Apples in the South and Southern Coastal Plain

Randy Rooster · #1 02/14/12, 12:20 PM

Can any varieties be grown successfully here ?
Any old time heirlooms anyone knows of that might make it?

HermitJohn · #2 02/14/12, 01:36 PM

http://www.justfruitsandexotics.com/Apples.htm

www.bighorsecreekfarm.com

anette · #3 02/14/12, 02:07 PM

Randy, Im getting a couple of Arkansas Blacks this spring. Have a Gala and an Ein Shemer (sp?) we planted last spring. Good Luck!

Randy Rooster · #4 02/15/12, 06:21 AM

thank you for the replies

Annette- anyone in your area growing apples?

HJ- interesting website- have you tired any of these or know anyone who has?

HermitJohn · #5 02/15/12, 10:09 AM

I ordered couple trees from bighorsecreekfarm.com last year. Trees arrived looking healthy. Unfortunately they only sell on dwarf/semidwarf rootstock so I will go ahead and graft couple scion samples over to Antanovka rootstock. I got Guyandotte Pippin and Huntsmans Favorite, dont know if those would be appropriate to your circumstances. Guyandotte originates in WV, Huntsman had popularity in home orchards in eastern OK, KS, western MO and AR century ago. I may order couple more trees of other varieties this fall. They have some that just arent available anywhere else.

I am interested in Rev. Morgan which might do quite nice for you. Its a seedling from Granny Smith and I think may well be superior especially for a home orchard. It has some popularity in east Texas. It can survive there, it can survive here in Arkansas. The justfruitsandexotics has it listed too.

Be aware bighorsecreekfarm.com only ship grafted trees in fall. They say you have to preorder, but they do plant extra of more popular varieties, so you can wait and buy in fall though no guarantee they will have what you want without preordering now, they post updated list on website of whats available at that time of year.

I also noticed this year they are offering some scion wood for early spring delivery if you want to graft your own trees. They didnt do that in past. Only some of their varieties are offered as scion wood.

Might add, though I planted mostly rootstock last year in anticipation of grafting this spring I did plant 3 season closeout bargain grafted trees on seedling rootstock. The Sundance did especially well in a very recordbreaking hot and dry summer. It is resistant to both cedar apple rust and fire blight. No idea how taste will be but it is a pretty little tree. And I personally think if anybody is growing in unusually harsh conditions (for apples) that full size rootstock is way to go. Dwarfing rootstock dwarfs because it is a weaker root system. Harsher conditions are probably going to keep a full size tree from ever becoming full size anyway, no reason to give it a weak rootsystem.

HermitJohn · #6 02/15/12, 10:48 AM

http://www.johnsonnursery.com/FRUIT%20PAGES/APPLES.htm

Here is another southern nursery with good rep. Notice an old variety called Horse (AKA: yellow horse or Carolina horse) Its also in bighorsecreekfarm.com. Its an old southern variety apple that was super dependable with little to no care. If you get to reading in the bighorsecreekfarm descriptions, several of other southern varieties have it in their ancestory.

bergere · #7 02/16/12, 02:40 PM

Just planted an Akena and have a Sansa on order. Heard they do well here but will see.

Wish there was an place close by so one could try some of the older southern apples in the Fall. Like to taste the apples from the tree's I am interested in, before buying a tree.

Grandmotherbear · #8 02/27/12, 08:45 PM

Someone on Countryside Families recommended this side for hot weather apple growing.
www.kuffelcreek.com
It's absolutely fascinating and the e-book is well worth the money.

Randy Rooster · #9 02/28/12, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grandmotherbear

Someone on Countryside Families recommended this side for hot weather apple growing.
www.kuffelcreek.com
It's absolutely fascinating and the e-book is well worth the money.

a very interesting web site- I like their little travel trailers too -

I just have to wonder how apples would do in the hot HUMID south versus their Dry California climate.?

da_wanderer · #10 02/29/12, 09:31 AM

I have ordered from Johnson Nursery in Elijay, GA for the last 4 or 5 years. I only go for disease resistant varieties. I hope to see my first apples this year. The peaches fruited last year. The hardy almond is blooming right now. The only plants I've lost from them were native persimmons that were not in a good location. I have ordered blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, peaches, pears, apples, persimmons, and strawberries.

Grandmotherbear · #11 02/29/12, 07:04 PM

Humidity encourages fireblight, which enters thru the blossoms. We have instituted weekly sprays with copper fungicide. Will probably switch to Neem in March, then aletrnate.