Winter service for an Apple Tree

[Peteyd]

I've got a dwarf single branch apple tree in a massive pot. It didn't produce any fruit last (this) year. It appeared healthy with a little new growth at the top.

Is there anything I should be doing over the Winter / Spring to help it on its way for next year?

[Guest]

Come spring reduce the size of the pot. If you think about it you have given it all this lovely space so it wants to devote all its energy into growing a fantastic root system. If you restrict the roots it should then put its energy into branches and foliage. Then if you prune you dupe it into thinking it needs to produce fruit to continue its survival. Or something along those lines.

Also how tall is it? Is it worth chopping its head off so it branches out?

[nickdub]

If the tree flowered but didn't fruit, it could be a pollination problem. If there were no flowers, then it may be worth checking out the various ways of promoting flower bud growth eg notching.

[BUFFS]

is it in the right compost?, it probably is, but john innes No3 is a must, with a spring feed the tree will be happy for years, we have enough from our potted trees to last til about april, and that's 5 potted apples, I don't count the bramley cooker as its in the ground, trained as an espalier and they are blanched down and stacked in the big freezer..

[Cadalot]

I got less fruit this year as we had early blossom and then a frost that hit