The Ein Shemer Apple Tree

The Ein Shemer Apple Tree is our pick for hot climates!

When we think of apple trees, we tend to think of crisp fall weather and summer beginning to fade into memory. However, what if we were to tell you that there was an apple cultivar that not only did well in warmer climates, but thrived in them? Let us introduce you to the Ein Shemer apple.

This apple cultivar was literally bred to withstand warmer weather. Not only that, but its characteristics take after the classic Golden Delicious apple. What we wind up with is an apple that is not only delicious and versatile, but also ready to stand up to some unique climates.

Here’s what it takes to grow your own Ein Shemer apple and what you can do with the fruit when it’s time to harvest. 

Looking to buy an Ein Schemer apple tree? Check availability. Here too.

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History of the Ein Shemer Apple Tree 

The history of the Ein Shemer apple goes all the way back to the 1950s.

There is a type of settlement in Israel known as a Kibbutz. These settlements are agrarian in nature and built around communal farming. A member of a particular settlement that was called the Ein Shemer Kibbutz was the first person to cultivate this apple cultivar. Their name was Abba Stein.

Stein would also go on to cultivate a few other varieties of apple, including the Anna apple. The Ein Shemer apple is still one of the most popular apple cultivars in Israel today. In 1967, the USDA officially gave the Ein Shemer apple its hardiness zone designation and this apple has become a hit here in North America ever since.

One of the driving factors for the success of the Ein Shemer apple tree has been its unique characteristics, specifically its tolerance for warm weather. 

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Fruit Ein Shemer Apple Characteristics

This particular apple cultivar was bred to have similar characteristics to a Golden Delicious apple. What sets this apple apart from most is that it’s able to withstand much hotter climates than many of the other members of malus domestica. 

The Ein Shemer apple tree is also considerably larger than many of the other dwarf varieties that have become popular in gardens across North America. The fruit of this apple tree has a yellow or greenish hue that often features a red blush. The fruit of this tree also has a distinct appearance that many considered to be very eye-catching. The Ein Shemer apple is often slightly longer than your average store-bought apple.

If the history and characteristics of the Ein Shemer apple have compelled you to want to grow your own, here’s what you’re going to need to do. 

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Planting Zones 

If you’re looking for an in-depth guide on how to grow an apple tree, you can find it on our site. Will give you the quick run down here, but you can find a fully-fledged guide ready for you on our website.

The Ein Shemer apple tree is technically rated for USDA hardiness zones 4 through 8. We say technically here because this tree was bred to be a successful crop for Israel. This means that it’s much more used to dry and hot climates than other apple trees. While many apple trees require months cold during the winter in order to fruit in the coming year, the Ein Shemer apple tree only needs a few hundred hours of cold to complete this cycle.

There are countless examples of Ein Shemer apple trees growing in USDA hardiness zone 9. In fact, regions as far as Southern Florida report growing this apple tree with great success. If you are in a part of the United States that’s not particularly known for its cold winters, the Ein Shemer apple tree could be the single best choice for you. 

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Size and Spacing

The Ein Shemer apple tree follows the standard formula for sizing and spacing that most apple cultivars take.

This apple tree can grow up to 25 feet in height and has a maximum spread of 20 feet. This means that you’re going to want to space Ein Shemer apple trees up to 20 feet apart. This ensures that, even at their maximum size, they will not overcrowd each other. Overcrowded apple trees compete for resources which leads to smaller harvests and greater chance of illness among your apple trees. 

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Pollination

The Ein Shemer apple tree isn’t exactly one type of apple cultivar, but actually several different types that all share a common name. Some of these types are self-fertile and do not require a pollinating partner in order to bear fruit. Other types of Ein Shemer apple require a pollinator. In any case, having a pollinator for the Ein Shemer apple nearby will improve the overall quality of the fruit during your harvest. 

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Ein Shemer Apple Tree Care

Now that you know the ins-and-outs of growing an Ein Shemer apple tree, let’s go over what it takes to keep one healthy and ensure that your next harvest is a bountiful one. 

Sunlight

It should be no surprise at this point that the Ein Shemer apple tree is a full sunlight fruit tree.

This means that you’re going to want to plant this tree in an area of your garden that gets 6 to 8 hours of full sunlight each day. If that is a little bit much to ask given the constraints of your garden, the Ein Shemer apple tree can withstand a little bit of shade. 

Watering

Here’s another characteristic of the Ein Shemer apple tree that makes it ideal for southern climates. Many apple cultivars cannot withstand droughts. However, the Ein Shemer apple tree has a moderate resistance to dry spells. You want to keep this apple tree moderately watered while you can, but do keep in mind that it can take slightly drier climates than many other apple cultivars.

