How to Grow Apple

Updated June 2026

A cool-season fruit for the home garden across the warmer US.

What it looks like as it grows

Apple is a rewarding cool-season crop for backyard growers.

When to plant

Apple is a cool-season crop. In the South and Southwest, plant in fall through winter when the heat eases. See your region on the apple page for exact timing.

Varieties

• Anna, Low-chill, productive in the warm South (Southern nurseries)
• Dorsett Golden, Low-chill pollinizer for Anna (Southern nurseries)

How to grow it

• Sun & soil: full sun, rich well-drained soil with even moisture.
• Spacing: about 13.1 ft between plants.
• Sowing: sow about 12 in deep.
• Water: roughly 4 gal per plant every 3 days in hot weather.

Pests & problems

Watch for Codling moth, Woolly aphid, Scale and Light brown apple moth. In humid regions, Apple scab, Powdery mildew, Fire blight and Black spot can appear, so space for airflow and water at the roots in the morning.

Harvest

Apple is usually ready to harvest within roughly 12 months once established. Pick regularly to keep plants productive.

When to plant in your region

Pick your region to see exactly when to plant apple where you garden.

See also: Apple in the plant library →

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