6 Best Apple Trees To Grow In Colorado
According to Mike Gittleson, manager of Longmont Tree Farm, we are living in apple country. As Mike put it, “Apple trees do really well here.”
The temperatures need to be warm and cold at the same time to make apple trees produce fruit, which makes Colorado ideal for apple trees, Gittleson says.
It has been scientifically proven that apple trees are most productive when the temperature in the winter is below 40 degrees for at least 600 hours. Once the plants have blossomed, he says they need at least five to six hours of full sun a day after they are planted.
A period of cold weather is necessary before the apples will be ready to be picked by the spring, and the temperatures in Colorado are just right for that.
Among the apples that should be taken into consideration, there are a few varieties that would be suitable, such as Apples, Golden and Red Delicious, Macintosh, Honeycrisp, Cortland, Jordan, Wealthy, Granny Smith, and Gala. There are many other combinations that may be possible.
According to Lee Stewart, a volunteer master gardener and food-safety advisor, apple trees also bloom later than some other types of fruit trees, which makes them more likely to avoid an April killing frost.
It would be a worthwhile idea to add the fact that many varieties of apple trees are hardy to an altitude of about 8,000 feet, or zone 4, to the equation, and you have the appropriate prescription for enjoying an apple a day – or more!
There are three types of apple trees: dwarf, semi-dwarf and standard.
As dwarf and semi-dwarf apple trees begin life as regular trees, they are then grafted onto a rootstock that determines how tall they will grow.
Typically, dwarf apple trees grow between 6 and 15 feet tall, while semi-dwarf trees grow between 12 and 20 feet tall, and standard apple trees typically grow between 20 and 30 feet tall.
In spite of the height of the tree, the fruit remains the same size regardless of its height. The dwarf cultivars of trees, according to Stewart, are able to produce fruit in a shorter period of time – three to five years after planting them – as opposed to standard trees.
Honeycrisp™ Apple Tree
Crispy, crunchy, and unbelievably juicy, the potato chips are a great snack.
Known for their delectable, delicious taste, Honeycrisp Apples have earned a reputation as delicious fruits.
Most likely you have purchased these products from the store, since they have become a favorite among consumers.
It is true that store-bought Honeycrisp Apples may taste good, but even so, store-bought Honeycrisps will not come close to the taste and quality of home-grown Honeycrisp apples that you pick yourself at the peak of their ripeness off your own tree.
The Honeycrisp Apple Tree is one of the best apple trees we have ever grown since they’re grafted from proven rootstock, with cold hardiness down to -30 degrees, disease resistance, and fruit production in only one year.
Triumph™ Apple
You will be praising the TriumphTM Apple Tree (Malus ‘Triumph’) if you live in an area plagued by Apple Scab!
With parents such as Honeycrisp and Liberty, you know Triumph will taste great too, producing rounded green apples that have a strong red blush when ripe. These Apples are ready for harvest in September.
Sprouting into bloom in the early spring with clouds of fragrant blossoms that will be a magnet for early spring pollinators!
When its pinkish buds explode into a cloud of petals, you’ll enjoy the scenery even more!
Those blossoms become round red apples that hang from the lush green foliage like delightful ornaments!
Triumph TM Apple trees provide shading and have a beautiful form for edible landscaping and are great for orchard use. They store well and have a firm, pleasantly tart taste. A perfect baking ingredient or fresh food!
Hazen Apple Tree
The smaller fruit trees are perfect for today’s urban lots and unpredictable winters because they are cold resistant and need less water!
Despite the fact that the Hazen Apple Tree stays tiny and can even be pruned back to even smaller proportions, it still bears a large harvest of round, dark red apples for all your cooking and baked dessert recipes! Having a soft, yellow flesh and a juicy texture, this apple is ready to harvest mid-season and can be enjoyed by everyone!
There is a sweet scent emanating from the buds and blossoms of the baby pink tulips as they burst into bloom in mid-spring.
In addition to providing nectar and pollen for hungry bees, these welcome flowers serve as a resource for early-emergence butterflies.
Summer’s lush green foliage becomes a lovely foil for the deep red fruit that then takes on a yellow hue during the fall months.
This is a very good tree that can be used for edible landscaping and smaller orchards to reap the benefits! In addition to forming a rounded silhouette, Hagen is an ornamental ornamental fruit tree, so it is very useful for dual-purpose gardening! Due to its pollinator requirements, its smaller size makes it a beneficial choice, especially when space for a second tree must be considered.
State Fair Apple Tree
A variety of Malus x ‘State Fair’, known as the State Fair Apple Tree (Malus x ‘State Fair’), is a popular choice for home growers who are looking for a balanced apple that is beautiful and flavorful.
Although State Fair’s fruit is excellent, many gardeners rejoice during the tree’s plentiful blooming season when this tree blooms.
This beautiful plant has large clusters of white-to-rose pink blooms that smell gorgeous as well as they look!
The nectar resource is celebrated by pollinators as well as you. It is the perfect time of year to sit and watch the bees fly from bloom to bloom as you dream of the approaching apple season.
You will soon see why there are apple blossom festivals when you have a picnic under the flower-laden branches!
As these varieties of apples ripen on the branches, you will be able to watch them blush and show a spectrum of coloration from yellow to green to red with a few precious freckles.
In the garden, the State Fair Apple Tree is a smaller tree that produces medium-sized apples, which are juicy, sweet, yet tart, and good to eat fresh, but also to use in baking, sauces, pies, and canning.
Honey gold Apple Tree
Several reasons make Honey gold Apple Tree a favorite, but it is especially favored for its hardiness in cold climates.
Honey gold apples taste almost identical to Honeycrisps, but they can be grown in the coldest climates.
It is even tough enough to withstand the Minnesota winter. As a result of the harsh, windy climate, few sweet fruits will grow there.
Even in winter conditions that are extremely harsh, the Honey gold Apple Tree will grow tall and produce a bountiful harvest.
A sweet taste and an abundance of harvest will captivate your senses. Honey gold is a highly productive plant, and you can expect a large harvest from September through November.
In addition, this apple tastes sweet without any tartness, which is what gives it its name. During the early autumn months, when temperatures drop, this healthy dessert is a pleasure to eat.
McIntosh Apple Tree
Our McIntosh apple tree is extremely renowned for its delicious fruit, which is distinctive for its bright red skin and light, tangy flavor.
Furthermore, this tree is very productive, ripening fruit early in the season, so you will have fruit yearly and sooner than with other varieties.
MacIntosh apples can be eaten fresh, baked into pies and sauces, or even used to make apple cider.
Not only will you be able to grow your fruits as quickly as possible, but you will also be able to grow them organically.
It will be comforting to know that your trees won’t be sprayed with chemicals or pesticides.
In the end, you can simply remove a branch from your tree and pick your free fruit directly from it!
Moreover, because the McIntosh tree is free of pests and diseases, not to mention its hardy strength, it is also easy to grow. Your McIntosh grows healthy and strong, whether or not you have a green thumb.
