings it is really easy to confuse. 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 a single trunk, on which fruits grow. Dwarf apple trees have a branched crown.

Distinguishing seedlings in the market or in the garden center is quite simple: in a dwarf apple tree, the trunk and roots branch out. The columnar has no branches on the trunk, and the root has the shape of a rod.

The best dwarf varieties of apple trees

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

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

Dwarf varieties are subdivided according to cold resistance, taste:

• sour;
• sweet;
• dessert.

Table: popular varieties for the Moscow region and Central Russia

Photo gallery: apples of dwarf universal varieties

The fruits of Grushevka near Moscow are small, yellow with red stripes and specks, the taste is sweet and sour Arbat apples of a beautiful wine color “with frost”, very juicy and fragrant, sweet, there is a spicy sourness The Moscow Necklace variety is high-yielding, apples are saturated red, juicy, dessert (sweet) Melba apples have a wonderful candy smell and have a sweet and sour taste, you can eat it just like that or use it in cooking Bogatyr fruits are really heroic, especially for such a small tree, the taste is sweet and sour, the aroma is dizzying neat, round, with a beautiful striped color and a real dessert taste: better than sweets Autumn striped apples (Striefel, Shtreifling) are valued for their dense juicy pulp and sweet spicy taste Belarusian sweet apples will definitely be appreciated by lovers of sweet fruits: the taste is clean, without sourness and astringency, notes of honey

The best varieties for Belarus

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

• Kovalenkovo. The variety is frost-resistant, mid-season, has a high yield. The 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 - it easily tolerates temperatures as low as -36 degrees. From a three-year-old tree, you can collect up to 35 kg of apples. The average fruit weight is 160-170 g, the color is greenish-yellow.
• Darunok. This is a variety of Belarusian selection, reaches a height of four meters. Late-ripening and frost-resistant, it easily tolerates temperature changes, spring frosts. High-yielding: more than 35 tons of apples are harvested from 1 ha. The fruits are green and wine-colored, high in sugar (9%), juicy. The skin is thin, elastic. Darunok is resistant to diseases, including scab.
• Memory of Syubarova. A variety of late ripening, frost-resistant, high-yielding: more than 20 tons of apples are harvested from 1 ha. The fruits are light green in color with a reddish blush. The average weight is 130–140 g. The pulp is juicy, sweet and sour in taste. The variety is resistant to scab.

Photo gallery: Belarusian apple trees

Kovalenko apples are recognized for their very sweet taste, without sourness, but not cloying, the pulp is very juicy. Darunok apple trees can weigh up to 300 grams or more, while they have an amazing taste - delicate sweet and sour. large, juicy, in order for the taste to be revealed as much as possible, they need to lie down a bit (a week or two)

Dwarf varieties of apple trees for the Urals and Siberia

Every year the number of varieties grows inexorably, and it becomes more and more difficult to make a 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, Earthy and Snowdrop.

• Variety Snowdrop. Trees grow up to two meters, winter-hardy. Apples are designed for long-term storage. They lie in cellars and cellars for up to four months. The fruits are medium in size with a high sugar content (9.2%), have a yellow color with a reddish blush. Snowdrop begins to bear fruit at the age of three years. The variety requires pollinators. The best for him are considered Ground and Carpet. A distinctive feature is high productivity: up to 80 kg of apples can be harvested from one bush. The variety is zoned for the Urals and Western Siberia.
• mundane. Bred in the Southern Urals. The maximum tree height is 2.5 m. Winter-hardy variety. Often subject to scab. The earthy one begins to bear fruit two years after grafting, 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 Kovrovoe. The variety is zoned for the Urals.
• Carpet. This apple tree grows up to only two meters. Winter-hardy variety, zoned for the Urals and Siberia. Fruiting begins three years after vaccination. Productivity is high: up to 60 kg of fruit can be harvested from one apple tree. Scab resistant. The best pollinators are Snowdrop and Ground.
• 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. Bazhov. Zoned in 1988 for the Urals and Western Siberia. Currently grown in the north of our country and Kazakhstan. Trees reach a height of three to four meters. Frost-resistant self-fertile variety, needs pollination. The mass of one fruit is usually 80–90 g. The apples are rich cream in color, with a red or orange blush on the side. The pulp is juicy, tastes sweet and sour, creamy in color. The harvest begins in mid-August.

