{"title":"Early-Ripening Apple Trees","description":"\u003cp\u003eApples that come ripe in August here in Missoula, before the end of the month. In a short season these are the ones that always finish before the first hard freeze, and they're the first fresh apples of the year. Most early apples don't keep long, so eat them, sauce them or press them.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdetails class=\"mft-more\"\u003e\u003csummary\u003eMore about early apples\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/lodi-apple\"\u003eLodi\u003c\/a\u003e is usually the first one ready, around the start of August, and it's a great sauce apple. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pristine\"\u003ePristine\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/williams-pride-apple\"\u003eWilliam's Pride\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/zestar-apple\"\u003eZestar\u003c\/a\u003e are the best early eaters, with William's Pride and Pristine resisting scab too. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-gravenstein\"\u003eGravenstein\u003c\/a\u003e comes at the tail end of August and is one of the best sauce and juice apples there is.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor the coldest country, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/parkland-apple\"\u003eParkland\u003c\/a\u003e is hardy to zone 1, and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/september-ruby-apple\"\u003eSeptember Ruby\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/oriole-apple\"\u003eOriole\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/mantet-apple\"\u003eMantet\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/shafer-apple\"\u003eShafer\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kindercrisp-apple\"\u003eKindercrisp\u003c\/a\u003e take zone 2. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/goodland-apple\"\u003eGoodland\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/9-22-end-apple\"\u003e9-22 End\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/redstar-apple\"\u003eRedstar\u003c\/a\u003e are rated to zone 2b, and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/crimson-beauty-apple\"\u003eCrimson Beauty\u003c\/a\u003e to zone 3.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are Missoula dates, and they move with your climate. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/ripening-map\"\u003eripening map\u003c\/a\u003e converts every variety to your town and shows what finishes before your freeze. Plant an early apple with a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/mid-season-apple-trees\"\u003emid-season\u003c\/a\u003e and a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/late-ripening-apple-trees\"\u003elate\u003c\/a\u003e one and you're picking from August into October.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is the earliest ripening apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLodi is usually first, in early August here. Crimson Beauty, Pristine and Norland follow within a few days.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat early apple is best for eating fresh?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eZestar, Pristine and William's Pride. All three are crisp and sweet-tart, and Pristine and William's Pride resist scab.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDo early apples store well?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot really. Most keep a few weeks in the fridge at best. For storage, plant a late apple too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"carroll-apple","title":"Carroll Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Carroll Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 2 in our ratings (winters to -50°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 3 of 7, early-mid for an apple or crabapple), and it ripens about Aug 18 to Aug 30 in Missoula (picked and dated at our place in Missoula).\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 2 to 7. A bare number means the whole of zone 2, colder half included (winters to -50°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#carroll-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 3 of 7 (early-mid), late spring here. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 2 to 4. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hewes-virginia-crabapple\"\u003eHewe's Virginia Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hyslop-crabapple\"\u003eHyslop Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wickson-crabapple\"\u003eWickson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/blue-pearmain-apple\"\u003eBlue Pearmain Apple\u003c\/a\u003e and 100 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\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 18 to Aug 30 in Missoula (picked and dated off our own trees). 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. Dolgo: full size, about 20 to 30 ft tall unpruned. Very hardy and well anchored. \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\u003eFresh eating (8\/10), drying (7\/10), pies and baking (6\/10), sauce and butter (6\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 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, 3-5 ft or 4-6 ft or 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\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eCarroll Apple: Hardy, Early, and Packed with Flavor\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eWe were introduced to Carroll by Roger Joy in the summer of 2016 and were instantly impressed. This apple is a delicious fresh-eating variety, ripening in the Bitterroot and Missoula Valleys in late August, making it a fairly early-season apple.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eIt has a spicy-tangy sweetness that stands out and makes it a favorite for snacking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigins and Breeding Background\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eCarroll was developed at the Morden Research Breeding Station in Manitoba, Canada and is known for its exceptional cold hardiness, surviving temperatures down to -50°F or colder.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eIts Melba parent (a \u003ca href=\"\/products\/mcintosh-apple-seedling-open-pollination\"\u003eMcIntosh seedling\u003c\/a\u003e) contributes the dominant white flesh gene commonly found in McIntosh derivatives. The real game-changer for hardiness, however, comes from its other parent—Moscow Pear Apple—which likely boosts its survivability well beyond McIntosh’s typical -40°F threshold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eFruit Qualities and Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eCarroll produces large apples, typically 3 to 4 inches in diameter, with a distinctive flavor profile that combines spicy, tangy, and sweet notes—making it an excellent choice for fresh eating. Though we primarily enjoy it right off the tree, it’s also reported to perform well in pies and sauces, offering rich flavor complexity when cooked. One notable trait of Carroll is that it’s among the first apple varieties to defoliate in the fall, often signaling the seasonal shift before others. According to Roger Joy, “The canopy is vigorous and rounded, with lateral branches originating from wide angles, capable of supporting heavy crops of this wonderful fruit.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eCold Hardiness and Growing Recommendations\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eCarroll is a solid Zone 2 apple, making it ideal for growers in extremely cold regions. All of our Carroll trees are grafted onto \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo\u003c\/a\u003e rootstock, one of the hardiest rootstocks available, known for thriving in climates that dip below -50F or more, as well as Bud 118 (Hardy to about -45 to -50F).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Carroll Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Carroll Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Carroll 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 2 to 4. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hewes-virginia-crabapple\"\u003eHewe's Virginia Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hyslop-crabapple\"\u003eHyslop Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wickson-crabapple\"\u003eWickson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Carroll Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Carroll Apple hardy to zone 2, which means winters down to about -50°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Carroll 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. 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#carroll-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Carroll Apple ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 18 to Aug 30 in Missoula, Montana (picked and dated off our own trees). 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 Carroll Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Carroll 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. Some sizes are on \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Carroll Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Carroll Apple are fresh eating (8\/10), drying (7\/10), pies and baking (6\/10), sauce and butter (6\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Carroll Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Carroll 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 Rootstock: 3-5 ft","offer_id":45125056823362,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Dolgo Full Size Rootstock: 4-6 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45125056856130,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bud 118 Semi-Dwarf Rootstock: 5-7 ft (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45125056888898,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Dolgo Full Size Rootstock: 5-7 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45125056921666,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/carroll-apple-harvest.webp?v=1789019775"},{"product_id":"crimson-beauty-apple","title":"Crimson Beauty Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Crimson Beauty Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 3 in our ratings (winters to -40°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 2 of 7, early for an apple or crabapple), and it ripens about Aug 9 to Aug 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 3 to 7. 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 850 hours (650 to 1,050). 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#crimson-beauty-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 2 of 7 (early), late spring here. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 1 to 3. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo Crabapple (Bundle of 2)\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/chestnut-crabapple\"\u003eChestnut Applecrab\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/lodi-apple\"\u003eLodi Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/martha-applecrab\"\u003eMartha Applecrab\u003c\/a\u003e and 42 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\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 9 to Aug 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. Dolgo: full size, about 20 to 30 ft tall unpruned. Very hardy and well anchored. \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\u003ePies and baking (6\/10), sauce and butter (6\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 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 or 3-5 ft or 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\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eCrimson Beauty: A Landmark in Apple Breeding History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eCrimson Beauty holds a special place in the history of pomology as the first known controlled apple cross. In 1866, Francis Peabody Sharp crossed Fameuse (one of McIntosh’s parents) with New Brunswicker, an all-purpose apple valued for both fresh eating and baking. The result was Crimson Beauty—a summer apple traditionally labeled by nurseries as suitable only for culinary use, sauces, and processing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eHowever, when we tasted it fresh off the tree at Benson’s Farm in Missoula on August 14, 2024, we were pleasantly surprised by its fresh eating quality. \u003cspan\u003eInterestingly, Bruce Benson had planned to remove the Crimson Beauty tree on his property to make room for a parking lot. After we explained the tree’s historical importance, he chose to keep it (see photo). The tree, planted by Bruce’s grandfather in 1947, remains the largest and oldest Crimson Beauty specimen we’ve seen in Montana.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eFlavor Profile and Culinary Use\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eFrom our 2024 taste notes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003e“Intense flavor—sweet at first, followed by tart—bursting with strawberry and other berry notes.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eBecause it’s a summer apple, Crimson Beauty goes mealy quickly. For best results, we recommend harvesting slightly before full ripeness to extend its texture and shelf life. Picked at the right time, it can also be one of the earliest apples to use in pie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eWhile we don’t yet know Crimson Beauty’s exact lower hardiness limit, it did survive the -33°F cold snap of 1957. Given that both Crimson Beauty and McIntosh are Fameuse seedlings, and McIntosh is reliably hardy to around -40°F, it’s reasonable to estimate that Crimson Beauty is hardy to somewhere between -35°F and -40°F.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Crimson Beauty Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Crimson Beauty Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Crimson Beauty 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 1 to 3. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e (Bundle of 2), \u003ca href=\"\/products\/chestnut-crabapple\"\u003eChestnut Applecrab\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/lodi-apple\"\u003eLodi Apple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Crimson Beauty Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Crimson Beauty Apple hardy to zone 3, which means winters down to about -40°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Crimson Beauty Apple need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 850 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 650 and 1,050. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Likely needs a bit less chill than most apples, around 850 hours. Ripens mid-August. 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#crimson-beauty-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Crimson Beauty Apple ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 9 to Aug 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 Crimson Beauty Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Crimson Beauty 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. Some sizes are on Dolgo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Crimson Beauty Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Crimson Beauty Apple are pies and baking (6\/10), sauce and butter (6\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Crimson Beauty Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Crimson Beauty 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. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":43865957924930,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Dolgo Full Size: 3-5 ft. (2 Years Older)","offer_id":42499004891202,"sku":null,"price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Dolgo Full Size: 5-7 ft. (2 Years Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":42499004956738,"sku":null,"price":99.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/crimson-beauty-apple-in-hand.webp?v=1789019810"},{"product_id":"dearborns-unknown","title":"Dearborn's Unknown Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dearborn's Unknown Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 2 in our ratings (winters to -50°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 3 of 7, early-mid for an apple or crabapple), and it ripens about Aug 8 to Aug 20 in Missoula (picked and dated at our place in Missoula).\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 2 to 7. A bare number means the whole of zone 2, colder half included (winters to -50°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#dearborns-unknown\"\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 3 of 7 (early-mid), late spring here. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 2 to 4. Its pollen quality isn't confirmed yet, so don't count on it as the only pollenizer for another tree. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hewes-virginia-crabapple\"\u003eHewe's Virginia Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hyslop-crabapple\"\u003eHyslop Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wickson-crabapple\"\u003eWickson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/blue-pearmain-apple\"\u003eBlue Pearmain Apple\u003c\/a\u003e and 100 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\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 8 to Aug 20 in Missoula (picked and dated off our own trees). 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\u003eDolgo: full size, about 20 to 30 ft tall unpruned. Very hardy and well anchored. Spy 227: full size. A Northern Spy selection. Bud 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\u003eFresh eating (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 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, 3-5 ft or 4-6 ft or 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\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eDearborn’s Unknown: A Rediscovered Northern Heirloom\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eBelieved to be a possible cross between \u003ca href=\"\/products\/rescue-apple-crab\"\u003eRescue\u003c\/a\u003e × Chinese Golden Early × Summer Red, Dearborn’s Unknown was once widely grown in Alaska during the 1980s. The variety nearly vanished—until a fortunate rediscovery helped preserve its legacy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eOver 30 years ago, Bob Purvis gave scionwood of Dearborn’s Unknown to Ed Schultz. Decades later, Bob was unable to find anyone still growing the tree. Knowing Ed had recently replanted his orchard, Bob asked—somewhat pessimistically—if Ed knew of anyone who still had Dearborn’s Unknown. To Bob’s surprise, Ed had chosen it as one of the few varieties he decided to replant. Ed generously returned the favor by giving Bob new scionwood, effectively rescuing and reviving this cold-hardy apple.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eCold Hardiness and Flavor Potential\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eWhile we haven’t yet tasted the fruit, if it shares characteristics with Rescue, it likely offers a spicy, flavorful profile. It's effectively a larger Rescue. Very cold hardy. Dearborn’s Unknown suffered no winter damage during the -47°F freeze at Ed Schultz’s orchard and hardy to -50°F or lower. Blooms around the same time as Rescue around the second to third week of May outside of Bozeman. Fruit comes on around the same time as Rescue in mid August. Has a great flavor with some nice acidity to balance the sweetness. Does not keep long. Pick a week earlier for longer storage. If this is done, the apple will keep for about 3 weeks to a month before going mealy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eGrafted on Ultra-Hardy Rootstock\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eOur trees are grafted onto full-size \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo\u003c\/a\u003e, Antonovka, and Spy 227 rootstock, as well as the semi-dwarf Bud 118. Any of these rootstocks will make Dearborn’s Unknown an excellent choice for growers in the coldest northern climates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Dearborn's Unknown Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Dearborn's Unknown Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Dearborn's Unknown 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 2 to 4. Its pollen quality isn't confirmed yet, so don't count on it as the only pollenizer for another tree. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hewes-virginia-crabapple\"\u003eHewe's Virginia Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hyslop-crabapple\"\u003eHyslop Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wickson-crabapple\"\u003eWickson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Dearborn's Unknown Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Dearborn's Unknown Apple hardy to zone 2, which means winters down to about -50°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Dearborn's Unknown 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. 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#dearborns-unknown\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Dearborn's Unknown Apple ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 8 to Aug 20 in Missoula, Montana (picked and dated off our own trees). 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 Dearborn's Unknown Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Dearborn's Unknown Apple onto \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo\u003c\/a\u003e (full size), which makes a tree roughly 20 to 30 ft tall if you never prune it. Some sizes are on Spy 227, Bud 118.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Dearborn's Unknown Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Dearborn's Unknown Apple are fresh eating (6\/10).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Dearborn's Unknown Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Dearborn's Unknown 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":"Dolgo Full Size Rootstock: 3-5 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":45125102174274,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Spy 227 Full Size Rootstock: 3-5 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":45125102207042,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bud 118 Semi-Dwarf Rootstock: 4-6 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft for Shipping","offer_id":45125102239810,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Dolgo Full Size Rootstock: 5-7 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft for Shipping","offer_id":45125102272578,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/dearborns-unknown-apple-on-tree.jpg?v=1789019844"},{"product_id":"red-gravenstein","title":"Gravenstein Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Gravenstein Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 2b in our ratings (winters to -45°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 3 of 7, early-mid for an apple or crabapple), and it ripens about Aug 29 to Sep 11 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 2b to 8. The b means the warmer half of zone 2 only (winters to -45°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 700 hours (700 to 1,000). Well documented. Independent sources agree. 