Looking for info on dwarf fruit trees

Tue Mar 22, 2011 11:37 pm

Three months ago, I had never heard of these. Now, I'm looking at growing maybe 10 or more. Two each of sweet and tart cherry, apricot, peach and apple. I found an inexpensive site that sells them for ~ $11 each, but the plants are only 1.5-2.5' tall. Thanks to a poster in this forum, I found RaintreeNursery. At least twice as expensive, but the trees are much taller (4-5') and from what I understand, have better rootstocks.

What advice can you give a complete and totally Newbie?

Mike

Wed Mar 23, 2011 12:05 am

Personally, I like ordering from nurseries that are closer geographically and climatically to my own garden. Shipping distance unless you're willing to pay for premium faster shipping, and adapted winter hardiness and weather conditions.

I look for disease resistant cultivars, based on locally prevalent diseases.

Finaly, study the root stock information, and call and ask if not listed. JONAS recently posted some info on that.

Root stocks can not only affect mature size but also varies in ability to handle soil conditions. Also some ROOTSTOCKS are more disease resistant or more susceptible.

Wed Mar 23, 2011 1:19 am

First off, what do you mean by dwarf? Most of the nurseries carry what are called Semi-Dwarf. A true Dwarf are a Little harder to come by.

I will also say that a Honey-crisp apple in Washington is the same Honey crisp apple in Ohio. We do have different choices on rootstock.

Raintree and Burnt Ridge are my local nurseries. :wink:

Eric

Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:51 am

Eric,

A tree that will grow 8-12' tall, give or take a foot.

Apple,

Trying to learn this stuff! The good thing is I have at least a month before I really need to order the trees.

Mike

Wed Mar 23, 2011 3:37 am

Planted my two latest trees about 3 weeks ago. Liberty apple and a Bosc pear.

Most of my trees are in the 10 to 15 foot range. I keep them down by pruning. I'm not as timid at pruning as I use to be. After the third year or so, I switch to summer pruning. You end up with more fruiting spurs and a whole lot less water sprouts.

Eric

Wed Mar 23, 2011 4:20 am

I have been checking out fruit tree vendors too.
I want: black haw, black tartan cherry, bing cherry, jonathan, winesap, maybe Arkansas black apples, oranges, tangerines, lemons, grapefruit and bananas. Maybe some other tropicals as folks teach me about them.

The tropicals are for my atrium.

So far, for outside fruit, the best prices that I have found is:
http://www.arborday.org

Wed Mar 23, 2011 4:50 am

I love that range of fruit that you list there and I'm envious as to being able to grow such citrus in your garden. :lol:

One thing I would question...why Jonathans?
If there was one variety that I would have some reluctance with it is that one. Most growers over here stopped growing it as it is so prone to mildew problems...and I do mean problems.

Wed Mar 23, 2011 4:25 pm

Oh really? I was not aware of that.
I picked Jonathan for flavor alone.
So, maybe I should pick something else? Braeburn has normally been my favorite apple. I like the texture and the taste.
I am open for suggestions!

Actually, the tropicals can only be outside about 8-9 months of the year, and will need to be in the atrium for the rest.

Wed Mar 23, 2011 4:34 pm

maybe a jonathan cross, like jonagold? lots of those grown in the states, and i haven't heard much about mildew issues with them. they are a bit sweeter than a standard jonathan, of course.

i may not know enough about varieties that do well in the south to be very helpful, but closer to jonathan taste, maybe 'fortune' (an empire/northernspy cross)?

Wed Mar 23, 2011 5:48 pm

Agree there Potatoes... Jonagold and Jonagored etc...super flavour and easy to grow to boot.
There are quite a few new vars around now that are super, but so many are still under liscence so you can't get your hands on them yet.

Wed Mar 23, 2011 11:12 pm

Sweetness is fine in an apple.

Some apples don't do so great with our heat and humidity, so I may need to watch for that. But we do get winter, and snow and all that junk.

What I don't like is the meally texture of store bought Red delicious etc. They just are boring. Now fresh ones might be totally different, does anyone know?

Thu Mar 24, 2011 4:51 am

There's a cultivar called Jonafree, touted to be resistant to some diseases. No idea about the flavor though. I still say Enterprise is really nice. :wink:

Thu Mar 24, 2011 4:24 pm

JONA878,

Do you know the affects on apple taste, texture of the same variety grown in the North vs South? Wet vs dry climates?

Red Delicious. I have read that the Red Delicious apple in the grocery stores today is not the original apple.

Eric

Thu Mar 24, 2011 4:33 pm

Maybe I should just kick out the Jonathan idea, and go with Granny Smith.

The grandkids love tart apples. And I mainly want them for dehydrating into chips, or pies, jellies etc.

So, how has Granny Smith done on the whole?

Thu Mar 24, 2011 4:44 pm

in answer to the question whether red delicious taste better/have better texture fresh, my experience working with a grower in vermont who grew many varieties (and cut a row of 70 year old red delicious every year for firewood and to make way for other varieties) suggests that yes, they are vastly better fresh. for a couple of weeks, tops. and even then, the flavor is not terribly impressive, just better than a mouthful of mealiness. i think we need to accept that red delicious have done well in the markets for their shipability alone. anyone growing their own can do better.

ahem. apologies for the rant.