Interestingly, varieties zoned for the Urals and Siberia, such as Snowdrop and Earthy, are popular in Ukraine. Gardeners value them primarily for 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 varieties of apple trees

In addition to dwarf trees, there are also semi-dwarf apple trees. What is the difference between these varieties? Apple trees grafted onto a semi-dwarf rootstock, lower than dwarfs, are resistant to various diseases. Their height reaches only two or three meters. These trees begin to bear fruit in the second year after grafting. 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. Harvested from mid-September. This tree is also called the "unkillable Russian apple tree" due to its high immunity to powdery mildew and scab. Zoned for the Central Black Earth and Central regions of Russia.

  Imrus apples 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-lilac in color, covered with a dense wax coating. Fruit weight varies from 100 to 180 g. The variety perfectly tolerates transportation, it is zoned for the Central Black Earth region of Russia.

  Lobo apples are easily recognizable by their rich raspberry color with "frost" (wax coating)

• Antonovka common. High-yielding variety of late ripening, characterized by increased frost resistance. Grows well near groundwater. The 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 is reminiscent of childhood, because in the past this variety was very popular in the USSR

Selection novelties

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

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

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

This variety was bred as a result of crossing Skryzhapel and Pepin saffron. I. V. Michurin was engaged in these works.

Region of natural growth

Autumn Low-growing is a variety that was included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements in the Central Black Earth Region.

additional characteristics

In the variety, apples are of medium size, they are slightly flattened, on their surface there are clearly visible ribs. The peel is smooth, dry and shiny.

The main color is greenish-yellow, although there is a red blush in some places. The lining is thick and curved.

The pulp is green in color, its texture is dense, it is juicy and sweet and sour.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of the variety include:

• high productivity;
• resistance to low temperatures;
• precociousness;
• long-term storage and high transportability.

The disadvantages include scab damage, which is influenced by high humidity.

Tree height and crown width

Already from the name it is clear that the height of the tree is insignificant - 1.5-2 m. The crown of the tree is horizontal, its width does not exceed 3 m.

Features of ripening and fruiting

Harvesting takes place at the end of August and until September.

A photo

Next, you can see the photo of the Autumn Low-growing apple tree:

Landing

Site selection

For an apple tree of this variety, it is unacceptable to choose a dark area. You need open and sunny space.

Soil preparation

For the seedling Autumn Undersized, it is necessary to choose fertile soil, but at the same time it should not be too acidic. So before planting, the soil can be deoxidized with dolomite flour or lime. You need to bring them in during digging.

pits

Dig planting holes a month before planting. Its depth should be 0-75 cm, width - 1 m. Fill it with fertile soil and rotted manure (20 l per tree). Add superphosphate and ash (1 kg each). After filling the hole, a mound should form.

Landing technology

After all preparations have been completed, you can proceed to a direct landing, following the following action plan:

Further, a useful video on the topic “How to plant an apple tree seedling?”:

Care

Watering

Irrigate according to weather conditions. If the apple tree has not yet begun to bear fruit, then water it 3 times a day. One tree will take 50 liters of water. The last time to humidify is in August. Apple trees that bear fruit should be watered 3-5 times a year - before flowering, during it and before the ovaries fall off. When a tree grows on sandy soil, it will require 40 liters of water.

Attention! It is impossible to carry out sub-winter gravy in areas where there is a high groundwater flow.

top dressing

Apply top dressing in the 2nd and 3rd year of life. To do this, use a liquid complex fertilizer. It takes 30-40 g per tree. Use the mullein solution 2 times per season. To prepare it, take manure and water in the following ratio - 1:10. One tree takes 10 liters of solution.

pruning

Carry out tree pruning according to the following scheme:

Diseases and pests

If the elementary rules of agricultural technology are not followed, the Autumn Undersized tree can be affected by various pests and diseases.

