Apples for SE Arizona

Apple trees (Malus domestica) are cultivated worldwide and are the most widely grown species in the genus Malus. The tree originated in Central Asia, where its wild ancestor, Malus sieversii, is still found today. Apples have been grown for thousands of years in Asia and Europe and were brought to North America by European colonists. 

Golden Dorsett Apple

Apple trees are large if grown from seed, but the fruit quality will be poor, usually. Generally, apple cultivars are propagated by grafting onto rootstocks, which control the size of the resulting tree. There are more than 7,500 known cultivars of apples, resulting in a range of desired characteristics. Different cultivars are bred for various tastes and use, including cooking, eating raw and cider production. Trees and fruit are prone to a number of fungal, bacterial and pest problems, which can be controlled by a number of organic and non-organic means. In 2010, the fruit's genome was sequenced as part of research on disease control and selective breeding in apple production.

Planting apple trees successfully starts with selecting varieties that do well in Arizona, with a lower chilling requirement. See below for suggested varieties for our region.

Plant in full to part sun in well-amended soil and keep watering even and deep. Mulch/top-dress the soil around trees to keep heat off the roots and slow down evaporation of soil moisture. Feed regularly with a well-balanced, organic fertilizer. Apple trees are winter-deciduous and spring blooming. Flowers are loved by our native pollinators, especially bees, butterflies, and other nectar-loving insects.

Anna Apple

varieties for SE Arizona

Anna: Remarkable fruit for mild-winter climates in Southern Arizona. Heavy crops of sweet, crisp, flavorful apples even in low desert. Fresh or cooked. Keeps 2 months in refrigerator. Chilling requirement 200 hours. Self-fruitful or pollinated by Dorsett Golden or Ein shemer.

Beverly Hills: Produces a pale yellow medium sized fruit. Chilling requirement 300 hours. Self-fruitful. !Ein shemer: Heavy-bearing, very low chilling requirement of 100 hours. Sweet yellow apples in early summer (June in the low desert). Excellent pollenizer for Anna. Self- fruitful.

Fuji: Recently introduced from Japan, has quickly become California’s favorite apple. Sweet, very crisp and flavorful, excellent keeper. Dull reddish-orange skin, sometimes russeted. Chilling requirement listed as 600 hours, but preliminary testing in the low desert indicate that it may be less. Self-fruitful.

Gala: Wonderful dessert apple from New Zealand. Crisp, nice blend of sweetness and tartness, rich flavor. Skin reddish-orange over yellow. Chilling requirement listed as 500-600 hours, preliminary testings suggest it maybe less. Self-fruitful.

Golden Dorsett: Outstanding sweet apple for warm winter areas. Firm, very flavorful, sweet like Golden Delicious. Productive throughout the low desert. Good early season sweet apple. Chilling requirement of 100 hours. Self-fruitful.

Gordon: Produces a reddish-green fruit for fresh use and cooking. Chilling requirement, 400 hours. Self-fruitful.