The feed store is having a big sale on apple trees. I'm thinking of buying one State Fair apple, one Granny Smith, and one Jonathon. Each label says a pollinator is required. Will these three pollinate each other, or do I have to get 2 Jonathons, 2 Granny Smiths, etc.? Thanks.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), June 30, 2001

Answers

Since you're planting 3 varieties I think you're ok - here's my reference.

From Gene Logsdon's "Organic Orcharding":

Most apples are at least partially self-fruitful. The exceptions are Red Delicious, Red Gravenstein, Rhode Island Greening, the Winesaps and Staymans, and Mutsu. There are probably a few more, but even these maybe a little self-fruitful or may fruit when growing "alone" because some unkown wild apple tree or tree from a not-to-distant lot will pollenate it by virtue of bee or woind.

Horticulturists advise planting 3 different varieties of apples and pears if you want to be 100% sure of pollenating all the trees. In apples, a Golden Delicious tree is probably the easiest way to insure good pollenation. Golden Delicious is self-fruitful and pollenates all other varieties, as far as I know. Otherwise the 3 variety rule is the safest course to follow, if you plant self-unfruitful varieties.

-- Sojourner (notime4@summer.spam), June 30, 2001.

Shannon I'm glad you asked that question. I'm trying to establish an orchard myself and needed the same information. Thanks

-- Russell Hays (rhays@sstelco.com), June 30, 2001.

Crab apples are excellent universal pollinators also. Your local cooperative extension should have pollination charts also. Two apples of the same kind will not pollinate each other.

-- seraphima (seraphima@ak.net), June 30, 2001.

I don't know where you live, but Granny Smith apples won't ripen correctlyin the north. The growing season isn't long enough. Were in zone 5 and they never ripen here.

-- Paul (Treewizard @buffalo.com), July 03, 2001.

I think the most important thing will be to find out if they all bloom at the same time in order that they will cross pollinate. You only need 1 each of the different pollinators, but having several different varieties planted close to each other that all bloom at the same time will ensure success.

Crab apples do make good pollinators, however, if you are pinched for space, you can plant the new columnar apple trees (Ballerina series) that grow straight up, no side branches, to a height of about 8-12 feet. They blossom and set fruit along this broomstick-like tree just like a regular apple does, but don't need the extensive area for branch spread. It's usually easy to tuck one in and ensure pollination.

-- julie f. (rumplefrogskin@excite.com), July 03, 2001.