{"title":"Bittersweet Cider Apples","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA bittersweet apple is low in acid (under 0.45%) and high in tannin (over 0.2%), and it gives cider body and a dry, grippy finish.\u003c\/strong\u003e These are the apples behind Normandy and West Country cider.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/binet-rouge-apple\"\u003eBinet Rouge\u003c\/a\u003e: a Normandy bittersweet with 1.5 g\/L acid and 0.21% tannin (Long Ashton) and 14.2 Brix in Michigan. It took near -40F in Corvallis, Montana and bounced back. Zone 3, and it blooms very late.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/brown-snout-apple\"\u003eBrown Snout\u003c\/a\u003e: 2.4 g\/L acid and 0.24% tannin (Long Ashton). Zone 4.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/ellis-bitter-apple\"\u003eEllis Bitter\u003c\/a\u003e: 2.0 g\/L acid and 0.24% tannin (Long Ashton). Zone 4.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrue bittersweets are scarce in zone 3. If your winters are colder than that, crabs like Trail and Hewe's bring tannin with their acid, and russets bring body, so you can get close. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cider-blends\"\u003eFrench and English style blends\u003c\/a\u003e show how, and \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/best-apples-for-cider\"\u003ewhich apples make good cider\u003c\/a\u003e explains the classes. See also \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/cider-apple-trees\"\u003eall cider apple trees\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hard-cider\"\u003efruit for hard cider\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"binet-rouge-apple","title":"Binet Rouge Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Binet Rouge Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 3 from other growers' reports (winters to -40°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 7 of 7, very late for an apple or crabapple), and it ripens about Oct 16 to Oct 29 in Missoula (our Missoula estimate).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 3 to 8. A bare number means the whole of zone 3, colder half included (winters to -40°F). Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 900 hours (700 to 1,300). Our estimate. No published figure exists for this variety yet. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#binet-rouge-apple\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeeds Cross-Pollination. Bloom group 7 of 7 (very late), late spring here. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 6 to 7. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ellis-bitter-apple\"\u003eEllis Bitter Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/brown-snout-apple\"\u003eBrown Snout Apple\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/apple-pollination-map\"\u003eApple Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Oct 16 to Oct 29 in Missoula (a Missoula estimate from published sources). Real years swing about a week either way. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eSee the date for your town\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBud 118: semi-dwarf in our dry Montana soils, semi-standard on paper, about 12 to 18 ft tall unpruned. Stands on its own, few suckers. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHard cider (7\/10), brandy and liqueurs (7\/10). Scores are our 1 to 10 ratings, but we're still new to this one, so they lean on published descriptions and other growers rather than our own harvests. 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA deer favorite. Fence it or cage it.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 5-7 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout Binet Rouge Apple\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBinet Rouge is a Normandy bittersweet with 0.21% tannin and just 1.5 g\/L acid, and it bounced back after near -40F in Corvallis, Montana.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWhere it came from:\u003c\/strong\u003e Normandy cider country, France.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eParents:\u003c\/strong\u003e Not stated.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAlso called:\u003c\/strong\u003e None.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCider class:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bittersweet.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJuice:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.5 g\/L acid as malic, 0.21% tannin (Long Ashton, via Lea); 14.2 Brix in northwest Michigan (MSU).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bounced back after the 2024 winter, when MSU's research center in Corvallis, Montana saw near -40F. We're new to growing it, so we haven't tested it colder.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBloom and ripening:\u003c\/strong\u003e blooms in apple group 7 of 7 (Very Late); ripens about Oct 16 to Oct 29 in Missoula.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart of: \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/bittersweet-cider-apples\"\u003ebittersweet cider apples\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/zone-3-cider-apples\"\u003ezone 3 cider apples\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore reading: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/best-apples-for-cider\"\u003ebest apples for cider\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions about Binet Rouge Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs Binet Rouge good for cider?\u003c\/strong\u003e It's a true bittersweet: 0.21% tannin and only 1.5 g\/L acid, the body of a Normandy style cider. It's the heart of our Normandy style blend at 45%.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhen does Binet Rouge bloom?\u003c\/strong\u003e Very late, in bloom group 7, so pair it with another late bloomer like Ellis Bitter (also group 7).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow big does Binet Rouge Apple get?\u003c\/strong\u003e On Bud 118 it's semi-dwarf, about 12 to 18 ft unpruned.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003eSources: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.orangepippin.com\/varieties\/apples\/binet-rouge\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eOrange Pippin, Binet Rouge\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cider.org.uk\/appledat.htm\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eAndrew Lea, Cider Apple Compositional Data\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cropsandsoils.extension.wisc.edu\/files\/2023\/08\/Apple-Cultivars-for-Production-of-Hard-Cider-in-Michigan.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eApple Cultivars for Production of Hard Cider in Michigan\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"116\" data-start=\"98\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"477\" data-start=\"117\"\u003eBinet Rouge is a traditional French cider apple from Normandy, long valued for its aromatic, bittersweet fruit and exceptional pollination qualities. The small to medium apples are greenish-yellow with red striping, producing firm, fine-grained flesh that is sweet, slightly bitter, and distinctly flavorful. It's excellent for cider but unsuitable for fresh eating.