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#red-gravenstein\"\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 3 of 7 (early-mid), late spring here. This is a triploid, so its pollen is poor and it can't pollenize other trees. Plant two different apple or crabapple varieties with good pollen that bloom in groups 2 to 4. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hewes-virginia-crabapple\"\u003eHewe's Virginia Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hyslop-crabapple\"\u003eHyslop Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wickson-crabapple\"\u003eWickson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/blue-pearmain-apple\"\u003eBlue Pearmain Apple\u003c\/a\u003e and 101 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\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 29 to Sep 11 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\u003eSauce and butter (9\/10), fresh eating (8\/10), pies and baking (8\/10), cooking and roasting (8\/10), juice and sweet cider (8\/10), drying (7\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 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, 3-4 ft or 4-6 ft or 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\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOverview\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-wrap-mode: wrap;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"white-space-collapse: preserve;\"\u003eWe have updated out hardiness for Gravenstein. Not only has this \u003c\/span\u003evariety been successfully growing on Bruce Benson’s farm in Missoula for over 50 years, enduring multiple -30°F winters, it has survived well for Les McCartney in the low spot of the Gallatin Valley in Bozeman, MT, having seen -45F without much winter injury. Gravenstein is a solid zone 2b apple.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eImportant Growing Considerations\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eGravenstein comes with a few specific requirements:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTriploid Variety\u003c\/strong\u003e: It cannot pollenize other apples and requires \u003cstrong\u003etwo diploid pollenizers\u003c\/strong\u003e with overlapping bloom times for successful fruit set.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEarly Blooming\u003c\/strong\u003e: Choose pollenizers accordingly to match its bloom window.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot a Good Keeper\u003c\/strong\u003e: This apple does not store well post-harvest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eDisease Resistance and Susceptibility\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eGravenstein is:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSusceptible to\u003c\/strong\u003e: Fireblight, powdery mildew, bitter pit, and apple scab\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResistant to\u003c\/strong\u003e: Cedar-apple rust\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eFlavor Profile\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eGravenstein has a distinctive sweet-tart flavor, often appreciated for its honey-like notes, making it a favorite for fresh eating and cider.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eHardiness Zone and Recommendations\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eWe list Gravenstein at zone 2b (-45°F), based on how it’s done for Les McCartney in Bozeman.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003ePhotos: “Gravensteiner Gut Wulksfelde” by Bahnmoeller, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Gravensteiner_Gut_Wulksfelde.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY-SA 3.0\u003c\/a\u003e; “Arche Noah - Gravensteiner” by Haeferl, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Arche_Noah_-_Gravensteiner.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY-SA 4.0\u003c\/a\u003e; “Malus Gravensteiner 4481” by Sven Teschke, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Malus_Gravensteiner_4481.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\/de\/deed.en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY-SA 3.0 de\u003c\/a\u003e; “Gravensteiner (apple) jm120648” by joergens.mi, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Gravensteiner_(apple)_jm120648.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY-SA 3.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Gravenstein Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Gravenstein Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Gravenstein Apple needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. This is a triploid, so its pollen is poor and it can't pollenize other trees. Plant two different apple or crabapple varieties with good pollen that bloom in groups 2 to 4. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hewes-virginia-crabapple\"\u003eHewe's Virginia Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hyslop-crabapple\"\u003eHyslop Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wickson-crabapple\"\u003eWickson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Gravenstein Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Gravenstein Apple hardy to zone 2b, which means winters down to about -45°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Gravenstein Apple need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 700 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 700 and 1,000. That figure is well documented: independent sources agree. Gravenstein needs about 700 chill hours, on the low side for an apple. Montana winters cover it easily. 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#red-gravenstein\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Gravenstein Apple ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 29 to Sep 11 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 Gravenstein Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Gravenstein 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 Gravenstein Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Gravenstein Apple are sauce and butter (9\/10), fresh eating (8\/10), pies and baking (8\/10), cooking and roasting (8\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Gravenstein Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Gravenstein 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: 3-4 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":42499184656450,"sku":null,"price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bud 118 Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45131995086914,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bud 118 Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45131995119682,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/gravenstein-apples.jpg?v=1791615802"},{"product_id":"norkent-apple","title":"Norkent Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Norkent Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 2 in our ratings (winters to -50°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 3 of 7, early-mid for an apple or crabapple), and it ripens about Aug 26 to Sep 7 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 2 to 7. A bare number means the whole of zone 2, colder half included (winters to -50°F). Our notes have it taking -50°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 (850 to 1,150). 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#norkent-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 3 of 7 (early-mid), late spring here. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 2 to 4. Its pollen quality isn't confirmed yet, so don't count on it as the only pollenizer for another tree. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hewes-virginia-crabapple\"\u003eHewe's Virginia Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hyslop-crabapple\"\u003eHyslop Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wickson-crabapple\"\u003eWickson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/blue-pearmain-apple\"\u003eBlue Pearmain Apple\u003c\/a\u003e and 100 more. Bloom group is our estimate from the variety's origin and relatives. \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 Aug 26 to Sep 7 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\u003eDolgo: full size, about 20 to 30 ft tall unpruned. Very hardy and well anchored. Bud 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\u003eFresh eating (8\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10), juice and sweet cider (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 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, 3-5 ft or 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\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorkent is a cross between \u003ca href=\"\/products\/haralson-apple\"\u003eHaralson\u003c\/a\u003e (a true apple) and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/rescue-apple-crab\"\u003eRescue\u003c\/a\u003e (an apple x crabapple hybrid). Norkent is one of the best tasting of the \"Nor\" series of apples, and is very hardy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough we've only been growing Norkent for a couple years, we’ve been impressed by its performance in Montana’s brutal winters. It has shown remarkable resilience, including surviving -47°F on Ed Schultz’s farm in Gallatin Gateway, MT without any winter injury. Ed considers it the best tasting apple in the “Nor Series,” which aligns with reports describing Norkent as one of the best-flavored ultra-hardy apples available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFlavor and Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorkent has almost a pear-like flavor and is great for fresh eating apple. It’s a summer variety, meaning it ripens early enough to be suitable for short growing seasons like those in Alaska and Canada, where winters can reach -50°F or colder.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeyond fresh eating, Norkent is also used in sauces, cider, and other culinary applications.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHardy throughout zone 2.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCan withstand temperatures to -47°F, although possibly colder.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis makes Norkent an excellent option for growers in the coldest parts of Eastern Montana, the Canadian Prairies, and many parts of Alaska, although interior Alaska should still site Norkent appropriately with good drainage and out of frost pooling areas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpring 2027 Availability and Rootstock\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor Spring 2027, we are offering Norkent on several rootstocks:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBud 118:\u003c\/strong\u003e While often categorized as a semi-standard rootstock, in Montana’s calcareous (high pH) soils, it behaves more like a semi-dwarf. Growers in Washington’s Yakima Valley have observed the same. Hardy to -50°F or more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo\u003c\/a\u003e:\u003c\/strong\u003e A full-size rootstock, hardy to -55°F or more. Excellent for growers in extreme cold climates needing maximum resilience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Norkent Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Norkent Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Norkent 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 2 to 4. Its pollen quality isn't confirmed yet, so don't count on it as the only pollenizer for another tree. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hewes-virginia-crabapple\"\u003eHewe's Virginia Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hyslop-crabapple\"\u003eHyslop Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wickson-crabapple\"\u003eWickson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Norkent Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Norkent Apple hardy to zone 2, which means winters down to about -50°F. Our notes have it taking -50°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Norkent 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 850 and 1,150. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. 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#norkent-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Norkent Apple ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 26 to Sep 7 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 Norkent Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Norkent Apple onto \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo\u003c\/a\u003e (full size), which makes a tree roughly 20 to 30 ft tall if you never prune it. Some sizes are on Bud 118.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Norkent Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Norkent Apple are fresh eating (8\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10), juice and sweet cider (6\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Norkent Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Norkent 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":"Dolgo Full Size: 3-5 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":42502494355522,"sku":null,"price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Dolgo Full Size: 4-6 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45134064451650,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bud 118 Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":42502494289986,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/norkent-apple-harvest.jpg?v=1789020679"},{"product_id":"parkland-apple","title":"Parkland Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Parkland Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 1 in our ratings (winters to -60°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 3 of 7, early-mid for an apple or crabapple), and it ripens about Aug 17 to Aug 30 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 1 to 7. A bare number means the whole of zone 1, colder half included (winters to -60°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 (850 to 1,150). 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#parkland-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 3 of 7 (early-mid), late spring here. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 2 to 4. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hewes-virginia-crabapple\"\u003eHewe's Virginia Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hyslop-crabapple\"\u003eHyslop Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wickson-crabapple\"\u003eWickson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/blue-pearmain-apple\"\u003eBlue Pearmain Apple\u003c\/a\u003e and 100 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\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 17 to Aug 30 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\u003eDolgo: full size, about 20 to 30 ft tall unpruned. Very hardy and well anchored. \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\u003eFresh eating (7\/10), juice and sweet cider (7\/10), sauce and butter (6\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 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\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eParkland\u003cspan\u003e is a cold-hardy apple variety bred from a cross between \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/rescue-apple-crab\"\u003eRescue applecrab\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003eRed Melba\u003cspan\u003e (a red sport of Melba, itself a seedling of McIntosh). Technically, Parkland is an \u003c\/span\u003eapple × applecrab hybrid\u003cspan\u003e—with roughly \u003c\/span\u003e75% apple genetics\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e25% crabapple\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eA Perfect Fit for Cold Climates and Short Seasons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eOne of the earliest ripening apples we offer, Parkland is ideally suited for regions with very short growing seasons and bitterly cold winters—making it a fantastic choice for Montana, Alaska, and other northern climates. It's even hardy enough to thrive in Mariah’s Pass.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-rte-list=\"true\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eFlavor: Fairly acidic, but still quite good for fresh eating right off the tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eHardiness: Survives down to -60°F or more, one of the most cold-hardy apples we sell.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eOur Spring 2027 Parkland trees are 1 year older (in terms of the root system) and were bud grafted onto Dolgo Full Size rootstock, which is hardy to likely down to -60F.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Parkland Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Parkland Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Parkland 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 2 to 4. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hewes-virginia-crabapple\"\u003eHewe's Virginia Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hyslop-crabapple\"\u003eHyslop Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wickson-crabapple\"\u003eWickson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Parkland Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Parkland Apple hardy to zone 1, which means winters down to about -60°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Parkland 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 850 and 1,150. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. 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#parkland-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Parkland Apple ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 17 to Aug 30 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 Parkland Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Parkland Apple onto \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo\u003c\/a\u003e (full size), which makes a tree roughly 20 to 30 ft tall if you never prune it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Parkland Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Parkland Apple are fresh eating (7\/10), juice and sweet cider (7\/10), sauce and butter (6\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Parkland Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Parkland 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":"Dolgo Full Size: 4-6 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":42503292485698,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/parkland-apple-fruit.webp?v=1789020680"},{"product_id":"pristine","title":"Pristine Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pristine Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 4 in our ratings (winters to -30°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 3 of 7, early-mid for an apple or crabapple), and it ripens about Aug 9 to Aug 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 (850 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#pristine\"\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 3 of 7 (early-mid), late spring here. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 2 to 4, such as Red Splendor Crabapple. Its pollen quality isn't confirmed yet, so don't count on it as the only pollenizer for another tree. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-splendor-crabapple\"\u003eRed Splendor Crabapple (Bundle of 2)\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hewes-virginia-crabapple\"\u003eHewe's Virginia Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hyslop-crabapple\"\u003eHyslop Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wickson-crabapple\"\u003eWickson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e and 100 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\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 9 to Aug 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. \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\u003eFresh eating (7\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 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, 3-5 ft or 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\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003ePristine is a very early-ripening yellow apple that delivers a crisp, tart-sweet flavor with subtle notes of spice, banana, and green apple. Bred as part of the Purdue-Rutgers-Illinois (PRI) disease-resistant breeding program, Pristine was named for its notably clean, disease-resistant fruit and foliage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eFlavor \u0026amp; Use\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFlavor profile:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tart to sweet with a touch of astringency and spice\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBest for: \u003c\/strong\u003eFresh eating, salads, light cooking\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStorage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Although most summer apples don’t store well, we’ve successfully kept Pristine in refrigeration for about a month post-harvest with no signs of breakdown—surprisingly good for an early apple.