Organic Dwarf Apple Trees

• Crab apples are smaller than 2 inches. Luis Veiga/Digital Vision/Getty Images

  Dwarf varieties of apple trees provide home gardeners the opportunity to grow organic apples in small spaces. Newly developed varieties open dwarf apple tree cultivation to most regions of the U.S. Dwarf trees reach 5 to 7 feet tall and can be pruned to smaller heights. A dwarf apple tree yields up to 5 bushels of fruit per harvest during peak production years.

Variety Selection

• Select a cultivar with a rootstock that is hardy in your planting zone. The label should specify the number of chill hours--the number of hours of temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit--the tree requires to set fruit. Most state university extension websites list cultivar recommendations for their planting regions. In warm, low-chill regions select varieties such as Dwarf Dorsett Golden and Dwarf Tropic Sweet. In mid- to high-chill regions, Dwarf Fuji and Dwarf Gala are good choices. Dwarf Red Delicious and Dwarf Red Fuji set fruit in very cold regions of the U.S.

Planting

• Plant apple trees when they dormant, in early spring or late fall. Select a sunny site protected from constant or high winds. Use 10- to 15-gallon-size pots for 1- to 3-year-old trees. Containers should have at least three drainage holes. Add 2 inches of gravel and add organic potting soil to fill the bottom one-third of the container, forming a cone of soil in the center. Spread the roots in all directions over the soil cone. Add soil and lightly press down to remove air pockets. Continue to add soil up to 1 inch below the bud union, the bump on the tree trunk where the tree was grafted. Water the tree thoroughly and place in a protected area until it begins to leaf out in the spring. Water lightly once every two weeks while the tree is dormant.

Fertilization

• Maintain adequate phosphorous and nitrogen levels to ensure best fruit production. Apply diluted fish emulsion to apple trees once a month during the active growing season. Begin to reduce fertilization at the end of the summer until you have stopped fertilizing by late fall. Do not fertilize again until dormancy breaks in early spring.

Pest and Disease Control

• Control most pests and diseases on dwarf apple trees organically through attention to preventive practices. Begin with healthy soil. Plants have greater resistance to diseases and overcome pest damage when they have all the necessary nutrients needed for growth. Amend the soil with compost throughout the growing season to increase microbial action in the soil. Keep the garden area free of debris and weeds to reduce pest nesting sites. Use physical barriers, such as floating row covers and copper collars, to prevent pest migration to the leaves and fruit. Watch for pests vigilantly. Remove pests and eggs on the underside of leaves, and on stems, flowers and fruit. Organic treatments for pest and diseases include insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils and mineral treatments, such as sulfur dust.

Harvesting

• For maximum nutritional value, harvest apples when ripe. Hold the apple in your palm and gently twist the apple from its stem. Store apples at 34 to 36 degrees Fahrenheit. Maintain humidity levels between 85 and 90 percent. Early fruiting varieties do not store as well as later fruiting varieties. Spread out the fruit and provide adequate air circulation to lengthen storage times. Preserve apples by drying, canning, freezing and juicing.