Apple Trees: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know
Contents
Apple Trees: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know
Apples are one of the most popular fruits in the world, with growers producing more than 240 million bushels of apples in the U.S. each year. They’re used across the country for culinary standbys like apple pie and apple sauce – not to mention snacking, smoothies, juices and more.
And while everyone knows you can purchase apples at the grocery store or pick your own at a local orchard, you might not be aware that apple trees are actually easy to grow in your own backyard. And when you do, you’ll get a big reward for a just a little bit of effort – fresh, home-grown apples, year after year.
When you purchase an apple trees, you’re making a great investment – one that’s easy, fun, and cost effective. And we’re here to help you succeed. In this guide, we’ll cover:
- Different varieties of apples and apple trees
- How to choose the right apple tree for your landscape and climate
- Where to plant apple trees
- How to pollinate apple trees for fruit production
- Common diseases and issues for apple trees
- How to plant and care for your apple trees
How many varieties of apples are there?
There are more than 8,000 different varieties of apples. Most are bred for their taste and utilitarian use, including cooking and cider production.
Apple trees are generally produced by grafting (attaching a piece of an existing tree to a root stock to form a new tree) or from seeds. One benefit of grafted trees is they will bear fruit much more quickly than those grown from seed- with grafted trees, you can even get a tree that bears fruit the first year.
Some popular varieties of apple trees include:
- Honeycrisp Apple Trees
- Fuji Apple Trees
- Gala Apple Trees
- Red Delicious Apple Trees
- Granny Smith Apple Trees
- Pink Lady Apple Trees
- Golden Delicious Apple Trees
- McIntosh Apple Trees
And dozens more – see all of our available apple trees here.
What types of apple trees should you plant?
Ideally, your apple orchard (no matter how big or small it is) will be in production for many years. In order to protect your investment and bear fruit, it’s important to choose the right apple trees to suit your needs and climate.
How do you select the right apple trees for your garden? It depends on a few different things, including your climate and hardiness zone, landscape, how many apple trees you want to plant and which varieties. (Most apple trees require another variety of apple tree planted nearby in order to pollinate and bear fruit, so you’ll typically want to plan for at least two).
Below are a few considerations:
Apple trees for different climates
Want to plant apple trees in a colder climate? You’ll want to find apple tree varieties well-suited to Northern areas. In a warmer climate? Check out apple trees that are best for Southern. If you’re on the West Coast, you’ll want to choose from Western apple trees. Most apples fall within two or more different groups, so it’s easy to find the right apple tree as well as a companion pollinator that will thrive in the same climate.
Apple tree sizes
Apple trees come in many different sizes, from full-size trees to dwarf trees that grow 8-10 feet tall. You’ll want to evaluate the size of your planting area to determine what apple variety is best – and remember, in most cases, you’ll want to leave room for at least two apple trees, if not more.
How big do you want your apple trees to get? Keep in mind that apple trees contain three parts: the branches, the trunk, and the root system.
Our dwarf apple trees are grafted for a more controlled size. Most dwarf trees maintain heights of between 10 to 15 feet, which make them easier for fitting into small landscapes and easily picking fruit.
Working with an even smaller area? Consider a new variety like columnar apple trees – designed to grow upright without horizontal branching, they’re perfect for small spaces and even patios or balconies.
Apple tree flavor
Think about your favorite flavors and what you like to taste in apples – do you like sweeter apples, or more tart? Once you figure out what type of apples you like, think about how you plan to use your apples. Are you planning on snacking, baking, juicing or canning? Dessert apples are best for eating fresh, whereas culinary apples are best for cooking. Some apples have to be eaten within a few days of being picked, while others can be stored for a month or more before eating – and can actually improve in flavor over time. For example, Red Delicious Apples are one of the sweetest cultivars available.
You’ll also need to consider how many trees you need to plant. If you want to grow several trees, that can affect the specific types of trees you purchase. Different varieties can ripen at different times, from late summer to late fall, and different varieties are required to pollinate specific apple trees.