Do You Need More Than One Apple Tree?
| Self-Pollinating Apple Trees* | USDA Growing Zone |
| Golden Delicious | 5-8 |
| Granny Smith | 5-8 |
| Braeburn | 5-8 |
| Fuji | 5-9 |
How does a Granny Smith apple tree get pollinated?
"Granny Smith" and other apple trees rely on bees, insects and even the wind for cross-pollination. The bees carry pollen from the male flowers to female flowers of neighboring trees.
What is the best pollenizer for Granny Smith apple trees?
Recommending Pollenizers for "Granny Smith". To cross-pollinate apple tree varieties, you have to plant a compatible tree. "Snowdrift" crabapple is a useful pollenizer for apple trees that bloom mid- to late-season, like "Granny Smith.". "Golden Delicious" is another smart choice because of its heavy pollen production.
Where can you buy Granny Smith apple trees?
The fruit of "Granny Smith" apple trees is available in grocery stores and markets across the country. However, the home gardener can raise "Granny Smith" apple trees in their own yard or orchard.
Which apple trees are self-pollinating?
The most common self-pollinating apple trees are Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji, and Gala. However, while many apple trees will self-fruit, cross-pollinating them will lead to larger and more fruit. Some good cross-pollinators for apple trees include Winter Banana, Golden Delicious, and flowering crab apples.
Do you need 2 Granny Smith apple trees to produce fruit?
Granny Smith Fruit Trees Need Pollination Although some apple trees have flowers with both male and female parts, your Granny Smith apple tree needs pollination to produce fruit. Unless a near neighbor has an apple tree, you need to plant a second tree within 50 feet of the first.
What pollinates Granny Smith apples?
"Granny Smith" and other apple trees rely on bees, insects and even the wind for cross-pollination. The bees carry pollen from the male flowers to female flowers of neighboring trees.
Are there any self-pollinating apple trees?
Varieties of Self-Pollinating Apples Alkmene. Cox Queen. Granny Smith. Grimes Golden.
How long does it take for a Granny Smith apple tree to bear fruit?
Standard trees will produce four to six years after grafting, semi-dwarf in three or four years and dwarf trees in two or three years. Granny Smith apples are generally sold on either dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstock and are considered early producers.
How tall does a Granny Smith apple tree get?
12-14 feetGranny Smiths require 400 chill hours and are self-pollinators. For planting, apple trees prefer full sun and slightly acidic soil. At maturity, the Granny Smith apple can reach a height of 12-14 feet and width of 14-16 feet. USDA ZONES: Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8.
Are Granny Smith apples hybrid?
The parentage of the Granny Smith is thought to be possibly a cross between a cultivated apple and malus sylvestris, a crab apple. "Therefore, Granny Smith is most likely a chance hybrid of two existing varieties and/or species," Ms Karlstrom explained.
Do apple trees need to be planted in pairs?
Most apple varieties do not pollinate themselves or any flowers of the same apple variety; this requires planting at least two different apple tree varieties close to one another so that the bees can pollinate. (There are actually some self-pollinating apple tree varieties if you are really short on space.
Which apple trees cross pollinate?
Winter Banana (spur type) and Golden Delicious (spur type) are two good examples of pollinating cross varieties of apple. Closely related cultivars such as McIntosh, Early McIntosh, Cortland, and Macoun do not cross pollinate well with each other and spur types do not pollinate the parent.
Do you need male and female apple trees?
Like all fruit trees, apples need to be pollinated if they are to set fruit. This involves the transfer of pollen from the stamen (the male part of the flower) to the stigma (the female part).
Are Granny Smith self pollinating?
For example: Granny Smith apple tree is in flowering group 3. It is self-fertile and does not need a pollination partner, but fruiting will usually be improved if there is a compatible partner of a different variety nearby. ... (Most white-blossom crab-apples will also be good pollinators for this variety).
Will 1 apple tree produce apples?
One tree is not enough To set fruit, the vast majority of apple trees require a different variety grown nearby for pollination. While some apple varieties are self-pollinating, even they produce more fruit with another variety nearby.
When should I fertilize my Granny Smith apple tree?
