DibbleGrowing apple trees: from seed to harvest
Plant a bare-root tree while it is dormant, in the cool part of the year. Pick a variety that suits your winter chill; most apples also need a second variety nearby to pollinate. Expect fruit in a few years.
Planting dates for apple trees by zone
| Zone | Start seeds indoors | Sow or transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | not needed | April 27 | September 22 |
| Zone 4 | not needed | April 19 | September 15 |
| Zone 5 | not needed | April 11 | September 4 |
| Zone 6 | not needed | April 3 | September 2 |
| Zone 7 | not needed | March 18 | August 13 |
| Zone 8 | not needed | February 19 | July 14 |
| Zone 9 | not needed | January 22 | June 20 |
| Zone 10 | not needed | March 13 | July 16 |
| Zone 11 | Not suited | ||
Each date is the start of the best window from the same climate engine the Dibble app uses, run at typical places in each zone. Dibble tunes them to your garden's own location and lets you adjust frost dates for your own yard.
When are apples in season? Typical home-garden ripening times by state, from extension sources.
Companion plants
Good neighbors for Apple:
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Questions
When should I plant apple trees?
It depends on your zone. Apple is a hardy crop, so the timing follows your last spring frost. Look up your zone in the table below for exact start, sow, and harvest dates, or open Dibble and set where your garden is to get your own calendar.
How long does it take to grow apple trees?
About 150 days from transplant to the first harvest, with a picking window of roughly 30 days after that.
What grows well with apple trees?
Good companions include Chives, Nasturtium.
Plant at the right time this season
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