About Mini Dwarf Apples
Mini Dwarf apple trees are perfect for small spaces. They can be maintained at 4-6 feet tall and wide. They are very productive and bear at a young age. However they require specific pruning to thrive.
If you want to grow several different varieties of apples and you have a limited space, a good way to do it is by using trees grafted on EMLA 27 and other very dwarfing rootstocks. All apple varieties are compatible with these rootstocks. In this area of the garden, we also have some trees on the EMLA 26 dwarf rootstock.
How To Grow Mini-Dwarf Trees
There are a few differences in how you should care for these mini dwarf trees. While each variety of apple grows at a different rate, most of the size differences in apple trees is due to the rootstock used. The variety also makes a difference. For instance, Akane is a much less vigorous variety than is a Gravenstein and the Gravenstein will make a tree about 50% larger on the same rootstock. Trees on EMLA 27 rootstock can be maintained at 5 or 6 feet tall and wide. This is partly because they grow at a slower rate. If your tree will only get five feet tall, it makes little sense to start the first branches at 3 to 4 feet high.
Instead, cut the tree back to about eighteen inches upon planting so the branches start a lot closer to the ground. These mini dwarf trees start bearing the second and third year after planting. However you want to remove most of the fruit to allow the tree to first grow and produce structural branches. After your tree structure is established, then it can support many full size apples. Thinning the fruit to about eight inches apart is very important so the tree doesn’t overbear, so you get large fruit and you don’t weigh down the branches.
Trees on very small rootstocks should be staked or grown on wires on a trellis. You can drive the stake in the ground when you plant the tree. Be sure to tie the tree to the stake with a soft rope or material that won’t scar the bark.
Other dwarf rootstocks that are very productive and a little larger than EMLA 27 are the EMLA 9 and Budagovski 9 rootstocks. These rootstocks enable heavy production and are used commercially but they always need staking and growing on wires. Mixed in with the mini-dwarfs are the Bardsey and Hudson’s Golden Gem on dwarf EMLA 26 rootstock.
Other ways to grow lots of different apples in a small space is to use Columnar apple trees (see station #3) and growing multi grafted trees where many varieties are grown on the same tree. (see station #37).