Black cancer

This pathology is characterized by such symptoms:

• the formation of black dots on the leaves, and their number and size increase every day;
• black rot on fruit;
• darkening of the bark of a tree, the formation of numerous cracks, screwing it in the opposite direction.

Reference! For the treatment of black cancer, Bordeaux liquid is used. Processing is carried out only on the affected areas on the trunk. But to carry out such events only after the flowering of the trees.

In order to prevent the occurrence of the disease, it is important to carry out timely prevention.

For this you need:

• remove small pests in time;
• fertilize and disinfect the soil.

Scab

This disease makes itself felt almost immediately after infection. The very first symptom is considered to be rust on the leaves of an apple tree. Scab is a fungal disease, so it must be dealt with in early spring using Topaz. Dilute the substance in an amount of 2 ml in 10 liters of water. Processing before flowering.

After flowering, spray the trunk again. Instead of Topaz, you can use Hom. To prepare the solution, you need to take the drug in an amount of 40 g and dilute it in 10 liters of water. Carry out the processing of the trunk before flowering and after it. Colloidal sulfur gives a good result. Take it 80 g and dilute in 10 liters of water. Using the above formulations, it is important not to overdo it with the dosage. Otherwise, it can cause burns to the bark and foliage.

Further, a useful video on the topic “How to deal with scab on an apple tree?”:

powdery mildew

This is another fungal disease that affects the shoots and buds of the apple tree. This disease is characterized by rapid spread. A tree under the influence of a fungus can die within a month. Topaz and Skor are used for treatment..

Aphid

This pest very often affects the apple tree of this variety. Aphids feed on the juice of leaves and branches. If treatment is not started in time, the tree will wither. A soapy solution is used to fight. Take 200 ml of soap for 1 liter of water.

Listoverka

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Persian.

For the Northwest and northern regions

For Siberia, their winter hardiness is only average, in the harsh winter of 2001-2002. (-46 degrees) they froze with a score of 2.5 points (half of the flower buds).

Such resistance to frost is combined with fruits of a very decent size: 100-140 and 90-130 grams, respectively, taste - 4.5 and 4.8 points.

Sverdlovsk selection

Ural apple trees on dwarf rootstocks combine very high winter hardiness with productivity and good taste of apples. It is enough to remember:

• summer Pouring Isetsky(120 grams);
• autumn variety Theatrical(120-150 grams);
• Winter Aport of Dibrov(150-200 grams);
• (small, 50 grams, unusually disease resistant);
• Dwarf(180-200 grams).

Useful videos

Watch a video with the characteristics of apple tree rootstocks:

Watch a video of how an apple tree is planted on a dwarf rootstock:

Watch the video on how seedlings look on a dwarf rootstock:

Watch the video on how to form the crown of a dwarf apple tree:

Conclusion

Apple trees on dwarf rootstocks are not just convenient in the garden. Such trees allow you to successfully grow gardens where old tall varieties cannot grow:

• in flooded areas;
• With closely spaced groundwater;
• On slopes with a shallow layer of fertile soil;
• In small areas of 2x2 meters.

It is convenient to cut and process them, no ladders and various devices for picking apples are needed.

Attention! Low-growing apple trees need to be regularly fed and watered - they are very sensitive to lack of water and nutrition.

All traditional treatments are carried out at the same time as for the tall apple trees of the orchard. If you do not miss anything, the harvest will please you.

In contact with

Today, every second gardener dreams of planting a dwarf apple tree in his area. Especially small fruit trees attract those who have limited garden space. "Dwarfs" are becoming more and more popular. Everything depends on their compactness: they take up much less space than tall trees with a powerful root system and a spreading crown. The significant level of productivity of dwarf apple trees is also gaining more and more fame.

