Apples
Growing Apples in Central Texas
Apples are traditionally a northern crop, but can be fruitful here in Central Texas. Although southern apples have little red color, their flavor is excellent. Certain varieties are semi-self fertile, and can produce a reliable crop as an individual tree. Others will do best with a second tree as a pollenizer.
Apples should be pruned according to the central leader or modified central leader system. The first three years should be spent on training only, but by the fourth and fifth years, the trees can be allowed to produce a light crop. For further pruning help, search for fruit tree pruning information online, and only consult university websites for more accurate information. The proper time to prune fruit trees in Central Texas is late January/early February. It’s ideal to prune as late in winter as possible, even while the tree is flowering.
Apple trees will need about 4-6 years before producing fruit to establish a healthy tree able to produce a large crop. Remove all fruit during these first years and focus on training branches.
For the health of the tree and better quality fruit, thin the fruit to about 6” apart when apples are about the size of marbles. Be careful not to damage the spurs (the short branches) that produce the flower buds and fruit. Apples harvested early continue to ripen in storage. Ideal storage is at a temperature above freezing and below 50° (the refrigerator).
Chill hours shown in parentheses
Anna (300)
- Medium sized fruit ripening early to mid-June
- Crisp, with sweet to semi-tart flavor
- Light green-yellowish skin with red blush
- Good choice for fresh eating and cooking
- Heavy producer that starts at an early age
- From Israel. Self fertile.
Dorsett Golden (250)
- Medium to large fruit that ripens early to mid-June
- Firm, smooth, crisp flesh with sweet-tart flavor
- Yellow skin with slight pink blush
- From the Bahamas. Semi-self fertile, but best with Anna as pollenizer.
Ein Shemer (400-450)
- Large fruit ripens mid-June to early July
- Fruits have crisp, tart, good quality flesh with yellow skin
- Bears young and is very productive
- From Israel. A more self fertile tree than others.
Fuji (400 – 600)
- Medium-sized fruit that ripens early to mid-September
- Very sweet, crispy, juicy white flesh
- Yellow skin with pink-red speckling – redder with sunlight and cooler temperatures
- Stores well
- From Japan. Use Gala, Granny Smith or Mollie’s Delicious as pollenizers.
Gala (600)
- Small to medium-sized fruit, ripening late July to early August
- Flesh is firm, crisp, sweet, and juicy with excellent flavor
- Golden yellow skin with orange to red blush
- Stores well
- From New Zealand. Use Granny Smith, Fuji, or Mollie’s Delicious as pollenizers.
Granny Smith (500-600)
- Medium to large fruit ripening late September to early October
- Juicy, firm, very tart flesh – gets sweeter in storage
- Bright green skin
- Good for eating fresh or cooking
- Vigorous and productive, with a tough skin that stores well
- From Australia. Self fertile.
Mollie’s Delicious (400-500)
- Very large fruit that ripens early to mid-August
- High quality flavorful flesh with light yellow skin and red blush
- Vigorous, productive tree with fruit that stores for 10 weeks in fridge
- Bears young. Use Fuji, Gala or Granny Smith as pollenizers.