Help me ..I want to buy a apple tree...

tifsgarden

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Ok, my DH and I bought our first house 2 yrs ago and although I've never really wanted a fruit tree in my yard I have decided that since I buy bushels of apples for baking and canning and just munching Ithink it would be a good idea to just plant one in our yard. I heard that I may need two for pollinating each other? I have a perfect place in my yard so I can plant two.Then how far apart should they be from each other?Can they both be golden delicous? How old do they have to be to bear fruit?Sorry about all the ????s. How about pests?... grrrr I feel so dumb about this.Thank you,Tif
 

ducks4you

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I have 2 golden delicious and another red(?) one, and a baby, 3 yr old Johnathan. The previous owner planted them 15-20 feet away from each other. They're probably 40-50 years old--one is more like 15 years old. Get lots of apples from all of them, although I put one of them inside the new horse fencing, so they get all that tree gives. :lol: They think I love them for it.
Have you talked to any local orchards? Even if you visit them, you could take a tape measure with you...
 

vfem

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I have semi dwarfs and I planted them at least 12', full size 15' or more is recommended. However, if you prune them correctly they can get away with less. I have 2 Johnathan, and 2 Lodi. One pollinates the other so I'm told. But mine are only 2 years old, and no blooms yet. So I have no apple advice that has worked yet. Hopefully next year I will have good fruit stories to share. :D

Though I have no reason to think that 2 golden delicious won't be just fine for one another with good cross pollination.
 

patandchickens

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Yes, you should get two; and no, they shouldn't *both* be Golden Delicious, the second one needs to be something that is a good pollinator for it. (You can find lists and tables of pollinators thru google).

How old before they bear fruit depends on the variety, the size when planted, and how 'happy' they are -- 3-4 years would be "typical/good", but it depends.

What vfem said about spacing.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat
 

Ridgerunner

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Might I suggest you call your county extension agent, in the phone book under county government, and tell the agent what you want to do. I expect the Washington State extension service has a lot of information on growing apples in the state.
 

tifsgarden

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Thank you everyone for the advice.I can't wait to start shopping for trees.
Tif
 

patandchickens

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Actually, come to think of it, there IS one situation in which you could get two Golden Delicious. Do any of your neighbors have apple trees of their own, within a few hundred feet of where yours will be? And if so, can you find out what variety/ies they have? Because if it should HAPPEN that there is already a suitable pollinator within striking distance, then you don't have to plant one yourself :)

Good luck, have fun,

Pat
 

tifsgarden

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patandchickens said:
Actually, come to think of it, there IS one situation in which you could get two Golden Delicious. Do any of your neighbors have apple trees of their own, within a few hundred feet of where yours will be? And if so, can you find out what variety/ies they have? Because if it should HAPPEN that there is already a suitable pollinator within striking distance, then you don't have to plant one yourself :)

Good luck, have fun,

Pat
You know I was looking around at the neighbors yards and I asked a few that are close to me and no one has an apple tree.I'm going to call the WSU Ag. Center and ask them, they seem to have alot of the info I need for other "projects" anyway.I know that I want one tree to be Golden Delicious,the other it really doesn't matter as long as its apple,Do you have any suggestions?
 

patandchickens

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I'm not sure what does best in your climate (ask your extension office), nor what kind of apple you personally like :p

You'd have to look at some charts, and see what grabs ya (and of course it will depend a lot on what you can GET, and get in good condition for a good price). Here are two
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/ho-174.pdf
http://extension.missouri.edu/xplor/agguides/hort/g06001.htm
but there are a zillion other versions that can be found via google, with different varieties included.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat
 
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