• Virginia is home to a range of apple tree varieties.Apple on the tree image by Nikolay Lapitsky from Fotolia.com
  
  Of the 3,000 or so apple varieties grown throughout the world, about 25 commonly grow in Virginia, according to Virginia Tech University. Apples grown at higher elevations in Virginia tend to produce better skin color and firmer flesh, and they store more easily than varieties grown in the lower, warmer areas. Apple trees, no matter the variety, require annual pruning. Overgrown trees bear fruit irregularly, decreasing yields.
  
  

Gala

• The gala apple is a summer-ripening apple in Virginia, typically ready for harvest around August 20, according to Virginia Tech University. These yellow apples taste tart and sweet. Although a popular apple when eaten raw, it fares less well when used for cooking or preserves. Gala apples are particularly susceptible to the bacterial disease called fire blight. The bacteria infect apple branches and can result in the loss of the entire tree.
  
  

Golden and Red Delicious

• The gold and red versions of the delicious apple are the leading varieties of apples grown in the United States and the best all-around varieties in Virginia, according to Virginia Tech University. Red delicious apples are usually harvested on or about September 16, while golden delicious apples are ready for harvest about May 20. For regions east of the Blue Ridge, harvest dates fall between five and 14 days earlier. These two varieties resist fire blight.
  
  

McIntosh Apples

• The McIntosh variety of apple is a tart-flavored, white-fleshed apple that grows with either white or green skin. The apple suits a wide range of growing conditions and grows in numerous states. McIntosh apples grown in Virginia typically ripen before those grown in New England states, making the Virginia McIntosh varieties the only ones available at market during that period. McIntosh apples are used for pies, preserves and sauces, although they are also suitable for eating raw.