Apples are tough to grow, but by choosing good disease-resistant cultivars, you can sometimes end up with great looking no-spray apples like this one!
Apple trees are stunning when they are in bloom, and much-beloved by honeybees and other pollinators.
Apples
We love apples, and I'm sure you do too (or else you probably wouldn't be on this page)! They are probably the first fruit tree everyone thinks about planting in their yard. Unfortunately, apples are not so easy to grow in our area, especially without any sprays. And since we don't use ANY sprays on our fruit, we have found them very challenging. They suffer from cedar apple rust, fire blight, scab, wooly aphids, plum curculio, apple codling moth, and what seems like a never-ending list of pests and diseases.
All hope is not lost, though! Because here at Hundred Fruit Farm we have been trialing disease-resistant apple cultivars for their performance in no spray conditions, and these are the only apples we will graft and sell to customers. So for those who are brave enough to try growing apples in our area, we will help hook you up with the cultivars that will give you the best chance of success!
All our apples are grafted onto semi-dwarf rootstock, which means you can expect the trees to reach about 12-18 feet in height once mature. Apples are not at all resistant to deer, in fact they are among their favorite things to eat! So make sure you protect your apple trees from deer with either cages, tree tubes, or a deer fence. Once the trees get above 5 ft tall, they are relatively safe from deer browse, but young trunks can still be damaged in the fall by buck rub, so be careful of that as well!
Apples need well-drained soil (don't even think about planting them in a wet spot) and full sun. Give them lots of sun and airflow and this will go a long way to preventing disease and problems. Most apples need another cultivar for pollination (though crabapples will pollinate them as well). Any cultivars that are self-fruitful will be labeled as such.
'Akane' Apple - Malus domestica 'Akane'
Pronounced "ah-kah-nay", this firm, crisp and fully-flavored red dessert apple ripens in late August to early-September. Regarded as one of the best early season apples, with a balanced sweet-tart flavor. Akane was developed in Japan in the 1930s and is a cross between Jonathan and Worcester Pearmain. Also known as Tokyo Rose, Tohuko No. 3, Prime Red, and Primrouge .Resistances: fireblight, cedar apple rust, scab, powdery mildew.
'Arkansas Black' Apple - Malus domestica 'Arkansas Black'
A beautiful heirloom apple known for its disease resistance and very popular in the South because of its ability to tolerate high heat and humidity. It's originated from the orchard of Mr. Brattwait in Bentonville, Arkansas in the 1870s. The fruit is a deep, dark purplish-red that can look almost black at maturity. Stores well through the winter and the taste improves and sweetens after several months of storage. Makes a great cider apple as well. Not capable of pollenizing other apples, it needs two other apple cultivars for pollination. Resistances: fireblight, cedar apple rust, powdery mildew, scab.
'Enterprise' Apple - Malus domestica x floribunda 'Enterprise'
An apple that would make Captain Jean-Luc Picard very happy indeed, Enterprise is among the most disease resistant apples in existence, and a perfect choice for no-spray growers. Trees are vigorous, spreading, and reliably productive. Enterprise ripens in mid-late October. The apples have thick skin and taste better when peeled, but that thick skin is what protects them from so many diseases and pests. The flavor is rich and complex . Released in 1993, it's parentage includes McIntosh, Golden Delicous, and the crabapple Malus floribunda. Good for fresh eating, cooking, and storage. Resistances: fireblight, powdery mildew, scab (immune), cedar apple rust.
'Keener Seedling' Apple - Malus domestica 'Keener Seedling'
A russet apple with brown and olive tones and a light red blush. Keener Seedling is sweet-tart with a unique spicy flavor and firm, non-breaking texture. Discovered as a seedling of the Mountain Limbertwig, it originated in Lincoln County, NC in the 1850s. Ripens in October. Resistances: scab, cedar apple rust, powdery mildew, fireblight
'King David' Apple - Malus domestica 'King David'
King David is a reliable apple, resistant to most major apple diseases and does well in a wide range of climates. King David produces a medium-sized late season apple with a pale green skin overlaid with a deep dark red-wine blush. It has an intesely tart flavor with hints of spice and citrus, which makes it ideal for cider making. it also makes great pies and sauces and is good for fresh eating. Discovered on a fencerow on the farm of Ben Frost in 1893 in Arkansas. Resistances: scab, cedar apple rust
'Liberty' Apple - Malus domestica 'Liberty'
Perhaps the most disease-resistant apple of them all, Liberty is a modern dessert apple that should be the first choice for anyone growing organic or no-spray apples. The apples are large and red, ripening mid-season. The taste is sweet-tart, aromatic, crisp, and juicy - good for fresh eating and cider blending. Liberty is a cross of Macoun and purdue 54-12, bred specifically for disease-resistance at the Agricultural Station in Geneva, NY and released in 1972. Resistances: fireblight, powdery mildew, scab (nearly immune), cedar apple rust (nearly immune).
'Red Limbertwig' Apple - Malus domestica 'Red Limbertwig'
Among the oldest and best known of the many Limbertwigs, Red Limbertwig is a terrific dessert apple and even better for cider making. Apples are medium in size with a rough, greenish-yellow skin, a dull, red blush on the sunny side, and umerous brown dots all over the skin. A notable characteristic of most Limbertwigs, it has a somewhat weeping growth habit caused by thin, "limber" twigs. Ripens October to November. Resistances: fireblight, cedar apple rust.
'William's Pride' Apple - Malus domestica 'William's Pride'
A very early-season dessert apple with good disease resistance, William's Pride makes for a vigorous, spreading, and sturdy tree. Blooms for an extended time, so it makes an excellent pollenizer of other apples. Apples are attractive, mid-sized, and dark red-purple with small white lenticels. The flavor is rich and sweet. Ripens in July. Bred by the Purdue, Rutgers, and Illinois Universities research team (PRI) that specializes in disease-resistant cultivars, and released in 1988. Resistances: fireblight, powdery mildew, scab (immune), cedar apple rust.
'William's Pride' Apple - Malus domestica 'William's Pride'
A very early-season dessert apple with good disease resistance, William's Pride makes for a vigorous, spreading, and sturdy tree. Blooms for an extended time, so it makes an excellent pollenizer of other apples. Apples are attractive, mid-sized, and dark red-purple with small white lenticels. The flavor is rich and sweet. Ripens in July. Bred by the Purdue, Rutgers, and Illinois Universities research team (PRI) that specializes in disease-resistant cultivars, and released in 1988. Resistances: fireblight, powdery mildew, scab (immune), cedar apple rust.
'Yates' Apple - Malus domestica 'Yates'
A small, 2" red applecrab with white flesh that is tender, juicy, aromatic and sub-acid. Flavor is weet and tart with a spicy tang. Yates will keep 4-5 months in cold stprage. Used both for fresh eating and cider. Makes a great pollenizer for other trees and does great in no-spray systems. Ripen late, October into November. Well adapted to high heat and humidty, Yates' origin dates from around 1844 in Fayette County, Georgia. Resistances: fireblight, powdery mildew, scab, cedar apple rust.