Mini dwarf vs columnar for containers

[benthegirl]

Look at some threads about M27 before going for anything on that rootstock:

M27 apples

I know there are reasons people don’t like these. I like them as they stay super small. I’m beginning to think maybe a few of these may be a better place to start. Staking is fine, I can probably stake them with the t-posts I use to hold the fence up. It looks like Burnt Ridge sells some trees on this rootstock, who else does?

Dwarfing (Apple) Rootstock Questions

Thanks for the feedback. I’ve been intrigued with G.41 for awhile, but have been worried that it would produce trees a little harder to contain sizewise than M27 or P22. You’ve made me reconsider it though, given its plusses. I’ll likely pick up a few of these now from Cummins for the varieties with weaker vigor (e.g. Freyberg, Margil or Adamsapfel Ostpreussischer.)

Seems like B.9 would be a better bet.

I think the drawback to columnar apples is that there are only a limited selection.

If you can have a trellis of some kind you can try some espalier or an oblique cordon:

Diagonal (Oblique) Cordon and Apple Cultivars

SkillCult posted up a new video about a diagonal apple cordon. I’m intrigued by it and thinking about trying a small section to see if will work here. Has anyone here done this, and if so, do most apple cultivars work OK with it? SkillCult mentions certain varieties work better, and twiggy and tip bearers may not work so well. I see one user here posted up a while back about starting a similar project.