apple tree experts here??

[marty]

Just wondering what apple tree holds their apples the longest/ I seen one with yellow apples still on it and it was still pretty full? Amyone have any ideas. thanks.......marty:D

[badcast]

That was probably a golden delicious, they hang for quite a while. Among common varieties romes and spies, two older varieties, stay on well. The newer varieties were developed to ripen at a more 'acceptable' harvest date, late Sept. through Oct. The red delicious (yeccch, not popular with me) hangs on well and ripens slowly due to low acidity.

[marty]

Thanks a bunch badcast. I'm going to plant a bunch more apple trees next year and would like them to hold apples as long as possible for deer season. Happy hunting to ya........marty:D

[trout]

Here's a helpful link Marty
http://muextension.missouri.edu/xplor/agguides/hort/g06021.htm

Try contacting your local CO-OP Ext. they can give you info on growing almost anything.

[marty]

Thanks trout that's got some real good info. Just trying to do everything I can to improve the property for whitetail habitat. I already got 22 apple trees planted at one spot. Going to plant some more on the other end of the property. Hopefully it will become a hot spot one of these days if there's any deer left for us to hunt

. If not at least I'll have apples for a good pie.....marty:D

[badcast]

Marty, you said had trees planted; how old are they? If you don't do something to protest them the deer may nibble the small limbs down. At best they take the buds and delay the tree's growth, at worst they maim and kill the tree. If those are young trees see if you can find someone with some old rolls of fencing that have been pulled up. Sometimes you see these laying farms where they tore out a fence. Cut it into sections that will make a 5' or 6' diameter pen and set them around the trees. The deer won't jump in because of the small confines. At least that's my experience. Hate to see you throw good young trees away.

[marty]

My apple trees are 1.5 year old and yes I have them in protective barriers. I put up a six foot fence around each tree. I know what you mean too. I know a fellow who planted 10 trees on his place and never covered them up. The deer had a nice snack in the winter.........narty:D :D

[Benelli]

Anyone have any advice on how to protect young trees from bears? The fencing worked fine to keep the deer away when the trees were young, not proving to be an obstacle now that the trees are starting to “bear” fruit. They just knock over the fence and the trees once the apples start to ripen.

[Ultramag]

Mary,
I order trees from Hilltop Nurseries and in their catalog they have a chart listing all the dates that their trees fruit are ready. They also have a chart to help you plant trees that will help with pollination between each other. http://hilltopnurseries.com

[Bob S]

How big do apple trees have to be before they no longer need to have a protective fencing?

[badcast]

Most rees planted these days are semi-dwarf and they may never be safe, the deer will always nip the bud off the lower limbs. If standard (full size) trees are used, again, there may always be some damage but it will be to a very minor portion of the tree as the limbs can be pruned up to several feet and with the larger tree there is more canopy to compensate for anything nibbled off lower on the tree. If you're serious about wanting wanting apples then go semi-dwarf and guard them, if you want some apples and a supply of fruit to attract critters then standard may be the way to go. The standard tree, if it isn't torn down by the bears when young, Benelli, may be the answer to that, too. I've battled deer in an orchard but never bears.