Why Plant Red Delicious Apple?
Red Delicious is America’s apple, the classic lunch box treat. This deep red beauty has a sweet, mellow taste, with no trace of acidity like some other apples. In fact, its lack of acidity makes it a popular home remedy for acid reflux! Naturally fortified with vitamin C, B-complex vitamins, fiber, and a wealth of health-promoting antioxidants, low-calorie apples really do “keep the doctor away.” Having a Red Delicious Apple Tree in your backyard will put sweet, wholesome snacking at your doorstep and make it easy for everyone in the family to get their apple a day.
Legend has it that the Red Delicious Apple Tree began life as a seedling that sprouted in the orchard of an Iowa farmer named Jesse Hiatt in the 1870s. Because Apple Trees grown from seed rarely produce decent apples, he cut the tree down. It resprouted. He cut the seedling down again, and after it resprouted once more, he decided to let it live. When the tree bore fruit several years later, he tasted the best apple he’d ever had and named it the ‘Hawkeye’. In 1893, the Hawkeye won an apple contest held by Stark Brothers Nursery and was renamed ‘Delicious’. When the unrelated ‘Golden Delicious’ apple was introduced in 1914, ‘Delicious’ became ‘Red Delicious’ to avoid any confusion and went on to become America’s favorite apple.
How to use Red Delicious Apple in the landscape?
Some people are turned off by Red Delicious apples, considering them rather mushy in texture and lacking in taste. That may be a result of modern production methods. Of course an apple picked before it’s ripe, shipped hundreds of miles, and stored for months isn’t going to taste that great! If you ever get to try a snappy, refreshing, sun-ripened Red Delicious right off the tree, however, you might understand what made Americans fall in love with this variety in those simpler times so many years ago.
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 5-9
How To Plant Red Delicious Apple
Plant your Red Delicious Apple Tree in an open spot that receives sun all day long and where air circulates freely. The soil should be moderately fertile and well drained—it shouldn’t stay soggy after a rain, but it should hold some moisture. An annual mulch of shredded bark or wood chips will help to hold in moisture and keep the root zone cool in summer. Be sure to keep mulch from contacting the trunk directly. Apple Trees are subject to a number of pests and diseases, but they are generally treatable or preventable with some know-how.
How To Fertilize
Incorporate Elements Starter Plant food granular form into the soil when planting. If planting in spring or summer, start fertilizing late fall using Elements Starter Plant food granular form on an annual basis each late fall. Continue this for the first three years to get your plant well established.
How Does Shipping Work?
Bower & Branch Trees, the real BIG trees, don’t fit in a box! Our big trees, sizes XL and bigger, require expert delivery and care, that means our extra-large trees are shipped on Bower & Branch trucks. We are the only ones who know how to ship our big and bigger trees and plants with tender loving care. We deliver your trees and plants directly to you. Ask Bower & Branch about planting services – we'd be happy to assist in installation.
*For Big trees and Shrubs, Size XL and bigger: Review our Seasonal Shipping Timelines and Policy here.
Your trees and plants are grown across the United States at various Bower & Branch Growers. Depending on your location, your plant orders may be shipped from various locations. Please expect orders with multiple items to be delivered over a number of days as a result. Orders made up of numerous items or selections will not arrive at your home on the same day.
Shipping Delays:
From time to time, Bower & Branch Growers may determine to delay order shipment based on various factors for plant health. Weather in your region, as well as, where your plants are grown, is always considered when shipping. Extreme weather conditions may delay some or all of your order. Bower & Branch allows our Growers to make final shipping decisions based solely to benefit your trees and plants’ health and success.
How Does Sizing Work?
The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)
Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.
All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!
See the size guides below.
