That’s good to know. I’ve usually gotten it from a local farmer. I’ll have to ask about the herbicides. I only want it for weed suppression so I will need to consider the bark mulch, perhaps. I did plan on fertilizing this year, preferably with an organic fertilizer (not that I am growing “certified organic” trees or anything). I just have kids that play in the yard so that is my preference. Any good fertilizers you recommend?
I thought about doing a “vertical axis” style which sounds like what you described. A permanent set of lower scaffolds and renewal pruning on top. I eventually settled for this method so that I could space them closer together and fit in more varieties.
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Well, I’ll be honest, I am no expert in spindle planting or comparing rootstocks. Are you saying that pristine is particularly vigorous on G11 or that G11 is vigorous in general? I saw G11 on several of the university sites when I was looking at spindle planting and from growers on YouTube. But really, the only dwarf rootstock that Cummins Nursery had for Pristine this year was G11. That’s really the reason. I was actually more worried about the G935 being too vigorous compared to the others I have. I am hoping to control things with good pruning.
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You’re right that g.11 is the “correct” type of rootstock for this. G.935 would be considered too vigorous.
I am not sure whether it will work with the larger rootstock- it could just end up being that you’ll have to spend more time pruning and tying down those tree- which might be fine since you only have a small number of trees.
It also could end up that the tree won’t produce if you keep it from growing into a bigger form. Someone had an issue like that when they did espalier and I’ll try to find that thread for you.
Fertilizer: unless your soil is deficient in something (you got a soil test, right? 
) you can use plain nitrogen only fertilizer. It’s nice if you can find some slow release but you can just get the normal kind and put it down in small increments between now and June. July probably at the latest. The stuff that’s high in P and K is a waste unless you’re dealing with a deficiency.
Non organic fertilizer won’t hurt the kids unless they go licking it or something and then they’d be harmed by organic fertilizer too.
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Got it, and yes, I do need to do a soil test. Do you usually send samples away to have them tested or is there some sort of test you can do yourself? I don’t know much about it. In all honesty, I planned to put down some basic “organic fruit tree fertilizer” that I could find stocked at a local store.
I do plan to tie down all of the branches. I actually went out and notched above a bunch of buds yesterday. I am hoping that will result in a good amount of branching that I will tie down as it grows. I’ve read that tying the branches, more importantly the tips, to below horizontal devigorates the tree and encourages fruiting spurs. There is a guy on Youtube who hasn’t made videos for several years, but he had some really helpful videos talking about doing the tall spindle. It was called Cider Blossom Orchard or something like that. He was also located in Indiana, which was cool, since that is where I am located (although it sounded like I am much farther north)
Really appreciate all of your advice.
The tests you can do yourself are very rudimentary… just basic NPK plus pH. For the same price as a kit, you could get a detailed test done through your local Ag Extension. I highly recommend this route. If you tell them what you’re wanting to grow, most offices will even give you a breakdown of exactly what you need to add and the proper application rates to meet the goal.
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It looks like Purdue offers it through the extension office for my county. I will check into that!
Yes you’re right. Vertical axis i forgot. This is what id like my galarina on g.214 to eventually look like. Maybe try this if your aggressive rootstock proves to be too vigorous for spindle. Best of luck!
Those were helpful videos. Some of this guy’s videos (link below) were helpful for me when learning about some of this on a smaller scale. I am hoping that through pruning and close spacing/root competition that the G935 trees don’t become too unruly. But we shall see!
I thought the pictures of your galarina tree, that you shared in February, looked great. I’d love to follow along and see how that tree does for you! Also interested in the variety alone as it’s one I thought about adding to this row in the future. Cummins did a tasting video, but I haven’t seen much else about that apple.
Really interesting. I am new to growing trees had no idea. I am curious as where you got. Your spacing measurements .the video was indicating twice as much spacing and still not enough on 18 year old trees
Tall spindle differs from vertical axis shown in that video. Tall spindle is denser (2 to 4 feet) and has zero permanent scaffolds - often referred as a “fruiting wall”.
Here’s some pictures I snapped last year at a local orchard. I buy their used posts…
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@consteel98 Thanks for sharing ill pull up those videos after this comment.
I did a lot of research with AI doing comparisons, pulling from forums(thats how i found this app) and one of the best apples i could find overall was galarina. a winner for sure. It seems to be one of the best tasting low maintenance apples available. Some say it even has better flavor than gala.
While asking a local orchard owner during a haircut what his favorite apple to grow was, he immediately turned around responded with passion “goldrush!”… (he had a few rough seasons in the past and goldrush always got them through, very dependable i hear) I think it can get cedar rust though. Enterprise is also a great choice. Its vigorous, highly productive and a dependable producer… extremely disease resistant like galarina. (Seems to be more for baking or preserves and wildlife)
Everything ive said in the comment above is not from my own personal experience but from research and orchard owners advice.
O and i should mention “39th parallel” apple seems promising. Ive only recently heard about it since joining this app. A vigorous disease resistant apple that tastes good. Idk how good but seems relatively easy to grow.
Thanks for sharing the pics. What a nice setup!
I think ill try to keep 4 lower branches and let them get thicker just like this one below and maybe try to keep the overall height a bit lower. Ill get less apples but hopefully it will be easier to maintain.
Thanks for the information. I found a really good video from UMass comparing the difference of tall spindle versus fruiting wall in terms of yield and maintenance. I really can see how both systems would be great for just a home orchard
If I see a tree company grinding up a tree, I go over with a rolling trash bin and a shovel and ask if I can 30 gallons or so. They always say yes. I would also add the bicycle or appliance boxes are great for smothering grass to death. Easy to cut to fit overlapped pieces with cutouts for the trunk area. Pound a few framing nails into the ground to help keep them lined up. Last step is to top with wood chips or store bought mulch or wood chips. Works quite reliably.
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Well it’s on my list for next year! I opted not to do enterprise, at least for now, after reading recommendations on this forum and other websites.
I tried Rubyrush this past year from a local grower and I am looking forward to growing that apple. It’s got a great crunch/density to it, similar to Goldrush, but probably less hard. It’s an early October apple, at least here in Northern Indiana. I still have some in my fridge and they are still very crunchy and pleasant. It’s not a very complex flavor (I’m not an expert in apple flavor), but I found it very “appley” and its got a mellow sweetness to it. This guy’s description was spot on for my experience:
Is this the 39th parallel apple you mentioned? I’ve never heard of it.
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O nice. Seems like a great apple. Northern Indiana cool. I have family in knox, plymouth and lil ol north judson.
And thats the one, 39th parallel.
Here are some images from Schlabachs book i thought id share. This book is great.
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The 39th parallel apple, pear, etc and the Clark’s crabapple, Clark’s blackberry are stuff members here created or found. I haven’t tried the 39th parallel apple but I bet it’s good.
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Very cool, I’m pretty much on the Indiana/Michigan state line. I’ll have to check that book out.
I should also mention that the Rubyrush apple is a cross between Enterprise and Goldrush. I’ll need to look into that 39th parallel some more.
Wow that’s very cool. I will need to look those up in past threads.