When To Plant Apple Trees In Seattle

When to plant apple trees in seattle

In most parts of the country, spring is the best time to plant apple trees. The exact month will depend on where you live, but March and April are ideal for most growers. If you live in a warmer climate (USDA zones seven and warmer), it's also possible to start planting in the fall.

Is it OK to plant apple trees in the fall?

We say fall is the best time to plant because when we plant a fruit tree in fall, we get the maximum amount of root growth, which produces the maximum amount of shoot growth and, if we're lucky, fruit growth, in the spring and summer—the active growing season. CAUTION! Planting a tree is serious business.

Can apple trees grow in Seattle?

While “fruit tree” is a large and diverse category, most fruit trees planted in Seattle-area backyards are apples, plums and pears. Even within this limited category, the harvest season can span four months.

How many months does it take an apple tree to bear fruit?

Apple trees: 4–8 years Generally a fruit that's ready to harvest in summer, apple trees are relatively low-maintenance. Planted in a sunny spot with good drainage, you can expect them to fruit in 3–4 years.

Do I need 2 apple trees to get fruit?

Apples are self-unfruitful. Plant at least two different apple tree varieties within 50 feet of one another for a good fruit set. Some apple varieties, such as Golden Delicious, will produce a crop without cross-pollination from a second variety.

What is the fastest apple tree to grow?

Some fast growing apple trees include Red Delicious and Yellow Delicious. They can grow up to 6-10 inches per year or more.

Do I need to winterize my apple tree?

Winterizing fruit trees is a no brainer. And it's worth taking a few extra minutes in the fall to ensure that these valuable assets to the landscape are well protected until spring.

How late can you plant apple trees?

Planting Time In cold northern climates, spring is the best time to plant apple trees. In areas where winter is less severe, early spring or late fall planting is recommended.

Should you soak apple trees before planting?

Before planting: soak the apple tree's roots in a bucket or large tub of water for one to two hours. This helps keep the roots from drying out while you dig the planting hole. Avoid soaking roots for more than six hours.

When should I plant trees in Seattle?

Fall is the best time of year to plant a new tree in Seattle. Trees planted in October-December benefit from our fall and winter rains, developing a stronger root system before the next summer dry spell.

Which fruit trees grow well in Seattle?

Recommended Fruit Trees for the Puget Sound

APPLES. Zestar. Sunrise. Silken.
SCAB-IMMUNE APPLES. Pristine. Williams' Pride. Prima. ...
PEARS. Stuttgarter Gieshirltle. Clapp's Favorite/Red Clapp's. Orcas. ...
ASIAN PEARS (NASHI) Hamese. Shinseiki. ...
PEACHES. Harken. Redhaven. ...
NECTARINES. Hardired.
PLUMS. Methley. Beauty. ...
CHERRIES. Early Burlat. Hartland.

Do you need 3 apple trees to produce fruit?

Almost without exception apples need a female parent and a male pollinator. Though both male (stamens) and female (the pistil) parts occur on the one tree and even within the same blossom, apples are unable to pollinate themselves. They require pollen from another apple variety to achieve successful fertilization.

Should you let an apple tree fruit in first year?

Is it wrong to encourage early fruiting? Most gardening books stress the importance with young apple trees of picking off any fruitlets that form in the first few years after planting. The reason for this is to encourage the tree to develop its full branch framework before fruiting begins.

Do apple trees produce fruit the first year?

Standard apple trees, or full-size trees, can start producing fruit four to eight years after being planted. Dwarf apple trees may begin to produce fruit within two years of being planted. It can take anywhere from five to 10 years for an apple tree to bear fruit when growing a tree from seeds.

How do you take care of a first year apple tree?

Early Care: Water young apple trees regularly to establish the root system. Renew mulch each year, but pull it away from the tree in the fall so rodents don't nest over the winter and eat the bark. Apple trees require training to build a strong frame of branches that can bear the weight of heavy apple crops.

How long does it take a Honeycrisp apple tree to bear fruit?

Honeycrisp trees take two to eight years to produce their first apples depending on their size. Once the tree is matured, you should see fruit every year as long as you properly care for the tree.

What happens if you only plant one apple tree?

One tree is not enough To set fruit, the vast majority of apple trees require a different variety grown nearby for pollination. While some apple varieties are self-pollinating, even they produce more fruit with another variety nearby.

Do apple trees need full sun?

As with most fruit, apple trees produce best when grown in full sun, which means six or more hours of direct summer sunlight daily. Apple trees need well-drained soil, but should be able to retain some moisture.

Can you plant a whole apple to grow a tree?

It is possible to grow an apple tree from an apple seed. However, in most cases, apple trees don't come true from seeds. For example, a seed taken from a Red Delicious apple will not produce a Red Delicious apple tree. Seedling apple trees are genetically different and usually inferior to the parent tree.

Can you grow an apple tree from a store bought apple?

It's not a myth: You really can grow an apple tree from the seeds inside the fruit you bought on your last grocery run. It's not quite as simple as just scattering them across the ground in your yard, but with the right care (and a lot of patience), it's possible to cultivate your own fruit-producing tree.