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"509\" data-start=\"479\"\u003eTree Characteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"751\" data-start=\"510\"\u003eThe tree is moderately vigorous, frost-tolerant at bloom, and known for heavy biennial crops, though it is prone to scab, mildew, and fire blight. Used historically in Calvados production, Binet Rouge remains a highly regarded cider variety.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"777\" data-start=\"753\"\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"992\" data-start=\"778\"\u003eIn terms of hardiness, Binet Rouge surprisingly bounced back after a cold 2024 winter in which the Western Agriculture Research Station experienced near -40F. Not sure whether it can tolerate much colder than that.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"1026\" data-start=\"994\"\u003eNote on Our Experience\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1164\" data-start=\"1027\"\u003eThis is our first year growing Binet Rouge in Montana; information provided is from established sources rather than firsthand experience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"1224\" data-start=\"1166\"\u003eWestern Ag Research Center Notes (Corvallis, MT)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1815\" data-start=\"1225\"\u003eAccording to Western Agriculture Research Center in Corvallis, MT, \"Binet Rouge is a small stature tree that produces prolifically in bearing years and must be thinned to reduce fruit load and biennial bearing. It is highly susceptible to fire blight and should be managed carefully to reduce risk of infection. Binet Rouge, while not extremely vigorous, does produce several branches with good angles for training on either a trellis or as a standalone tree. Four years after planting, it has yet to reach the top wire in WARC’s high density trellis system on both G935 and M26 rootstock.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"1839\" data-start=\"1817\"\u003eImage Credit\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-is-only-node=\"\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-end=\"1883\" data-start=\"1840\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/User:APictche\"\u003eImages Courtesy of Wikimedia Users APictche\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Binet Rouge Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Binet Rouge Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Binet Rouge Apple needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 6 to 7. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ellis-bitter-apple\"\u003eEllis Bitter Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/brown-snout-apple\"\u003eBrown Snout Apple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Binet Rouge Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe list Binet Rouge Apple at zone 3, which means winters down to about -40°F. We're still new to it, so that rating comes from the Western Ag Research Center and other growers' reports rather than our own winters. We'll adjust it as our own trees go through more Montana winters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Binet Rouge Apple need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 900 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 700 and 1,300. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Late bloomer and strongly biennial, so thin hard in heavy years. No measured chill figure; plan on about 900 hours. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#binet-rouge-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Binet Rouge Apple ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Oct 16 to Oct 29 in Missoula, Montana (an estimate built from published sources and our climate). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Binet Rouge Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Binet Rouge Apple onto Bud 118 (semi-dwarf in our dry Montana soils, semi-standard on paper), which makes a tree roughly 12 to 18 ft tall if you never prune it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Binet Rouge Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Binet Rouge Apple are hard cider (7\/10), brandy and liqueurs (7\/10). Since we're still new to it, those scores lean on published descriptions and other growers rather than our own harvests.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Binet Rouge Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Binet Rouge Apple with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"Bud 118 Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45124816339010,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/binet-rouge-apple-harvest.jpg?v=1789019191"},{"product_id":"brown-snout-apple","title":"Brown Snout Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Brown Snout Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 4 from other growers' reports (winters to -30°F), and not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 6 of 7, late for an apple or crabapple).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 4 to 8. A bare number means the whole of zone 4, colder half included (winters to -30°F). Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 1,000 hours (800 to 1,200). Our estimate. No published figure exists for this variety yet. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#brown-snout-apple\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeeds Cross-Pollination. Bloom group 6 of 7 (late), late spring here. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 5 to 7. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/binet-rouge-apple\"\u003eBinet Rouge Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/black-oxford-apple\"\u003eBlack Oxford Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ellis-bitter-apple\"\u003eEllis Bitter Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/honeycrisp\"\u003eHoneycrisp Apple\u003c\/a\u003e and 14 more. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/apple-pollination-map\"\u003eApple Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBud 118: semi-dwarf in our dry Montana soils, semi-standard on paper, about 12 to 18 ft tall unpruned. Stands on its own, few suckers. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHard cider (7\/10). Scores are our 1 to 10 ratings, but we're still new to this one, so they lean on published descriptions and other growers rather than our own harvests. 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA deer favorite. Fence it or cage it.