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Winter Banana Antique Apple Tree

18 ReviewsAsk Questions

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Description

A subtle and sweet tropical aroma. Tree is easy to maintain and produces large, sun-yellow fruit kissed by a smooth red blush. Unique scent, described from pineapple to banana, livens up these firm, tangy, and juicy apples. Attractive and perfect for fresh-eating and baking. Antique variety, originates from Indiana, circa 1870. Cold-hardy. Ripens in late October. Pollinator required: Choose another apple variety. See Recommended Pollinators below.

Characteristics

Bloom Time Mid
Chill Hours 400
Fruit Color Yellow
Fruit Size Large
Hardiness Zone Range 4 - 9
Pollination Pollinator Required
Ripens/Harvest Late October
Shade/Sun Full Sun
Soil Composition Loamy
Soil Moisture Well Drained
Soil pH Level 6.0 - 7.0
Taste Tangy
Texture Firm, Crisp
Years to Bear 2 - 5

Zone Compatibility

This Variety's Zone Range 4 - 9
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.

Read about how to grow apple trees »

Tags

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Questions & Answers

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12 Questions
Why did you choose this?
Stark Bro'sStore

Sounds like a delicious tasting apple. Never heard of it before and I do like bananas and pineapple as well.

ERIKA W

I have been waiting for this to be in stock! I am on the hunt for heritage, antique variety apples, and after I heard about this kind that has a slight banana taste, I've been searching for it.

MANDY P

Love these long lasting apples! Great for pie, but hard to find these old variety trees.

ANNA P

There is an old tree growing in my field that gives a few apples still. I like the taste and texture. I have been looking for this apple, but didn't know the name until now. The description sounds…

Louise S
I see 4 recommended pollinators but are there any others? Please list a few options
JESSE B

Hi, Jesse. There are dozens of other pollinators; we recommend the varieties we do because they have the longest bloom overlap and best chance of pollination. Other varieties you could choose would include: Cortland, Crimson Crisp, Empire, Enterprise, Spitzenburg, Fuji, Gala, GoldRush, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Macoun. Pink Lady, Suncrisp ...

LeAnn
Can I cross pollinate with Whitney Crabapple?
Angela A.

We appreciate you reaching out to us. These are both mid-season bloomers so they will cross pollinate with each other.

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

Tabitha R.
how to prevent brown spot on apples?
Smokey

Brown spots on the apple skin is indicative of a mineral deficiency. A well balanced fruit fertilizer and a copper fungicide will improve its appearance.
The spots do not hurt the fruit.

CAROL K
Mine have been same size and green color for a while. Will it ripen?
CYNTHIA S

Yes it should ripen soon.

TiffanyF
I bought this tree in 2016.  This is it's second year of producing apples. They are the size of crab apples but sweet.   Is this normal?  I thought I was getting a tree that produced regular size apples.
LYNN A

Apple trees often set more fruit than they can mature to a good size and quality. If you permit all that fruit to stay on the tree until harvest time, you will wind up with a lot of small apples. We recommend pruning and thining each season.

TiffanyF
I bought my apple tree in 2016.  This was my second year producing very small crab apple size apples.  Is this normal?

Apple trees often set more fruit than they can mature to a good size and quality. If you permit all that fruit to stay on the tree until harvest time, you will wind up with a lot of small apples. We recommend pruning and thining each season.

TiffanyF
Is this available in standard size?

We do not have this variety available in a standard size at this time.

Kacie S.
Which apple productes white applesauce?
ELLA B

Hi Ella, The Winter Banana apple is good apple for making sauce. And I've learned that the Starkspur® Golden Delicious Apple has a tender, white flesh that cooks down well and is ideal for making applesauce from scratch too.

Tabitha R.
Can semi dwarf trees be trimmed and pruned to be about the size of a dwarf tree?
JOEL G

Yes. You would have to be diligent with your pruning each year once it gets to about that size.

Titania N.
What are the chill hour requirements?
Nathan C

Thank you for your question. The Winter Banana Antique Apple has a low winter chilling requirement, less than 400 hours

LeAnn
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Customer Reviews

18 Ratings
4.4out of 5 stars
18 Ratings

Rated 5 stars by 78% of reviewers

Rated 4 stars by 6% of reviewers

Rated 3 stars by 6% of reviewers

Rated 2 stars by 0% of reviewers

Rated 1 star by 11% of reviewers

1-10 of 18 Reviews
Rated 5 out of 5
Oct 4, 2022
My purchase was to replace an aging winter banana. My neighbor grew this tree when I was about 13, 64 years ago. I searched and searched until I found a tree that matched hers. Excellent for sauce, pie and cider.
CAROL K
Rated 5 out of 5
Sep 21, 2022
Very nice tree. It is about five feet now and looking good. Had apple's last two year's. One of my favorites.
RON H
Rated 5 out of 5
Aug 18, 2021
Happy Memories of the Banana Apple tree.
As a child I remember my Grammy saying one of her favorite apple trees in the orchard was a banana apple tree. Now grown and having an interest in apple trees I have often wondered about the elusive banana apple tree. My husband and friends thought I was crazy. But at the Bloomsburg fair, there it was a display of banana apples! They do exist! First look at the Starks Brothers website and there it was. My tree waiting for me. I ordered it in November, it was delivered in the spring. A beautiful little tree. Hopefully next year I will have some fruit.
SAMANTHA B
Rated 5 out of 5
May 7, 2021
Great Bare Root
I got my bare root in March of 2021. 4 foot+, Great looking shape and I had to keep it dormant for a month before I could plant it. Boy, this bare root tree was super eager was already budding leaves before it was even in the ground. Another great tree from Starkbros.
TONY V
Rated 5 out of 5
May 27, 2020
Great little tree so far
I purchased this tree last year and so far it has done great. During a particularly wet and warm July, rust hit this tree pretty hard and I was late on recognizing it. I thought for sure it was done for but after contacting StarkBros for help, regular applications of fruit tree spray and neem oil did the trick. The leaves ended up coming back and this year it has flowered after a very mild winter, even by Louisiana standards.
Douglas T
Rated 5 out of 5
May 8, 2018
Winter banana
Awesome! Was shipped and arrived in great condition, first year it has apples!! Great addition to my yard.
James m
Rated 5 out of 5
May 23, 2017
Winter Banana Apple
This is my second purchase of this apple. It is utterly delightful. I have one tree purchased 20 years ago and now have added this one. A constant, faithful bearer of great apples. A winner for sure. Stark Brothers have never failed in quality or service.
Deb
DEBRA R
Rated 5 out of 5
May 20, 2017
So far so good!
I bought this as a pollinator for my Honeycrisp. No blooms this year but lots of new growth and looking healthy.
CHRIS C
Rated 5 out of 5
May 16, 2017
Marvelous Little Tree
When I searched the web for suitable apple trees for out town's climate zone, Winter Banana was on top. But it was late in the season, big outlets like HomeDepot or Lowe's only gathered a few fruit trees familiar to the general public. I got a stick from Stark Bros in the mail last May, bareroot above all. I put it in the backyard and left the country. Remarkably, when I came back 10 days later, new leaves and all. The little tree loves it here. And this year, the stick branched, flowered and bearing about 10 little apples. I know some apples will be eliminated naturally. But I like the tree a lot. Thanks, Bro.
Newton L
Rated 5 out of 5
May 13, 2017
Winter babana
It is only one year old and only starting to make branches so it will be a couple of years before we know. My advice is to buy the largest caliper available.
MAX H

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