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eDisease Resistance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003ePristine is an excellent choice for organic or low-spray growers due to its:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eHigh resistance to scab\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eModerate resistance to powdery mildew, fire blight, and cedar-apple rust\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eIn essence, it’s a more refined, disease-resistant version of Golden Delicious, tailored for the 21st century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eClimate Considerations\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eWhile Pristine performs well in many climates, it is only hardy to around -30°F (Bob Purvis lists it as zone 4), making it marginal or unsuitable for the coldest areas of Montana, Alaska, Wyoming, Idaho, Minnesota, or Wisconsin. If you’re in one of these ultra-cold regions, consider hardier alternatives such as:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/norkent-apple\"\u003eNorkent\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-sensation-apple\"\u003ePrairie Sensation\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/rescue-apple-crab\"\u003eRescue\u003c\/a\u003e or other early applecrabs\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eSpring 2027 Availability\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eOur Spring 2027 Pristine trees are bare root, 3-5 ft. and 5-7 ft. tall, and grafted onto Bud 118 semi-dwarf rootstock, which is even more cold hardy than Pristine. However, we wouldn't recommend planting Pristine if you are in an area that can witness sub -30F temps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Pristine Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Pristine Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Pristine 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 2 to 4, such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-splendor-crabapple\"\u003eRed Splendor Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e. Its pollen quality isn't confirmed yet, so don't count on it as the only pollenizer for another tree. Partners we carry include Red Splendor Crabapple (Bundle of 2), \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hewes-virginia-crabapple\"\u003eHewe's Virginia Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hyslop-crabapple\"\u003eHyslop Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Pristine Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Pristine Apple hardy to zone 4, which means winters down to about -30°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Pristine 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 850 and 1,200. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. 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#pristine\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Pristine Apple ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 9 to Aug 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 Pristine Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Pristine 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 Pristine Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Pristine Apple are fresh eating (7\/10).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Pristine Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Pristine 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: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":42503585628226,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bud 118 Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45134382956610,"sku":null,"price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/pristine-apple-on-tree.webp?v=1789020829"},{"product_id":"zestar-apple","title":"Zestar!® Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Zestar!® Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 3 in our ratings (winters to -40°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for an apple or crabapple), and it ripens about Aug 19 to Sep 2 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 7. 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 800 hours (700 to 1,100). From published figures. 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#zestar-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 4 of 7 (mid), late spring here. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 3 to 5, such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-splendor-crabapple\"\u003eRed Splendor Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/otterson-apple\"\u003eOtterson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trail-crabapple\"\u003eTrail Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/alexander-apple\"\u003eAlexander Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/burgundy-apple\"\u003eBurgundy Apple\u003c\/a\u003e and 103 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\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 19 to Sep 2 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\u003eSpy 227: full size. A Northern Spy selection. Plant 18 to 20 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\u003eFresh eating (8\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10), pies and baking (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 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, 3-5 ft or 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\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eZestar! is another standout from the University of Minnesota, bred from a cross of State Fair x MN 1691. An early to mid-season apple, it ripens in late August to early September at Benson’s Farm in Missoula.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eFlavor \u0026amp; Use\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" class=\"\"\u003eCrunchy, subacid, and pleasantly spiced—with a hint of cinnamon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" class=\"\"\u003eOnly tried fresh so far, but we love the refreshing snap and complex flavor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" class=\"\"\u003eOne of the best-storing summer apples we’ve grown—holds up over two months in the fridge without turning mealy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" class=\"\"\u003eHardy to -40F, and possibly -45F.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" class=\"\"\u003eUse caution in regions colder than that—this variety may not hold up in Zone 2 or colder pockets without protection. Zestar! and many other University of Minnesota apples do not shut down early enough in time in the Fall for Ed Schultz in Gallatin Gateway, MT.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eRootstock \u0026amp; Growing Tips\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" class=\"\"\u003eFor Spring 2027, we’ve grafted Zestar! onto the full size Spy 227. These were actually grafted in 2025 and will have been growing for two years before the time of fulfillment in Spring 2027. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSpy 227 rootstock produces a standard size tree. At maturity, they require spacing of approximately 18–20 feet between trees. With intensive pruning and canopy management, closer spacing may be possible, while wider spacing can improve airflow and light penetration in humid or disease-prone sites.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Zestar!® Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Zestar!® Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Zestar!® 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 3 to 5, such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-splendor-crabapple\"\u003eRed Splendor Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/otterson-apple\"\u003eOtterson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trail-crabapple\"\u003eTrail Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/alexander-apple\"\u003eAlexander Apple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Zestar!® Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Zestar!® Apple hardy to zone 3, which means winters down to about -40°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Zestar!® Apple need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 800 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 700 and 1,100. That comes from published figures for this variety. Montana winters cover that easily. 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#zestar-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Zestar!® Apple ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 19 to Sep 2 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 Zestar!® Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Zestar!® Apple onto Spy 227 (full size). Plant 18 to 20 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Zestar!® Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Zestar!® Apple are fresh eating (8\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10), pies and baking (6\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Zestar!® Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Zestar!® 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":"Spy 227 Full Size: 3-5 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":42511547990082,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Spy 227 Full Size: 5-7 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45145048514626,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/ZestarApplesinaFruitBasket.jpg?v=1789671194"},{"product_id":"goodland-apple","title":"Goodland Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Goodland Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 2b in our ratings (winters to -45°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for an apple or crabapple), and it ripens about Aug 28 to Sep 7 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 2b to 7. The b means the warmer half of zone 2 only (winters to -45°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#goodland-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 4 of 7 (mid), late spring here. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 3 to 5. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/otterson-apple\"\u003eOtterson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trail-crabapple\"\u003eTrail Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/alexander-apple\"\u003eAlexander Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/burgundy-apple\"\u003eBurgundy Apple\u003c\/a\u003e and 103 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\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 28 to Sep 7 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. M26: dwarf to semi-dwarf, about 8 to 14 ft tall unpruned. Stake it the first few years. \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\u003ePies and baking (8\/10), fresh eating (7\/10), sauce and butter (7\/10), cooking and roasting (7\/10), canning and freezing (7\/10), juice and sweet cider (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 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, 3-4 ft or 2-4 ft. Bud grafts on 2 yr older rootstock or 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-end=\"14\" data-start=\"0\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"486\" data-start=\"15\"\u003eGoodland Apple is a cold-climate variety developed at the Morden Research Station in Manitoba, Canada, introduced in the 1940s–1950s, and originating as a seedling of Patten Greening. It has been grown and evaluated in extremely cold continental climates where its primary value has been reliability and survival rather than refined dessert quality. In Montana, our own observations place Goodland among the more hardy apple varieties we grow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"508\" data-start=\"488\"\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1112\" data-start=\"509\"\u003eBased on our observations in Montana, Goodland stands out as exceptionally cold tolerant. Trees have survived winter lows not only into the −40°F range but even approaching\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e−50°F. At those extremes, some winter injury was observed, but importantly, the damage did not progress into the trunk and trees recovered just fine. It should be considered a true Zone 3 and even certainly zone 2b and 2a with some damage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"1140\" data-start=\"1114\"\u003eFruit Quality \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1633\" data-start=\"1141\"\u003eGoodland produces medium-sized apples with firm flesh and a straightforward, mildly sweet to balanced flavor. It is not typically described as a high-end dessert apple, but it is very serviceable and dependable. The fruit is well suited for fresh eating for those who appreciate simple, classic apple flavor, and it performs especially well for sauce, baking, drying, and general kitchen use. Farmer Fred at Green Bench Orchard in Missoula sells out of all his Goodland apples every year. Its consistency and utility have made it a practical apple in northern homestead and farm settings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"1665\" data-start=\"1635\"\u003eRipening Time in Montana\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1934\" data-start=\"1666\"\u003eIn Montana conditions, Goodland ripens mid season. This means that in most years in Missoula, we can expect to see a crop 1st or second week of September depending on the year and site. For cooler places in eastern Montana, you can expect second to third week or Sept. It reliably reaches maturity within the growing season, even in shorter-season locations, which contributes to its usefulness in cold regions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"1962\" data-start=\"1936\"\u003eGrowth \u0026amp; Reliability\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-is-only-node=\"\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-end=\"2344\" data-start=\"1963\"\u003eWhile it may not match newer cultivars for cosmetic appeal or complex flavor, its combination of extreme cold hardiness, dependable cropping, and broad utility makes it a valuable apple for northern growers, especially those prioritizing survival and reliability over refinement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003eAbout the photo: this isn’t Goodland itself. Photos of Goodland are either under copyright or simply unavailable, so we picked the open-source image that looks closest to the fruit. Photo: “Elstar Freilichtmuseum Roscheider Hof Frucht H5” by Helge Klaus Rieder, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Elstar_Freilichtmuseum_Roscheider_Hof_Frucht_H5.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/deed.en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Goodland Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Goodland Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Goodland 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 3 to 5. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/otterson-apple\"\u003eOtterson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trail-crabapple\"\u003eTrail Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/alexander-apple\"\u003eAlexander Apple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Goodland Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Goodland Apple hardy to zone 2b, which means winters down to about -45°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Goodland 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. 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#goodland-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Goodland Apple ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 28 to Sep 7 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 Goodland Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Goodland 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. Some sizes are on M26.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Goodland Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Goodland Apple are pies and baking (8\/10), fresh eating (7\/10), sauce and butter (7\/10), cooking and roasting (7\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Goodland Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Goodland 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: 3-4 ft.","offer_id":45125964693570,"sku":null,"price":44.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"M26 Semi-Dwarf: 2-4 ft. Bud grafts on 2 yr older rootstock","offer_id":42499182657602,"sku":null,"price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bud 118 Semi-Dwarf: 3-4 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":45125964726338,"sku":null,"price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bud 118 Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft. Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45125964759106,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bud 118 Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":42499182723138,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/red-blushed-yellow-apples-representative.jpg?v=1791615467"},{"product_id":"kindercrisp-apple","title":"Kindercrisp Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Kindercrisp Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 2 in our ratings (winters to -50°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 3 of 7, early-mid for an apple or crabapple), and it ripens about Aug 23 to Sep 6 in Missoula (picked and dated at our place in Missoula).\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 2 to 7. A bare number means the whole of zone 2, colder half included (winters to -50°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#kindercrisp-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 3 of 7 (early-mid), late spring here. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 2 to 4, such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/chestnut-crabapple\"\u003eChestnut Applecrab\u003c\/a\u003e, Pristine or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/haralson-apple\"\u003eHaralson\u003c\/a\u003e. Its pollen quality isn't confirmed yet, so don't count on it as the only pollenizer for another tree. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/centennial-apple-crab\"\u003eCentennial Applecrab\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pristine\"\u003ePristine Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dearborns-unknown\"\u003eDearborn's Unknown Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norkent-apple\"\u003eNorkent Apple\u003c\/a\u003e and 100 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\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 23 to Sep 6 in Missoula (picked and dated off our own trees). 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. Dolgo: full size, about 20 to 30 ft tall unpruned. Very hardy and well anchored. Plant 15 to 16 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\u003eFresh eating (8\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 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, 3-4 ft or 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\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKindercrisp Apple (also known as KinderKrisp or MAC 2137) is a cold hardy apple variety developed as a chance seedling on a Minnesota farm in Fairhaven, Minnesota, in 1998 by fruit breeder David MacGregor. Its exact parentage is undocumented, but it is widely thought to have \u003ca href=\"\/products\/honeycrisp\"\u003eHoneycrisp\u003c\/a\u003e in its background based on flavor, texture, and breeder notes. It was later patented and released in the early 21st century after evaluation for quality and vigor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit Quality \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKindercrisp produces small to medium red apples with yellow flesh and a remarkably crisp, juicy texture reminiscent of Honeycrisp but in a smaller, snack-friendly size. The flavor is sweet with a pleasant balance of acidity and spice notes. The fruit is excellent for fresh eating, and its firmness and balanced flavor also make it suitable for cooking, baking, sauces, and juice. Fruit can also store for several weeks to a few months under proper conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit \u0026amp; Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKindercrisp trees tend to be moderately vigorous with a generally upright growth habit and precocious bearing. Spacing will vary with rootstock, but as a guideline, plant trees 15–16 feet apart for trees on Bud 118 rootstock, and 18-20 ft for trees on full size rootstock to allow good light penetration and airflow through the canopy. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKindercrisp is much hardier than many places list. All 5 of Ed Schultz' Kindercrisp had made it through multiple winters where the temperature dipped to -47F in Gallatin Gateway, MT. Way hardier than we would have thought. Solid zone 2 apple relative to how we have observed it in some of the coldest parts of Montana.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRipening Time\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKindercrisp ripens late August to early September in Missoula, MT making it a good late summer, mid-season apple. Its earlier ripening relative to many other heritage and cold-hardy apples helps ensure full maturity before fall cool-downs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike almost all apples, Kindercrisp requires cross-pollination with another apple variety that blooms at the same time. Good pollenizers for Kindercrisp from the Montana Fruit Trees' collection include varieties that overlap bloom periods such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/chestnut-crabapple\"\u003eChestnut\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pristine\"\u003ePristine\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/haralson-apple\"\u003eHaralson\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/zestar-apple\"\u003eZestar\u003c\/a\u003e!, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/frostbite-apple\"\u003eFrostbite\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/centennial-apple-crab\"\u003eCentennial\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/rescue-apple-crab\"\u003eRescue\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trailman-crab\"\u003eTrailman\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dearborns-unknown\"\u003eDearborn's Unknown\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norkent-apple\"\u003eNorkent\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norland-apple\"\u003eNorland\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norson-apple\"\u003eNorson\u003c\/a\u003e, and others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Kindercrisp Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Kindercrisp Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Kindercrisp 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 2 to 4, such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/chestnut-crabapple\"\u003eChestnut Applecrab\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pristine\"\u003ePristine\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/haralson-apple\"\u003eHaralson\u003c\/a\u003e. Its pollen quality isn't confirmed yet, so don't count on it as the only pollenizer for another tree. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/centennial-apple-crab\"\u003eCentennial Applecrab\u003c\/a\u003e, Pristine Apple, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dearborns-unknown\"\u003eDearborn's Unknown Apple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Kindercrisp Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Kindercrisp Apple hardy to zone 2, which means winters down to about -50°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Kindercrisp 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. 