Teeple Red Royal™ Empire Apple Tree

When you are looking at Apples in the produce section of your favorite grocery store, what do you look for? For many, the phrase "Redder is better" is their motto, and it is especially appropriate for the Teeple Red Royal™ Empire Apple (Malus 'Teeple Red Royal Empire'). This red beauty is better than so many of the rest!

The Teeple Red Royal™ Empire Apple was discovered as a limb sport on an Empire Apple tree by Russel Teeple from upstate New York. The Apples on this particular limb were noticeably redder than the Apples on the rest of the tree.

The Teeple Red Royal™ Empire Apple has snow-white flesh that is sweet with a crisp texture and just a hint of pineapple flavor. The Apples are moderately sized and almost completely deep-red, unlike other Empire varieties that are about 75% red.

If winter leaves you looking for spring blooms, the Teeple Red Royal™ Empire flowers earlier than most Apple varieties. Look for pretty pollinators flying around its branches, helping improve your crop that typically ripens in September.

The Teeple Red Royal™ resists Storage Scald and Fire Blight! Hardy throughout USDA planting zones 4 through 7, there is little you need to worry about this mid-season ripening Apple Tree!

Planting and Application:

While growing best in cooler climates, the Teeple Red Royal™ Empire can be planted successfully farther south than most Empire varieties. They are relatively easy to grow and more productive than most other Empire Apples. In fact, most will produce up to 16 bushels per tree!

The Teeple Red's unique flavor and texture make them an excellent addition to salads, and they are ideal for cider as well as baked desserts because the shape of the slices holds up well. Or create a linear orchard by planting hedgerows for wildlife and edible landscaping that doubles as property definition and privacy hedges! When grown to full size, Teeple Red Royal™ is a fantastic little shade tree or ornamental flowering and fruiting accent for both front and back gardens!

The Teeple Red Royal™ Empire is considered partially, self-fruitful, especially in the warmer climates but if you plant near one of its pollination partners (see below for the full list), the fruit set will be greatly increased. They are smaller trees, so you can plant them closer than other varieties, in groupings, and large or small orchards!

• A True Red Apple
• A Sport of the Popular Empire Apple
• Crisp Snow-White Flesh With a Hint of Pineapple
• Lush Green Foliage & Mid-Sized Form
• Ripens Around September
• Fruiting/Flowering Ornamental, Shade Trees & Edible Landscaping

#ProPlantTips for Care:

The Teeple Red Royal Empire likes full sun and grows best in loamy, well-drained soil. Water this tree regularly like any other plant. This tree should be planted in well-drained soil. If the soil near the base of the tree is moist, then this tree is happy! If it is dry, give it a good soak. Top off with a 3-4 inch thick layer of arborist mulch. Consider staking your tree to keep its trunk growing straight for the first year to ensure it stands tall against strong winds and drifting snow.

How to Prune Red Royal™ Apple Trees

Trim off any broken branches from delivery as soon as you take them out of the box. Prune and trim Apple trees while dormant, in late winter or early spring, before you see new growth.

Dormant prune to:

• Remove any double leaders or narrow crotch angles
• Eliminate any crossing branches
• Thin interior branching, but keep fruiting spurs and strong branches in place opening up the canopy
• Remove branching at least 24-36 inches above the ground or keep as shrubby plants low to the ground for easier harvest.

Prune Apple trees in the summer to:

• Control size and shape by reducing the length of longer new growth on vigorous trees
• Remove water sprouts on the main trunk or older branches in the crown
• Remove suckers at the base of the trunk
• Thin fruit during heavy years on established trees

No room? Try a high-density planting technique, create an Espalier tree, or prune your Apple tree smaller to accommodate even the smallest of sunny properties!

• Full Sun
• Enriched Well-Drained Soil
• Regular Moisture Needs
• Appreciates Mulched Beds
• See Fruit Tree Pruning Tips In Our Garden Blog
• Resists Storage Scald & Fire Blight
• 600-800 Chill Hours

Once you have planted a Teeple Red Royal™ Empire Apple Tree, get ready for fun and laughter with your loved ones. You will have plenty of these tasty, ruby red Apples to eat, cook, and share with friends and relatives. Don't delay - invest in these Apples today with the help of Nature Hills!

Teeple Red Royal™ Empire Apple Tree FAQ

When to Plant Teeple Red Apple Trees

Planting Bareroot trees as soon as you can dig a hole in spring and until hot weather, the earlier the better. Plant container Apple trees throughout the growing season with complete success - that is the benefit of container plants - to extend the planting season. Your County Agricultural Extension Office is a great resource for first and last frost dates in your area.

How to Plant Teeple Red Royal™ Apple Trees

Planting Apple Trees is easy! Dig a large hole only as deep as needed to accommodate the bareroot or container root ball, and twice as wide. Add Nature Hills Root Booster to speed root establishment.

Remove the pot or bag and situate it into the hole so the top of the soil (soil line if bareroot), is level with the new location's soil being careful not to plant too deep. Water in again very well and backfill with the same soil you dug up, tamping down gently to ensure there are no air pockets.

How to Care for Teeple Red Apple Trees

Growing an Apple tree is easy when proper soil, good drainage, attention to moisture, and regular fertility are maintained. Once you've chosen an apple tree that works for your climate, in the size you need for your landscape, and its pollinator (if needed), then you've accomplished half the battle!

• Apple trees do best in full sun and well-drained soil
• Water your Apple trees when they get dry - especially during the fruit production stage, and drought periods to keep them stress-free
• Use arborists' wood chips to mulch over the roots of your Apples
  Have your soil tested to see what your soil may be lacking before adding fertilizers.
• Apple trees will tolerate a wide range of soils, so long as water and nutrients are not limited and the pH level is adequate.
• Maintenance pruning and shaping

How to Fertilize Teeple Red Apple Trees

For the first year, water alone is most important. It is always best to get a soil test to see what your soil is lacking before adding more fertilizers. Once established, a fertilizer routine may be beneficial. We do offer some excellent slow-release organic options, applied according to the package directions.

Fruit trees need more phosphate and it's possible to apply too much nitrogen which affects the soil's pH. Test soil acidity or alkalinity using a pH Tester.

Fertilize in spring when you first see new growth emerging.

• Don't overdo it
• Phosphates are your friends
• Pay attention to pH in areas with extremely high or low soil pH
• Follow the directions on the package

Teeple Red Apple Tree Pollinating Info

Red Royal™ is not self-fruiting and needs a pollinating partner. Pair with one of these varieties:

• White Flowering Crabapples Like Centennial, Chestnut, or Dolgo
• Cortland
• Cox's Orange Pippin
• CrimsonCrisp
• Cripps Red and Pink
• Enterprise
• Freedom
• Frostbite
• Fuji
• Gala
• Granny Smith
• Haralson
• Honeycrisp
• Idared
• PixieCrunch
• Red Delicious
• SnowSweet
• SunCrisp
• WineCrisp
• Wolf River
• Wealthy
  

Harvest Times for Teeple Red Apple Trees

Early-Season? Mid-Season? Late-Season? The terminology can be confusing for new Apple tree growers. Weather, climate, and your tree will ultimately determine when it's ripe.

For Apples:

• Early-season is usually June-July
• Mid-season can be August-September
• Late-season can be from late September-November

Teeple Red Apples are typically ready to harvest in September.

The growing season consists of spring, summer, and fall, and varies with climate and weather. Areas with longer growing seasons in the warmer hardiness zones can greatly affect the harvest times for each particular apple variety grown in your area.