A columnar apple tree is a perfect pick for growing tasty fruit in small spaces! Learn how to care for these unique fruit trees.
Grow a Columnar Apple Tree in Small Spaces
Published on Dec. 17, 2024
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Columnar Apple Tree Care
No space for an apple orchard? No problem! Hardy, rust-resistant and virus-free, these super-slim deciduous apple trees can be grown in containers, as hedges or accent plants in tight corners of the garden. With well-draining, enriched soil, they bloom midseason and produce juicy apples that can be harvested for a month. Plant this tree in full sun in Zones 5 to 8, and watch it grow 8 to 10 feet tall. One popular columnar apple tree cultivar, Tasty Red, boasts sweet, crunchy fruits comparable to a McIntosh apple.
Scientific name: Malus x domestica
Common name: Columnar apple tree
Growing zones: 5 to 8
Soil: Well-draining and enriched
Light needs: Full sun
Size: 8 to 10 feet tall
Benefits: Attracts bees
See more of the best fruit trees for small spaces.
Benefits of Columnar Apple Trees
For those looking to sweeten up their yard, a columnar apple tree is a great choice — and it doesn’t take up much room. In the case of the Fruit Snacks Tasty Red variety (pictured above), bright red, flavorful apples appear within the first year of planting.
These apple trees are relatively easy to care for and offer multiple benefits, requiring minimal pruning, noted resistance to common gardener-headache disease problems (such as apple scab disease), and not needing staking, while also bringing in pollinators. They only need a dose of all-purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring.
Perhaps best of all, their compact size allows for gardeners with large and small spaces alike to grow tasty apples.
Flowers and Pollination
It’s important to note, however, that for optimal pollination to occur and to get the most out of these fruit trees, gardeners should plant two different varieties. Plant another columnar apple, such as Tangy Green, Golden Tree or Blushing Delight, near Tasty Red for optimal fruit production and cross-pollination.
Next, learn why you should plant a weeping crabapple tree.
Sources
- Monrovia, “Fruit Snacks Tasty Red Columnar Apple“
- Plants Nouveau, “Malus Fruit Snacks Tasty Red“
