Apples are one of the fruits that require cross pollination to produce fruit because they are self-sterile. In general, you need another apple variety that blooms at the same time in order to get fruit. But some apple varieties produce sterile pollen and cannot pollinate other varieties.

Crabapples can be used for pollination, if the cultivar blooms at the same time as your tree. Manchurian Crabapple (Malus mandshurica) is a common pollinator. The smallest apple trees (dwarf trees) should be 20′ from a different cultivar. Semi dwarf trees can be up to 50 feet away. Pollination determines fruit set and size. There can be up to 10 seeds in an apple that is fully pollinated, but at least six seeds are needed for proper fruit development. Improperly pollinated fruit will be misshapen or can fall off the tree prematurely.

We recommend choosing scab resistant varieties for home fruit plantings. Enhance your garden, or orchard with apple trees from OSU Extension Mahoning County! We offer the Goldrush and Enterprise apple varieties on Bud 9 and M-9 rootstocks, ideal for compact growth, scab resistance, and adaptability to various climates. Both are 2-year-old budded VF trees, guaranteeing top-notch quality for just $20 each.

Bud 9 rootstock excels in winter hardiness and collar rot resistance, with less susceptibility to fire blight than M-9, offering durability for your planting needs. As stock levels decrease, seize the opportunity to enrich your space with these outstanding apple trees. For further information or to place your order, reach out to the Mahoning County OSU Extension office at 330-533-5538.

Apple scab is the most important disease to avoid when it comes to apples. Check out the list, here: https://go.osu.edu/noscabselections.

Hornyak is an Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer in Mahoning County.