Blushing Delight™ Urban™ Apple Tree

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Description

Full-sized fruit from exceptionally narrow trees. 18- to 24-inch mature limb spread makes this a perfect fit for small spaces — including containers! Plant a row to grow a living fence. Enjoy green-blushed-red fruit with a light, sweet flavor. Originates from Czech Republic, introduced in 2011. Cold-hardy. Ripens in September. Pollinator required: Choose another apple variety. See Recommended Pollinators below. May be covered by USPP #21511 or other patents.

Characteristics

Bloom Color Pink, White
Bloom Time Early - Mid
Chill Hours 800 - 1200
Fruit Color Yellow
Fruit Size Medium
Hardiness Zone Range 4 - 8
Pollination Pollinator Required
Ripens/Harvest September
Shade/Sun Full Sun
Soil Composition Loamy
Soil Moisture Well Drained
Soil pH Level 5.5 - 7.5
Taste Sweet
Texture Firm
Years to Bear 1 - 2

Zone Compatibility

This Variety's Zone Range 4 - 8
My Hardiness Zone ?
The USDA hardiness zones offer a guide to varieties that will grow well in certain climates. Each zone corresponds to the minimum winter temperatures experienced in a given area. Make sure that your hardiness zone lies within the zone compatibility range of this variety before ordering.

Pollination

This variety requires another one for adequate pollination.

Cross-pollination by a different variety is key to its growing and bearing success. Plant one of these varieties within 100' for best pollination.

Tools & Supplies

Having the proper tools and supplies when growing your own can make the difference between a good harvest and a great harvest! Here's a list that our experts recommend for this variety.

Planting & Care

Learn all about how to grow apple trees in The Growing Guide. An entire section of our website dedicated to your growing success.

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Questions & Answers

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18 Questions
Why did you choose this?

Like Fuji

Because we are retired and don’t want to climb ladders to pick fruit.

Just hope he likes the Tasty red Urban, planted next door!

I use this apple tree as the pollinator for my Tasty Red Urban Apple.

What does Blushing Delight apple taste like? I prefer a good balance of sweet, tangy/tart and aromatic. Not a fan of red delicious (too sweet/not enough sour) or the classic green apple (too tart, not aromatic). I like Fuji, Braeburn and love Opal.

Though taste is highly subjective, this apple is generally considered to be light and sweet, with a citrusy aroma. We would not assign the characteristics of tangy/tart or spicy.

When do they bloom?

it bloomed late april or early may

Do apple trees in general require a lot of pesticides? Can this tree be grown organically?

Hey Ben.
The short answer is yes it can be grown organically. Very easy in fact. You will have to spend more time adding earth friendly pesticides, but totally.
The apples won't look like they do in supermarkets. They might have some spots, very smaller etc, but taste better!

What are the water requirements for these columnar apple trees? I live in an area where water is limited and have hopes that these varieties might allow me to grow a few apple trees. Does anyone know the water required, say weekly, to maintain these trees? Would growing in containers help? Thanks!

Fall is the best season to plant trees and shrubs especially if you live in a dry climate because it gives your plant time to develop strong roots before summer. I planted mine directly in the ground near the boarder of my vegetable garden. Then I mulched with a 3 inch layer of woodchips. I water weekly if there was no rain year one. After that the tree was well established and needed little attention. During a recent 10 week drought I water maybe twice and my tree is lovely. If you container plant, you’ll need a very large pot and will have to water several times a week all summer.

When does it usually bloom?

Kim, I planted mine in the fall of 2014. They are starting to get a few flowers on them now. They didn't have any flowers on them last year. They are very healthy and I hope to get a few apples this brae. Hope this helps.

Bob

Can I make an espaliered tree from an urban apple tree? How about a crimson rocket peach? I love that they aren't supposed to be too big.

Columnar trees' lateral branches are too few and too short to espalier. You're much better off with a dwarf size of any variety. There's a detailed article here: //www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/article/espalier-fruit-trees

Is there any pruning guidance specific to Urban Apples? The typical three-branch open structure doesn't seem to apply.

We appreciate you reaching out to us. You may need to thin the trees the first year so the branches will support the weight of the apples. Otherwise, prune only as needed to remove damaged branches.

