I have found several interesting websites regarding dwarf apple trees from grafting to root stock..These trees vary from 3 to 7 feet tall depending upon how one prunes them etc..I am quite eager to hear if any of you have actually grown any and if so,where are you (climate-wise) and how did they turn out? Thanks and God bless...

-- Lesley (martchas@ateway.net), September 22, 2000

Answers

sorry, above is incorrect e-mail address (bifocals strike again)

-- Lesley (martchas@gateway.net), September 22, 2000.

I grow all dwarf fruit trees [except the orange tree which is about 20 feet tall] in my backyard which is only 400 feet of growing space. I like dwarfs because they are much easier to prune and spray. I have a dwarf peach which is 15 years old and growing strong. You can get a much wider variety in a small space. In my small back yard I have 4 apples 2 nectaerines, 2 peachs and 1 cherry [ had two but goats could get to one and they finaly did It In]all dwarf and one orange tree, I also have 2 manchurian bush apricotes but they get to tall so this winter one is history.We are in zone 9 and the varieties [ except apricots]produce well for me: average 1 bussel per tree although the old peach was 2 this year one nectarine was 2 also.

I still can't get email, but if you post questions, I'll try to answer them.

-- kathy hI grow all dwarf fruit trees in (saddlebronc@msn.comkathy), September 22, 2000.

Not yet, but I'm definitely going to be thinking about fruit trees on dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstock. What I have heard is that it's a lot less far to fall if you're reaching for the fruit at the top of the tree. While that's not an immediate worry, it is something I'll probably be glad I thought about ten years from now, and onwards. I've got a bad back too, and I'd really rather avoid giving myself opportunities to fall off ladders if I can.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), September 23, 2000.

Our dwarf peach tree, over 15 years old, gave us 228 large peaches this summer. The dwarf stayman winesap apple is loaded as we speak. The plums are more persnickety, but are growing. I like dwarfs and semi-dwarf because of the ease of reach in picking/pruning. I will use a long handled picker from the ground. We have 6 small chestnut trees as well as 9 semi and dwarf fruit trees. The ones I bought at a local discount chain in dirt have fared exceedingly better than the bare root mail order ones.

Remember that they fruit earlier than standard trees, as soon as 3-4 years in some cases. You can follow any management practices you would follow with the larger trees re: pruning, treatments, espalier growing, etc. I love the variety I can get in a smaller space. Even though I have lots and lots of room to let a standard one grow, I still prefer the smaller versions. Heirloom varieties are also available.

I am located in north central West Virginia. We have 4 distinct seasons. Deer can be a problem when trees are young, as everywhere, we use some deer netting to prevent the damage. I mulch in the late winter with hay. I personnally have never used pesticides, though I have used horticultural oil to spray on the fruit trees.

There is a great book called "Your Edible Landscape" that was a very good investment for us. It has been a great encouragement for planting food crops close to the house and appreciating their beauty. My plan is to never have to mow anything but a path and this book is a great help.

-- Anne (HT@HM.com), September 23, 2000.

Thank you! Seeing/reading about these trees is one thing,actually talking to real people who grow them is, of course, quite another. we also have plenty of room to grow full-sized trees but we are both in our 50s and husband is disabled, so we are planning our garden/orchard with an eye to 10 years from now, and hopefully (ha ha) much longer. I have a treeless area about an acre wide, on a gentle slope, with full sun and close to the house. Our soil is very dry due to the drought and hardly any topsoil left around, so we will be quite busy preparing the ground all this Fall and into the Spring.I'm going to have a sample tested by the local Agricuture Extention folks to see exactly what it needs to be built back up here in NE Alabama.We are planning on apples,peaches,pears and blueberries.I am intrigued that you do not spray your peach trees. Every book I have read talks great lengths about how peach trees have so many pests/fungi,etc. that they MUST be sprayed. I hate using insecticides, all our gardening has always been organic..but that was in the Northeast where the Winter wipes out alot of the bugs.Here in Alabama, I doubt that anything wipes out the millions of critters!How do you keep your trees relatively bug/disease free without spraying them?..thanks a million for any advice..I need ALOT! God bless..

