I have grown some of the low chill apples on the SE coast, with some success, but they do not compare with apples grown more suitable areas. Given the difference in taste, and that the best varieties are grown in cooler, less humid regions, it is my opinion that apples are best left to those who live in those areas.

Ned

I agree. I grew up in upstate NY. After picking fresh apples up there, the apples grown here are bland tasting. We went to a apple fest in upstate SC a few years ago, had a great time, but the quality of fruit just wasn't there.

Would the growth and production of a Honeycrip apple be worth a hoot in a warm area such as San Diego? I have two Honeycrisp trees here in cold Colorado, and they do well. - Millet

From everything I've read about honeycrisp is that it is a terrible performer in hotter climates. Far better apples for growing in hotter climates than honeycrisp. While the north has better conditions for growing most apple cultivars there have been certain cultivars that have been growing down here for hundreds of years that do great. Most of your new university released apples are not made for these conditions the antique varieties is where its at. I would put some of the old southern varieties against any of the grocery store types any day of the week as far as taste goes. You have to remember that taste alone doesn't sell apples at the grocery store it is the apperance of the fruit and that is what the breeders are going on when they release new cultivars these days. They all want they're apple to be the next big hit at the grocery store.

Taste is an important characteristic when choosing an apple, but my number 1 criteria is that the apple MUST be very crisp and firm. I hate soft apples. So far Honey Crisp fills that bill the best, followed by Fuji. - Millet[/u]

Yes, Apples can be grown in the Southern California
region with some success for the home gardener.
We had relatives that lived in Apple Valley for many
years and they did grow some tasty (tree ripened,
allowed to become mature on the tree rather than
picked a little too early for fresh shipping like most
commercial Apples are) Apples there.

Several rootstocks for Apples are grown from seed,
not simply rooted cuttings grown on and later used
for budding and grafting. Most store bought West
Coast and Pacific Northwest Apples were propagated
at some point in time, in more recent years, onto an
EMLA type (dwarfing) rootstock.

If you want a Honey Crisp Apple tree to grow on for
Southern California it may be prudent to buy one from
a growing nursery that specializes in growing Fruit
Trees for the commercial growers as well as for the
homeowners, rather than taking seed from a store
bought fruit, germinating them on and hoping to find
one seedling tree out of several trees that may be
close but not the same as the Honey Crisp. Although
I think I recall that the Gordon Apple came about
as a chance seedling from the Southern California
region.

This link below from a well known and reliable source
nursery may be more insightful.

DWN: Garden Compass: An Old Rose: The Apple:

Jim

Dwarf and semi-dwarf apple trees are popular, therefore these root stocks are frequently sought after. I find the easiest method of obtaining a supply of dwarf root stocks, or any type of apple root stock for that matter, is to carefully dig up the suckers from around the trunk of dwarf trees. I then put them in the greenhouse, and when pencil size bud them and grown them on, or plant them outside in the spring. - Millet