Columnar Apple Trees?

Mrs.Lucy1230

I ran accross columnar apple trees for the first time this week and am really intriqued by them. Growing two full blown apple trees was never on my radar for our yard, just due to how much maintenance I perceievd apple trees to need in order to bear fruit. However, planting two columnars in half barrels seem like it's right up my alley. Easier maintenance/ netting, smaller plants... I could winter them in my garage no problem, and possibly get some fruit from them in the summer.

Anyone have these trees? or know someone who has them?

FoxinFiji

Why do they need to winter in your garage?  Are they not hardy enough for your zone?  Trees in containers can be done (NB does it a lot) but they need a lot more attention.  They need to be watered a lot more, fertilized, moved to bigger containers when they outgrow the original ones, sometimes they need their roots pruned, etc.  Looks like they get 8-10 feet tall.  How do you expect to move or store a tree that big?  I would just plant them in the ground from the get go.

From what I've read on the GW they aren't the best tasting but the Scarlet and Golden Sentinel are OK.  Here's some more info that might help:

http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/5756/columnar-apple-trees-for-suburban-yards

~NB~

Most people complain that the apples are mealy textured and not good tasting. Other that that, the branches, or the entire tree, could bend if there's a lot of fruit on it; they could break or just never recover the columnar form. The fruit also needs space for sun exposure and air circulation, as apples are susceptible to so many diseases and insects to begin with (I consider them high maintenance). Apple trees should be wintered outside. Do you live in Alaska or something?

dirtyred

Don't winter the apple trees in your garage if you actually want to get apples from them.  Apple trees need to be exposed to cold in order to set fruit.  Why do you think they don't grow apples in the South?