When it comes to the soil that you plant this apple tree in, it’s ready to grow in almost any typical garden environment. 

Pruning 

We’ve got an in-depth guide on pruning apple trees that you can check out today to become a master orchardist. If you are just looking for a few quick tips, this section will take care of everything you need.

The Ein Shemer apple tree fruits earlier than many other apple cultivars. Harvest can be as early as late spring with this type of apple tree. This means that you might want to consider doing your pruning a little bit earlier in the season than you would for other types of apple trees. When you prune the Ein Shemer apple tree, you want to make sure that you’re pruning for both a full harvest as well as shaping the growth of this tree. 

Diseases & Care 

The Ein Shemer apple tree is noticeably tougher than many other varieties of apple tree. While it is still susceptible to all of the standard apple tree diseases, you can leave this tree to fend for itself without having to worry over it as you would with more sensitive apple cultivars.

Check out our full guide on apple tree diseases, that is ready to help you keep your budding orchard healthy. 

Pests 

The Ein Shemer apple tree faces many of the same pests as the rest of the members of the apple family. You’re going to want to look out for different types of insects. There are insects that go after the leaves of this tree as well as insects that go after the fruit and the wood of the tree itself.

One tip to keep in mind with growing a healthy apple tree is that if you see a type of insect on the tree you can’t identify, do your best to snap some quick and detailed photographs of the new insect. This way you can identify it either online or via an expert at your local nursery to make sure that it’s not a potentially dangerous pests. 

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Common Uses For The Ein Shemer Apple Tree 

Ein Shemer apples are a great choice if you’re looking for a healthy snack as well as something that can quickly transform into a decadent treat.

What Does The Ein Shemer Apple Taste Like?

The Ein Shemer apple has a crisp snap that you’ll notice right after biting into it. These apples have a sweet taste with a slightly acidic, almost citrus, pop to them. This makes them an absolute treasure for a wide range of culinary applications.

Cooking

The Ein Shemer apple is considered an all-around good choice for every cooking application. It’s pleasing flavour lent itself just as easily to desserts like apple muffins as it does to savory dinners.

Eating Raw

You might have guessed this already, but the Ein Shemer apple is one of the best choices for eating an apple raw. That eye-catching yellow peel and crisp off-white flesh provided a delicious snap while the sweet and slightly acidic flavour pleases bite after bite. 

Canning / Freezing / Drying

The Ein Shemer apple is also a great choice for preserving. Whether you’re looking to make apple butter or you want to store some apple crisps for a ready-made snack, the Ein Shemer apple tree has the fruit you’ve been dreaming of.

Try Your Hand at These Classic Ein Shemer Apple Recipes

Ready to try out some recipes that use the Ein Shemer Apple?

We already teased  the idea of using these apples in an apple butter already, so why not try the recipe? We’ve also got recipes for apple crisps as well as apple muffins. 

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Health Benefits of the Ein Shemer Apple Tree 

The Ein Shemer Apple features your standard suite of apple health benefits.

These fruits are naturally high in nutrients and low in calories. This means that you can snack on apples without worrying about your diet. Apples are also a great source of antioxidants which can help with everything from heart health to cancer resistance. Adding some more apples to your diet is also a great way to boost your digestive health.

Have all of these delicious recipes and health benefits sold you on an Ein Shemer Apple? If so, here’s where you can get one of your very own. 

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Where To Buy The Ein Shemer Apple 

If you just want to cut to the chase and try a Ein Shemer Apple for yourself, you might have a little difficulty acquiring one.

Unless you’re willing to hop on a plane and take a quick vacation to Israel, these apples are not always a common sight at your local grocery store. It is possible for your local shop to stock the Ein Shemer Apple, but these are not in the common rotation of apples seen at stores throughout North America.

You can always ask a specialty produce store in your community to order some for you. Many grocery store co-ops and other mom-and-pop stores readily special order produce for their customers.

Growing an Ein Shemer apple tree might just be the quickest way to taste one for yourself.

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Wrapping up The Ein Shemer Apple Tree 

The Ein Shemer apple tree has a unique history and an even more unique set of growing characteristics. This is one of the rare apple cultivars that is able to handle very few hours of cold weather during the winter. If you’re in a warm, southern climate, this is the apple tree that you’ve been waiting for!

Excited for more apple content? Visit our apple trees page to learn more about apple planting, growing, picking, cooking, and more!