Golden Delicious apple trees make a great addition to the backyard orchard. Who wouldn’t want one of these highly ‘delicious’ fruit trees in the landscape? They’re not only easy to grow and full of taste but they’ve been around a while too, having been introduced in 1914 by Paul Stark Sr. of the notable Stark Bro’s Nurseries. Read on for more info on Golden Delicious apple care.
What are Golden Delicious Apples?
These apple trees are self-pollinating and quite hardy, thriving in USDA zones 4 through 9. The medium to large yellow apples have a mild, sweet flavor that is delicious in pies as well as adding sweetness to pork dishes and salads. The trees can be found in dwarf, 8 to 10 feet (2-3 m.), and semi-dwarf, 12 to 15 feet (4-4.5 m.), sizes, fitting easily into a variety of garden spaces. Fragrant companion plants, such as lavender, rosemary, and sage, are not only low maintenance perennials that make an attractive bed in the garden but are wonderful in fall recipes.
How to Grow a Golden Delicious Apple Tree
Growing Golden Delicious apples requires full sun and well-drained soil. Like most fruit trees, they prefer not to have soggy soil. A nice, deep watering once a week, more often if the weather is hot, will help the tree get established and keep it happy throughout the year. It is not difficult to learn to grow a Golden Delicious Apple tree. They are heat tolerant and cold hardy. Golden Delicious apple trees are self-pollinating, which means they can be grown without another Golden Delicious in your garden. Since it’s such a prolific tree, part of Golden Delicious apple tree care is to be sure to thin out the fruit in the spring. Branches can break under the weight of all that beautiful fruit. With proper watering, a little fertilizer in the spring, and a light pruning in the winter, your growing Golden Delicious apples will start producing fruit within four to six years of planting, or when trees reach about 8 feet (2 m.) in height. The fruit will be ripe in September and will keep for three to four months in a cool room or refrigerator. Be sure to use up any blemished or larger apples right away, as these will cause all of the apples to decay much faster. When you learn how to grow a Golden Delicious apple tree, you are not only getting a beautiful addition to your garden but also investing in your health. Eating one apple gives you 17% of the USDA recommended daily allowance of fiber and is a tasty source of vitamin C.
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