Apple trees

I eat an apple or two every day. I am thinking I would like to have more apple trees on my 1.2 acre. I currently have 2. They both produce apples in late fall. Are there apple varieties that produce earlier so I can have apples throughout the year? How long can I store apples?

Thanks!

Beth

There are hundreds of varieties at least which are commercially available. All need some amount of chill in the winter so your location will determine what is available. Here in Florida I have mild winters. There are only a handful of apple cultivars that will produce. After 4 summers my two trees have yet to produce a blossom.

You can graft different varieties to your tree, thereby increasing pollination, fruit set, and season of apple consumption. It partially depends on where you live. Where do you live?
John S
PDX OR

Hallo Beth,

I found the following table of blooming and ripening times of apples (NC state university) interesting regarding your first question. It is just a small selection of varieties, but gives an overall picture of the possibilities.

Apples store very differently, but as a rule of thumb, early ripening apples tend to store badly, whilest later ripening varieties store better. (At least that was true, for traditionally grown european varieties)

--- Ludger

Adams County Nursery produces a great chart showing the fruit maturity dates of their trees in Pennsylvania.
Maturity Chart

While the really early apples (Lodi, Yellow Transparent, etc.) are okay, my preference is grow peaches/plums/cherries for the earlier season.

Beth Mouse wrote:How long can I store apples?

Apples that ripen very early tend to be cooking apples not fresh eating. There are specific varieties that store well. There are several storage strategies too. I read that New Englanders used to pack barrels with apples, seal them, then store them unwater! I guess 39° is a great temp for storing apples.

I don't know if you'll be able to store anything past springtime though so you may want to look at drying or other preservation techniques.

A backup fruit that compliments apples would be a good idea - something that is ready early summer. Blueberries last a long time and freeze and/or dry really well. Honeyberries are the earliest producing berry.

Beth Mouse wrote:I eat an apple or two every day. I am thinking I would like to have more apple trees on my 1.2 acre. I currently have 2. They both produce apples in late fall. Are there apple varieties that produce earlier so I can have apples throughout the year? How long can I store apples?

Thanks!

Beth

Hi Beth, the pioneers who settled here in Utah brought good apples. I live in an original settler house where they planted an orchard that produces from late June(yellow transparent) to November(northern spy). I am still eating crispen? and northern spy even though temps are well below freezing at night.

Fedco has a pretty good chart too with great descriptions in their catalog. Fedco Apple Chart

There are TONS of apples out there. Good luck.

Wow everyone, thanks so much for all the info. I live in Idaho so I will have to check out some of the varieties Bill mentioned. The one in June sounds perfect. I will check out the websites you all provided!

Beth

Idaho should be great for storing apples. Some of the later varieties might not ripen, but I would recommend in ground storage in the long run.
John S
PDX OR
"not too far away"

Hi! I am currently salvaging an old orchard in Central Idaho. I am interested in any early varieties you might have found for Idaho. I have been researching the varieties but it is challenging. I have one variety that produces in July/August. The apples are sweet but a little pithy. Considering the condition of the old tree it's not a surprise. I'm leaning toward the variety being Starks Earliest or a Codlin. The funny thing about this tree is that the apples kept on the tree for a long time without affecting the quality. It gets cool here beginning late August. I just kept the apples in bins in the basement. They even did well outside covered well and in the shade. This year I am creating a storage building. I'm new at this- so I can't keep up when all the trees are producing! I believe I also have some vintage Gala, Jonathan, Delicious, and Yellow Transparent. All produce from Aug to Nov. All great tasting and lots of uses.