Growing this crop has its own characteristics, which amateur gardeners need to know about. What are dwarf apple trees (varieties, reviews, advantages)? What are the nuances and care for them?

One of the most popular garden crops

The apple tree is one of the most common fruit crops among Russian gardeners. Its seedlings, the flowering time of which is from May to June (depending on the variety), are widely used in landscaping parks and gardens as an ornamental flowering plant, but more often for harvesting.

Useful properties of apples (spherical fruits of green, red or yellow color, up to 15 cm in diameter) have been known for a long time. It is believed that it is necessary to eat at least one apple per day in order for the body to be replenished with the necessary dose of iron and other useful substances and vitamins.

Housewives make excellent jams, jams, compotes and juices from apples. Delicious fruits are also used to make apple wines, which are widely popular among lovers.

Classification

Autumn care for adult apple trees

Autumn is harvest time. All debris should be removed around the apple tree: fallen leaves, branches and apples - in order to prevent the appearance of fungus and rot. It is also necessary to apply mineral fertilizers, prune branches that are damaged by insects or have other damage.

It is also necessary to loosen the soil near the apple trees: to violate the thermal insulation of a potential winter overnight shelter for insects. It is necessary to protect the trunks from rodents by insulating them with roofing material, placing baits for mice.

Dwarf apple trees: varieties, reviews, benefits

• The small size of the trees makes it possible to plant a significant number of them on the site.
• Much earlier than in a conventional garden, dwarf trees begin to bear fruit: usually in the 3rd year after planting. For example, the “mundane” variety is noted by users as early, starting fruiting in the 3rd year after grafting. The duration of the vegetative period of this variety is about 150 days, the yield is up to 130 kg per tree.
• The yield of dwarf trees increases rapidly every year and does not differ from those of high-growing apple trees. Thus, the gardeners of Polissya and even the Non-Chernozem region speak positively about the varieties "Melba", "Northern Sinap", "Antonovka", grown by grafting a dwarf insert. These varieties do not require special care, are characterized by high yields, and more regular than those of nearby high-growing apple trees.
• The yield of ordinary tree species: 1 time in 2 years, for dwarf trees - 1 time per year.
• Due to the low growth of trees, it is easier to harvest from them, to monitor the ripening of trees. There is no need to use special devices for cutting branches. Gardeners note the compactness of the crown of many dwarf varieties and their low growth: "Northern Sinap", "Melba", "Antonovka" and some others at the age of 10 have a height of no more than 2.5 m.
• The small growth of apple trees and the relatively insignificant branching of the crown require less nutrition, which leads to increased fruit nutrition.
• Placing the root system near the soil surface allows the tree to instantly respond to top dressing and watering. So, apple trees of the varieties "Melba", "Northern Sinap", "Antonovka", according to reviews, can not be planted in pits. Gardeners recommend pouring small mounds, about 30 cm high and up to 100 cm in diameter, making depressions in them and planting trees there, while more than half deepening the dwarf insert. This method of planting will ensure the growth of its own root system from the place of grafting in the first year. The authors of the reviews note that there is no need for frequent watering of dwarf apple trees. Trees of the varieties “Grushovka of the Moscow Region”, “Bratchud”, “Snowdrop”, according to reviews, need regular watering only during the first summer after planting. Mature trees do well without watering.
• The small size of the trees allows them to use less fertilizer, as well as reduce the cost of spraying.
• The small growth of apple trees increases the time for their preparation for winter sleep, as a result of which they are not afraid of autumn frosts. Users note frost resistance, as well as disease resistance of such winter varieties as "snowdrop", No. 57-145, No. 57-233. The last variety belongs to the semi-dwarf ones, its frost resistance exceeds all known varieties: the roots of the tree tolerate temperatures down to minus 16 degrees Celsius. Also, many reviewers note that semi-dwarf varieties are more viable than dwarf varieties. A deeper root system allows them to give a larger yield with a small tree size.

