Malus domestica 'Golden Delicious' GOLDEN DELICIOUS SEMI-DWARF APPLE
Zone: 5-7
Bright golden medium-sized fruit that is firm, crisp, and juicy. Ripens in mid-October. Good for eating and cooking. Self-fertile, does not require a pollinator.
Pollination and Dwarfing of Apple Trees
Apples are generally not self-fertile; except for Yellow Delicious. At least two varieties are needed. Cross-pollination is possible when the trees bloom at approximately the same time. The apple trees should be planted no farther than 100 ft. apart. Bees carry the pollen, not wind.
A dwarfing rootstock produces trees that are approximately 45% the size of the standard tree. The general size of dwarf apple trees are 9-12’ tall and 10’ wide. Dwarf apples generally produce fruit after 3-4 years. These rootstocks only dwarf the size of the tree, not the size of the fruit. If the bud union is planted below ground, the dwarfing characteristics can be lost.