I was at Meijer the other day and came across trees over 50% off. I scouted around and found these little guys.
This is Luna a dwarf Honeycrisp apple tree. Pretty good branching but will need plenty of pruning in the spring. I followed the directions on the card for planting and hope that she makes it through the winter. My neighbors have a crab apple tree so if this tree blooms before my McIntosh I will still be able to cross pollinate. Apparently apples don't like incestuous relations and you not only have to find a tree with a similar bloom time but also a different variety. This Honeycrisp will bloom mid to late season and ripen in early October.
This sad little guy is Neville. I named him that because he doesn't look like much now but I have great hopes for him. He is a dwarf McIntosh that will be HEAVILY pruned in the spring. As I understand it any branches that go straight up, except the central branch, need to come off. McIntosh is a mid season bloomer so it should work with my Honeycrisp and the apples will ripen mid September. That will give me a little offset for working with my apples. Supposedly McIntosh make great sauce, but I don't expect to get many apples in the next few years, if any.
I put these in my side yard. They get a moderate amount of light. If I could kill the neighbors tree they would get more. Just kidding. Treeacide isn't in my immediate future.
Ohhhh, I'm so jealous of your apple trees!!!
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