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#kindercrisp-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Kindercrisp Apple ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 23 to Sep 6 in Missoula, Montana (picked and dated off our own trees). 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 Kindercrisp Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Kindercrisp 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. Some sizes are on \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo\u003c\/a\u003e. Plant 15 to 16 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Kindercrisp Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Kindercrisp Apple are fresh eating (8\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Kindercrisp Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Kindercrisp 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: 3-4 ft.","offer_id":45133758562370,"sku":null,"price":44.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bud 118 Semi-Dwarf: 3-4 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":45133758595138,"sku":null,"price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bud 118 Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45133758660674,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bud 118 Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45133758627906,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Dolgo Full Size: 4-6 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":42500080402498,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/kindercrisp-apple-on-tree.jpg?v=1789020419"},{"product_id":"laxtons-favorite-apple","title":"Laxton's Favorite Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Laxton's Favorite Apple is an apple tree we've estimated at zone 4 (winters to -30°F), and not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 4 of 7, mid 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 900 hours (700 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#laxtons-favorite-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 4 of 7 (mid), late spring here. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 3 to 5, such as Honeycrisp, Zestar! or Liberty. Its pollen quality isn't confirmed yet, so don't count on it as the only pollenizer for another tree. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/zestar-apple\"\u003eZestar!® Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/honeycrisp\"\u003eHoneycrisp Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/liberty-apple\"\u003eLiberty Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/otterson-apple\"\u003eOtterson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e and 103 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. Plant about 15 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\u003eFresh eating (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, 3-4 ft or 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\u003eThis is the first year we’ve grown Laxton’s Favorite. We got scionwood from Tim Makepeace in spring 2025 and grafted it because we wanted a proven, Cox-style dessert apple with real historical pedigree and excellent fresh-eating quality, while also testing how far a classic English apple can be pushed in Montana’s colder, drier climate. Because we have not yet tasted the fruit or observed its long-term behavior under Montana conditions, the information below is secondhand and drawn from reputable references.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLaxton’s Favorite is an English dessert apple raised by Laxton Bros. in Bedford in 1925 and introduced in 1951. Its documented parentage is Cox’s Orange Pippin × Laxton’s Exquisite (sometimes listed simply as Cox’s Orange Pippin × Exquisite).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit Quality \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLaxton’s Favorite is a sweet, crisp, juicy dessert apple. Multiple references describe the flesh as coarse-grained but pleasantly crisp and sweet, and it’s typically treated as a fresh-eating apple first and foremost.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit \u0026amp; Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe're currently offering this on Bud 118 semi-standard rootstock so a practical spacing is about 15 feet apart, and up to 18 feet if you want more airflow and less pruning pressure over time. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn an extensive search, we did not find a reliable, cultivar-specific reference that documents a precise “survived down to −X °F” mid-winter minimum for Laxton’s Favorite, the way some North American apples are sometimes documented in trial reports. Most authoritative cultivar records focus on origin, parentage, bloom group, and fruit qualities rather than a tested minimum temperature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo, for Montana, we think the conservative approach is the right one: treat Laxton’s Favorite as a Zone 3b\/4-ish “try it with some protection and good site choice” apple rather than assuming it’s an extreme-cold survivor. All of the English apples we have grown have survived -30°F without any issues. So that is likely the case with Laxton's Favorite, and it likely could survive -35°F or possibly even -40°F, if well-sited out of frost pooling areas\/on a bench, although this is speculative. In other words: it may do well in much of western Montana (especially the Bitterroot, Missoula-area pockets, and warmer bench sites), but we would not treat it as a go-to for the colder, windier parts of eastern Montana without a favorable microclimate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLaxton’s Favorite is listed as flowering period\/pollination group C in UK references (roughly mid-season bloom), so it should be pollenized by many mid-bloom apples.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the apples currently listed on our site, good potential pollenizers to pair nearby (this list is not exhaustive) include mid-bloom, widely compatible types such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/honeycrisp\"\u003eHoneycrisp\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/zestar-apple\"\u003eZestar\u003c\/a\u003e!, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/liberty-apple\"\u003eLiberty\u003c\/a\u003e, McIntosh-types, and many crabapples\/crab hybrids that overlap bloom. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRipening Time\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn UK references, Laxton’s Favorite is typically picked in late August and used September–October. In Montana, that likely translates to a mid-September ripening window in warmer sites, with timing sliding later in cooler valleys. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOther Notable Characteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause Laxton’s Favorite is closely tied to the Cox line, it’s often grown specifically for that aromatic dessert-apple character, but, as with many Cox-family apples, performance can be quite site-dependent. For Montana, good airflow, thoughtful pruning, and a reasonably warm ripening window will matter a lot for fruit quality and disease pressure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eImage courtesy of \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"East of England Apples and Orchard Project\" href=\"https:\/\/applesandorchards.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eEast Of England Apples and Orchard Project\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Laxton's Favorite Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Laxton's Favorite Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Laxton's Favorite 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 3 to 5, such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/honeycrisp\"\u003eHoneycrisp\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/zestar-apple\"\u003eZestar\u003c\/a\u003e! or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/liberty-apple\"\u003eLiberty\u003c\/a\u003e. Its pollen quality isn't confirmed yet, so don't count on it as the only pollenizer for another tree. Partners we carry include Zestar!® Apple, Honeycrisp Apple, Liberty Apple.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Laxton's Favorite Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe list Laxton's Favorite Apple at zone 4, which means winters down to about -30°F. We haven't found a documented survival temperature for it and haven't wintered it long enough ourselves, but every English apple we've grown has come through -30°F without issues, so that's our estimate. We'll update it once we have our own data.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Laxton's Favorite 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 1,200. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. 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#laxtons-favorite-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Laxton's Favorite Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Laxton's Favorite 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 about 15 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Laxton's Favorite Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Laxton's Favorite Apple are fresh eating (7\/10). Since we haven't tasted our own fruit yet, that score leans on published descriptions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Laxton's Favorite Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Laxton's Favorite Apple with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Laxton's Favorite 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: 3-4 ft or 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: 3-4 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":42500851302466,"sku":null,"price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Bud 118 Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":45133800407106,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/laxtons-favorite-apple-on-tree.jpg?v=1789020421"},{"product_id":"lodi-apple","title":"Lodi Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lodi Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 2b in our ratings (winters to -45°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 2 of 7, early for an apple or crabapple), and it ripens about Aug 7 to Aug 19 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 2b to 8. The b means the warmer half of zone 2 only (winters to -45°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 (700 to 1,500). Published figures disagree, so treat this as a middle estimate. 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#lodi-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 2 of 7 (early), late spring here. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 1 to 3, such as Norda, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norkent-apple\"\u003eNorkent\u003c\/a\u003e or Carroll. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/martha-applecrab\"\u003eMartha Applecrab\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norda-apple\"\u003eNorda Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/carroll-apple\"\u003eCarroll Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo Crabapple (Bundle of 2)\u003c\/a\u003e and 42 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\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 7 to Aug 19 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\u003eSpy 227: full size. A Northern Spy selection. Bud 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\u003eSauce and butter (8\/10), cooking and roasting (7\/10), canning and freezing (7\/10), jams and jellies (7\/10), pies and baking (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 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, 6-7 ft or 3-4 ft or 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\u003ch3 data-start=\"259\" data-end=\"273\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"274\" data-end=\"810\"\u003eLodi is an early-season apple similar in many ways to its dominant parent, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/yellow-transparent\"\u003eYellow Transparent\u003c\/a\u003e, and is best known as an early cooking and sauce apple, though it can also be eaten fresh if you appreciate a sharper early apple. We prefer Lodi as a substitute for Yellow Transparent due to its improved resistance to fire blight (as observed in Montana).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"812\" data-end=\"837\"\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Parentage\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"838\" data-end=\"1204\"\u003eLodi originated from a controlled cross of Yellow Transparent × Montgomery, with Yellow Transparent clearly expressing as the dominant parent. The cross was made in 1911, and the cultivar was formally introduced in 1924 by the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. It was developed to improve on Yellow Transparent while retaining its early-season utility.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1206\" data-end=\"1232\"\u003eFruit Quality \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1233\" data-end=\"1720\"\u003eLodi produces a reliable, extra-early crop of large green to yellow-green apples with a sharp, subacid profile. It excels for cooking, applesauce, pies, and other kitchen uses where early apples are prized. While claims that Lodi produces larger, firmer, or longer-keeping fruit than the mother plant (Yellow Transparent) are difficult to validate here, its combination of disease resistance and abundant, early cooking apples makes Lodi a serious contender in northern kitchen orchards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1722\" data-end=\"1750\"\u003eGrowth Habit \u0026amp; Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1751\" data-end=\"1995\"\u003eThe tree is vigorous and productive. Final spacing depends on rootstock and training system, but as a practical baseline, plan for approximately 15 ft. spacing for trees on Bud 118 rootstock (12 ft. for tighter spacing\/more pruning), and 18-20 ft. on full size rootstock (possibly even tighter with Spring and maybe some summer pruning).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1997\" data-end=\"2014\"\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2015\" data-end=\"2172\"\u003eLodi is not self-fertile and requires cross-pollination from another apple variety with overlapping bloom, following standard apple pollination requirements. Consider early season apples as pollenizers, such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/zestar-apple\"\u003eZestar\u003c\/a\u003e!, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norda-apple\"\u003eNorda\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norkent-apple\"\u003eNorkent\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norson-apple\"\u003eNorson\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/carroll-apple\"\u003eCarroll\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dearborns-unknown\"\u003eDearborn's Unknown\u003c\/a\u003e, Yellow Transparent, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pristine\"\u003ePristine\u003c\/a\u003e, or even some of our applecrabs, such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/martha-applecrab\"\u003eMartha\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/rescue-apple-crab\"\u003eRescue\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kerr-crab\"\u003eKerr\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trailman-crab\"\u003eTrailman\u003c\/a\u003e, and others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"2174\" data-end=\"2194\"\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2195\" data-end=\"2561\"\u003eLodi is hardy to \u003cstrong data-start=\"2212\" data-end=\"2221\"\u003e−45°F\u003c\/strong\u003e, according to the legendary Montana horticulturalist, pomologist, and nurseryman Roger Joy of Corvallis, Montana. While many mainstream sources list Lodi more conservatively, this firsthand regional knowledge places it among the hardiest early apples available and helps explain its long-standing reliability in cold northern climates. This also tracks given its parentage. Yellow Transparent is hardy to -50°F more, which is where it gets its hardiness. Lodi is a solid zone 2b, possibly even 2a.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Lodi Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Lodi Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Lodi 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 1 to 3, such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norda-apple\"\u003eNorda\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norkent-apple\"\u003eNorkent\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/carroll-apple\"\u003eCarroll\u003c\/a\u003e. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/martha-applecrab\"\u003eMartha Applecrab\u003c\/a\u003e, Norda Apple, Carroll Apple.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Lodi Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Lodi Apple hardy to zone 2b, which means winters down to about -45°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Lodi 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 700 and 1,500. Published figures for it disagree, so treat that as a middle estimate. Published figures run from 700 to 1,500 hours. Plan on about 1,000, which Montana winters easily provide. 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#lodi-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Lodi Apple ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 7 to Aug 19 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 Lodi Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Lodi Apple onto Spy 227 (full size). Some sizes are on Bud 118.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Lodi Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Lodi Apple are sauce and butter (8\/10), cooking and roasting (7\/10), canning and freezing (7\/10), jams and jellies (7\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Lodi Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Lodi 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":"Spy 227 Full Size: 6-7 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":42500854218818,"sku":null,"price":94.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bud 118 Semi-Dwarf: 3-4 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":42500854317122,"sku":null,"price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bud 118 Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45133901725762,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/lodi-apple-on-tree.jpg?v=1789020421"},{"product_id":"mantet-apple","title":"Mantet Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mantet Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 2 in our ratings (winters to -50°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for an apple or crabapple), and it ripens about Aug 16 to Aug 28 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 2 to 7. A bare number means the whole of zone 2, colder half included (winters to -50°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 950 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#mantet-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 4 of 7 (mid), late spring here. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 3 to 5, such as Carroll, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pristine\"\u003ePristine\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dearborns-unknown\"\u003eDearborn's Unknown\u003c\/a\u003e. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kerr-crab\"\u003eKerr Applecrab\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norson-apple\"\u003eNorson Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trailman-crab\"\u003eTrailman Applecrab\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/carroll-apple\"\u003eCarroll Apple\u003c\/a\u003e and 103 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\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 16 to Aug 28 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\u003eDolgo: full size, about 20 to 30 ft tall unpruned. Very hardy and well anchored. Bud 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 about 15 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\u003eFresh eating (7\/10), sauce and butter (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 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, 3-5 ft or 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\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMantet is an early-season dessert apple developed in Manitoba, Canada (Morden) and introduced in 1929. It’s often praised for unusually good flavor for such an early apple. When Luke tried it at Ed Schultz in Summer of 2024, he rated it right up there with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pristine\"\u003ePristine\u003c\/a\u003e in terms of high quality summer apples. That year it was better than \u003ca href=\"\/products\/carroll-apple\"\u003eCarroll\u003c\/a\u003e (another great summer apple), although in 2025, Carroll was better than Mantet (possibly because of our drought).\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Parentage\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany fruit references describe Mantet as Tetofsky × McIntosh and note it was introduced by the Morden Station in 1929. However, the UK National Fruit Collection lists the parentage as Tetofsky × Unknown. The most rigorous way to state this is: Tetofsky is consistently listed as a parent, while the other parent is variously reported (often McIntosh, sometimes unknown in formal records). \u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit Quality \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMantet is tender, fine-textured, juicy, sweet\/subacid and aromatic, and is most often used for fresh eating, with additional use for cooking\/sauce given its early season and softening nature. As is the case with most summer apples, Mantet is not a good storage apple.\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit \u0026amp; Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese trees are grafted onto \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo\u003c\/a\u003e and Bud 118 and can be spaced 18-20 ft for Doldo, and 15 ft. apart for Bud 118. Tighter for a more intense spacing\/pruning regiment, or even further for a more lax approach.