Just Fruits and Exotics
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Apples (and two Crabapples) For The Deep South
Apples in the tropical south were almost nonexistent up until 30 years ago . Like peaches,
nectarines and plums, apples need a certain amount of winter chill to set fruit. Florida's hot, humid
summers also limit us to the summer ripening varieties, as low chill fall ripeners usually rot before ripening.
The first true breakthrough in apples came with the Israeli releases ANNA and EIN SHEMER.
ANNA has proven itself to be one of the very best for our region. And it's now being used in Dr.
Wayne Sherman's University of Florida breeding program, which released TROPIC SWEET and hopefully
many more to come. We've also found some new varieties and heirloom apples from this zone and are stocking four this year.
They are experiments, but we know they are tasty ones.
Tropical apples are unique as the textures of the fruits are very crispy. Their flavor ranges
from the sharp flavors of apples like Granny Smith, to sweet overtones, like Gala. Growing your own
fruit allows you to choose varieties with the taste that best suits your personal pallet. Pick ANNA on
the green side for a Granny Smith-like flavor, or allow it to ripen to a beautiful yellow for a rich,
sweet, Gala-like flavor. All of these apples lend themselves well to both fresh eating or cooking.
We're also including the heirloom crabapple we've just found and propagated here (courtesy of one of our great customers-- thanks again!!)
and a flowering crabapple that performs well for us in North Florida.
Low chill apple varieties
(Malus sp.) Grafted on M111.
ANNA Very large, beautiful red-blushed apples that
are shaped just like a Red Delicious. We call this our
"Fire Cracker" apple because it's always ripe by the Fourth of
July, and the flesh is so firm and juicy it actually crackles when
you bite into it. Ripens late June-early July. Use
DORSETT GOLDEN or TROPIC SWEET for cross pollination. 250 chill hours. Zones
8B-9B. $27.99 3 gal (4-5ft).
DORSETT GOLDEN A beautiful, sweet, pale yellow
apple slightly blushed with pink. Originally found growing in
the Bahamas, this variety was brought to Florida and found to be
an excellent pollinator for the ANNA apple. Like JONATHAN
in texture and flavor. Ripens mid June-mid July. Use ANNA
or TROPIC SWEET for cross pollination. 100-200 chill hours. Zones
8B-10. $27.99 3 gal (4-5ft).
TROPIC SWEET New University of Florida release.
Super sweet, low-acid fruit. Pale yellow, with a rosy red
blush. Excellent production. Ripens late June. Use ANNA
or DORSETT GOLDEN for pollination. 250 chill hours. Zones 8B-9B
$29.99 3 gal (4-5ft).
New Heirlooms and Other Apples!
IRAZU
A rare, conical apple, green with a red blush. Use REV. MORGAN as a pollinator. Estimated 550 chill hours. $29.99 3 gal (4-5ft).
JOY'S APPLE- Found a little north of Tallahassee, the tree is healthy
(without any maintenance!) and appears to be
self-fertile since there are no other apples in the area. The fruit is crispy and green blushed with yellow. It ripens in late June into July.
We don't know its story, but we do know it's delicious. Great choice for an organic grower. Found in Zone 8B. $32.99 3 gal (4-5ft).
REVEREND MORGAN- A self-fruitful Granny Smith seedling grown since the
1970s in Houston, developed by Rev. Henry Morgan.
The fruit is very high quality, medium-large with a pinky-red blush over a green background and keeps well. An excellent dessert apple from a
disease resistant tree.
Ripens in early August, extending the apple harvest. Use IRAZU for cross pollination. Estimated 500-550 chill hours and and has been grown in Zones 7-9.
$29.99 3 gal (4-5ft).
SHELL APPLE Originating in Alabama, this was developed by Mr. Green Shell (born 1841).
Mr. Shell had an apple orchard in Escambia County, shipping boxcars of crisp, somewhat tart, green apples north in July. Grown in Zone 8B
and rediscovered and propagated recently. Does not need cross pollination. Great choice for an organic grower.
$32.99 3 gal (4-5ft).
Crabapple varieties
(Malus sp.)
MAROON CRABAPPLE We've trialed many crabapples and few fruit well in Zone 8B. This beauty was given
to us by a customer and has performed well for us. Clouds of pale pink flowers in the spring and a dark red crabapple with a tangy taste.
Makes a great jelly. Grow just like apples. Self fertile. Grafted on M111 rootstock. Zone 7-8B. $27.99 3 gal (4-5ft).
PROFUSION CRABAPPLE This ornamental beauty has clouds of dark pink flowers fading to pale pink in the spring.
Grow just like apples. New foliage is purple fading to green. Small fruit. Zone 7-8B. $27.99 3 gal (4-5ft).
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Stuff to Know About Apples
POLLINATION
Yes, apples need cross pollination! To set a
consistent crop, use one of a differant variety to pollinate,
or one variety can pollinate up to 4 trees of a
different variety if set in an alternate pattern.
PRUNING
Although the central leader style of pruning is
most commonly used on apples, the open center
style commonly used on peaches proves best in hot,
humid climates like the Deep South.
FERTILIZATION AND CULTIVATION
Apples prefer well-drained soils with a p.H. around 7, and
part to full sun. Adjust your soil to a p.H. of around 7. This
releases extra calcium, preventing bitter rot on ripening fruits.
A balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer is recommended.
Apply one pound yearly for each year of the tree's age
until a maximum of 15 pounds per application is
reached. Apply in January and June in Florida.
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 Just the Facts
Not sure what to do with apples or how to grow them right? DON'T PANIC!
Push the panic button and we will give you "Just the Facts" you need to successfully grow them.
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Apples in the Landscape
It's the beauty of each changing season that always gives you
something to watch with an apple tree. Billowy pink clouds of fragrant apple
blossoms in spring, months of beautiful apples hanging on the trees changing
from green to yellow to red, topped off with a fall color show of bright yellow.
Use the standard-sized trees for small shade trees or as accents
intermingled in the shrubbery border with smaller fruits such as
blueberries, blackberries, figs or pomegranates.
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Are we out of what you are looking for? Email us at Justfruits@hotmail.com
and we'll put you on the "Call When Available" list. We will call you!
Please come to see us if you can (Wednesday to Sunday, 9:05-5:08). We are located 19 miles south of Tallahassee, just off US Highway 98, 1 mile east of the
intersection with US Highway 319 (South of Crawfordville center and actually in the village of Medart). If you need further directions, feel free to call us at 1-850-926-5644
or enter 30 St. Frances St. Crawforville FL 32327 (or Just Fruits Nursery) into Google Maps (
CLICK HERE).
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