Comments on: Gravenstein Apple Season

By: Bob

Bob — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 20:48:53 +0000

I have a very productive Gravenstein that has been in the ground for 3 years. This year there are at least a dozen pieces of fruit still on the tree that haven’t been molested by insects.
The cross polenator has been an Anna but that tree has died, probably because I positioned it where there is no relief from intense sunshine, we live in Central Arizona.
Can someone recommend a suitable cross polinator that requires fewer than 300 chill hours annually to replace the Anna?

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 06:05:09 +0000

A crabapple tree should be a suitable pollen source for a Gravenstein apple tree. However, the Gravenstein won’t pollinate the crabapple.

By: Sondra Appel

Sondra Appel — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 23:20:29 +0000

I just purchased a dwarf gravenstein apple tree. I was wondering if an ornamental apple or one crabapple would pollinize the tree. I know it would have to be blooming at the same time. But does the crabapple need to be pollinized if the gravenstein can’t do it.

These are my fav apples for sauce and pies. We had a huge one in my childhood home. My brother and I used to climb in it and pick the delicious apples and eat them right off the tree. Mom and I would can or freeze the applesause. Yum!

By: admin

admin — Mon, 04 May 2009 00:10:02 +0000

Your Gravenstein may not be flowering for any number of reasons, such as not enough water, not enough nutrients, too much pruning, not enough sunlight, immaturity, etc.

By: Margaret Fraze

Margaret Fraze — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:36:05 +0000

I was interested in the response to Joan Taylor above, but for the opposite reason. I planted a Granny Smith and a Gravenstein next to each other over five years ago. The Granny Smith began budding and producing apples about three years ago; however, the Grav has yet to produce any buds or flowers, even though it appears to be healthy. I live in Northern California, about five miles from an area known for its Gravenstein apples. Any ideas why I can’t get the Gravenstein to bud? Thanks!

By: joan taylor

joan taylor — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:00:10 +0000

Thank you so much for your reply. After several uncommonly warm April days here on Cape Cod the grav is beginning to show its blossoms but not the granny smith or fuji. Time to go to my friend’s yard to assesss the status of the crab apple blossoms. Another question–last year we thinned the tiny forming apples very early in their growth and I harvested 21 gravs and the rabbits enjoyed about 4 on the lowest branches before I applied netting. I am of the mind to not thin this year and let all apples that form grow. This tree is espaliered so all bits of it are easily accessible to me. To thin or not to thin?? Supposedly the apples are smaller if there is no thinning? Also, have you tasted the Jazz apples? They seem to be a tart delicious apple-wonderful flavor even late in the season in the grocery here. May go on my list as another candidate for the home orchard…..

By: admin

admin — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 05:24:05 +0000

Joan, I have been advised that a distance of up to 100 feet is usually enough for bees to cross pollinate apples trees. The crab apple branches will definitely help as long as they are blooming at the same time as the apple trees they are intended to cross pollinate. The granny smith will pollinate the gravenstein, but the gravenstein will not pollinate itself or any other kind of apple because its pollen is sterile. Fuji and granny smith apples are usually partially self-fruitful even without another type of apple around. Apples often take 3-5 years to produce any apples. Your Fuji may be unfruitful simply because it is not mature enough. Of course, you can always plant more apples if your yard is big enough or if you want to plant them relatively close together like I am doing. BTW – I am also a descendant of immigrants who came from Ireland in the late 1800s.