Flaws

• The life span of dwarf apple trees is half as long as their tall counterparts. But this has its own plus - the ability to replace varieties with more modern ones every 20 years.
• The presence of roots near the surface is fraught with the threat of their freezing. Careful warming of the root system is necessary.
• The surface location of the roots requires the presence of fertile soil.
• The high yield of apple trees sometimes leads to low quality of their fruits. Depletion of trees leads to irregular fruiting. To eliminate it, it is necessary to cut off excess inflorescences.
• A load of fruit sometimes causes small trees to break. To prevent this, special supports for branches and trunk should be installed.

Varieties for the middle band

It is known that fruit ripening on fruit trees directly depends on climatic conditions.

Gardeners remember well the words of I.V. Michurin, the founder of domestic selection, about the need to zoning varieties, taking into account the ability of apple trees to resist diseases of a particular climatic zone and their frost resistance.

Above, we have already mentioned the best dwarf apple trees for the Moscow region (varieties). Gardeners' reviews also mention hybrids, as well as artificially bred trees with different ripening periods.

Moscow Region is an area of ​​the middle lane, ideal for growing early, mid-season and late varieties.

Those already familiar include:

• summer varieties "melba", "candy";
• autumn "Zhiguli", "autumn striped";
• winter "Grushovka of the Moscow Region", "Bogatyr", "Arbat", "Moscow Necklace", "Lobo" (a relatively recent variety with high rates of fruit taste, as well as preservation, fruiting, and winter hardiness of trees).

Growing "dwarfs" in Tatarstan

Amateur gardeners, based on the results of ongoing experiments, confidently assert that Tatarstan is a suitable climatic region where dwarf apple trees (varieties) can be grown. Reviews, in which Tatarstan is mentioned quite often, confirm that it is in this region that you can get a good harvest.

For example, in the most extreme conditions of Tatarstan (Bugulma-Belebeevskaya Upland, where winter frosts reach minus 40 degrees, the latest spring and earliest autumn frosts are observed), gardeners successfully grow paradiska 62-396, as well as the "Moscow pear tree" with an intercalary insertion of this cutting. parades.

Gardeners call two conditions favorable for this:

• good snow cover (keeps the soil temperature down to minus 5-10 degrees at a general air temperature down to minus 35 degrees Celsius);
• heavy soil cover (clay and heavy loam) that promotes good anchoring of the root system, which keeps the tree from tilting in the presence of a bountiful harvest.

These factors also have negative sides that you have to deal with: in spring, trees need to be dug out from under the snow so that the snow mass does not break the branches.

To protect against rodents due to high snows, the trunk has to be raised to a height of 1.2 -1.4 m and wrapped in roofing felt or roofing material in autumn.

Growing dwarf apple trees in the regions of the Middle Volga and Southern Urals (Bashkiria)

Low trees on dwarf rootstocks are becoming increasingly popular among gardeners not only in the southern strip, but also in regions with a harsh climate, which include the regions of the Middle Volga and the Southern Urals (Bashkiria).

Where else can you grow dwarf apple trees (varieties)? Reviews, Bashkiria is also mentioned in them, they say that in this region, many plant this type of apple trees.

The most attractive for gardeners are apple trees with a height of up to 3-3.5 m, characterized by early maturity and high yields:

• "Spartak", "Kutuzovets", "Kuibyshevskoye", "daughter of papier", "Zhigulevskoye" (Middle Volga region);
• "Bashkir handsome", "Moscow pear", "mundane", "silver hoof", "Bratchud" (Bashkiria).

The varieties are well compatible with clonal rootstocks. The first crop on semi-dwarf rootstocks is harvested 3-4 years after planting, commercial - 4-5 years.

Trees on dwarf rootstocks are less adapted: for 2-3 years they stop growing due to the load with fruits. At the age of 7-8 years, they bear fruit periodically.