Read more at Gardening Know How: Urban Fruit Tree Info: Tips For Growing Columnar Fruit Trees https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/urban/growing-columnar-fruit-trees.htm

If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to reach back out to us. Have a great day!

Can you grow these in containers, and if so what size is appropriate?

You can grow them in containers .I would grow them in at least 20" or bigger.

how much water does urban apple tree need per week?

About an inch of water every 10 days, including rainfall. During very hot stretches of weather, check every other day to see if the top 1/2" of soil is dry - if it is, the tree needs water.

My wife and I are interested in these blushing delight urban apple trees but we are concerned because our neighbors have cedar trees. Is there anything we can do to prevent ceder apple rust?

Yes, there is! You can keep it on a spray program, using this: //www.starkbros.com/products/tools-and-supplies/pest-and-disease-controls/bonide-fruit-tree-spray

Please follow the label directions exactly.

Customer Reviews

12 Ratings
4.3out of 5 stars
12 Ratings

Rated 5 stars by 58% of reviewers

Rated 4 stars by 25% of reviewers

Rated 3 stars by 8% of reviewers

Rated 2 stars by 0% of reviewers

Rated 1 star by 8% of reviewers

1-10 of 12 Reviews
Rated 5 out of 5
May 24, 2017
Columnar Blushing Delight
Doing very well in a plastic tub on my deck. It has lots of blossoms the second year and as of now ( late May) has numerous apples in spite of a bad weather season for pollination
Rated 5 out of 5
May 6, 2017
Columnar Apple trees
Lice these. They are doing well in their second year. Can't wait til they are producing fruit.
Rated 5 out of 5
Feb 13, 2017
I planted 4 varieties of columnar apple & 1 peach
I have planted 4 varieties of columnar apple and one peach tree. Two apple are 3 years old and two are 2 years old. The peach tree is 1 year old in 2017.

All apple trees produced by the second year. The taste was excellent.

I trim the excess growth in late winter.

The only pest problem that I have incurred is aphids on new growth leaves but this was controlled by an aphid spray. (Just keep watch and don't let the little bugs get ahead of you)

The peach tree does not grow like the columnar apple. It grew more quickly and had to be trimmed back severely this winter.

There is a great video on YouTube about pruning columnar apple trees and I also found one about pruning the peach tree. The video explains how the peach will develop more branches than the columnar apple.

I highly recommend these columnar trees from Stark Bros. Nurseries.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jun 2, 2016
Good thus far
My trees are too young to bare any fruit, but they have done quite well creating a strong root system while still quite young and planted in poor soil.
Rated 5 out of 5
May 19, 2016
Good apples.
I love columnar apples. So easy to manage and place.
Rated 5 out of 5
May 19, 2016
Blushing in waiting
Last year due to waiting on a landscaper to finish work on the property the apple trees remained potted which allowed for some good root growth. They eventually made it into ground towards the end of the season.

They arrive bare root and without branches of any kind, but otherwise healthy and as of now they are full of leaves and are beginning to produce their branches so I don't expect fruit this year, but I am certain they will get on just fine.
Rated 5 out of 5
May 18, 2016
So far so good
We ordered two of these along with two companion apples for pollination. After following the excellent planting instructions they survived the winter and were covered in beautiful blossoms this Spring. We can't wait for our first apples!
Rated 4 out of 5
May 8, 2018
Slow grower
Slow grower, put on about 4”. About an inch more than the golden apple but far far slower than the reliance peach trees nearby. I’m hoping the growth was just directed downward last year. This year they seem to be budding out nicely.
Rated 4 out of 5
May 19, 2017
Beautiful tree but suseptible to cedar apple rust.
Have had this apple tree for a couple of years now. I have not had apples yet but I am still very pleased with it.This year it produced stunningly beautiful flowers but no fruitlets. I think this is because its pollinator did not survive the winter. As for the cedar apple rust there is not much that can be done. I can't cut down all the cedars in the neighborhood.
Rated 4 out of 5
May 4, 2017
Not sure yet
We've placed orders from a lot of different companies over several years, & Starks Brothers products are the best quality that we have received. A year or two ago, we ordered 2 columnar trees. They seem to be growing fine, but they haven't produced fruit yet.