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot self-fertile—needs another apple nearby with overlapping bloom. Plant with other summer apples such as Carroll, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/lodi-apple\"\u003eLodi\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/yellow-transparent\"\u003eYellow Transparent\u003c\/a\u003e, Pristine (less hardy), \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dearborns-unknown\"\u003eDearborn's Unknown\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-sensation-apple\"\u003ePrairie Sensation\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norland-apple\"\u003eNorland\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norkent-apple\"\u003eNorkent\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norson-apple\"\u003eNorson\u003c\/a\u003e, or even some of the earlier season applecrabs such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/rescue-apple-crab\"\u003eRescue\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trailman-crab\"\u003eTrailman\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kerr-crab\"\u003eKerr\u003c\/a\u003e (slightly later), \u003ca href=\"\/products\/chestnut-crabapple\"\u003eChestnut\u003c\/a\u003e, or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/martha-applecrab\"\u003eMartha\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGiven Ed Schultz' constant success with Mantet after experiencing two separate winters of -47F, with no winter injury, Mantet is a solid zone 2. Hardy certainly down to -47F, and likely even colder (into the -50Fs). Given its hardiness as a summer apple, it would be a great apple for Alaskan growers in colder parts of the state with a shorter growing season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003ePhoto: “Mantet Apple” by TJSweden, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Mantet_Apple.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY-SA 3.0\u003c\/a\u003e, cropped.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Mantet Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Mantet Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Mantet 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 3 to 5, such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/carroll-apple\"\u003eCarroll\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pristine\"\u003ePristine\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dearborns-unknown\"\u003eDearborn's Unknown\u003c\/a\u003e. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kerr-crab\"\u003eKerr Applecrab\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norson-apple\"\u003eNorson Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trailman-crab\"\u003eTrailman Applecrab\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Mantet Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Mantet Apple hardy to zone 2, which means winters down to about -50°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Mantet Apple need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 950 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. 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#mantet-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Mantet Apple ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 16 to Aug 28 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 Mantet Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Mantet Apple onto \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo\u003c\/a\u003e (full size), which makes a tree roughly 20 to 30 ft tall if you never prune it. Some sizes are on Bud 118. Plant about 15 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Mantet Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Mantet Apple are fresh eating (7\/10), sauce and butter (6\/10).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Mantet Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Mantet 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":"Dolgo Full Size: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":45133914865730,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bud 118 Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":42500862574658,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/mantet-apples-basket.jpg?v=1791636991"},{"product_id":"norland-apple","title":"Norland Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Norland Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 2 in our ratings (winters to -50°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 2 of 7, early for an apple or crabapple), and it ripens about Aug 10 to Aug 22 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 2 to 7. A bare number means the whole of zone 2, colder half included (winters to -50°F). Our notes have it taking -47°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 (850 to 1,800). Our estimate. Stark lists 1,600 to 1,800, which doesn't fit its parentage, so we don't lean on it. 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#norland-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 2 of 7 (early), late spring here. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 1 to 3, such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norkent-apple\"\u003eNorkent\u003c\/a\u003e, Norda or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dearborns-unknown\"\u003eDearborn's Unknown\u003c\/a\u003e. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/chestnut-crabapple\"\u003eChestnut Applecrab\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/lodi-apple\"\u003eLodi Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norda-apple\"\u003eNorda Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo Crabapple (Bundle of 2)\u003c\/a\u003e and 42 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\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 10 to Aug 22 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\u003eDolgo: full size, about 20 to 30 ft tall unpruned. Very hardy and well anchored. Bud 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\u003eFresh eating (7\/10), sauce and butter (6\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10), juice and sweet cider (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 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, 3-5 ft or Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft or 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\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorland is a prairie-bred, early-season apple developed for very cold climates. It is known for being naturally smaller growing, often described as a genetic semi-dwarf, as well as precocious and reliably productive. Norland was bred specifically to perform in regions with short growing seasons (it's a summer apple) and extreme winter cold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Parentage\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorland was developed by Dr. C. R. Ure for the Prairie Fruit Breeding Cooperative at Agriculture Canada’s Morden Research Station in Morden, Manitoba. Its parentage is commonly given as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/rescue-apple-crab\"\u003eRescue\u003c\/a\u003e × Red Melba. It was introduced in the late 1970s and is often listed as having been released in 1979.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit Quality \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorland produces small to medium-sized fruit that ripens early, often in early August. It is typically used as an early dessert and cooking apple. Prairie-region notes frequently emphasize that Norland has surprisingly good fruit quality given its level of cold hardiness and early ripening window.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit \u0026amp; Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrees have an upright-spreading growth habit and are moderately vigorous, but are often described as rarely exceeding about 15 feet in height due to their naturally dwarfing tendency, even on full size rootstock. A practical spacing is about 15 ft. for Bud 118, and perhaps a little more for \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo\u003c\/a\u003e just to be safe, even with Norland's naturally dwarfing vigor regardless of rootstock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorland is not self-fertile and needs another apple variety that blooms at the same time. Any compatible apple cultivar that overlaps bloom can serve as a pollenizer, including several other apple varieties we offer, as well as applecrabs and crabapples. Examples include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norkent-apple\"\u003eNorkent\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norson-apple\"\u003eNorson\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norda-apple\"\u003eNorda\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dearborns-unknown\"\u003eDearborn’s Unknown\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/zestar-apple\"\u003eZestar\u003c\/a\u003e!, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/lodi-apple\"\u003eLodi\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-sensation-apple\"\u003ePrairie Sensation\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/september-ruby-apple\"\u003eSeptember Ruby\u003c\/a\u003e, and applecrabs such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/chestnut-crabapple\"\u003eChestnut\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kerr-crab\"\u003eKerr\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trailman-crab\"\u003eTrailman\u003c\/a\u003e, and others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorland has survived −47°F in multiple winters in Gallatin Gateway, Montana for Ed Schultz with no winter injury. That said, these temperatures occurred briefly in the early hours of the morning. Whether Norland can withstand such extreme cold for extended durations is less certain. Because of this, site selection is important. Avoid low-lying areas prone to frost pooling and favor uphill locations or sites with good cold-air drainage. We list Norland as a solid Zone 2 apple, suitable for nearly all of Montana, including some of the coldest areas east of the Continental Divide. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Norland Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Norland Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Norland 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 1 to 3, such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norkent-apple\"\u003eNorkent\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norda-apple\"\u003eNorda\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dearborns-unknown\"\u003eDearborn's Unknown\u003c\/a\u003e. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/chestnut-crabapple\"\u003eChestnut Applecrab\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/lodi-apple\"\u003eLodi Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, Norda Apple.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Norland Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Norland Apple hardy to zone 2, which means winters down to about -50°F. Our notes have it taking -47°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Norland 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 850 and 1,800. Stark lists 1,600 to 1,800 hours, but that doesn't fit its parentage, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Stark Bro's lists 1,600 to 1,800 hours, far above what its parents suggest. Montana winters easily cover either figure. 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#norland-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Norland Apple ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 10 to Aug 22 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 Norland Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Norland Apple onto \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo\u003c\/a\u003e (full size), which makes a tree roughly 20 to 30 ft tall if you never prune it. Some sizes are on Bud 118.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Norland Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Norland Apple are fresh eating (7\/10), sauce and butter (6\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10), juice and sweet cider (6\/10).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Norland Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Norland 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":"Dolgo Full Size: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":42502625001538,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bud 118: Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":42502625067074,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Dolgo Full Size: 5-7 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45134150697026,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/norland-apple-on-tree.jpg?v=1789020680"},{"product_id":"pink-pearl-apple","title":"Pink Pearl Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pink Pearl Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 3b in our ratings (winters to -35°F), and not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 4 of 7, mid 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 3b to 9. The b means the warmer half of zone 3 only (winters to -35°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 600 hours (600 to 900). Well documented. Independent sources agree. 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#pink-pearl-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 4 of 7 (mid), late spring here. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 3 to 5. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/otterson-apple\"\u003eOtterson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trail-crabapple\"\u003eTrail Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/alexander-apple\"\u003eAlexander Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/burgundy-apple\"\u003eBurgundy Apple\u003c\/a\u003e and 103 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\u003ePies and baking (7\/10), sauce and butter (7\/10), fresh eating (6\/10), salads and slicing (6\/10), juice and sweet cider (6\/10), hard cider (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 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\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePink Pearl is a distinctive heirloom apple best known for its vivid pink to rose-colored flesh and bright, high-acid flavor. It stands out both visually and culinarily, offering an apple that is as striking when cut as it is refreshing to eat. Pink Pearl is especially valued by growers and cooks looking for something unusual that still performs reliably in the orchard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Parentage\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePink Pearl was developed in the early 1940s by California fruit breeder Albert Etter, one of the most influential independent apple breeders in American history. It is sometimes referred to as \u003cem\u003eEtter Surprise\u003c\/em\u003e. Pink Pearl traces part of its lineage to red-fleshed Malus genetics, which is responsible for its characteristic interior color. Unlike many novelty apples, it has remained in cultivation due to its genuine eating quality rather than appearance alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit Quality \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fruit is medium-sized with green to yellow skin that may show a light blush. Inside, the flesh ranges from light pink to deep rose, depending on maturity and growing conditions. Flavor is bright, tart, and refreshing, often compared to a well-balanced citrus acidity rather than sharp sourness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePink Pearl excels in:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFresh eating for those who enjoy high-acid apples\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApplesauce and juice, where it imparts a natural pink hue\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCider blends, adding acidity and color\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBaking, where the flavor holds up well to heat\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe flesh tends to oxidize more slowly than many apples, helping preserve its color in fresh preparations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRipening Window\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePink Pearl typically ripens in early to mid-fall, depending on climate and site. Flavor improves as the fruit reaches full maturity, and early picking can result in excessive sharpness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit \u0026amp; Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrees are moderately vigorous with a balanced, upright-spreading habit. Standard apple spacing applies based on rootstock:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApproximately \u003cstrong\u003e12–15 ft\u003c\/strong\u003e on semi-dwarf systems\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e18–20+ ft\u003c\/strong\u003e on more vigorous or standard rootstocks (can be even tighter with a more rigorous pruning regiment).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRegular pruning helps maintain light penetration and fruit quality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePink Pearl is \u003cstrong\u003enot self-fertile\u003c\/strong\u003e and requires cross-pollination. Any compatible apple or crabapple with overlapping bloom will work. Crabapples are especially effective pollenizers due to their abundant and extended bloom period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePink Pearl is commonly listed as hardy to Zone 4, although given Rod McIver's experience growing it successfully in a cold location near the Flathead River, where temps dipped near -35F on 1\/13\/24, without injuring Pink Pearl, it's at least hardy to that from what we have seen. This temperature was however only during the morning, so how Pink Pearl would perform with sustained temps at -35F is another story. We'll list it hardy to zone 3b until we get more data on this cultivar. Given its west coast origin, for site selection in colder regions, make sure to avoid frost pockets and exposure to drying winter winds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOther Notable Characteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePink Pearl is often chosen by growers seeking a visually striking apple for fresh markets,a high-acid apple to balance sweeter varieties, and an heirloom with real culinary value, not just novelty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts combination of color, flavor, and versatility makes it one of the more enduring and useful red-fleshed apples in cultivation today. It performed realy well  for Rod McIver in Kaispell MT, where he saw temps near -35F on 1\/13\/24.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003ePhoto: “Pink Pearl” by John Loo, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/johnloo\/4892392195\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eFlickr\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY 2.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Pink Pearl Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Pink Pearl Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Pink Pearl 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 3 to 5. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/otterson-apple\"\u003eOtterson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trail-crabapple\"\u003eTrail Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/alexander-apple\"\u003eAlexander Apple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Pink Pearl Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Pink Pearl Apple hardy to zone 3b, which means winters down to about -35°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Pink Pearl Apple need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 600 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 600 and 900. That figure is well documented: independent sources agree. A low-chill apple (about 600 hours), bred in northern California. Chill is never a problem for it in Montana. 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#pink-pearl-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Pink Pearl Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Pink Pearl 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 Pink Pearl Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Pink Pearl Apple are pies and baking (7\/10), sauce and butter (7\/10), fresh eating (6\/10), salads and slicing (6\/10).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Pink Pearl Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Pink Pearl Apple with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Pink Pearl 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: 4-6 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: 4-6 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":42503438499906,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/pink-pearl-apple-cut-pink-flesh.jpg?v=1791615713"},{"product_id":"williams-pride-apple","title":"William's Pride Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e William's Pride Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 3b in our ratings (winters to -35°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 2 of 7, early for an apple or crabapple), and it ripens about Aug 14 to Aug 28 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 3b to 9. The b means the warmer half of zone 3 only (winters to -35°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 400 hours (300 to 800). From published figures. 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#williams-pride-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 2 of 7 (early), late spring here. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 1 to 3. Its bloom lasts a long time, so it often overlaps mid-season apples too, but its pollen quality isn't confirmed yet. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo Crabapple (Bundle of 2)\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/chestnut-crabapple\"\u003eChestnut Applecrab\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/crimson-beauty-apple\"\u003eCrimson Beauty Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/lodi-apple\"\u003eLodi Apple\u003c\/a\u003e and 42 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\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 14 to Aug 28 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 14 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\u003eFresh eating (8\/10), drying (7\/10), sauce and butter (6\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 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=\"3119\" data-end=\"3133\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3134\" data-end=\"3610\"\u003eWilliam’s Pride is an early-season apple from the PRI (Purdue–Rutgers–Illinois) disease-resistant breeding program, grown for its combination of attractive dark red fruit, crisp texture for an early apple, and unusually strong disease resistance compared with many classic summer varieties. Reliable choice for growers who a quality fresh eating apple in regions where apple scab and rust pressure can be an ongoing issue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"3612\" data-end=\"3684\"\u003eOrigin \u0026amp; History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3685\" data-end=\"3991\"\u003eWilliams’ Pride was developed through the PRI cooperative apple breeding program and was released in 1988. Its reported parentage is PRI 1018-101 × NJ 50. It was selected as part of a long-running effort to combine good fresh-eating quality with durable disease resistance, particularly against apple scab.