Apples

[Wayman]

Has anyone had any success at growing apples in Orchidland? I know it sounds strange with all the tropical fruits that do so well, but I get disgusted with only the four varieties the stores carry. I hanker for a winesap. If one will grow on my three acres, I will plant one. If not, I'll do without, but not be as happy. on‌t=Trebuchet MS][/font=Trebuchet MS]

[dayna]

Hmm someone told me you can't grow apples in OrchidLand but CAN grow them up in volcano... I'll have to search my emails and find the who and the why. Though I don't always listen to "what people say" and sometimes grow stuff anyway!

Dayna

http://www.FarmingAloha.com
www.E-Z-Caps.com

[Clayjacks]

It's all about the chilling period, or "chill hours." Orchidland just doesn't get the right amount of cold nighttime hours to induce a blossom to fruit. It's variety-dependent, but at higher elevations (like Volcano) you may be able to pull it off. Varieties like Gala or Fuji might work up there...

[Carey]

Here is a thread from a few years ago that covered a little on Dorset & Anna apples...(of course if might be just worth it to experiment on a couple of plants... only lose some $$ & hole digging time ;~)
http://www.punaweb.org/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11039

[kalakoa]

Once a year, Paradise Plants brings in a container of bare-root low-chill softwood and stone fruit trees. I think it's in January; they sell out in just a couple of days.

Their resident expert can tell you which trees are likely to work at a given elevation -- and it's not just "elevation", people are getting apples in Seaview where the coastal exposure creates some chill despite the lack of elevation.

There are also low-chill varietals of blueberry which seem to be even more "tolerant" than the low-chill apples.

[lquade]

i am in the acres. just planted my trees last year, and this year had a small crop on both the anna and the dorcet. low chill from paradise plants. nothing yet on the low chill persimmon or plums...

[unknownjulie]

Thanks Kalakoa. I'm going to go and get me one of them'there trees!

[Wayman]

Washington state has always been a big apple producer and I realize that the chill is a factor, yet, I grew up in Kansas during the dust bowl days. I remember dust drifted across some roads like snow, but still we had locally grown apples, pears, cherries, plums, peaches. You are probably right on, get the right cultivar and it will tolerate different conditions better. Ask the ones who know.

Mahalo.

[csgray]

We have friends in Hawaiian beaches who have a dwarf apple tree that produces a lot of fruit for its size. I can't remember the variety though.

Carol

[Wayman]

Mahalo Carol, that's the proof, one producing. Sure, I would expect to grow apples up at Volcano, but they have 40 degree nights. Might as well be in Oregon, that's why I'm in Orchidland, to be comfortable. But if I can grow what I want, it's that much more fun. I look at what we already have and appreciate breadfruit to bananas, Mac nuts, pineapple, wow! On the mainland I never had a papaya I cared much for, but what we grow here is above that so far, we have fun watching mainland visitor's faces when they try them. Now if I can do so well with a good apple...

Again, mahalo!