It is apple season and from what I hear, many people are getting a bumper crop this year!
Having lived all my life in
USDA Hardiness Zone 3,
I have tried with little success to grow apples. The following are some hardy varieties for our growing conditions.
These varieties may not work for everyone, as it depends on your specific site conditions (whether the apple trees are south facing and protected from harsh northerly winds) and how you care for them.
Honeycrisp apples are becoming a very popular variety to grow around here. Keep in mind they do not self-pollinate so you will need another apple or crab apple nearby.
Bred by the University of Minnesota researchers, Honeycrisp is known for its crisp, juicy texture and sweet, tasty flavor. They are best for eating fresh or in salads (they are slow to turn brown) and can be kept for several months in the refrigerator.
Sweet Sixteen, another variety originating from the UMN in 1977, has a unique flavor with hints of vanilla, molasses, spicy cherry candy and licorice. They do not keep for long, and are best for eating fresh or for sauce.
An old heirloom variety, Wolf River, is a big cooking apple with dry flesh, making it ideal for baking. This is year two for mine and it has yet to produce. I need to be patient. It can take up to five years to yield a minimal harvest.
Another heirloom, Duchess of Oldenberg, ripens in early September and produces medium-sized apples that are sweet/tart. It is a multi-use apple, for eating fresh and making sauce and other dishes.
Several crab apple varieties are also hardy in Zone 3. Dolga, mostly used for juices and jellies, produces fruit for many years. Centennial, Chestnut and Whitney crab apples are all reliable varieties for our climate.
For a complete list of University of Minnesota apples varieties, visit
mnhardy.umn.edu/apples/varieties.
Fall (until late September) can be a great time to plant apple trees, as they are well rooted in pots and will have time to settle into a new home before the ground freezes. Garden centers typically run sales on them, so they don’t have to overwinter them.
Something to remember when looking for an apple tree for your orchard is that dwarf trees produce apples sooner (2-3 years) than semi-dwarf (5-7 years) and full-size trees (up to 10 years). Choose healthy disease-free trees with open branching and plant them as soon as you get them home.
Your garden center will give you tips on how to plant your trees, or you can look to the UMN Extension article,
“Growing Apples in the Home Garden.”
Try growing apples for your family to enjoy!
Are you interested in becoming a Master Gardener through the University of Minnesota Extension? Visit
extension.umn.edu/master-gardener/about-master-gardener
or email
mgweb@umn.edu
to learn more about the Master Gardener volunteer program.
By becoming a Master Gardener, you will learn more about soil health, integrated pest management, botany, entomology and other horticultural subjects. Not only do you learn about these interesting subjects, but you can also help others learn too. Apply today and join our fun group!
These local garden articles will reach you each week throughout the gardening season, but gardening information can be found year-round by clicking on “Yard and Garden” at the University of Minnesota Extension website,
www.extension.umn.edu,
or by visiting our Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/Beltramicountymastergardeners.
Local Master Gardeners will respond to questions via voicemail. Call
(218) 444-7916,
and leave your name, number and question.
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