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 5-7 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp data-start=\"141\" data-end=\"240\"\u003eThis is our first year growing Brown Snout, so all of the following information below is second hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"242\" data-end=\"263\"\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Origins\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"264\" data-end=\"504\"\u003eBrown Snout is a traditional English cider apple that originated in Herefordshire in the early 19th century. Its exact parentage is unknown, but it has long been recognized as a classic bittersweet variety used in West Country cider making.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"506\" data-end=\"526\"\u003eFruit Appearance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"527\" data-end=\"748\"\u003eThe apples are small to medium in size and often show the characteristic russeted “brown snout” near the calyx, which gives the variety its name. The skin is typically green to yellow-green with varying amounts of russet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"750\" data-end=\"778\"\u003eFlavor \u0026amp; Cider Qualities\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"779\" data-end=\"978\"\u003eThe flesh is moderately firm and aromatic, producing juice with rich bittersweet tannins, low acidity, and good body. It's ideal for traditional English-style cider and for blending with sharper varieties.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"980\" data-end=\"993\"\u003eHardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"994\" data-end=\"1160\"\u003eCold hardiness is considered moderate for an English cider apple, generally performing best in climates around Zone 4–5 depending on rootstock and growing conditions. So therefore for Montana growers, we would say it is hardy to -30F, and should likely only be planted in the warmest microclimates of the warmest valley of Montana.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eImage courtesy of David Pickering\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Brown Snout Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Brown Snout Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Brown Snout Apple needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 5 to 7. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/binet-rouge-apple\"\u003eBinet Rouge Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/black-oxford-apple\"\u003eBlack Oxford Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ellis-bitter-apple\"\u003eEllis Bitter Apple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Brown Snout Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe list Brown Snout Apple at zone 4, which means winters down to about -30°F. We're still new to it, so that rating comes from published sources and other growers' reports rather than our own winters. We'll adjust it as our own trees go through more Montana winters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Brown Snout Apple need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 1,000 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 800 and 1,200. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Needs a pollenizer. No measured chill figure; plan on about 1,000 hours. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#brown-snout-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Brown Snout Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Brown Snout Apple onto Bud 118 (semi-dwarf in our dry Montana soils, semi-standard on paper), which makes a tree roughly 12 to 18 ft tall if you never prune it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Brown Snout Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Brown Snout Apple are hard cider (7\/10). Since we're still new to it, that score leans on published descriptions and other growers rather than our own harvests.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Brown Snout Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Brown Snout Apple with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Brown Snout Apple ship?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA dormant bare-root plant, roots wrapped in moist sawdust with a vapor barrier, shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring. Sizes offered: 5-7 ft. We guarantee our plants bud out. Stone fruits can be slow, so if one still has not budded out by August 15, write to us and we credit you for the following spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"Bud 118 Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45125051646018,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/brown-snout-apple-fruit.jpg?v=1789019221"},{"product_id":"ellis-bitter-apple","title":"Ellis Bitter Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ellis Bitter Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 4 from other growers' reports (winters to -30°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 7 of 7, very late for an apple or crabapple), and it ripens about Sep 4 to Sep 21 in Missoula (our Missoula estimate).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 4 to 8. A bare number means the whole of zone 4, colder half included (winters to -30°F). Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 1,000 hours (800 to 1,200). Our estimate. No published figure exists for this variety yet. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003eCheck your chill hours\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#ellis-bitter-apple\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeeds Cross-Pollination. Bloom group 7 of 7 (very late), late spring here. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 6 to 7. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/binet-rouge-apple\"\u003eBinet Rouge Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/brown-snout-apple\"\u003eBrown Snout Apple\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/apple-pollination-map\"\u003eApple Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Sep 4 to Sep 21 in Missoula (a Missoula estimate from published sources). Real years swing about a week either way. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eSee the date for your town\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRootstock and size\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBud 118: semi-dwarf in our dry Montana soils, semi-standard on paper, about 12 to 18 ft tall unpruned. Stands on its own, few suckers. Plant 15 to 18 ft apart. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHard cider (7\/10). Scores are our 1 to 10 ratings, but we're still new to this one, so they lean on published descriptions and other growers rather than our own harvests. 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA deer favorite. Fence it or cage it.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 4-6 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"14\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"15\" data-end=\"528\"\u003eEllis Bitter is a specialty cider apple grown primarily for fermentation rather than fresh eating. Most of what we know about its cider characteristics, growth behavior, and disease tendencies comes from university research programs and extension-based cider cultivar evaluations. This is the first year we have grown Ellis Bitter, and we have not yet tasted the fruit or observed its long-term behavior under Montana conditions, so the information below should be considered secondhand rather than experiential.