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"3993\" data-end=\"4011\"\u003eFruit \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4012\" data-end=\"4432\"\u003eWilliams’ Pride typically produces medium to medium-large apples with a deep red to purplish-red skin and cream-colored flesh. It ripens early (often in late July to early August in many growing regions), offering crisp, juicy fruit at a time when many early apples are softer or less complex. It’s best used for fresh eating, but it also performs well for baking and general kitchen use when harvested at peak maturity. One thing we have observed growing William's Pride in MT is that it keeps surprisingly well for an early apple. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"4434\" data-end=\"4452\"\u003eGrowth Habit\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4453\" data-end=\"4844\"\u003eThe tree is vigorous, sturdy, and spreading with good branch structure. It tends to be a dependable grower for us in Missoula when trained and pruned like a standard dessert apple. Actually has a relatively extended bloom window compared with many early apples, which can help pollination and can sometimes improve odds of setting a crop in years with uneven spring weather.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"4846\" data-end=\"4859\"\u003eSpacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4860\" data-end=\"5280\"\u003eOn Bud 118, a practical spacing range is 14–18 feet between trees, depending on how hard you plan to prune for size control and how vigorous your site is. In richer soils or irrigated ground, wider spacing reduces shading and improves airflow; in leaner soils with consistent pruning, spacing can be somewhat tighter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"5282\" data-end=\"5299\"\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"5300\" data-end=\"5855\"\u003eShould be planted with another apple or crabapple that blooms at the same time to ensure consistent fruit set. Examples of what to plant with William's Pride include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/pristine\"\u003ePristine\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/honeycrisp\"\u003eHoneycrisp\u003c\/a\u003e, all of our applecrabs, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo\u003c\/a\u003e, Dearbron's Unknown, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-sensation-apple\"\u003ePrairie Sensation\u003c\/a\u003e, McIntosh, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/yellow-transparent\"\u003eYellow Transparent\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/zestar-apple\"\u003eZestar\u003c\/a\u003e!, and many others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"5857\" data-end=\"5877\"\u003eCold hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"5878\" data-end=\"6620\"\u003eRod McIver's William's Pride in Kalispell came through the 1\/13\/24 arctic cold event, which saw -35°F, without winter injury. However, -35°F does not prove -40°F (or more) survival, and we do not yet have direct evidence of Williams’ Pride enduring -40°F. For that reason, we recommend it broadly for much of Western Montana, but for colder parts of Eastern Montana that can genuinely reach the -40°Fs, we recommend prioritizing apples with documented survival deeper into this range unless you are in one of the warmer eastern MT microclimates (such as Billings and the surrounding warmer valleys). Zone 3b.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"6622\" data-end=\"6639\"\u003eOther Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"6640\" data-end=\"7248\"\u003eWilliams’ Pride is scab-immune (or field-immune) and is resistant to cedar apple rust and powdery mildew, with resistance to fire blight often noted as well. As with any apple, resistance does not mean invincibility—especially for fire blight under high pressure—so good pruning practices, airflow, and balanced fertility still matter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003ePhotos: “Starr-201126-8570-Malus pumila-Williams Pride fruit mostly pau but few small ones left-Hawea Pl Olinda-Maui (50859499313)” by Forest and Kim Starr, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Starr-201126-8570-Malus_pumila-Williams_Pride_fruit_mostly_pau_but_few_small_ones_left-Hawea_Pl_Olinda-Maui_(50859499313).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY 2.0\u003c\/a\u003e; “Starr-170909-0072-Malus pumila-Williams Pride flowers-Hawea Pl Olinda-Maui - Flickr - Starr Environmental” by Forest and Kim Starr, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Starr-170909-0072-Malus_pumila-Williams_Pride_flowers-Hawea_Pl_Olinda-Maui_-_Flickr_-_Starr_Environmental.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY 2.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about William's Pride Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes William's Pride Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. William's Pride 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 1 to 3. Its bloom lasts a long time, so it often overlaps mid-season apples too, but its pollen quality isn't confirmed yet. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e (Bundle of 2), \u003ca href=\"\/products\/chestnut-crabapple\"\u003eChestnut Applecrab\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/crimson-beauty-apple\"\u003eCrimson Beauty Apple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is William's Pride Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate William's Pride Apple hardy to zone 3b, which means winters down to about -35°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does William's Pride Apple need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 400 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 300 and 800. That comes from published figures for this variety. Listed at only 300 to 400 hours, unusually low for an apple. It blooms early, so frost is the bigger risk here. 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#williams-pride-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does William's Pride Apple ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 14 to Aug 28 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 William's Pride Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft William's Pride 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 14 to 18 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is William's Pride Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for William's Pride Apple are fresh eating (8\/10), drying (7\/10), sauce and butter (6\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat William's Pride Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect William's Pride 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":42511538651202,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/williams-pride-apples-on-tree.jpg?v=1791616154"},{"product_id":"september-ruby-apple","title":"September Ruby Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e September Ruby Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 2 in our ratings (winters to -50°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 3 of 7, early-mid for an apple or crabapple), and it ripens about Aug 27 to Sep 9 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 2 to 7. A bare number means the whole of zone 2, colder half included (winters to -50°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 950 hours (800 to 1,100). 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#september-ruby-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 3 of 7 (early-mid), late spring here. Not self-fertile. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety nearby that blooms at about the same time (bloom groups 2 to 4 on our chart). Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo Crabapple (Bundle of 2)\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/rescue-apple-crab\"\u003eRescue Applecrab\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/haralson-apple\"\u003eHaralson Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hewes-virginia-crabapple\"\u003eHewe's Virginia Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e and 100 more. Bloom group is our estimate from the variety's origin and relatives. \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 Aug 27 to Sep 9 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\u003eDolgo: full size, about 20 to 30 ft tall unpruned. Very hardy and well anchored. Plant 18 to 25 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\u003eJuice and sweet cider (8\/10), fresh eating (7\/10), winter storage (7\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 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, 3-4 ft or 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\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeptember Ruby is an extremely cold-hardy prairie apple released for northern climates where winter survival and dependable cropping matter more than perfect “dessert apple” aesthetics. It produces medium-sized, bright red fruit over a light green base, with crisp flesh and a distinctly tart-leaning, refreshing eating quality. In prairie and subarctic-style testing and grower use, it is consistently positioned as a versatile apple for fresh eating, cooking, juicing, and surprisingly strong keeping for an early-to-mid September ripener.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin \u0026amp; History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeptember Ruby was developed within Canada’s prairie hardy-fruit breeding efforts. It originated from the Morden Research Station (Agriculture Canada) through work led by C. R. Ure for the Prairie Fruit Breeding Cooperative. It was selected as #6021, tested as PF36, and released in 1986.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts documented lineage is \u003ca href=\"\/products\/rescue-apple-crab\"\u003eRescue\u003c\/a\u003e × \u003ca href=\"\/products\/haralson-apple\"\u003eHaralson\u003c\/a\u003e, a cross that aligns with the breeding goal of combining early-season reliability and cold hardiness with improved fruit quality for very cold regions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFruit is typically described as medium-sized, around 6–7 cm (roughly 2½ inches) in diameter, round-oblate (somewhat flattened), often with noticeable ribbing. Skin is moderately thick with a light green base striped and blushed bright to dark red, and it may occasionally become fully red.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe flesh is greenish, crisp, and moderately acid. In plain eating terms, the flavor is commonly described as “a bit tart” while still being considered a great eating apple, with strong crunch and a clean, straightforward apple character rather than a complex or perfumed profile. It is rated very good for fresh eating, and it is also consistently recommended for cooking and especially for juicing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne important nuance from prairie cultivar notes is that green-fleshed apples can read as slightly bitter to some individuals. That does not mean the apple is “bitter” as a rule; it means a minority of tasters may perceive a slight bitter edge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn terms of storage, September Ruby is notably a good keeper for its season, with documented storage performance up to about 16 weeks under proper cold storage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tree is moderately vigorous with an upright-spreading habit, fair to good branching, and annual productivity. It is commonly described as reliably productive in cold regions once established, fitting the overall “hardy prairie workhorse” profile that these breeding programs targeted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe offer September Ruby on Antonovka full-size rootstock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a full-size rootstock, Antonovka will ultimately produce a large, vigorous tree. In most orchard settings, practical spacing is generally in the range of about 18–25 feet between trees depending on soil vigor, irrigation, pruning\/training intensity, and whether you’re managing for equipment access. A tighter spacing can work if you commit to canopy management and want earlier orchard “closure,” while wider spacing is appropriate on fertile ground or where you want large, low-maintenance trees over the long haul. For a rigorous pruning regiment, trees could even be planted closer than 18 ft. apart. If the growing season is longer than ours in MT, and the soils are deeper, one likely will need to summer prune as well Spring prune, whereas colder climate folks could likely get away with just Spring pruning at 15 ft spacing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeptember Ruby should be treated as not self-fertile for reliable production and should be planted with a different, compatible apple or crabapple that overlaps bloom for cross-pollination. Examples we offer include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, Haralson, Rescue, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dearborns-unknown\"\u003eDearborn's Unknown\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-sensation-apple\"\u003ePrairie Sensation\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norkent-apple\"\u003eNorkent\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norda-apple\"\u003eNorda\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norson-apple\"\u003eNorson\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kerr-crab\"\u003eKerr\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/chestnut-crabapple\"\u003eChestnut\u003c\/a\u003e. and many others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrairie cultivar documentation places September Ruby in the most cold-adapted class of apples commonly grown in North America, with hardiness noted to zone 2 in its original program descriptions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn-the-ground, the tree has performed very well for Ed Schultz in Gallatin Gateway and showed no winter injury after repeated winters that saw −47°F. That observation is specific to that site and management, but it is consistent with September Ruby’s documented role as a top-tier zone 2 cold-climate apple.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOther Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeptember Ruby is often nicknamed “King of the North” in the hardy-fruit world, reflecting the way growers talk about its winter survival and annual bearing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eListed as moderately resistant to fire blight, which is notable for a very hardy apple type, but it should still be managed like any apple in a fire blight region (balanced nutrition, avoid excessive vigor, prompt removal of strikes if they occur). Some cultivar references also note susceptibility to mildew, so standard airflow and canopy management remains worthwhile.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003eAbout the photo: this isn’t September Ruby itself. Photos of September Ruby are either under copyright or simply unavailable, so we picked the open-source image that looks closest to the fruit. Photo: “\"Konsta\" apples grown in Finland (K01561)” by Vici, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:%22Konsta%22_apples_grown_in_Finland_(K01561).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY-SA 3.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about September Ruby Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes September Ruby Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. September Ruby Apple needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. Not self-fertile. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety nearby that blooms at about the same time (bloom groups 2 to 4 on our chart). Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e (Bundle of 2), \u003ca href=\"\/products\/rescue-apple-crab\"\u003eRescue Applecrab\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/haralson-apple\"\u003eHaralson Apple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is September Ruby Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate September Ruby Apple hardy to zone 2, which means winters down to about -50°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does September Ruby Apple need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 950 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 800 and 1,100. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Prairie-bred and very hardy. Chill is estimated near 950 hours, far less than a Montana winter delivers. 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#september-ruby-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does September Ruby Apple ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 27 to Sep 9 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 September Ruby Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft September Ruby Apple onto Dolgo (full size), which makes a tree roughly 20 to 30 ft tall if you never prune it. Plant 18 to 25 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is September Ruby Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for September Ruby Apple are juice and sweet cider (8\/10), fresh eating (7\/10), winter storage (7\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat September Ruby Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect September Ruby 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":"Dolgo Full Size: 3-4 ft.","offer_id":42504557527106,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Dolgo Full Size: 4-6 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45134580973634,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/red-striped-apples-on-tree-representative.jpg?v=1791615904"},{"product_id":"northfield-beauty-apple","title":"Northfield Beauty Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Northfield Beauty Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 3 in our ratings (winters to -40°F), and not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 4 of 7, mid 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 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 800 hours (700 to 1,100). From published figures. 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#northfield-beauty-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 4 of 7 (mid), late spring here. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 3 to 5. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/otterson-apple\"\u003eOtterson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trail-crabapple\"\u003eTrail Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/alexander-apple\"\u003eAlexander Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/burgundy-apple\"\u003eBurgundy Apple\u003c\/a\u003e and 103 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\u003ePies and baking (7\/10), sauce and butter (7\/10), cooking and roasting (7\/10), canning and freezing (6\/10), jams and jellies (6\/10), drying (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 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, 3-5 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=\"299\" data-end=\"313\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"314\" data-end=\"623\"\u003eNorthfield Beauty is a cold-hardy heirloom apple best known for its strong kitchen utility, heavy cropping, and reliable performance in fairly cold climates. It is often favored by growers who value bold, tart flavor and high productivity, with fruit that can also be eaten fresh by those who enjoy sharper apples.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"625\" data-end=\"650\"\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Parentage\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"651\" data-end=\"1069\"\u003eNorthfield Beauty is an old American apple dating to the 19th century. Pomiferous notes puts its origins to Hermon in Penobscot County, Maine (U.S.A.) with its parentage listed as possibly\u003ca class=\"standard apple-link\" data-apple-id=\"7860\" href=\"https:\/\/pomiferous.com\/applebyname\/siberian-crabapple-id-7860\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e Siberian Crabapple \u003c\/a\u003e crossed with\u003ca class=\"standard apple-link\" data-apple-id=\"1967\" href=\"https:\/\/pomiferous.com\/applebyname\/hubbardston-id-1967\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e Hubbardston. \u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1071\" data-end=\"1097\"\u003eFruit Quality \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1098\" data-end=\"1578\"\u003eFruit is typically large, frequently irregular or asymmetrical in shape, and notably tart with a strong, assertive flavor. Northfield Beauty is widely regarded as an excellent cooking apple, particularly for sauce and baking, where its acidity and structure hold up well. When fully mature, it can also be eaten fresh by those who prefer high-acid apples. Ripening is generally described as late summer, commonly in the late August\/early Sept window depending on climate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1580\" data-end=\"1608\"\u003eGrowth Habit \u0026amp; Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1609\" data-end=\"1886\"\u003eTrees are moderately vigorous with an upright to spreading growth habit and are often described as heavy and consistent croppers. Standard apple spacing based on rootstock applies, with wider spacing helpful for airflow and disease management in vigorous plantings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1888\" data-end=\"1905\"\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1906\" data-end=\"2154\"\u003eNorthfield Beauty requires cross-pollination. Any compatible apple or crabapple with overlapping bloom will work. In mixed plantings, pairing it with another mid-bloom apple along with a crabapple is a reliable strategy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"2156\" data-end=\"2176\"\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2177\" data-end=\"2528\"\u003eNorthfield Beauty is easily a solid zone 3 apple, having survived near -35F on Rod McIver's farm in Kalispell, MT without any winter injury. If \u003ca href=\"\/products\/siberian-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eSiberian crab\u003c\/a\u003e is indeed one of its parents, then it could even be hardier. As with most apples, actual survival at the lower end of this range depends on acclimation, site selection, and overall tree health. Possible zone 2\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"2177\" data-end=\"2528\"\u003eOther Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2177\" data-end=\"2528\"\u003eApparently resistant to scab.