2023 Backyard Apple Harvest | Anna and Dorsett Golden | Zone 9

Join me for our 2023 Summer apple harvest here in Southern California zone 9b! I planted these two trees back in 2020 from bare root and this is the third year I've harvested apples off of them. Our harvest increased 50% from last year even with the heavy handed winter pruning I did on these trees in attempts to correct the damage I did when first planting them. Thankfully the trees seem to be thriving after the heavy pruning and I think we're on our way to getting even more fruit next year!
Apples are probably my favorite fruit and we're growing two delicious varieties: Anna and Golden Dorsett. I chose these varieties because they are well acclimated to our hot summers and temperate winters. This year the Anna apple has been my favorite as it is a great apple to eat crisp right off the tree. Are you growing apples where you live? I would love to hear how they're growing in your area!
Thanks for watching and I hope you're enjoying some fresh summer fruits wherever you are!
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J 15:8

[@sarah_farm]

A standing ovation for your unwavering commitment to excellence, my friend! Your videos are a testament to the hard work and perseverance you exhibit. And it's an honor to have you visit our channel, we can discuss more about our experiences in harvesting and building farms.

[@DonHarden]

Yes, I would love to see videos about pruning the apple trees and how you prune your peach tree.

[@herhomeandharvest]

I’ll try to make one later in the summer when I do my pruning before Fall, but in the meantime I learned a ton from Dave Wilson nursery videos if you’re looking for some good resources. They are a large producer of fruit trees but a lot of their videos are geared towards the backyard grower.

[@stefuhfuhmarie]

So encouraging to see the prune correction actually worked! ❤ congrats on such a bountiful harvest.

[@herhomeandharvest]

Thank you! They are so much happier!!

[@tggardeners404]

Woow❤❤❤

[@herhomeandharvest]

Thanks!

[@Taigamom]

Congratulations on your success! I also live in zone 9b, in Tokyo, but ours is a monsoon climate and apples are very difficult to grow. Seeing how close you planted your two trees, I am getting hopeful with mine - I plan to grow them according to the "tall spindle" method in my small garden. My varieties are Granny Smith and a Japanese variety with red flesh. They are both grafted on a dwarf variety, which is in turn grafted on a root stock.

[@herhomeandharvest]

That sounds like it will be wonderful! I hope they grow well for you. I’ve seen so many people have success planting them this close together. And I wish I could try that Japanese variety. I don’t think I’ve ever tasted an apple I didn’t like!

[@mchume65]

I live in the inland San Diego area and my Anna apple tree doesn't seem to know what time of the year it is. It will bear fruit any time of the year. It is planted in the ground, but I just started another one in a container from a nursery with fruit already on it.

[@herhomeandharvest]

I love Annas! They definitely seem to get confused though, don’t they? 😂 hopefully you’ll still get lots of fruit this summer. I find that stripping the leaves off in the winter helps the trees focus their energy on summer growth. Of course sometimes it’s nice getting fruit all year instead of one big summer harvest!

[@Mrdesidownunder]

Bumper crop of apples , I am sure your little helper will enjoy them fresh. :)

[@herhomeandharvest]

Yep, she loves apples (and applesauce of course)!

[@Mrdesidownunder]

Here in down south(Melbourne, Australia) I have put in one apple tree (still our winter here) in my backyard garden this winter replacing bit unproductive Almond tree. Hoping to see some apples in couple of years.

[@herhomeandharvest]

@@Mrdesidownunder That’s exciting! I hope it grows well for you.

[@Anythingforfreedom]

Is a central leader necessary or can I prune it to a vase shape? I've been bending the branches for the past month with hopes that it will prepare the tree for heavy fruits.

[@herhomeandharvest]

I’ve seen people have success with both but a central leader seems to work best for most (or a modified central leader). My apple tree branches like to all grow straight up anyway so I have been working towards a more central leader style. I imagine just about any pruning style will work as long as you’re willing to put in the work to maintain it. I hope to one day try espalier pruning an apple tree too!

[@Anythingforfreedom]

@@herhomeandharvest I imagine espalier isn't as difficult as it looks. You can do it!

[@herhomeandharvest]

@@Anythingforfreedom Thanks! I hope so!