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"530\" data-end=\"556\"\u003eFruit Quality \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"557\" data-end=\"897\"\u003eEllis Bitter is valued for its role in cider making, where it contributes tannin, structure, and mouthfeel rather than sweetness or fresh-eating appeal. University cider research programs describe it as a bittering apple used to add depth and balance in fermented cider, particularly when blended with higher-acid or higher-sugar varieties.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"899\" data-end=\"927\"\u003eGrowth Habit \u0026amp; Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"928\" data-end=\"1306\"\u003eExtension and research sources generally describe Ellis Bitter as a vigorous-growing apple. For Montana plantings, it should be treated as a vigorous tree and spaced accordingly. We have it on Bud-118 semi-dwarf rootstock, and should be spaced 15-18 ft. apart. Wider spacing helps maintain light penetration and airflow, which is especially important for cider apples grown for consistent ripening and disease management.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1308\" data-end=\"1325\"\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1326\" data-end=\"1648\"\u003eEllis Bitter is not considered self-fertile and benefits from cross-pollination with other apple varieties that bloom at a similar time. In Montana, reliable fruit set will depend on having compatible pollenizers nearby as well as adequate pollinator activity during bloom, particularly in cool or windy spring conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1650\" data-end=\"1670\"\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1671\" data-end=\"2138\"\u003eCold hardiness information for Ellis Bitter is limited and best inferred from its classification as a European cider apple rather than an ultra-hardy northern dessert apple. For Montana, it should be approached conservatively and sited carefully, with attention to cold-air drainage, fall acclimation, and the use of cold-hardy rootstocks (we've got you covered here with Bud 118). It's likely hardy to -30F at least, although tread with caution if you are planting it in an area that can see colder temps than this. Its performance through extreme winter temperatures remains something that will need to be confirmed through local observation. Listed widely online as zone 4.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"2140\" data-end=\"2159\"\u003eDisease Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2160\" data-end=\"2429\"\u003eUniversity and extension references consistently note that Ellis Bitter shows susceptibility to fire blight. In Montana, this makes canopy management and vigor control especially important, as fire blight risk increases during warm bloom periods and rapid shoot growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"2431\" data-end=\"2469\"\u003eMontana Context \u0026amp; Our Experience\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2470\" data-end=\"2878\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eEllis Bitter is best considered a trial cider apple for Montana growers. While its cider qualities are well documented in research and extension literature, regional performance data in the Northern Rockies and Intermountain West are limited. This is our first year growing Ellis Bitter, and we have not yet tasted the fruit or observed how it handles Montana winters, disease pressure, or cropping patterns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003eAbout the photo: this isn’t Ellis Bitter itself. Photos of Ellis Bitter are either under copyright or simply unavailable, so we picked the open-source image that looks closest to the fruit. Photo: “CSIRO ScienceImage 11106 Apples on tree” by Liese Coulter, CSIRO, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:CSIRO_ScienceImage_11106_Apples_on_tree.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY 3.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Ellis Bitter Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Ellis Bitter Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Ellis Bitter Apple needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 6 to 7. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/binet-rouge-apple\"\u003eBinet Rouge Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/brown-snout-apple\"\u003eBrown Snout Apple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Ellis Bitter Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe list Ellis Bitter Apple at zone 4, which means winters down to about -30°F. We're still new to it, so that rating comes from published sources and other growers' reports rather than our own winters. We'll adjust it as our own trees go through more Montana winters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Ellis Bitter Apple need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 1,000 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 800 and 1,200. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Late bloomer, so pair it with another late-blooming apple. No measured chill figure; plan on about 1,000 hours. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours\"\u003echill hours guide\u003c\/a\u003e has a calculator for your winters, and our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chill-hours-research#ellis-bitter-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Ellis Bitter Apple ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Sep 4 to Sep 21 in Missoula, Montana (an estimate built from published sources and our climate). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Ellis Bitter Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Ellis Bitter Apple onto Bud 118 (semi-dwarf in our dry Montana soils, semi-standard on paper), which makes a tree roughly 12 to 18 ft tall if you never prune it. Plant 15 to 18 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Ellis Bitter Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Ellis Bitter Apple are hard cider (7\/10). We haven't tasted the fruit yet, so that score leans on published descriptions and other growers rather than our own harvests.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Ellis Bitter Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Ellis Bitter Apple with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"Bud 118 Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft for Shipping","offer_id":42499027992642,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/red-flushed-apples-on-tree.jpg?v=1791615379"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/collections\/BinetRougeAppleMontanaFruitTreeCompany.jpg?v=1793474305","url":"https:\/\/www.montanafruittrees.com\/collections\/bittersweet-cider-apples.oembed","provider":"Montana Fruit Trees","version":"1.0","type":"link"}