We have planted a mini-orchard with trees that thrive in temperate (mild) climates (The Making of a Mini Orchard) and are planting trees with a low chill factor. What is a “chill factor” you ask? The concept is essential to knowing the best apple varieties to plant in your region. “Chill factor” (called vernalization) applies to fruiting trees. Fruit trees need a period of rest, or dormancy each year. During dormancy, trees are exposed to cooler temperatures and shorter days. The period of time when the thermometer drops below 45 degrees is referred to as “chilling hours”. Different varieties of apple trees require different numbers of chilling hours to end dormancy and produce fruit. Without the required number of hours, buds (and therefore fruit) will not develop properly.
Our coastal area receives less than 300 hours of the required chill temperature so trees classified as “low chill” are desirable. You will find the ‘Beverly Hills’ cultivar planted in older gardens throughout Cambria and the fruit is excellent eaten fresh. They are considered self-pollinators so if you have room for only one apple tree, this variety will fit the bill. Other self-pollinators that require low chill are the ‘Dorset Golden’, and ‘Granny Smith’. Our little ‘Anna’ apple tree (two years old) has adjusted well to our cool climate and produced three beautiful apples the first fall and a bushel of beauties the next.
Low Chill apple varieties good for mild climates:
- Anna (200)
- Beverly Hills (300)
- Dorsett Golden (100)
- Fuji (400)
- Granny Smith (200)
- Gordon (400)
- Pettingill (100)
- Pink Lady (4-500)
- Sundowner (200-300)
- White Winter Pearmain (400)
- Winter Banana (300-400)
Low Chill plums & prunes varieties:
- Beauty (250)
- Burgundy (300)
- Catalina (3-400)
- Friar (400)
- Golden Nectar (400 or less)
- Laroda (400)
- Late Santa Rosa (400 or less)
- Mariposa (250)
- Methley (250)
- Nubiana (400-500)
- Persian Green (350-450)
- Santa Rosa (300)
- Satsuma (300)
- Weeping Santa Rosa (2-400)
