Red & Gold Apple Tree Collection

I have a 5 graft apple tree I planted a few years ago as a memorial to my pup that passed. I grow mizuna, Swiss chard, onions, garlic, yarrow, lavender, strawberries and nasturtiums directly in the bed. Both the tree and the occupants of the bed are high yielders. Between this apple and its neighbor, a nectarine, I have a large veggie bed and in the nectarine bed I have a variety of garlic and onion varieties.

The key is to make sure you leave yourself room for picking/maintenance and planning what you plant. Some common veggie pests can also attack fruit trees and vice versa, so avoid planting these together and creating a buggy buffet. Instead chose plants which repels pests. The nasturtiums, alliums, and lavender were all included for this reason.

When the tree fills in and starts creating a lot of shade switch to more shade tolerant plants. I have a pawpaw that's very full and created a dead spot, so I planted heritage red raspberries, American ginseng, spearmint, ginger, and turmeric with rhubarb around the very outside so it's sort of half shade. It's a fun little experiment. I obviously have to replant the ginger and turmeric every year but everything lives quite well together. The spearmint wants desperately to take over but the lack of sun and strength of its neighbors keeps it in check.

Anyway, research and plan and it should go just fine.

Good luck

Yes as Golden delicious is a common pollinator used among most apple trees.

Yes, it does. Golden Delicious does not.

If Zone 4 falls within the range of the zones recommended for a given variety, it will work in your area. For example, if a tree is zoned for 4-8, that will work. If it's zoned for 5-8, it will not.

The Starkrimson® Red Delicious tree in this collection has a spur-bearing habit. The Stark® Golden Delicious is semi-spur bearing and highly productive but, if you wanted a truly spur-bearing Golden Delicious, I'd recommend the one called Starkspur® Golden Delicious instead.