In the harsh conditions of the region (the temperature of the arable horizon in winter is minus 13-15 degrees, in summer it is plus 60-64 degrees Celsius, soil fertility is low), the following showed their best side:

• semi-dwarf rootstocks: E-56, 64-143, Ural-11, E-63.54-118, Ural-5;
• dwarf rootstocks: K-2, SPS-7, "ARM-18", R-60, "Ural-1".

"Dwarfs" in the southern regions

The southern regions, in particular, Rostov, are an ideal region for growing dwarf apple trees. And here gardeners plant dwarf apple trees (varieties). Reviews, in which the Rostov region is also considered as a region for a favorable planting of apple trees, say that first of all attention should be paid to the soil and climate.

• M1, M3 (medium height);
• M9, MM106, Budagovsky's paradise (with some risk);
• 54-118, 3-3-35, 62-396, 3-5-44. 3-3-72, 3-1-76 (high winter hardiness);
• paradiski Serdyukov (exceptionally high winter hardiness).

The dwarf apple tree is a popular culture due to its undeniable advantages among gardeners in various regions of the country.

The choice of varieties of low-growing trees suitable for the region of residence, compliance with the rules for planting and caring for them will ensure a high yield of a dwarf garden for a long time.

Each summer resident on the site must grow an apple tree, at least one. Apples are rich in iron and other trace elements necessary for the human body.

Varieties of apple trees

All trees, including dwarf ones, are divided into early, middle and late in terms of fruit ripening. They are also heat-loving and frost-resistant, and in terms of taste - sweet, sour, sweet and sour, dessert, and so on. Rootstocks of apple trees are divided into seed, clonal and grafted. The former are distinguished by stature, and the latter usually reach an average height, no more.

In general, apple trees can be divided into:

• High - up to eight meters in height and powerful roots;
• Medium - up to five meters in height;
• Dwarf - up to 2.5 meters;
• Columnar - with a straight trunk.

Varieties of dwarf apple trees

To get a rich harvest, you should select varieties, taking into account the characteristics of the local climate. Fortunately, the choice of dwarf apple trees consists of more than 10 thousand varieties, so you can find the perfect tree for any region. Like all fruit trees, these plants are divided according to their maturity.

Early varieties

The early dwarf apple tree "Melba" is distinguished by its high yield, which begins to please the gardener with its fruits already in the third year of life. The fruits of the tree are medium, caramel flavor, juicy, ripen in the July-August transition.

Dark green, juicy, fragrant and tasty apples of the Candy variety ripen in August and can reach a weight of 120 grams.

The "wonderful" apple is highly resistant to frost and gives the first harvest in the fourth year of planting. The fruits of this tree are medium, up to 140 grams, juicy, dessert, yellow-green in color with a pronounced bright blush.

Medium varieties

One of the best varieties of autumn ripening is Zhigulevskoe. It begins to give the gardener its large and bright fruits of red-orange color already in the third year of planting. The tree is resistant to many diseases and regularly gives a good harvest with timely feeding. The first apples can be tasted in September.

Bright sweet and sour taste and greenish-red color of Earthy apples can be tasted already in the third year of planting. Its fruits are large, and the yield is quite high. The tree tolerates winter well.

Apple tree "Sokolovskaya" gives large fruits, but the yield reaches 85 kg. Saturated sweet and sour apples of a yellow-green hue can be tasted after the fourth year of planting.

Very large fruits - up to 200 grams, yellow in color and sweet and sour taste are given by the Autumn Striped apple tree. Its apples can be stored at low temperatures (up to 6 degrees), but the tree itself is recommended to be covered for the winter, since the root system is likely to freeze.

Late varieties

A very popular variety is "Podmoskovnaya Grushovka", which has a good and stable yield. The tree is resistant to scab, begins to bear fruit from the fifth or sixth year. Its fruits are small, yellow with a red blush.

The Bogatyr variety is distinguished by its resistance to diseases and frost. The tree is very branched, so it requires annual thinning of the crown. Its fruits resemble the taste of Antonovka, yellow-red.

