I started growing an apple tree from a seed in spring 2011 - I kept it in a pot in the garage over the winter (covered and insulated with balled-up newspaper).

In spring 2012, I planted it in the backyard (still in the pot - i.e., I dug a hole, put the pot in, and covered it back up with some mulch on top...we're moving in a couple of years, so I'm hoping to keep it potted underground until then, to make it easier to move). The tree is now about 12" high.

I now want to prep it for this winter, and I'm wondering how I should winterize it. Should I a) dig up the pot and put it in the garage again, or b) leave it in the backyard, protected from the elements somehow?

I've included a picture of the tree (not the best image, I'll try to take a better one). Some more details:
- it's planted next to a fence (I'm hoping to espalier it, maybe starting next summer if it's big enough)
- our backyard is fairly well sheltered, so the wind won't be too bad
- we'll have a foot or so of snow build up in the backyard over the winter

Not sure if there are any other important details, I'm very new at this. If you want any more info, let me know!

Any help or tips is very much appreciated :).

(And I know that, because I grew it from a seed, it likely won't grow any edible fruit, but that's okay with me.)

Apple root balls get big. If you're planning to have this thing in a pot for a couple years before you move, you'll need a big pot eventually, no? Maybe moreso since the roots will be those of a standard apple (not sure on this point, though).

Those I've known who keep fruit trees in pots usually have dwarf trees. A lot of people will say, "you can make any tree any size by pruning," but it seems to me you'll still have the vigorous roots to contend with.

People keep all sorts of plants heeled in all winter long. I briefly considered heeling in some seedlings in the bed for the winter before planting them out next spring (I gave up this plan to encourage better root growth). Except for heeling them in, I wouldn't have winterized them in any way. In your climate, maybe things are different, but if I were you, I'd just leave them heeled in. Maybe consider trunk protection (hardware cloth or something) to keep the critters from munching on/girdling your tree under that foot of snow.

I've never espaliered fruit trees. I wonder if it's easier/better with dwarf/semi-dwarf rootstock.

My dad planted apple trees everywhere he lived and always said he was happy to leave them for future owners to enjoy when he moved. Maybe you just want to plant it and be done? Maybe graft on some edible fruit so that people are more inclined to keep it. :) Anyway, good luck!

I had thought about covering it with a rose cone for the winter - but maybe just wrapping it in some burlap will be enough to protect it for the winter.

I like the idea of grafting on edible fruit later on - do you know if some fruits are better than others? Should I just make sure to pick ones that are suited to my zone?

daemon2525 - I was wondering if it was growing as much as it should. I think I unintentionally pruned it at the top of the trunk - that is, when I pulled it out of the garage, it didn't grow from the top anymore. It just started growing new branches vigorously.

Have you fertilized your seedlings at all? I've read not to do that before the winter, but I may give it some fertilizer next spring. And I may have watered it too much this past summer, almost every day in July (thankfully, it was a pretty dry summer, pretty much no rain all of July).

Thanks for the help!

Ill see how well it does this year.

Good luck.

You're pretty limited to grafting other apple varieties (I've heard of people grafting pears on apple roots, though I think that's likelier to fail). Maybe there are some exotic apple relatives that would work. I've only ever done apples to apples, as it were. A little web research will yield some interesting ideas for apples suited to your zone that you can try.

Just curious: do you happen to know whether the seed you planted came from an apple grown near you? If it came from, say, Australia, I could imagine the genetics working against you up north.