Quick-dropping apples and arrangement for archery hunt

[Telemark]

I'm looking for an apple that will ripen and drop apples in early-mid September in Ontario. My spot is right on the border of 4b and 5a.

Most of the trees I've decided on are late-season trees that hold apples through gun season and winter. But I would like two or three that will drop a bunch of apples right before bow season starts, and right in the middle of bear season.

Seems like Macintosh fits the bill. Is that correct? Any others?

 

[Turkey Creek]

Dolgo and Chestnut crabapples

 

[Jhoss]

I think Turkeycreek is spot on. My Chestnut crabs had dark seeds on Sep. 1. WilliamsPride and Zestar are August ripeners and quick droppers too. Pristine ripen first week of August (SE Mich), but I pick those the day the seeds are dark as they are that good. Dolgo I cant speak to...yet.

 

[Northbound]

Pristine and lodi I've seen so l drop early... you can always plan on the bears shaking and breaking a bunch down early

 

[Charles Clear]

Chestnut crabapple

 

[sandbur]

Here on the edge of zone 3, dolgo (grafted, not seedlings) drops in a short period about Labor Day. Chestnut crab starts after that and lasts through most of Sept. and sometimes into October.


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[Telemark]

Thanks for the info, fellas.

 

[Telemark]

So hereis my general plan.

The nearest tree should be about 20 yards from the tower blind. The farthest should be around 35 yards.

My question now is the arrangement of the apple trees and rootstocks. I ordered 5 Bud118, 5 MM111, and 10 Ant. Should i put the Bud118 in the north group or the south group? Or should i not put them all together?

 

[Telemark]

Hereis what i was thinking for arrangement.

Macintosh because neighbor's Macs do well up there, and they have a reputation for dropping apples in September.

The two "local" trees would be grafted with scions from an unknown variety on my neighbor's property that produces lots of good apples and starts dropping late September and drops through Oct.

A crab on Ant. rootstock to provide a big tree that polinates well and produces good september apples.

Honeycrisp and Cortland because they start in Sept and drop slowly. And because I can get some for myself.

Bow season is usually October 1st til about mid November.

Is this a good plan?

 

[yoderjac]

So hereis my general plan.

The nearest tree should be about 20 yards from the tower blind. The farthest should be around 35 yards.

My question now is the arrangement of the apple trees and rootstocks. I ordered 5 Bud118, 5 MM111, and 10 Ant. Should i put the Bud118 in the north group or the south group? Or should i not put them all together?View attachment 16776

It depends whether you bowl with a hook or not. Take two steps to the left of the center dot if you are right handed and let it fly!

 

[rutiger22]

What’s the best tree to plant that drops fruit the quickest that will attract deer? What size does the tree need to be to start doing this (ex: 10ft)? Thanks for the help


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[yoderjac]

What’s the best tree to plant that drops fruit the quickest that will attract deer? What size does the tree need to be to start doing this (ex: 10ft)? Thanks for the help


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I don't think there is a "best tree" that drops fruit the quickest that will attract deer. Everything really depends on your situation. Some trees will perform well in some climates and in some soils and perform poorly, if at all, in others. Fruit that attracts deer in one situation may be ignored in another.

Just an example of how your situation plays a role. If you plant an American persimmon seedling it may be 8 to 10 years before you get your first fruit and that is only if the tree turns out to be female. On the other hand, if you are in the range of native persimmons and find a tree an inch or two in diameter and graft it with scions from a producing female tree, you can get your first persimmons in the 3rd leaf after grafting. I actually had one produce a persimmon or two after the 2nd leaf (but this rare).

One tree I'm working with right now is Castanea seguinii commonly called Seguins or Chinese Chinquapin. It seems to produce small chestnuts when it is quite young, at least under the right conditions.

Grafted apples can produce relatively quickly on dwarf root stock, but they have many other issues and can require a lot of maintenance depending on the varieties chosen. They are slower to produce on semi-dwarf root stock and produce larger trees. These don't have support issues but can still require maintenance.

There is no one answer. I'd start by refining your objectives. When do you want to attract deer? That will eliminate trees that drop fruit outside that window. How many trees can you manage? A single tree may produce fruit that is attractive to deer but may not produce enough fruit for many years to be effective? What other fruit predators do you have in your area? A tree might produce fruit early, but if climbing creatures eat it before it falls it is of little value. What disease is prevalent in your area? What trees will thrive or even grow in your USDA hardiness zone? The list goes on and on.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[rutiger22]

I’m in zone 6 so I’m looking for fruit trees that drop in like October on. I have plenty of deer, but also bear. I’m just getting an idea what trees might take faster than others instead of waiting 10years for maturity. Something more along the lines of like 2-5 years and they start dropping fruit at least a little. Appreciate the advice- thanks


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[greyphase]

I've had trees grafted to B118 rootstock start to produce apples in 3 years. The trouble with that is if you let them produce apples that early you run the risk of stunting the tree (ya I'm guilty). I'd say 5 years would be a realistic time to let a B118 rootstocked tree bear some fruit.

 

[Telemark]

I’m in zone 6 so I’m looking for fruit trees that drop in like October on. I have plenty of deer, but also bear. I’m just getting an idea what trees might take faster than others instead of waiting 10years for maturity. Something more along the lines of like 2-5 years and they start dropping fruit at least a little. Appreciate the advice- thanks


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Check out Stark Bros. website. They list all the information (harvest time, years to maturity, etc.) for each tree as well as availability. The catalog has lass info.

 

[Apple Junkie]

I’m in zone 6 so I’m looking for fruit trees that drop in like October on. I have plenty of deer, but also bear. I’m just getting an idea what trees might take faster than others instead of waiting 10years for maturity. Something more along the lines of like 2-5 years and they start dropping fruit at least a little. Appreciate the advice- thanks


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For your objectives, I’d be looking for Wikson Crab, Ida Red, Kerr, or Florina, grafted to a MM.111 rootstock. If the exact rootstock is not listed, look for “Semi-dwarf”.

All these varieties are purported to be precocious, which is just a fancy way of saying they bear early. You’re still looking at 3 to 5 years, but the sooner you get them in the ground, the sooner the clock starts ticking. They all ripen in October, and bloom around the same time so they will pollinate each other. Just a reminder, you need at least two different varieties. Good luck!

 

[rutiger22]

Thank you.


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