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Northfield Beauty Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Northfield Beauty Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Northfield Beauty 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 3 to 5. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/otterson-apple\"\u003eOtterson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trail-crabapple\"\u003eTrail Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/alexander-apple\"\u003eAlexander Apple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Northfield Beauty Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Northfield Beauty Apple hardy to zone 3, which means winters down to about -40°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Northfield Beauty Apple need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 800 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 700 and 1,100. That comes from published figures for this variety. Listed at about 800 hours. Any Montana winter covers that. 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#northfield-beauty-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Northfield Beauty Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Northfield Beauty 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 Northfield Beauty Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Northfield Beauty Apple are pies and baking (7\/10), sauce and butter (7\/10), cooking and roasting (7\/10), canning and freezing (6\/10).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Northfield Beauty Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Northfield Beauty Apple with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Northfield Beauty 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: 3-5 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: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":42503001636930,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/northfield-beauty-apple-on-tree.jpg?v=1789020680"},{"product_id":"9-22-end-apple","title":"9-22 End Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e 9-22 End Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 2b in our ratings (winters to -45°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for an apple or crabapple), and it ripens about Aug 28 to Sep 9 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 2b to 7. The b means the warmer half of zone 2 only (winters to -45°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#9-22-end-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 4 of 7 (mid), late spring here. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 3 to 5. Its pollen quality isn't confirmed yet, so don't count on it as the only pollenizer for another tree. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/otterson-apple\"\u003eOtterson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trail-crabapple\"\u003eTrail Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/alexander-apple\"\u003eAlexander Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/burgundy-apple\"\u003eBurgundy Apple\u003c\/a\u003e and 103 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\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 28 to Sep 9 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\u003ePies and baking (6\/10), sauce and butter (6\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 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, 3-4 ft or 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\u003cp\u003e9-22 End Apple is extremely hardy, with many reports noting that it can survive in zone 1. That would mean this apple can handle somewhere in the -50 to -60°F range as an average based on 30 years of USDA data, which would put its extreme survivability around -60°F or colder.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, Purvis and others list it as a zone 2b, and he bases that on what the tree can actually survive down to, which he believes is more in the -40 to -45°F range. That’s probably a safer number to go off of, so we’re listing it as hardy to -45°F (zone 2b).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe don’t know of any 9-22 End apples growing in Montana, so all of this is second-hand information.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOther Notes:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe acquired scionwood for grafting from Bob Purvis. Here’s what he has to say about 9-22 End:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Somewhat spreading, yet vigorous tree as grown on Antonovka seedling in MN. Fruits are scab resistant under Wisconsin conditions. From the Prairie Farms breeding program in Alberta. Hardy throughout Zone 2. In Minnesota, as good as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/northern-spy-apple\"\u003eNorthern Spy\u003c\/a\u003e for culinary use, tree precocity is average. Fruit goes mealy rapidly under hot conditions and must be picked slightly immature.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFlavor\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePomiferous notes that the apple is:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Juicy, tart and flavourful. Should be picked when still somewhat green since the apple tends to become soft and mushy soon after harvest.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRipening Time\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHardy Fruit Tree Nursery in Canada reports that this apple ripens around September 10th in Quebec. This would be considered a late summer apple (not as early as some others) and should still ripen in time even for growers way up in parts of Alaska, where the growing season is much shorter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt will ripen just fine in all of Montana.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about 9-22 End Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes 9-22 End Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. 9-22 End 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 3 to 5. Its pollen quality isn't confirmed yet, so don't count on it as the only pollenizer for another tree. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/otterson-apple\"\u003eOtterson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trail-crabapple\"\u003eTrail Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/alexander-apple\"\u003eAlexander Apple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is 9-22 End Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate 9-22 End Apple hardy to zone 2b, which means winters down to about -45°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does 9-22 End 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. 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#9-22-end-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does 9-22 End Apple ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 28 to Sep 9 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 9-22 End Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft 9-22 End 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 9-22 End Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for 9-22 End Apple are pies and baking (6\/10), sauce and butter (6\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat 9-22 End Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect 9-22 End 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: 3-4 ft.","offer_id":42495305285698,"sku":null,"price":44.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bud 118 Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft.","offer_id":45124699750466,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/9-22-end-apple-on-tree.jpg?v=1789019153"},{"product_id":"lubsk-queen-apple","title":"Lubsk Queen Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lubsk Queen Apple is an apple tree we've conservatively estimated at zone 4 (winters to -30°F), and not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 3 of 7, early-mid 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 7. 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#lubsk-queen-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 3 of 7 (early-mid), late spring here. Not self-fertile. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety nearby that blooms at about the same time (bloom groups 2 to 4 on our chart). Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hewes-virginia-crabapple\"\u003eHewe's Virginia Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hyslop-crabapple\"\u003eHyslop Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wickson-crabapple\"\u003eWickson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/blue-pearmain-apple\"\u003eBlue Pearmain Apple\u003c\/a\u003e and 100 more. Bloom group is our estimate from the variety's origin and relatives. \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\u003eDolgo: full size, about 20 to 30 ft tall unpruned. Very hardy and well anchored. Plant 18 to 20 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\u003eFresh eating (6\/10), pies and baking (6\/10), sauce and butter (6\/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, 2-4 ft or 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\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis is our first year with Lubsk Queen, so everything here is secondhand until we have fruited it and watched it through a few winters. We will update it as we learn.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLubsk Queen is one of the prettiest apples anybody grows. It is a Russian variety, sometimes listed as Lubskoe, and the fruit is close to white with a clean crimson blush over it. People have been growing it for looks as much as for eating for a long time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin and History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is an old Russian apple that came west with the wave of Russian material brought into North America in the late 1800s, the same general push that gave us Antonovka, Duchess of Oldenburg and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/yellow-transparent\"\u003eYellow Transparent\u003c\/a\u003e. Those imports are the reason apple growing works at all in the northern plains, and Lubsk Queen has stayed around mostly on the strength of how it looks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit and Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMedium sized, round to slightly flattened, with a smooth waxy skin that is nearly translucent white under a bright red flush. The flesh is white, sometimes stained faintly pink near the skin, and it is tender and juicy with a mild, lightly tart flavor. This is an early to mid-season apple and it does not keep, so plan on eating it fresh off the tree or turning it straight into sauce and pies. It is not a storage apple and we would not pretend otherwise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit and Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOurs are grafted on \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo\u003c\/a\u003e full size rootstock, so give it room. Plan on 18 to 20 feet between trees, or tighter if you are committed to pruning it every year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLubsk Queen needs a pollenizer. It blooms early to mid, so pair it with something in that window. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/chestnut-crabapple\"\u003eChestnut\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/centennial-apple-crab\"\u003eCentennial\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norland-apple\"\u003eNorland\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/parkland-apple\"\u003eParkland\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/crimson-beauty-apple\"\u003eCrimson Beauty\u003c\/a\u003e and Dolgo all overlap well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe have it listed at zone 4 for now. The Russian background suggests it may well do better than that, but we would rather under-promise than have you lose a tree. Once we have our own winter data we will revise it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003eAbout the photo: this isn’t Lubsk Queen itself. Photos of Lubsk Queen are either under copyright or simply unavailable, so we picked the open-source image that looks closest to the fruit. Photo: “Discovery apples” by Bob Balmer, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Discovery_apples.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY 2.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Lubsk Queen Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Lubsk Queen Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Lubsk Queen Apple needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety nearby that blooms at about the same time (bloom groups 2 to 4 on our chart). Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hewes-virginia-crabapple\"\u003eHewe's Virginia Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hyslop-crabapple\"\u003eHyslop Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wickson-crabapple\"\u003eWickson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Lubsk Queen Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe list Lubsk Queen Apple at zone 4 for now, which means winters down to about -30°F. Its Russian background suggests it may do better than that, but we'd rather under-promise until our own trees have been through a few winters. We'll revise it once we have that data.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Lubsk Queen 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. 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#lubsk-queen-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Lubsk Queen Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Lubsk Queen Apple onto \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo\u003c\/a\u003e (full size), which makes a tree roughly 20 to 30 ft tall if you never prune it. Plant 18 to 20 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Lubsk Queen Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Lubsk Queen Apple are fresh eating (6\/10), pies and baking (6\/10), sauce and butter (6\/10). Since we haven't fruited it yet, those scores lean on published descriptions rather than our own harvests.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Lubsk Queen Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Lubsk Queen Apple with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Lubsk Queen 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: 2-4 ft or 4-6 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":"Dolgo Full Size: 2-4 ft.","offer_id":45156147462210,"sku":null,"price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Dolgo Full Size: 4-6 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45156147494978,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/pale-apples-crimson-blush-on-branch.jpg?v=1791616086"},{"product_id":"oriole-apple","title":"Oriole Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Oriole Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 2 in our ratings (winters to -50°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 5 of 7, mid-late for an apple or crabapple), and it ripens about Aug 14 to Aug 28 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 2 to 7. A bare number means the whole of zone 2, colder half included (winters to -50°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 (850 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#oriole-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 5 of 7 (mid-late), late spring here. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 4 to 6. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/black-oxford-apple\"\u003eBlack Oxford Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/honeycrisp\"\u003eHoneycrisp Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/northern-spy-apple\"\u003eNorthern Spy Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-spy-apple\"\u003ePrairie Spy Apple\u003c\/a\u003e and 70 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\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Aug 14 to Aug 28 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. Dolgo: full size, about 20 to 30 ft tall unpruned. Very hardy and well anchored. Plant about 15 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\u003eFresh eating (8\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10), juice and sweet cider (6\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 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, 3-5 ft or 5-6 ft or 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\u003e\u003cem\u003eNew to our lineup, so the information below comes from the University of Minnesota records and from growers who have had it longer than we have.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOriole is a big, showy, early apple bred for cold country. It is one of the better early varieties for people who want something worth eating in August rather than just something that survives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin and History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReleased by the University of Minnesota in 1949, from a cross of Okabena and Livland Raspberry. Both parents trace back to the Russian hardy material, and it shows in how far north Oriole will go.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit and Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fruit is large for an early apple, with yellow to orange skin striped and splashed with red. The flesh is soft, juicy and sweet. It is excellent fresh and it cooks down well, and it makes good sweet cider. Like most early apples it will not store, so use it as it comes off the tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit and Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe are offering Oriole on both Bud 118 semi-dwarf and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo\u003c\/a\u003e full size rootstock. On Bud 118 plan on about 15 feet between trees. On Dolgo give it 18 to 20 feet. One thing worth knowing: Oriole is susceptible to powdery mildew, so site it where it gets air movement and do not crowd it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOriole needs a pollenizer. It blooms mid to late, so pair it accordingly. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/northern-spy-apple\"\u003eNorthern Spy\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/macoun-apple\"\u003eMacoun\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/arkansas-black\"\u003eArkansas Black\u003c\/a\u003e and most of our crabapples overlap.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eListed at zone 2. The Minnesota program bred it for the north and the parentage supports it, but we have not yet taken it through a hard winter at our own sites.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003eAbout the photo: this isn’t Oriole itself. Photos of Oriole are either under copyright or simply unavailable, so we picked the open-source image that looks closest to the fruit. Photo by Kelsey Todd, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/a-bunch-of-apples-hanging-from-a-tree-branch-ENcI37ufNSM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eUnsplash\u003c\/a\u003e, under the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/license\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eUnsplash License\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003ePhoto credit: “Cross section of Oriole” by the National Fruit Collection, Brogdale, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Cross_section_of_Oriole,_National_Fruit_Collection_(acc._1951-067).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed under the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalarchives.gov.uk\/doc\/open-government-licence\/version\/2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eOpen Government Licence v2.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Oriole Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Oriole Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Oriole 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 4 to 6. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/black-oxford-apple\"\u003eBlack Oxford Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/honeycrisp\"\u003eHoneycrisp Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/northern-spy-apple\"\u003eNorthern Spy Apple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Oriole Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Oriole Apple hardy to zone 2, which means winters down to about -50°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Oriole 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 850 and 1,200. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. 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#oriole-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Oriole Apple ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 14 to Aug 28 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 Oriole Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Oriole 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. Some sizes are on \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo\u003c\/a\u003e. Plant about 15 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Oriole Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Oriole Apple are fresh eating (8\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10), juice and sweet cider (6\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Oriole Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Oriole 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: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":45156160831554,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bud 118 Semi-Dwarf: 5-6 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45156160864322,"sku":null,"price":64.