There are so many different apple tree varieties to consider growing! Luckily, if you do some research and find out the specific conditions your particular variety requires, you can find the perfect tree for your climate and growing conditions. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular apple trees and what makes them so special – all to help you make an informed decision about which variety would be best for your garden:
1. Honeycrisp
Honeycrisp has a consistent, sweet flavor without the char, bite, or gritty texture that you sometimes find in other apples. The tree is disease resistant and cold-tolerant, making it a great choice for a yard orchard.
Honeycrisp can be grown to produce apples that are tangy and sweet. It is not affected by Botrytis blight (some strains are resistant), and apple maggots can’t survive in the tree.
2. Fuji
For centuries, the Fuji apple has been one of America’s favorite varieties. The tree is very cold and heat tolerant, which helps it handle harsh winters throughout parts of the country. The apples are crisp, juicy, and aromatic without being overly tart. Fuji trees are popular for their disease and pest resistance. The apple can be grown in zones 3-6, where it needs a southern or eastern exposure to do well. If you live in a warmer climate, there are other varieties that may be more suitable.
3. Granny Smith
Granny Smith is a low-chill variety tree, meaning that it can be grown in southern regions without needing to worry about the chilling hours required for other apple trees. The fruit is crisp, tart, and very green in color. Granny Smith’s leaves tend to drop early in the season and can sometimes be susceptible to fire blight, but overall the tree is very hardy and disease resistant. The fruit ripens late in fall, around October or November.
4. Red Delicious
Red Delicious apples are well known in the US and Canada because they are so tasty – and they’re not hard to find. Red Delicious trees produce large, firm, crisp red apples that tend to be very juicy.
The tree is highly resistant to diseases and pests, especially fire blight. The apple is self-fruitful and highly resistant to scabs. Red Delicious apples are ideal for storing in a pantry for a long period of time or for canning to preserve their high quality.
5. Golden Delicious
Golden Delicious apples are also very popular because they are good to eat, and they look beautiful when they’re picked ripe. The tree itself is disease resistant and very cold-tolerant – it can be grown in zones 3-9. It will depend on the variety of Golden Delicious if the tree requires a pollinator tree or not.
Golden Delicious apples are sweet, crispy, juicy, and a little less tart than Granny Smiths or Fuji.
6. McIntosh
McIntosh apples are another very popular variety of apples. They are used for cooking and baking, and the fruit is soft, juicy, and tart. The tree is highly resistant to diseases, pests, and cold weather. McIntosh apples are best suited for more northern climates where the apple trees do not need as much pollination or ripening time as McIntosh trees can take in a shorter amount of time than other varieties (when they’re fully mature).
McIntosh trees are grown in zones 2-9, although they don’t need as much chill time as other varieties do.
7. Gala
Gala apples are crisp, sweet, and with a very mild flavor that is easy to eat! The trees themselves are disease resistant and cold-tolerant. They do not require much chill time or pollination, making them ideal for warmer climates. The trees have a vigorous growth habit, and they do well in both clay soils and sandy soils – they can be grown in zones 5-9.
Gala apples are good choices for eating fresh or canning.
8. Pink Lady
Pink Lady is a brand new apple variety that is a cross between Royal Gala and Lady William. It is crisp and juicy, but the apples tend to brown when they’re exposed to air (not ideal if you’re going to be storing the apples in your pantry). The trees are highly productive, with strong growth and good disease resistance.
Pink Lady apples ripen later in the fall than other varieties. If you want them to eat fresh, then you need to be prepared for harvest as early as October. Pink Lady apples are not cold-tolerant.
9. Red Jonathan
Red Jonathan is another apple variety that ripens late in the season. The fruit is firm and crisp with a slightly tart flavor and sweet taste. Red Jonathan apples are firm, crisp, and juicy. Red Jonathan trees are disease resistant and cold-tolerant, making them ideal for warmer climates or gardens where other varieties may not be able to survive. Red Jonathan apples store very well for at least 6 months in colder climates when stored at 40 degrees F.
10. Braeburn
Braeburn is an all-purpose apple variety that is good for both cooking and eating fresh. The fruit is firm, sweet, and juicy, although slightly tart. Braeburn apples are slightly less susceptible to scab or other diseases, but other varieties may not be as disease resistant. Braeburn trees grow well in zones 3-7 and will be ready for harvest around October/November or even December in some areas. Braeburn apples are good choices for canning or storing.
11. Empire
Empire apples are firm, crisp, and juicy with a slightly tart flavor. Empire trees are very cold and heat tolerant, which makes them ideal for planting in colder climates. The trees will be ready to harvest around October or November. Empire apples are not resistant to many diseases or pests, so it is best to grow Blue Ribbon varieties nearby if you want to maintain your Empire apple tree’s health.
12. Cox’s Orange Pippin
Cox’s Orange Pippin is a variety of apple that was originally created in England more than 800 years ago. Originally, the apples were yellow in color, and later changed to a red color. The fruit is firm, crisp, and very juicy with a sweet-tart flavor that makes it great for eating fresh or for cooking with.
Cox’s Orange Pippin trees are susceptible to a lot of diseases and pests (the fruit is also often affected by mildew), so it is best to grow them in colder climates and in a location where other varieties will act as pollinators. The trees should be planted in zones 5-9.
Accessing https://www.chrisbowers.co.uk/category/apples/ will land you on a websiteoffering apple tree varieties for sale to consider growing in your garden this spring. Contact them today to learn more about the apple tree varieties they offer and the organic fruit trees they grow.