Hi, lyinseeker. Have fun growing your apple trees, but did you know that apple trees from seed are almost never as good as the parent trees, and that it's like playing the lottery? I grew some apple trees from seed, and later found out that cutting and grafting are the way to get good apple trees.

Kim: I think you will be fine with that combination. As you say GD is easy to set. And I've read about commercial growers planting Gala without a pollinator because it sets well enough by itself. So with some cross pollination you will be rolling in fruit.

"In the northeast I don't find this apple any more distinctive than Red Delicious." I can't stand the Galas sold in stores. They've soured me so much on the flavor I refuse to plant a Gala. Maybe home-grown Galas are much better than store-bought, but I'll probably never plant one to know for sure. Store bought Fuji, Pink Lady, and Honeycrisp are much better. I don't grow any of them except Fuji, which has been in the ground at least 5 years and hasn't fruited yet.

Possibly scab? Or water stress? IF in container, it doesn't take much wind to have them dry out and have the leaves scorch. If the roots are white and the cambium is green, they should leaf out fine next year. I would plant them and take the chance. The price was right.