Expect an abundant harvest in June and early July. Sweet and only slightly acidic, these apples are fantastic to eat and are versatile enough for sauces and baked goods. You’ll find Anna apple trees in orchards throughout California, Texas, Florida, and other Gulf states.Īlthough descended from the Golden Delicious apple, Annas look and taste more like a Granny Smith or Honeycrisp. First developed at the Ein Shemer kibbutz in Israel, the tree was designed for a low-chill environment and will thrive in zones where the temperatures rarely drop below freezing. Years to Bear Fruit: Can fruit the first year!Īnother southern favorite, Anna apple trees are prolific producers and can be easily grown at home.Anna Anna apples are very sweet and can be enjoyed raw, but also cooked in pies or sauces. You’re likely only ever going to taste a Gravenstein apple if there is an orchard nearby or if you plant them yourself. Of note, these apples don’t keep well, so they are not widely shipped. The tart flavor also makes a tasty apple cider. Depending on how ripe the fruit is, Grav apples are excellent for apple sauce, pies, and baked goods. Ripening in late July, Gravs – as the fruit is affectionately called – are one of the earliest apples on the market each year. Gravenstein Gravenstein apples ripen at the end of July, producing fruits with a tart taste that are great for applesauce and pies. They will keep their taste and crispness for several months. Their fruits can store for several months, making them a great choice for gardeners that need some extra time to plan out what to do with their harvest. They will need to be pruned annually, which shouldn’t be as hard compared to other varieties due to their shorter height stature. It’s cold hardy, and the fruits will generally ripen in mid to late fall. This apple tree is used both in cooking, as well as a stand alone for eating the fruits fresh off the tree. Height: 12-16 feet (dwarf varieties are available).Pick and choose based on your climate and taste! Idared This variety is shorter in height, and has dwarf varieties available that are even smaller. In this section, you’ll discover delicious apple tree varieties that fall into all the flowering groups. You’ll need to ensure that the trees you choose to plant, flower during the same period.īloom periods are combined into the following groups:īe deliberate in your choice of apple tree pairs so that they’re complimentary and bloom during the same period of time. Flowering Groups Make sure the trees in your garden bloom at the same time as most apple trees cannot self-pollinate.ĭid you know that different apple tree varieties will bloom at different times of the year? This is important because most apple trees cannot self-pollinate and need to be near another apple tree to bear fruit. If you live in a warm climate, it will likely be easier to settle for apples at the local farmer’s market. There are some low-chill apple tree varieties that can grow up to hardiness zone 10, but those options are limited. Most varieties won’t grow well – and certainly won’t produce fruit – in anywhere warmer than USDA zone 8.

Most apple trees thrive in areas with nice, cold winters. Hardiness Zones Pay attention to the chill hours in your climate before planting. Calculating chill hours can be a bit complicated, but you can get a good estimate using this calculator or this map of the United States. Anything below 32 degrees doesn’t count, and any hours that exceed 60 degrees need to be subtracted from accumulated totals.Īpple trees need hundreds of chill hours each year to break dormancy and regulate growth. Leaf production can also be delayed, causing growth issues.Ĭhill hours start accumulating for your apple tree when the temperatures remain between 32 and 45 degrees. If a tree doesn’t experience enough chill hours during the winter, flower buds may be delayed or not open at all. Chill Hours Apple trees need a certain amount of cold weather before being able to flower.Ĭhill hours tell you how long a tree needs to be in cold temperatures. But once you understand the basics, you’ll look forward to bountiful harvests of sweet apples in no time. Growing apple trees is more complex than you would think.

If you’ve ever tried to grow apple trees, but were frustrated by a lack of fruit, this section is for you.

Names of tart apples