It’s the ideal time to plant Apple trees in the garden, now that everything is dormant. Apple trees are available from most good Garden Centres, bare root specimens are excellent and cost between €18 – €25 for a 2 year old specimen, which is ideal. Of course once you buy trees that are in pots then the price escalates.
If you have a small garden, you ideally need a small tree. Don’t think you can’t grow fruit trees in a small urban garden. The important thing to determine the size of the tree is the rootstock. A rootstock is used to restrict the vigour of fruit trees and allow a range to grow in a small space. They can also contribute to the disease resisting abilities of the plant.
Apple trees are grafted on the following rootstocks;
M27 Trees will grow to 2m / 6ft high
M9 Trees will grow to 2.5m / 8ft high
M26 Trees will grow to 3m / 10ft high
MM106 Trees will grow to 4m / 14ft high
MM111 Trees will grow to 5m / 18ft high
Choose a apple tree that is grown on a rootstock that suits your garden.
Recommended sweet apple varieties;
Ard Cairn Russet – Dry, firm and sweet variety, old Irish variety
Cox’s Orange Pippin –Red, sweet and crisp variety
Discovery – Reliable cropper
James Grieve – Yellow and juicy
Jonagold – Crisp flavour
Katy – Reliable cropper
Royal Gala – Small red apples
