Help choosing apple variety for desert southwest

[npolaske]

I have two apple trees, Anna and Dorsett Golden, that were recommended by a local nursery. They are both good growers and ripen a decent crop of mediocre apples every year. They are both somewhat mealy with a boring, flat sweet/sour flavor.

These varieties were recommended because nurseries in the southwest tend to think we all need "low chill" fruit trees regardless of where we are. We were unaware at the time of buying the trees that we get around 1000 chill hours every winter at our 5000 ft elevation. We do, however, get pretty hot in the summer (~95-100F daily from June-August), and the dry heat in May and June can be stressful on some plants.

I would like to graft several different varieties to the trees but honestly have no idea where to even start as far as variety considerations. I'm leaning more towards southern heirlooms because of their heat tolerance, but was hoping some of you would have some "favorites" you all could recommend. I prefer crisp apples with sweet, fruity, aromatic and/or complex flavors that are primarily for fresh eating.

Thanks in advance for any and all advice!

[figgary]

The California Rare Fruit Growers have a chapter in Arizona. I would think that would be a great resource for you.

[npolaske]

I am a member and unfortunately 90+% of them are based on Phoenix, which is a much different climate than mine. They have no choice but to grow low chill varieties, and even those struggle in the triple digit heat. Over the last few years they have had 50-100 day stretches of 100+ degree heat with some days in the low 120s! On the day they were 122 or so, we were just barely above 100.

The main issue is that local nurseries only offer a few low chill varieties, so very few local gardeners have experimented with lesser-known varieties.

[Dbills]

I like liberty and empire.

[TucsonKen]

Tucson's only about ten degrees cooler than Phoenix, so I can't add much to the conversation. I also have an Anna, with a couple of twigs of Dorsett Golden grafted on last year for pollination, but the apples it produces actually taste quite good--crisp and sweet once they get fully ripened. The window is pretty small, though, because they go downhill pretty quickly once they reach their peak. We dry most of ours, since they don't keep. I have also grown Ein Shemer, but didn't care much for them, and when the tree died I didn't bother to replace it.

[npolaske]

Ein Shemer is the other recommended "low chill" apple for the desert southwest. Thanks for the info about it not being so great... I've wondered if that would be another to try but I guess not! I agree about the ripening window being short for these early apples... I've read that the earlier the apple ripens, the shorter they keep.

[figgrower]

Limbertwigs are crisp, flavorful fresh eating apples. I would be willing to give you scion wood for Black and Caney Fork Limbertwigs for cost of shipping, if you are interested.

[npolaske]

This is the exact type of apple I'm interested in... Limbertwigs sound like such an interesting group but I'm wondering how they would like my summers. Do you have any thoughts?

Regardless, I think I will take you up on your offer! Thanks!

[figgrower]

No problem. Limbertwigs came from the South, so they should do well for you. I am growing them in Battle Ground, Washington (zone 8a). They do fine for me here as well. You may want to stake them for a year or two, just to form a good straight trunk. M106, and M111 may do better for you than some of the more dwarfing rootstocks. Are you ready for scion wood now, or do you want to wait and have me cut it fresh, closer to the time you receive your root stock?

[figgary]

Dave Wilson Nursery suggests Akane, Ashmead's Kernel, and Pink Lady. Great tasting apples, that should work in zone 8b.

[npolaske]

Thanks! I had not heard of Akane before...

[danw]

I was also going to recommend Pink Lady, also known as Cripps Pink. They supposedly require a long hot growing season. I am sure they can take the heat, but I am not sure if your season is long enough.

[npolaske]

This is probably a dumb question, but I just want to check with some of you experts that my plan will work...

I'm going to cut the trees WAY back to 4-5 scaffold branches and then cleft graft onto them. This means I will have the Anna and Dorsett Golden as interstems.

Am I correct in thinking that the presence of the "low chill" varieties as interstems will not interfere with the higher chill requirement and later chill times of whatever I graft onto them?

[Dbills]

You are correct