Semi-dwarf apple trees: planting and care, popular varieties and harvesting with photos

Recently, semi-dwarf varieties of apple trees have become especially popular. This is a variety of apple trees that has an average height. Thanks to this, space is saved in the garden, and harvesting of fruits is greatly facilitated. But caring for such trees has its own challenges. They react negatively to bad conditions and die quickly. Such apple trees live no more than 15 years.

Description and characteristics of the species

The height of a semi-dwarf is about three to four meters, and the volume of the crown is no more than two. This allows them to be planted more densely than regular apple trees.

Despite its compactness, the semi-dwarf gives fairly high yields. Some varieties, with proper care, can produce up to 50 kg of apples per tree.

To obtain this type of apple tree, an ordinary apple tree is grafted onto a special rootstock. As a stock, apple trees grown from seeds or vegetatively are used. To obtain a semi-dwarf tree, grafting is carried out on the rootstock M-9 or MM-106.

Pros and cons of semi-dwarf apple trees

Varieties have their advantages and disadvantages. The advantages due to which summer residents choose this type of apple trees are as follows:

1. Semi-dwarfs give the first harvest already in the third year after planting in a permanent place.
2. The size of the trees allows you to harvest without the use of tall ladders. There is also no problem with cleaning trees in the spring.
3. If you use a vegetative rootstock, you can get high quality fruits. You can also choose a rootstock that has high frost resistance. This will give the same qualities to the future tree.
4. Can be grown in small garden areas and places where there is little space, such as near the house or along the fence.
5. Low-growing varieties are not afraid of groundwater, because they have a small root system.

The disadvantages include the size of the roots of this culture. They are underdeveloped, which creates additional problems. In a severe drought, the tree may not have enough moisture, and it will dry out. In winter, the root system can suffer from frost, and in rainy weather with strong winds, the apple tree can fall sideways. Therefore, such trees do not live long, their life expectancy depends on proper care.

Popular varieties

Modern breeders have bred many varieties of semi-dwarf apple trees. The most popular among gardeners received:

1. Lobo. This variety quickly begins to bear fruit and gives tasty juicy apples, quite large in size. Fruits can reach 200 g.
2. Melba. The variety is quite common and is valued for its juicy and sweet fruits. But it is not suitable for long-term storage, it ripens in summer.
3. Antonovka. The variety is quite winter-hardy and suitable for growing in the northern zone. Gives high yields and can live longer than other varieties.
4. Imrus. Apple trees are resistant to diseases, apples are large, juicy. Winter variety, ripens in autumn and keeps well until spring.

Each of these varieties has its own valuable qualities. Many smallholder gardeners prefer to plant several varieties of trees at once in order to have fresh apples all year round.Large entrepreneurs plant varieties in gardens that bear fruit faster, live longer and tolerate transportation well. Winter varieties are more suitable for this, they can lie until next summer.

Rules of planting and care

Planting and caring for semi-dwarf apple trees has its own characteristics:

1. This crop does not like s alty soil, so you need to plant in good black soil, sandstone or loamy soil.
2. The seedling is planted in a hole, where a little fertilizer is previously poured. To do this, you can use chemical agents or natural ones. But you can't overdo it. A lot of fertilizer can spoil the root system. It is better to mix them well with earth and sand so that there are no lumps.
3. Together with the seedling, a small peg is buried in the hole, to which a young apple tree is tied. This is done so that the trunk does not bend over time, and an even tree grows from the seedling.
4. The tree in the hole is positioned so that the root neck remains open above the ground. The roots should be straightened throughout the hole, without bends. The ground above the roots needs to be tamped a little.
5. The scheme of planting a seedling is slightly different from planting an ordinary fruit tree. The distance between the trees is left less than that of tall trees. For good growth, 2 m is enough for them, and the row spacing is 3 m. You should not thicken more, this will affect the size of the fruit and yield.
6. The trees are planted in early spring and watered periodically throughout the summer. Fertilize regularly. Be sure to remove weeds and loosen the soil around the tree. Produce processing from pests and diseases.
7. In the spring, cut off excess branches and clean from dried and damaged branches. The place where a large branch is cut is treated with a special compound or diluted lime.

All care activities must be carried out in accordance with all the rules and on time. Otherwise, the harvest will be less.

Harvesting and storage tips

The crop is harvested during the ripening period. Summer varieties ripen in July-August, winter - in October-November. It is important to harvest apples before the first frost, otherwise they will not stand and will only be suitable for urgent processing into juice and jam.

Harvesting semi-dwarfs is easy, no cumbersome ladders required. If apple trees have been properly pruned since spring, apples can be harvested directly from the ground. In extreme cases, a small ladder is sufficient.

Here are some tips for storing your harvest:

1. Picked apples are stored in boxes or baskets. It is important for them to have access to air, otherwise they will suffocate and begin to rot.
2. Before storing apples, they must be sorted out. Spoiled, bruised and with a pierced skin are separated to the side, they must be processed immediately.
3. Wormy apples may last longer, but are also best separated and used sooner. Otherwise, live larvae will spoil the apple further.
4. Keep the harvest in the basement or special refrigerators. The main condition is that the room should be dry and cool, but not cold.
5. There should be no foreign odors in the storage, apples quickly draw them in.
6. If there are few apples, they can be stored in the house in the pantry or cold room. If there is a risk that they might get cold, they are covered with old blankets.

If stored properly, apples can be kept fresh until the next harvest.

Regions of distribution

Semi-dwarf apple trees are widespread. They can be found in areas near Moscow or Siberia. Quite widespread in the south. It all depends on the winter hardiness of the variety and resistance to drought and disease.

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