Apple - Malus x domestica
New Zealand apple varieties
Apple trees are a staple of any home orchard and essential fruit tree varieties for New Zealand growers. Arguably the most versatile fruit trees, apple varieties are excellent for eating, storing, preserving, cooking and baking, drying, cider-making, and juicing - depending on the specific apple variety of course! The main apple harvest season runs February through May, with some early apple varieties available in January and late apple varieties extending into June.
Apple trees are best grown in temperate New Zealand regions, as most apple varieties require cooler winter weather (chill hours) to complete their growing cycle. However, there are low-chill apple varieties available that suit warmer New Zealand climates - an important consideration for your fruit tree selector decisions. These fruit trees thrive in sunny, sheltered sites with well-drained, fertile soil and consistent moisture throughout your edible garden.
Some apple varieties are self-fertile, and even non-self-fertile types often won't require specific pollinators as long as other apple trees are planted nearby in your home orchard. When planning your edible garden, it's wise to choose disease-resistant apple varieties, especially for home orchardists or those managing trees organically, as black spot, mildew and other diseases can affect susceptible fruit tree varieties.
When selecting pollinator apple trees for your home orchard planner, consider whether varieties are early, mid, or late flowering to ensure proper pollination timing. You can find detailed information on our apple pollination chart using our fruit tree selector tool.
Apple trees are either tip-bearing or spur-bearing, with some apple varieties producing fruit on both growth types. When purchased from New Zealand nurseries, apple varieties are typically grafted onto specific rootstocks that provide certain growing characteristics to your fruit trees.
Use our fruit tree selector to find the perfect apple varieties for your New Zealand edible garden and climate conditions.
For rootstock information click here.