Do any of y'all have an apple tree? You don't hardly see them. Fruit trees aren't my thing and don't know much about them. A very good friend of mine were talking a few weeks ago and he wants to plant some. His mother isn't going to make it but another week or two. So I was going to buy him one to start off with when she passes. I'll go a different route if trying to grow them is pointless. I just left the nursery and they had Granny Smith, Golden Delicious and Fuji. And advice would be appreciated.

I believe they require a lot of "chilling hours" in order to produce well . Dad had one for years and only got one small apple . I planted a few and never got squat .

Chilling hours! David Welcher talks about that a lot and reminds me why I'm not a fruit tree guy.

Most varieties need a pollinater as they're not self-fruitful. A few varieties supposedly are though. I have a Golden Delicious tree thats about 4 years old,its really slow growing and hasn't flowered or set fruit yet. Its in a spot that is not full sun and is poor soil so thats probably why its so slow growing.

Supposedly there are varieties that have low-chill requirements and can even be grown in hot south Texas.

Good to know. I'll look into those. He has 2 acres of full sun. His soil sucks as it's just old blackland clay pasture land. I will help him amend that.

My BIL planted some 16 years ago when I started planting my peaches, he never got squat, if you can find a nursery on line that sells them look for something in the neighborhood of 600 to 700 chillin hours, that’s about what we get on average here in North Texas

Also, They don’t do well in sandy soil

Horse apple trees (Bois D' arc) grow exceptionally well here and their limbs make the best brush piles.

If you have land near the pan handle, say Pampa, apple trees will thrive there with irrigation.
You might be able to grow a variety in Ennis, but I don't think you'll have great success with blooms or fruit.
I know you are up for a challenge, and growing moderately productive apple trees here certainly is one.
Of course, peaches, plums, nectarines, blackberries, and pears are easy to grow in north central Texas.

If you like figs, fig trees grow exceptionally well here and look great. Bob Wells Nursery in Lindale has a good selection.
Texas Everbearing, LSU purple, Black Mission, and Lattarula/Italian Honey fig trees do well in north central Texas

Some in Dallas have had success with Red Williams Pride apples.
Definitely call Bob Wells Nursery in Lindale. They are very knowledgable and have a huge selection of everything.

i grew a small apple tree in little elm in a cinderblock pit 4ft x4ft x3ft high.these were about the size of a racquetball and were sweet. it produced on the second yr.the 3rd yr it got smashed in a huge wind storm

Yep, that is why you dont see them in N. TX. I have seen some in the hill country. Lately we have gardly gotten enough chilling hours for peaches.

Thanks guys and gal. Good info.

I had a friend that had a single apple tree at the end of his driveway in Bedford several years ago that produced the biggest best eating apples I ever had,and he never cared for it in any way.