Not every fruit lover has a large garden in which to grow an apple tree themselves. If you choose the right tree shape and apple variety, you can also harvest sweet and juicy apples on your own balcony.
How to grow an apple tree on the balcony?
To grow an apple tree on the balcony, choose small-growing varieties such as columnar apples (Rondo, Sonata, Bolero, Elstar) and plant them in a pot with a drainage layer. Make sure there is enough sunlight, avoid waterlogging and care for the tree regularly.
Pull your own apple tree from the core
If you can be patient for a few years, growing an apple tree from a core is an experiment that can be a lot of fun on your own balcony. However, apple trees grown from cores often revert to a particularly large wild form, which makes them not ideal for the balcony. Nevertheless, a type of bonsai can also be grown from these trees if regular and targeted pruning is ensured.
Small apple varieties for the balcony
Nowadays there are numerous apple varieties available in specialist stores that are particularly suitable for growing in pots on the balcony due to their smaller growth habit. These include in particular the columnar apples, which do not form a wide crown at all and whose fruits hang on a narrow, towering trunk. When it comes to columnar apples, choose from varieties that suit your individual taste, such as:
- Rondo
- Sonata
- Bolero
- Elstar
An apple tree also needs care on the balcony
When growing apples on your own balcony, you should remember that a successful harvest is only possible with good care. The apple tree should also receive enough sunlight on the balcony in order to be able to generate energy for the development of the fruits. The bottom of the pot should have a drainage layer and drainage slots to prevent waterlogging. Do not water the tree every day, even in summer, otherwise it could be damaged. In winter, if there are particularly deep night frosts, it may be necessary to protect an apple tree in a pot from the cold so that the roots do not freeze.
Tips & Tricks
Pollen from another apple tree is always necessary to pollinate apple blossoms. If there are no other apple trees in your area, you should have at least two apple trees in pots on the balcony. These can be cross-pollinated by bees or other flying insects such as bumblebees and bear fruit.
