Apples for South FL

myk1

13 years ago

I have someone asking me about apples around the Ft Meyers area.

I'm thinking Granny Smith, Anna and Pink Lady. Any others?

Any special problems I wouldn't know to warn them about?

If it was me I'd want a banana tree.

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Comments (6)

fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
13 years ago
Apples grow in some amazing places. But varieties like Pink Lady are only for the adventerous in South Florida. Better to stick to Anna and a pollinator for most folks. That far south I'd be thinking more like you, tropical and subtropical.

Here is a link that might be useful: apples for Florida
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franktank232
13 years ago
I'd grow pineapples.
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myk1
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks. I'll send her that link.
I thought Pink Lady was one of the southern varieties.

I don't know why she's focused on apples. I know they buy a lot but it sounds like she just wants to grow something to eat for their kid and gardening isn't working out so well for them (I think because they try to grow like northern zone people instead of fall through spring with cold crops in the middle).

My grandparents and uncles from her area had oranges, grapefruit and limes and one uncle had a banana. Since I can't grow those that's where my mind goes first.
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sharna
13 years ago
Ft Meyers is iffy. Really iffy. I would not go anna. Definitely go golden dorsett
which originated in Nassau Bahamas and for the adventure go Tropic sweet.
try to find them on m111. these will bear a few fruits in 2 years instead of maybe 5 for a standard tree, can be kept pretty low. Watch Very carefully any
"knots" developing at graft level. paint the entire trunk with white latex paint
to anything showing above ground for borers. Golden dorsett may even have
two crops a year for you. Thin the apples to no more than one per flower cluster
and 6" apart on the stem to get decent size. I grew them on I think m26 or 27 from Bay Laurel in Ca. with great success until the borer got it. It makes
dark gray bark. I mixed bonide borer spray with the paint.
the dorsett is happily good for all uses, it is like a golden delicious which is
one of its parents only better. Spray with captan starting when apples are
1 1/2" or so for bitter rot if you need to. good luck.
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macmanmatty2
13 years ago
I would recommend Dorestt golden but I have heard that the only thing that pollinates it is anna. But anna i've heard is a really good apple.

Here is a link that might be useful: low chill pollinator
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applenut_gw
13 years ago
Anna and Dorsett Golden are the only early varieties that will pollinate each other, and both are excellent for the tropics. Next I'd go with Williams' Pride, Stump, and Cinnamon Spice. To fill out the late season GoldRush and Arkansas Black will stand up to the heat. Granny Smith is OK but Pink Lady, although very heat resistant, is a fireblight magnet and difficult to grow in the tropics. All the others mentioned are proven winners in hot steamy climates. Painting the trunks white is mandatory, and plant them on vigorous rootstocks like M111 as the tropics has a stunting effect on apples; they are easy to keep small.

Applenut
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Apples for South FL

Comments (6)

fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX

franktank232

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myk1
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Apples for South FL

Comments (6)

fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX

franktank232

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myk1Original Author

sharna

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applenut_gw

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myk1
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