Earlier this week, my buddy Scott and I were talking about all the fruit trees around our parts. He asked me why we didn’t have many apple trees.
The truth is, I get questions from time to time on growing apples, but I generally don’t encourage them as they are not the best fit for our area. Let’s take a deep dive into this popular fruit…that we don’t typically grow around here.
Why Apples Struggle in East Texas -Climate Requirements
Apples grow best in colder climates that are free from fungal and other disease pressures. Some of the most prolific commercial apple orchards are in regions that receive 1,000 to 2,000 or more chilling hours. Chilling hours are the cumulative number of hours below 45°F during winter that fruit trees need to bloom and produce fruit.
Looking across Texas, the northernmost reaches of the Panhandle get close to 1,000 chilling hours. Around Lufkin and Angelina County, we typically range from 450 to 750 chilling hours each year.
One of the best years for apples in our area was in 2021, following Winter Storm Uri. While it killed some palm trees and other tropical plants, apple trees thrived, producing one of the best harvests in years.
Apple varieties should have a chilling requirement within 150 hours of the average winter chilling for a given area. If the chilling requirement is too low, trees may bloom too early, leaving flowers vulnerable to late spring freezes.
Soil and Humidity Challenges
- Apples prefer deep, well-drained soil, which can be hard to find in Angelina County. While some areas have sandy-loam topsoil, many have red clay or “post-oaky clay” soil that doesn’t drain well.
- Our humid climate and generous spring rainfall also encourage fungal diseases, which are a major obstacle for apple growers here.
How to Grow Apples in East Texas
If you’re determined to grow apples, here are a few tips to increase your chances of success:
- Location: Choose the sunniest site with the deepest soil available.
- Pollination: Plant at least two apple trees of different varieties to ensure proper cross-pollination.
- Care: Be prepared to manage fungal diseases with consistent pruning and spraying.
Apple Varieties to Try
Anna (400 chilling hours)
- Medium to large apple with light greenish-yellow skin and a slight red blush.
- Sweet, slightly tart, and crisp. Stores very well and ripens in late June.
- Produces well in years with mild, short winters.
Fuji (600 chilling hours)
- Medium-sized fruit with yellow-green skin and orange to red stripes.
- Crisp, juicy, and stores well. Ripens mid-summer (140–160 days from bloom).
Gala (600 chilling hours)
- Attractive apple with red striping on golden skin, giving it a red/orange color.
- Crisp, dense, and aromatic with excellent storage quality. Ripens mid-summer.
Mollie’s Delicious (450–500 chilling hours)
- Large, attractive fruit with light-yellow skin and a red blush.
- Vigorous and productive tree with good flavor and a long bloom period.
Mutsu (Crispin) (600 chilling hours)
- Large, round, yellow fruit with crunchy flesh and a tart, spicy flavor.
- Great for desserts, cider, and applesauce. Ripens 180 days after bloom.
- Vigorous, reliable tree with a spreading growth habit.
Pink Lady (500–600 chilling hours)
- Oblong fruit with green skin that turns yellow with pink or light red stripes.
- Fine-grained flesh, ripens in October, but is prone to producing blind wood (dormant buds).
Final Thoughts
Apples can be grown in East Texas, but they require careful planning and management. They can be raised by top gardeners here for home consumption. For more information, check out the Aggie Horticulture website. Click on Fruit & Nut Resources and then select “Apples.”
Upcoming Gardening Seminar
Be sure to join us this Tuesday, June 17, for our Noon Gardening Seminar, “Gardening for Life,” with guest speaker Jay White, owner and publisher of Texas Gardening Magazine. The program runs from 12 noon to 1 p.m. and is free to all. The Angelina County Extension Office is located at 2201 S. Medford Drive in Lufkin, Texas.
