Zone 9 gardeners might be disheartened to find that they won’t be able to grow traditional apple trees in their regions.It is, however, still possible to grow your very own apple tree right in your yard or garden. Low-chill cultivars, or those that do not require as much exposure to low temperatures, are available.
Zone 9 apple trees
So, if you’re asking, ‘can you grow apples in Zone 9?’, then here are our seven recommendations.
Ein Shemer
Ein Shemer, at first glance, seems like it was created specifically for warmer regions such as zone 9. Some say that it doesn’t have a chilling requirement, but at the very least, it needs about 350 hours to be its most productive.
This tree has medium-sized yellow fruits that ripen from June to July. You can bite into it and experience a complex, semi-sweet, and tart flavor fresh or made into tart. Ein Shemer can reach up to 15 feet in height and width and loves basking in full sun.
Fuji
Fuji apples have the distinction of being the sweetest in the world. It’s best eaten freshly picked, but they’re versatile enough that you can make them into an apple pie and other baked products.
What’s excellent news for zone 9 residents is that it’s a low-chill plant that can survive warm days. They don’t care for frost and plummeting temperatures, but it’s unlikely to experience those conditions anyway.
Pink Lady
Apples from the Pink Lady apple tree are just as beautiful as their namesake. The skin takes on a similar blushing pink hue, and the fruit is large and has a sweet and tart mix. Harvest time for this zone 9 cultivar is sometime in late September.
Chill hour requirement is rated at 800 hours, and it requires pollination from another tree. It’s also a tall plant, reaching up to 20 feet. Like other apple trees, place the Pink Lady where it gets maximum sunlight, and it will produce delicious fruits for years to come.
Anna
Anna cultivars are numerous in Florida and Southern California, and it’s hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9. This apple tree loves to bear fruit early in the growing season and is a consistent giver.
Anna is of the dwarf variety and only reaches a height of 15 feet, but you’ll need a companion pollinator for the blooms to form. Also, you may need to prune it regularly, or else it will grow to be very unruly.
Dorsett Golden
Dorsett Golden apples are like golden apples in fairy tales and sport an uncharacteristic bright yellow-green hue. They’re some of the sweetest varieties around, with a crisp and light profile and a good aroma.
This apple tree type likes Mediterranean conditions and living in part shade. Not only is it hardy to zone 9 warmth, but it’s highly resistant against pests and diseases. It has a low, low chill hour requirement of 200 hours, and will grow quite well when planted in fertile and slightly acidic soil from December to February.
Dorsett Golden should be kept well-watered on a weekly basis, and it’s recommended that you prune during its dormancy.
Akane
Akane is another Japanese cultivar that’s made it’s way in western shores. A known vigorous producer, you can look forward to bunches of small, red, and crisp apples come harvest time.
Beginner growers should choose Akane as one of their apple starters as it’s moderately resistant to powdery mildew, cedar apple rust, apple scab, and fire blight. Reward time is also shorter than the other varieties as you’ll be able to see fruits in just three years’ time.
As an apple tree, the foliage and shape are attractive, and the fruits are best eaten fresh.
Winter Banana
Winter Banana is an excellent partner tree for other apples. You can also plant it by itself since it has a self-pollinating nature.
This apple tree variety is a late bloomer and requires low chill hours. It gets its name by having apples that are heavily fragrant and smells like ripe bananas. Focusing on the fruit, there’s none like it- the rotund shape is marked by a beautiful golden and pink skin, and biting into it gives you a mild yet distinctively sweet flavor.