Very large dessert apples of late ripening with a yellow-green skin are brought by the Carpet variety. The yield from the tree is high, and the first fruits ripen in the fourth year.

The frost-resistant variety "Snowdrop" is not affected by scab and gives apples of a uniform yellow tone with a red barrel. The taste of the fruit is sweet and sour, and the weight is up to 170 grams.

A characteristic side seam is found in large Bratchud apples. This tree is characterized by frost resistance and regular harvests, which begin at the age of three. Apples of a variety of yellow-green color, sweet and sour taste with granular flesh.

The relatively young variety "Moscow Necklace" gives large apples of bright red color and sweet and sour taste already in the third year of planting.

Distinctive features of seedlings

Since dwarf varieties are grown only by means of rootstock to ordinary seedlings, the material for planting should be chosen very carefully.

In order not to confuse "dwarfs" with ordinary seedlings, you need to know that:

• The root system of dwarf varieties is fibrous rather than taproot;
• The roots must be fresh;
• The graft should have a clear protrusion at the junction of the neck and trunk;
• The bark must be fresh and undamaged;
• There should be large buds at the ends of the branches;
• The height of the seedling is not more than half a meter from the place of the trunk.

The acquired tree should be planted as soon as possible.

Planting dwarf apple trees

It is best to do this in the spring, in fertilized soil. A place for a new tree must be selected calm, elevated and sunny or slightly shaded. Groundwater at the landing site should not pass closer than one and a half meters, and the distance to neighboring trees should be three meters. The landing pit, half a meter deep and 0.6-0.7 meters wide, is filled with humus mixed with the upper earth, after which a tree is placed in it and covered with the remaining earth. Before this, the seedling is pruned. The graft should remain on the surface, a couple of centimeters above the ground.

Features of care

Young seedlings need to be watered every seven days with one bucket of water. They also need regular feeding with infusion of chicken manure or mullein. This should be done after watering with one bucket of the prepared solution under each tree. In August, feeding can be stopped. After rains or watering, you need to loosen the top layer of the earth.

Already growing trees in early spring should be freed from heaters, pests and frostbitten branches should be cut. After all sanitary measures, the trees should be fed with complex and nitrogen fertilizers, the soil should be dug up, and all cut branches should be burned. From pests, the trunks should be whitewashed and the trees should be sprayed three times.

In the summer, it is necessary to water the apple trees in a timely manner and treat them from pests. It is also necessary to carry out nitrogen fertilizing and monitor the condition of the plants. If necessary, feed foliarly with iron sulphate or other missing element.

After harvesting, it is necessary to free the trees from debris, prune, apply mineral fertilizers and loosen the soil. You also need to insulate the trunks.

Advantages of dwarf varieties

All of them are due to the small size of an adult tree. First of all, dwarf varieties make it possible to plant much more trees on the site. Also, these varieties begin their first fruiting much earlier than usual, and their yield grows every year and is regular, dwarf apple trees bear fruit every season. Smaller trees are also easier to care for and harvest. The small size makes it possible to apply less fertilizer, and the close-lying root system allows the trees to respond quickly to fertilizer. Also, the small size of the plant makes it possible to better prepare for the winter, which means that the tree will better tolerate frosts.

Disadvantages of dwarf varieties

First of all, this is a short period of life. Despite frost resistance, close-lying roots can freeze out, and also require fertile soil for planting. High yields sometimes lead to poor-quality fruits, and can also simply break tree branches under a load of apples.

The best varieties for different regions

In the middle zone of the country, to which the Moscow region belongs, varieties such as Melba, Candy, Autumn Striped, Zhigulevskoye, Bogatyr, Grushovka Podmoskovnaya, Moscow Necklace and others will be ideal for planting.

In a harsh climate, apple trees "Spartak", "Zhigulevskoye", "Kutuzovets", "Bashkir handsome", "Earthly", "Bratchud" and others will be optimal for growing.

The southern regions are ideal for dwarf varieties, so the choice of variety to plant should be made based on soil composition and climate.