Fertilize in early spring and when planting to give your tree a boost. Choose a balanced, slow release fertilizer like the one we carry online. Prune your apple in late winter to remove any dead, dying, or crowded branches. The best way to prevent disease and pests is by providing the appropriate care for your plants.
Description
Simply irresistible! This classic favorite features a crisp bite and sweet-tart flavor. Tip-bearing tree yields a familiar green fruit perfect for fresh-eating, baking, and making cider. Fruit keeps up to six months in proper storage. Antique variety originates from Australia, circa 1868. Heat-tolerant. Ripens in late October.
Zone Compatibility
The USDA hardiness zones offer a guide to varieties that will grow well in certain climates. Each zone corresponds to the minimum winter temperatures experienced in a given area. Make sure that your hardiness zone lies within the zone compatibility range of this variety before ordering.
Pollination
Cross-pollination by a different variety is key to its growing and bearing success. Plant one of these varieties within 50' for best pollination.
Tools & Supplies
Having the proper tools and supplies when growing your own can make the difference between a good harvest and a great harvest! Here's a list that our experts recommend for this variety.
Planting & Care
Learn all about how to grow apple trees in The Growing Guide. An entire section of our website dedicated to your growing success.
Tags
We've 'tagged' this item with specific keywords that help you find other products that share features or characteristics with this one. Select a tag below to view all the items that have that particular trait.
Akane
Akane is an attractive early-season eating apple with a good pedigree and a sweet/sharp flavor.
Alkmene
Alkmene is a mid-season apple from Germany, related to to Cox but with a more robust flavor.
Amere de Berthencourt in stock
Amere de Berthencourt is a traditional French bittersweet cider apple.
Blue Pearmain
An old-fashioned winter eating apple, with a strong sweet/sharp flavor.
Bramtot
Bramtot is a traditional French hard cider variety, with a bittersweet juice.
Calville Blanc
One of the world's great cooking apples, Calville Blanc is a French variety with a spicy tangy flavor.
Chieftain
A quietly popular apple, similar to Delicious but with a better and more complex flavor.
Fruit Facts
"Granny Smith" apple trees produce fruit that can be eaten out of hand or cooked. Due to the high acid content, these apples do not turn brown after cutting as soon as most other apple varieties. "Granny Smith" apples have firm flesh that holds its shape when slices are cooked until tender.
Nutrition
The "Granny Smith" apple tree produces medium-size fruit. One 154-gram apple contains approximately 80 calories that are all supplied by carbohydrates.
Fruit Harvest and Storage
Late season trees, "Granny Smith" apples are harvested in October to January or February, depending upon the climate. In Washington State, apples are generally picked in October. However, in Mediterranean climates with mild winters, fruit often ripens at about the same time as leaf drop.
Culture
Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 8, "Granny Smith" apples reach a height and spread of 15 to 25 feet. Plant "Granny Smith" apple trees in locations receiving at least six hours of sunlight each day. Self-pollinating, "Granny Smith" apple trees set fruit without a pollinator partner.
Do You Need More Than One Apple Tree?
Generally, you do need more than one apple tree. It’s been shown that apple trees (even those that are self-fruiting) produce larger and more fruit when cross-pollinated. So, while many apple trees can self-fruit, they still greatly benefit from cross-pollination.
How To Tell if Your Apple Tree Needs a Pollinator
While there are many charts online that show the pollination compatibility of apple trees, they’re often complicated and overwhelming to read at first.
The Top 3 Varieties To Use for Apple Tree Pollination
Since we’ve already covered that all apple trees can benefit from cross-pollination, it’s probably a good idea to provide your apple tree with cross-pollination if you aren’t already. If you’re not sure which cross-pollinators to get, I found some helpful information while researching.
Can a Pear Tree Pollinate an Apple Tree?
Pear trees generally cannot pollinate apple trees. Since other species, such as pear, cherry, plum, are too genetically different than apple trees, they cannot pollinate each other. The best pollinators for apple trees are other apple trees such as Winter Banana, Golden Delicious, and flowering crab apples.
Final Thoughts
So, while my Fuji apple tree is self-pollinating, it will still do best when it’s cross-pollinated. My next step is to find a good pollinator for it.