A traditional orchard is only one possible site for planting an apple. Dwarf varieties (Garden Delicious, Anna on M 27, Dorsett Golden on M 27, Fuji on M 27, , Gala on M 27 and Pink Lady on M 27) are excellent small patio trees as they can easily be kept 5 or 6 feet tall. A unique form is the columnar apple (Northpole and Scarlet Sentinel); it’s great in containers or as part of a formal landscape. Apple trees make excellent espaliers (see our “Garden Guide” section for details). An espalier can be trained into various shapes and is ideal for small or narrow spaces.

Choose an apple for your specific needs according to your climate, size of planting area, soil type and, of course, taste preference. Prune your tree for the first few years according to the desired size and shape. Keep in mind that apples are produced on spurs, small, thick twig-like growths on the branches which persist for many years. For maximum size, be sure to thin apples when they are still in the early stages of growth.

Apples are used for cider, drying and baking. A favorite recipe of ours is the Brandy-Rum Apple Cake, especially tasty for the holiday season . And of course, there’s nothing like biting into a fresh juicy apple picked from your own tree on a brisk autumn morning!

Brandy-Rum Apple Cake

• 1/3 cup chopped toasted walnuts
  1 ½ cup sugar
  ½ cup canola oil
  3 eggs, beaten
  ¼ cup brandy
  ¼ cup rum
  2 cups flour
  2 teaspoons cinnamon
  2 teaspoons baking soda
  ½ teaspoon cloves
  ½ teaspoon nutmeg
  ½ cup raisins
  4 cups sliced apples
• Combine the sugar, oil, eggs, brandy and rum.
• In a separate bowl, combine the flour, soda, spices, nuts and raisins
• Add the dry ingredients to the liquid. Then mix in the apples.
• Spray a bundt pan and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
• Cool 10 minutes.
• Can drizzle extra rum over the cake if desired.

The following rootstocks will determine the size of your tree – pruning is also a legitimate way to determine tree size. Keep in mind that the dwarfing types of root stocks produce very early and that they have specific requirements for their cultivation.

DOMESTIC APPLE (Apple)
Most rugged rootstock for apples. Vigorous, deep-rooted, tolerates wet soil, dry soil, poor soil. Cold hardy. Trees slower to bear than semi-dwarfs. Apparently resistant to oak root fungus. Unpruned tree height of standard varieties 18-30 ft.; tree may be kept to any height desired with summer pruning. Seed from Golden Delicious.

M 111
Excellent all-around rootstock for apples. Induces bearing at a younger age than standards. Tolerates wet soil, dry soil, poor soil, soil with high temperatures. Resists woolly apple aphids, collar rot and fireblight. Apparently resistant to oak root fungus. Trees dwarfed to 80-90% of standard, or about 15-25 ft.; can be further controlled with summer pruning. Very cold hardy, does not promote early bud break; used in Ontario, Canada. Rarely suckers.

M 27
Extremely dwarfing rootstock for apples. Trees dwarfed to 50% of standard. Ideal for high density planting, small spaces in garden and tub growing. Induces early and heavy bearing of slightly smaller than normal fruit. Shallow root system; young trees require staking. Prefers well drained soil and requires constant soil moisture. Rarely suckers. Resistant to fireblight. Winter hardy in cold areas if roots can be protected from severe soil heaving.

M 7 (EMLA-7)
Dwarfing rootstock for apples. Unpruned tree height 2/3 the size of standard, or about 12-20 ft.; can be held to any height with summer pruning. Induces early and heavy bearing. Resistant to fireblight and powdery mildew, moderately resistant to collar rot. Has good anchorage. Very winter hardy, widely adapted.