[totalnovice]

Hi Guys,

Just a quick question. How tall would you expect a bramley apple tree to grow on M25 root stock? My littlw boys school have just been given two - i know that it is the most dwarfing root stock but know absolutley nothing about fruit trees/root stock and growing them.
(my apple tree was inherited and is a very old lady!)

Thanks in advance, as always!
Kate

[Yorkie]

Are you sure it is M25?

That is the full size rootstock, not the most dwarfing.  Approx 5-6m in 10 years seems to be the estimate for this rootstock.

http://www.orangepippinshop.com/articles/rootstocks-for-apple-trees

[DigIt]

Are you sure it is M25?

That is the full size rootstock, not the most dwarfing.  Approx 5-6m in 10 years seems to be the estimate for this rootstock.

http://www.orangepippinshop.com/articles/rootstocks-for-apple-trees

I agree.
The dwarfing rootstocks are M27 / M9 / M26

[Kleftiwallah]

In two years the lads will be climbing the apple trees.           

OOOOPS I forgot, it will be indoctrinated into their brains that climbing trees will do them harm.   Ditto playing conkers,  roller skates under a Blue peter Album,  making spears from dog rose bushes.  .  .    .  .  Cheers?     Tony.

[totalnovice]

D'oh! I read the RHS website wrong - i was looking at the M27 root stock info....  sorry - i'm blaming it on the artificial hair colour......

Thanks for advise, the trees have already been planted... With regualr pruning can they be controlled somewhat or will they just go bonkers no matter what i do with them?

[Aunt Sally]

No you can't really control them i.e. keep them small.  They will need to be pruned correctly if you wnat them as productive apple trees though.

[totalnovice]

Thanks Aunty! I didn't think we would be able to - although i was hoping..... Oh well. I have maanged to renovate an old and rather neglected apple tree that I inherited so will make sure that initially the school don't just hack at tthem randomly. I have to admit i am quite proud of my work with the old lady - she looks like a new tree!

I'm looking forward to keeping a tree from babyhood through to fruiting adult.

[Aunt Sally]

It would be best not to let it fruit until it's about 5 years old.  How old were they when they were planted ?

[Aunt Sally]

This might be helpful:

http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_september_2d_apple.asp

[pixie1nigel]

Restrict them to about 2.4m, or 8ft by spur pruning to 3 leaves on each side shoot, if grown as a single  stem cordon, or let 4 or 5 branches develope if grown as a small tree. expect 6-8ft maximum width.

[totalnovice]

It would be best not to let it fruit until it's about 5 years old.  How old were they when they were planted ?

i have been told that they are one year old - single stem no side shoots as yet. They have only been planted in the last couple of weeks - they are about 3 and a bit foot high (from my fuzzy memory)

[totalnovice]

This might be helpful:

http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_september_2d_apple.asp

Thaks for that Aunty - it is pretty simply and staight forwardly put, some pruning guide i have read are long winded and complexz but that is easliy understood. I'll take my freshly sharped secateurs on the school run on monday 

[Aunt Sally]

February would be soon enough