Will my single apple tree pollinate?

Golden Dorset and Anna are usually sold together.
Though they are not on my scion list, I do have them in the field. So if you don’t want to snitch some scion off a tree at a store, I can send you some.

@joleneakamama, I messaged you.

@edweather, like you and probably even more so down here in Florida, apple trees are scarce. Citrus abounds, but I’d be willing to bet I have the only “home orchard” apples in a several mile radius. Having said that, I believe the Dorsett to be somewhat self-fertile, at least in my personal observation. It does better with a pollinator, such as Anna but prior to have other blossoming apple trees in my yard, this tree set fruit.

As @joleneakamama mentioned the Dorsett and Anna are usually sold together and either way I’d recommend getting at least two. If you have the room, I’d get 4, you just never know if some will fail…

For reference, I’m also growing an apple called Joy that is doing well, and I’ve grafted a number of different varieties to the Dorsett. Seems to be a good host…

another option is to plant or graft scions of Malus Angustifolia Native US southern crabapple. Of course I do not know if the bloom period overlaps.

Goden Dorsett would be a good choice here for the graft. My Anna blossomed long before my other half dozen apples, & wouldn’t be pollinized by them here in Dallas.

Ok, well we bought the Anna. Had the pick of the litter, it’s a really nice tree, and hopefully will have apples this year. The UFL website has the chill hours for the Anna at 300, and Dorsett Golden at 250. I’m hoping it doesn’t matter too much which one we purchased. This tree was much thicker and fuller than the others, so we grabbed it. Granted I’m no experienced apple grower, so am bound to make a few mistakes along the way.

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Applenut says that Anna will dominate a multi graft tree, but if the other varieties are mainly for pollination it might not matter.
I have a few other varieties that applenut has tested in a warm climate. If you want any, just let me know.

you’ll want to get it pruned up a bit so you have a nice central leader…also, not sure what the soil is like in your area, but the Just Fruit and Exotics website has good instructions for hole prep.

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Can I have two main leaders? I hate to cut the branches, they look so nice. Looks like there are 3 main branches, one lower than the other two. The other two are right next to each other, and are about equal. What about all the skinny shoots? I mean, how much am I supposed to prune? What will happen if I just let it grow? edit: Just did a little research on pruning, and it was very informative. The tree I bought might lend itself to more of an open base shape, instead of a central leader, but to be continued. …just want to get it into the ground today. @jeremymillrood, I checked out the JF & E on hole prep, very good, thanks.

I will start by saying that I’m not a pruning expert. It’s something I do by feel. Considering that the tree is so small you could get away with having two leaders on there, but I would want to get rid of those tiny little shoots and anything that looks dead/dried out, especially the ones with narrow crotch angles.

Anna is supposedly much better than G Dorsett; but if you graft something onto the Anna, the Dorsett’s a great choice

Thanks for all the help everybody. The tree is in the ground. In addition to the help on this forum, I’ll be doing lots of research on pruning. Yea, the little shoots will come off, and topping looks fairly easy. Not going to meltdown over it. Spring fever is in the air here, and I need to stay throttled back. The internet has lots of great pruning videos, am sure I’ll learn about it, no problem. Will probably need some suggestions on which will be the best branches to graft. Ed

I see now that I have my hands full with this tree. Oh well, live and learn. Am going to try spreading the three main branches.

I know it’s hard to do especially if its your first fruit tree, I’m the poster child for impatience. Knowing what I know now, I’d give it time for the root system to get established before doing anything other than some light pruning. Give the tree some time to grow and see what it does.

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Thanks for the encouragement. No need to panic. Like you say, just let it grow, and go from there. Will be a great tree to experiment with, and maybe add a few grafts.

Here near Houston z8/9 Ein Sheimer is recommended as the pollinator for Anna. I don’t grow apples myself since IMHO the taste of Anna is not better than grocery store apples. Root stock for apples is also a problem here.

Um, it looks like there is way too much grass growing in your 1st picture there. There is lots of room for experimentation and growing stuff. Mowing grass is so boring, tedious. :wink:

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There isn’t a real need to have a pollenizer for Anna. Without pollenation the apples are skinnier, fuller with cross pollination but anna sets way too many apples to begin with. In Southern California nearly every spur sets multiple. I always need to thin. Anna is super early flowering, but will adapt and bloom later in high chill areas. Warm spells may trick it into blooming early.

I’ve heard Ein Shemer is a terrible apple and one to be avoided. Besides Golden Dorsett, Shell of Alabama and Reverend Morgan are two low chill apples that may be worth seeking out.

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Myself, I’d chop most of the top off. Less stress on the tree after transplanting. But having said that, I’m not an Apple expert.