[@bryanmilanovich2585]

Where you live ?? I got my first Fuji tree !! I want to learn everything from you

[@herhomeandharvest]

@@bryanmilanovich2585 Fuji apples are great! I hope it grows well for you. I’m located in California in growing zone 10a.

[@bryanmilanovich2585]

@@herhomeandharvest thank you now I’m looking for another apple tree like Golden .. for pollination! I’m in Houston Texas Zone 9

[@bryanmilanovich2585]

Where did you buy the the blanket to cover your apple tree ?

[@herhomeandharvest]

@@bryanmilanovich2585 I really like the golden and I think it would do well in Texas. We don’t have the same humidity here that you all can get but I can tell you from experience that the golden Dorset will handle the heat!

[@herhomeandharvest]

@@bryanmilanovich2585 it’s a special mesh for trees and I really like it. Just be aware that if you plan to let your trees get big it will only fit the first few years. a.co/d/ffod3TM

[@nadulawson988]

How to get the seed for these apples?

[@herhomeandharvest]

I’m not sure the best way to get seeds aside from removing them from a ripe apple however these ones I purchased were already grafted onto a rootstock that is good for my area. They were bare root trees grown by Dave Wilson Nurseries which I was able to get at a local nursery.

[@karthikKarthik-if9pl]

Your location in America

[@herhomeandharvest]

I’m growing in California USDA Zone 9

[@Jer-me7pj]

where did you buy your trees?

[@herhomeandharvest]

@@Jer-me7pj I got them at a nursery in Riverside County. They’re Dave Wilson Nursery bare root trees. They sell trees at almost every nursery I’ve been to in winter and you can search their website to find the locations and which varieties they carry. It’s really great when you’re looking for something specific. I believe January is usually the best time to buy/plant bare root trees in Southern California www.wheretobuy.davewilson.com/home-gardens/where-to-buy-dwn-trees

[@Coolguyallthetime2k]

Which store bought apple would you say taste closet to Anna or Dorsey flavor?

[@herhomeandharvest]

The flavor varies depending on how ripe they are when you pick them, but I would say they are both pretty close to a gala apple which is my favorite store bought apple. I like to pick mine a little early so they’re a little bit more tart (not quite as tart as a green apple though…maybe more like a pink lady). This is a great question! Maybe next year I’ll do a taste test with some of the most standard store bought varieties.

[@Coolguyallthetime2k]

@@herhomeandharvest oh, gala is my favorite too…!! thank you so much for taking the time to respond. Now I won’t cancel my Anna apple order on the M-111 rootstock lol.. I definitely look forward to your taste test video 😁 yay!

[@herhomeandharvest]

@@Coolguyallthetime2k I hope you love them! Mine is also on M-111 and it’s doing well here in zone 9. I know a handful of people growing them who like them too. To be fair, I pretty much love all apples so I’m a little biased and wished I lived in a cooler area so I could grow more varieties like the liberty apple (probably the best apple I’ve ever tasted but it likes really cold winters).

[@Themessykitchen2]

Are those columnar trees or just regular dwarf?

[@herhomeandharvest]

They’re actually neither. They are just standard trees on M-111 rootstock that I keep pruned to a manageable height. My peaches, pluots and apples are all kept at a height that works for me by combining summer and winter pruning. I first learned about growing like this from Dave Wilson nursery’s videos and so far I’ve been really happy with it!

[@anandhikandasamy3330]

Why did you cover the tree with plastic sheet?

[@herhomeandharvest]

The white bag I had over the apple trees is a mesh netting. From far away it looks like fabric or plastic, but it’s actually breathable mesh. It’s the same idea as the green netting I have on the other trees you can see, but it’s easier to put on and take off. I would use it on all my trees but it only fits over my apples. I use it to keep the birds and squirrels from eating the fruit before I get a chance to harvest.

[@Muzik4Lyfe2010]

Where did you purchase the covers? Do you have a link?

[@herhomeandharvest]

@@Muzik4Lyfe2010 Sure! This is the link for the green netting: a.co/d/dGrvJyK and this is the link for the white mesh netting bags: a.co/d/iRHrjpT