Family
Rosaceae
Botanical Name
Malus domestica 'Tropic Sweet'
Plant Common Name
Apple, Eating Apple, Tropic Sweet Apple
General Description
Introduced by the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station in Gainesville, this hybrid of 'Anna' bears sweet apples on trees that perform well in mild climates.
Ripening in late spring or early summer in Florida, the spherical to conical fruits have greenish-yellow, red-blushed skin. The flesh of this dessert apple is sweetly flavored. The fruits keep well for several weeks. Unlike most apples, 'Tropic Sweet' does well in areas such as central Florida that have mild winters and hot humid summers. For maximum production, plant it near another apple that blooms at the same time (such as 'Anna').
There is nothing more satisfying than growing your own apple trees. The domestic apple is most commonly a medium-sized tree with a rounded to oval canopy. It originates from southeastern Europe, Siberia, and southwestern Asia and has been in cultivation for thousands of years. In spring, these trees offer sweet, fragrant flowers of light pink, white or rose, and in fall reward us with crisp, juicy apples.
These fruits have a wide variety of colors, textures and flavors and may be eaten out-of-hand, pressed for cider, frozen, canned or baked in a variety of ways. There are thousands of cultivars available, including many interesting heirlooms as well as fresh new varieties. Different selections vary in height and may bear fruit in late summer or fall.
While the domestic apple prefers full sun and well-drained soil, it will tolerate light shade and bouts of drought. For best fruit production, trees must be vigorously pruned and maintained. Apples are susceptible to many pests and diseases, but resistant varieties are available.
Most apples are grafted onto rootstock that provides a wide range of benefits such as vigor, pest and disease resistance and dwarf stature, depending on the stock.
