Pumacreek:

Scarlet Sentinel was bred for its growth habit, not the quality of its fruit. Nevertheless, many people are quite happy with their columnar apples because they can be grown in containers, and require little space when planted in the ground.

There is no reason why Scarlet Sentinel should be any more or less resistant to disease than any other apple variety, and all apples, whether disease resistant or not, are subject to insect damage of various types. The most pernicious pest of apples in the West seems to be the codling moth, which is apparently present everywhere. Here in the East we can add the plum curculio to the list, as well as various species of shield bugs, and leaf pests such as aphids and mites.

Ask the someone who grows without spraying how he pulled that off. He may live in a very special area where codling moth is not present, but if your area is not so lucky you will see this insect.

None of us enjoy the chore and expense of spraying. We do it only to produce decent, edible apples. Bagging apples in plastic ziploc sandwich bags is one technique I use myself to greatly reduce spraying, and I highly recommend it. Of course, that is a chore too, but shouldn't be too difficult on a very small tree with few apples.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

Ordinary yards here are by now sporting fairly well-along (branching, maybe as much as 12'+ tall) specimens of various columnar apples. Doubt most of them are getting fruit hobbyist level spray programs. They really do seem to make perfect little no-prune fruit trees for the less than passionate - as long as there are not serious disease problems with some of them or a mechanical defect with the side branches that angle out later from the original pole (column) - and the fruits are any good.

Multiple columnar cultivars now being offered by local outlets, have no idea which of these I am seeing and how they all vary in usefulness. Have heard from a local vendor that a customer was feeding the fruits of one variety to her horses.

"CORVALLIS, Ore.ÂThe codling moth may be the most damaging insect in home orchards of apples, pears, plums and walnuts. The most common control method used by home gardeners is repeatedly spraying insecticides on the fruit throughout the growing season. But several other less toxic control methods are available, according to James Young, entomologist with the Oregon State University Extension Service"

Here is a link that might be useful: How to safely control codling moths in home orchards

Yikes, I didn't realize that codling moths went for plums and walnuts as well. I've only thought of them as an issue for pomme fruits.

That was not familiar to me either.