Do Apple Trees Thrive in South Texas?

Importance of Chill Hours

• Many types of fruit trees require exposure to cold temperatures, or chilling, to flower and set fruit each season. Fruit trees, such as apples, that are not exposed to the required amount of chilling hours often leaf out late in the season; blooming is prolonged and buds drop. The trees generally produce few if any flowers, and if the tree has no flowers, pollination does not occur and the tree cannot produce fruit.

Chill Hours in Texas

• Most varieties of apple trees require at least 900 chill hours, which means gardeners in northern Texas have more choices in apple varieties; however, in the southern Texas regions, chill hours range from 200 to 700 chill hours, limiting choices. Apple tree varieties are available for mild-winter regions that only require 100 to 400 chill hours. It is important to choose an apple variety with chill hours that match your climate, because even a few days to weeks of mild weather can affect the chilling process.

Low-Chill Apple Varieties

• Areas in Texas that receive at least 400 chill hours can grow apple cultivars such as "Anna" with its light-greenish to yellow-skinned fruit and slightly tart but crisp flesh. This variety has a chill requirement of 400 hours. "Dorsett Golden" has a chill requirement of 350 hours and produces firm, medium-sized fruit with a sweet to tart taste. For the southern tip of Texas where chill hours are approximately 200 hours or less, cultivars such as "Adina" that produce large, red fragrant fruit, and "Ein Shemer" that produces medium-sized yellow fruit with a sweet flavor, are varieties that require 200 chill hours.

Other Growing Requirements

• Apple trees have other requirements to thrive and set fruit. Trees need full sun, as this is essential for a good crop, so avoid crowding or shading trees. Apples need periodic deep supplemental watering during dry spells. While many apple varieties are self-fruitful, for best pollination and fruit set plant two apple trees of different varieties if there are no other apple trees growing nearby.