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Dolgo Full Size: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":45156160897090,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Dolgo Full Size: 5-7 ft.","offer_id":45156160929858,"sku":null,"price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/photo-1672155984758-383be9767f5e.jpg?v=1791638047"},{"product_id":"redstar-apple","title":"Redstar Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Redstar Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 2b from growers' reports in Fairbanks and Bozeman (winters to -45°F), and not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 4 of 7, mid 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 2b to 7. The b means the warmer half of zone 2 only (winters to -45°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#redstar-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 4 of 7 (mid), late spring here. Not self-fertile. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety nearby that blooms at about the same time (bloom groups 3 to 5 on our chart). Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/otterson-apple\"\u003eOtterson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trail-crabapple\"\u003eTrail Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/alexander-apple\"\u003eAlexander Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/burgundy-apple\"\u003eBurgundy Apple\u003c\/a\u003e and 103 more. Bloom group is our estimate from the variety's origin and relatives. \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\u003eDolgo: full size, about 20 to 30 ft tall unpruned. Very hardy and well anchored. Plant 18 to 20 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\u003eFresh eating (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, 2-4 ft or 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\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis is our first year growing Redstar, so everything below is secondhand until we get more long-term data from our own mother trees.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRedstar is a big, sweet, crisp red eating apple that has proven itself in Fairbanks, Alaska. Steve Masterman at Alaska Fruit Trees calls it \"a real joy to eat.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin and History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNobody knows exactly where Redstar came from. It was named by Clair Lammers of Fairbanks, and Steve points out that it may well be a known variety under another name somewhere else. In Fairbanks, it's Redstar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit and Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to Alaska Fruit Trees, the fruit is large (up to 3½ inches), red, juicy, sweet and crisp, \"an excellent eating apple.\" It ripens in late August in their Fairbanks orchard. We don't know yet when it'll ripen here, and we don't have storage notes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit and Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOurs are grafted on \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo\u003c\/a\u003e full size rootstock, so give it room. Plan on 18 to 20 feet between trees, or tighter if you're committed to pruning every year. Be patient with it. Steve's tree was seven years old before it set fruit. Once it gets going, he says it's a steady annual bearer that sets heavily and needs thinning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRedstar needs a pollenizer. We're estimating it blooms mid-season, so pair it with something hardy in that window, like \u003ca href=\"\/products\/haralson-apple\"\u003eHaralson\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kerr-crab\"\u003eKerr\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trailman-crab\"\u003eTrailman\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/goodland-apple\"\u003eGoodland\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/frostbite-apple\"\u003eFrostbite\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/otterson-apple\"\u003eOtterson crab\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSteve reports no tip dieback down to -40F. It did take significant dieback in one particularly harsh spring (2013) that killed a quarter of the trees in his orchard, but it came back and is fruiting again. He lists it with his zone 3 or colder apples and figures it's probably a bit hardier than that, since his orchard sits right on the zone 2\/3 line. The documented number is -40F without injury. Les McCartney has also grown Redstar in Bozeman, MT. We'll update this once we have our own winter data.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003eAbout the photo: this isn’t Redstar itself. Photos of Redstar are either under copyright or simply unavailable, so we picked the open-source image that looks closest to the fruit. Photo: “Fresh ripe apples on a tree (54015357813)” by AS Photography from Poland, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Fresh_ripe_apples_on_a_tree_(54015357813).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY 4.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Redstar Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Redstar Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Redstar Apple needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety nearby that blooms at about the same time (bloom groups 3 to 5 on our chart). Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/otterson-apple\"\u003eOtterson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trail-crabapple\"\u003eTrail Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/alexander-apple\"\u003eAlexander Apple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Redstar Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe list Redstar Apple at zone 2b, which means winters down to about -45°F. That comes from Steve Masterman in Fairbanks, who's seen no tip dieback down to -40°F and figures it's a bit hardier than zone 3. We haven't wintered our own trees yet, so we'll update it once we have.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Redstar 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. 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#redstar-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Redstar Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Redstar Apple onto \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo\u003c\/a\u003e (full size), which makes a tree roughly 20 to 30 ft tall if you never prune it. Plant 18 to 20 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Redstar Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Redstar Apple are fresh eating (7\/10). Since we're still new to it, that score leans on Alaska Fruit Trees' description rather than our own harvests.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Redstar Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Redstar Apple with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Redstar 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: 2-4 ft or 4-6 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":"Dolgo Full Size: 2-4 ft.","offer_id":45156165713986,"sku":null,"price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Dolgo Full Size: 4-6 ft.","offer_id":45156165746754,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/large-red-apples-on-tree.jpg?v=1791615896"},{"product_id":"shafer-apple","title":"Shafer Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shafer Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 2 from Alaska growers' reports (winters to -50°F), and not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 3 of 7, early-mid 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 2 to 7. A bare number means the whole of zone 2, colder half included (winters to -50°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 700 hours (500 to 1,000). 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#shafer-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 3 of 7 (early-mid), late spring here. Not self-fertile. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety nearby that blooms at about the same time (bloom groups 2 to 4 on our chart). Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hewes-virginia-crabapple\"\u003eHewe's Virginia Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hyslop-crabapple\"\u003eHyslop Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wickson-crabapple\"\u003eWickson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/blue-pearmain-apple\"\u003eBlue Pearmain Apple\u003c\/a\u003e and 100 more. Bloom group is our estimate from the variety's origin and relatives. \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\u003eMalus baccata: full size, about 20 to 30 ft tall unpruned. Siberian crab, about as hardy as apple roots get. Plant 18 to 20 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\u003eFresh eating (6\/10), sauce and butter (6\/10), drying (6\/10), juice and sweet cider (6\/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, 3-5 ft or 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\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis is our first year growing Shafer, so everything below is secondhand until we get more long-term data from our own mother trees.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShafer is a Manitoba applecrab, which means it sits right on the line between an apple and a crabapple. The fruit is about 1¾ inches across, bright red, and sweet with a tart edge, and it's one of the hardiest apples we offer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin and History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShafer was found by W. Shafer at Poplar Point, Manitoba, and introduced by the Morden Research Station in 1963. The USDA germplasm description, as quoted by Alaska Fruit Trees, calls it \"similar to \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trail-crabapple\"\u003eTrail\u003c\/a\u003e in size and quality but slightly darker orange and does not bruise as easily as Trail.\" We haven't found its parentage published anywhere.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit and Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSteve Masterman at Alaska Fruit Trees grows it in Fairbanks and describes the fruit as medium, about 1¾ inches, \"bright yellow, washed with red, often to the point of being completely bright red,\" and \"very nice, sweet but with a tart almost cranberry-like flavor.\" It ripens in early September in both Fairbanks and Manitoba. It only keeps a week or so, so plan to eat it fresh, dry it or turn it into sauce. Prairie Gardens in Alberta also recommends it for juice and cider.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit and Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOurs are grafted onto \u003ca href=\"\/products\/siberian-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eMalus baccata\u003c\/a\u003e full size rootstock, the hardiest rootstock we work with. Expect a full size tree and plan on 18 to 20 feet between them. It comes into bearing quickly, and both of Steve's trees fruited well in their third and fourth years. The one weakness he notes is that it's susceptible to fire blight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShafer needs a pollenizer. It blooms early to mid season, so pair it with another hardy apple in that window, like \u003ca href=\"\/products\/centennial-apple-crab\"\u003eCentennial\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/rescue-apple-crab\"\u003eRescue\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norkent-apple\"\u003eNorkent\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/parkland-apple\"\u003eParkland\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-sensation-apple\"\u003ePrairie Sensation\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a true zone 2 apple. Steve lists Shafer with his very hardiest apples in Fairbanks, in the same group as Dolgo, Rescue and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trailman-crab\"\u003eTrailman\u003c\/a\u003e, and rates it \"hardy to Zone 2a or colder.\" The Alaska Pioneer Fruit Growers Association puts it in their \"Hardiest\" class. We have it listed at zone 2, which is hardy to -50F.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003ePhoto credit: USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System, Plant Genetic Resources Unit, Geneva, New York, accession \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov\/gringlobal\/accessiondetail?id=1017376\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003ePI 589465\u003c\/a\u003e. Public domain (U.S. government work).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003eAbout the photo: this isn’t Shafer itself. Photos of Shafer are either under copyright or simply unavailable, so we picked the open-source image that looks closest to the fruit. Photo: “Apples 8122” by Bengt Nyman, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Apples_8122.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY-SA 4.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Shafer Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Shafer Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Shafer Apple needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety nearby that blooms at about the same time (bloom groups 2 to 4 on our chart). Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hewes-virginia-crabapple\"\u003eHewe's Virginia Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hyslop-crabapple\"\u003eHyslop Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wickson-crabapple\"\u003eWickson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Shafer Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe list Shafer Apple at zone 2, which means winters down to about -50°F. That comes from Steve Masterman in Fairbanks and the Alaska Pioneer Fruit Growers Association, who both put it with their hardiest apples. We haven't wintered our own trees yet, so we'll update it once we have.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Shafer Apple need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 700 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 500 and 1,000. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. 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#shafer-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Shafer Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Shafer Apple onto \u003ca href=\"\/products\/siberian-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eMalus baccata\u003c\/a\u003e (full size), which makes a tree roughly 20 to 30 ft tall if you never prune it. Plant 18 to 20 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Shafer Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Shafer Apple are fresh eating (6\/10), sauce and butter (6\/10), drying (6\/10), juice and sweet cider (6\/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 Shafer Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Shafer Apple with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Shafer 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: 3-5 ft or 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":"Malus baccata Full Size: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":45156168761410,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Malus baccata Full Size: 5-7 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45156168794178,"sku":null,"price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/small-bright-red-apples-on-tree-representative.jpg?v=1791616507"},{"product_id":"sunrise-canada-apple","title":"Sunrise (Canada) Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sunrise (Canada) Apple is an apple tree provisionally rated hardy to zone 3b (winters to -35°F), and not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 3 of 7, early-mid 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 3b to 8. The b means the warmer half of zone 3 only (winters to -35°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#sunrise-canada-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 3 of 7 (early-mid), late spring here. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 2 to 4. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hewes-virginia-crabapple\"\u003eHewe's Virginia Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hyslop-crabapple\"\u003eHyslop Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wickson-crabapple\"\u003eWickson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/blue-pearmain-apple\"\u003eBlue Pearmain Apple\u003c\/a\u003e and 100 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. Plant about 15 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\u003eFresh eating (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, 3-4 ft or 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\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis is our first year growing Sunrise, so everything below is secondhand until we get more long-term data from our own mother trees.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSunrise is an August apple from Agriculture Canada's Summerland station in British Columbia. It's crisp, juicy and mild, and it's for eating fresh off the tree, because it doesn't keep.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin and History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was released from Summerland around 1990 or 1991, and nurseries give the parents as McIntosh and Golden Delicious. Agriculture Canada's 1995-96 research directory called it \"a high-quality summer apple with superior crispness, juiciness, and taste.\" There are other apples called Sunrise out there, including a yellow one of unknown parentage that St. Lawrence Nurseries sells, so make sure you're comparing the right one. Ours is the Summerland apple.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit and Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fruit is medium-large and red striped or blushed over yellow. UMass Extension wrote that it \"has an extremely mild flavor, and when harvested at the proper time, is very crisp and juicy.\" It ripens in mid to late August. The big catch is shelf life. UMass said it \"has the shortest shelf life\" and recommended planting only what you can use within about two weeks. On the other hand, Raintree says it'll hang on the tree for up to four weeks without losing quality, so you can pick as you go.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit and Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOurs are on Bud 118 semi-dwarf rootstock. Plan on about 15 feet between trees, up to 18 feet for airflow. Similkameen Nurseries in BC says it's very precocious, bears moderate to heavy crops every year, and needs thinning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt needs a pollenizer and blooms early-mid. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/centennial-apple-crab\"\u003eCentennial\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/parkland-apple\"\u003eParkland\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norkent-apple\"\u003eNorkent\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/liberty-apple\"\u003eLiberty\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/snowsweet-apple\"\u003eSnowsweet\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/transcendent-crabapple\"\u003eTranscendent crab\u003c\/a\u003e all overlap.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAgriculture Canada described Sunrise as \"well adapted to northern climates, comparable to McIntosh and Red Delicious.\" We rate McIntosh to about -40F, and Red Delicious is less hardy than that, so we've listed Sunrise at zone 3b for now. If you see a -50F rating for \"Sunrise\" somewhere, that's the other, yellow apple, not this one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003ePhoto credit: “Cross section of Sunrise (Canada)” by the National Fruit Collection, Brogdale, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Cross_section_of_Sunrise_(Canada),_National_Fruit_Collection_(acc._1999-032).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed under the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalarchives.gov.uk\/doc\/open-government-licence\/version\/2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eOpen Government Licence v2.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003ePhoto: “Sunrise apple 20240215 173301” by Prosperosity, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Sunrise_apple_20240215_173301.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY 4.0\u003c\/a\u003e, cropped.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Sunrise (Canada) Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Sunrise (Canada) Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Sunrise (Canada) 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 2 to 4. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hewes-virginia-crabapple\"\u003eHewe's Virginia Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hyslop-crabapple\"\u003eHyslop Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wickson-crabapple\"\u003eWickson Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Sunrise (Canada) Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe list Sunrise (Canada) Apple at zone 3b for now, which means winters down to about -35°F. Agriculture Canada compares it to McIntosh and Red Delicious, so that's where our estimate comes from. We haven't wintered our own trees yet, so we'll update it once we have.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow many chill hours does Sunrise (Canada) 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. 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#sunrise-canada-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Sunrise (Canada) Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Sunrise (Canada) 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 about 15 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Sunrise (Canada) Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Sunrise (Canada) Apple are fresh eating (7\/10). Since we're still new to it, that score leans on published descriptions rather than our own harvests.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Sunrise (Canada) Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Sunrise (Canada) Apple with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Sunrise (Canada) 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: 3-4 ft or 4-6 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: 3-4 ft.","offer_id":45156175052866,"sku":null,"price":44.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bud 118 Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45156175085634,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/sunrise-apples-basket.jpg?v=1791636991"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.montanafruittrees.com\/collections\/early-ripening-apple-trees.oembed","provider":"Montana Fruit Trees","version":"1.0","type":"link"}