-- Lesley (martchas@gateway.net), September 23, 2000.

Well, I guess I've been lucky. We've only used the horticultural oil twice in the 10 years we've been here. We hand pick the caterpillars that occur, but have not even used insect traps in the trees. During the late spring and into ripening I run the portable chicken house under and around the fruit trees to help discourage deer. One year a trio of pheasant enjoyed the peaches, and frankly we let them, since they were so beautiful. Haven't seen the quail for 2 years now. I'm not sure why this all works. Our winters have actually been very mild. Enough that I hang laundry out year round. This is a great boon, since I do, on average, two loads a day.

I would be ok with a few blemishes on the fruit though, if it meant they were free of chemicals.

And we have one bee hive for pollination. Hope this helps.

-- Anne (HT@HM.com), September 23, 2000.

I have never sprayed my trees and thay produce well, In the spring I mulch them with aged compost which helps I think, never had peach leaf curl until I added necterines[ trees were givin to me I dug them out of a friends yard]so this next year I will spray for the first time,I let my chickens run In the garden sometimes and thay help with the bugs [ as does tree tangle foot]gardens alive has alot of good tree products which are organic there web site is www.gardens- alive.com.thay have a great free cataloge with insect and diseases photos and recomendations.

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), September 24, 2000.

Hi Lesley & Neil! For apples, stay away from dwarf stock! It tends to be brittle. However, semi-dwarf is great. We have, let's see, 11 semi-dwarfs (had to count!). Some are several years old and produce 2-3 bushels a year, although this has been a lean year. We also have semi-dwarf peaches, which are excellent. For my money, the plums and cherries aren't worth the time. A very good source is Miller Nurseries in Canandaigua, NY. I don't see a website, but # is 1-800- 836-9630. They have a very wide selection, including many many old fashioned and heirlooms. GL!

-- Brad (Homefixer@SacoRiver.net), September 25, 2000.

Hi Lesley--how is the wine you moved????? How do your dogs like their new home??? ///Hubbie & I started orchards lets see about 5 years ago! We have bought all of our dwarf trees from "big lots" it is a discount store. And our trees have done better than someone in this area who ordered theirs from a nursery & paid 2 to 3 times the price we did. We have yellow & white peaches & 3 kinds of apple trees. We have been adding more trees each year. They seem to be doing great. Each time I have to read what kind of trees pollinate what, as I can never remember. Then we make for sure we buy the right kinds! (It is always do good to see when you post). We are in Ks. Sonda

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), September 25, 2000.

Sonda, I bought my successful trees from Big Lots! The ones I ordered from Miller Nursery either died completely (they replaced them once, I didn't bother the second time) or are not thriving.

-- Anne (HT@HM.com), September 26, 2000.

some dwarf root stocks are shallow rooted and thus prone to windfall. We used one that is less so but for the life of me I can't remember what it is. Perhaps BUD 9. Also you can espalier them for xtra support and use less room as well. Bear Creek Nursery in Washington State has a good catalogue, that discusses root stock, and they carry many heirlooms, with really helpful info as well. Their trees were good, and well shipped,esp. since I am in KY. We are pleased with the company.

On organic fruit production, my state's U of KY cooperative extension service has a publication on Disease & insect control for home fruit including organic alternatives. Pub ID-21. Perhaps you can obtain it or your state has one similar. Ask your extension agent.

Use disease resistant cultivars. In apples,Liberty is good flavored.Shay is an heirloom that's rated good this way,also Wolf River and hudson golden gem. Macfree is a newer cultivar. Seckel pear is fireblight resistant & delicious I've planted these, but haven't got production yet, so can't give you any personal experience yet. Again ask the Hort agent for suggestions for your area. If they have some experience under their belt, they'll have helpful suggestions.Just not always up on organic.We have a retired agent in our area, and we pick his brain every chance we get!

Enjoy!

-- Sharon WT (wildflower@ekyol.com), September 27, 2000.