{"title":"Morden Research Station Fruit Varieties","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Agriculture Canada research station at Morden, Manitoba bred fruit for some of the hardest winters on the continent. If a variety survived the Manitoba prairie, it's a good bet for cold country anywhere.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdetails class=\"mft-more\"\u003e\u003csummary\u003eMore About Morden Research Station Fruit Varieties\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003eCarroll, Norland, Parkland, Goodland, Mantet and September Ruby are Morden apples, along with the Kerr and Trailman applecrabs. Morden 604 and Westcot apricots, Ure pear and Boyne raspberry came out of the same station.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn this page: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/boyne-raspberry-bundle-of-5\"\u003eBoyne Raspberry\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/carroll-apple\"\u003eCarroll Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/goodland-apple\"\u003eGoodland Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kerr-crab\"\u003eKerr Applecrab\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/mantet-apple\"\u003eMantet Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/morden-604-apricot\"\u003eMorden 604 Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/morden-604-apricot-seedling\"\u003eMorden 604 Apricot Seedling\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norda-apple\"\u003eNorda Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norland-apple\"\u003eNorland Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/parkland-apple\"\u003eParkland Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/red-sparkle-apple\"\u003eRed Sparkle Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/september-ruby-apple\"\u003eSeptember Ruby Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/shafer-apple\"\u003eShafer Apple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trailman-crab\"\u003eTrailman Applecrab\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/ure-pear\"\u003eUre Pear\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/westcot-apricot\"\u003eWestcot Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRelated: \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/saskatchewan-alberta-fruit-varieties\"\u003eSaskatchewan \u0026amp; Alberta Prairie Fruit\u003c\/a\u003e · \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/agriculture-canada-fruit-varieties\"\u003eAgriculture Canada Varieties\u003c\/a\u003e · \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/zone-2-fruit-trees\"\u003eZone 2 Fruit Trees\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions We Get\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhere is the Morden Research Station?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMorden, Manitoba, just north of the North Dakota line. Agriculture Canada ran a fruit breeding program there for most of the 1900s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat's the hardiest Morden apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eParkland is rated all the way to zone 1 on our scale. Norland and Carroll are rated to zone 2.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"boyne-raspberry-bundle-of-5","title":"Boyne Raspberry (Bundle of 5) | Spring 2027","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Boyne Raspberry is a raspberry plant rated hardy to zone 2 in our ratings (winters to -50°F), and self-fertile, so one plant can crop.\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 (600 to 1,000). 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#boyne-raspberry-bundle-of-5\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelf-Fertile. Bloom group 2 of 7 (early), late spring to early summer here. Raspberries set fruit on their own, so one variety is enough. Bloom timing does not limit pairing for raspberries. Bloom group is our estimate from the variety's origin and relatives. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/raspberry-pollination-chart\"\u003eRaspberry Pollination Chart\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eJams and jellies (8\/10), fresh eating (7\/10), canning and freezing (7\/10), sauce and butter (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. 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\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eBoyne is another excellent Zone 2 raspberry. We’ve seen it growing here in Montana in places where very few other raspberries would survive. Boyne, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/nova-raspberry-bundle-of-5\"\u003eNova\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/polana-raspberry-bundle-of-5\"\u003ePolana\u003c\/a\u003e are the most cold-hardy varieties we know of—not only surviving in places like Cut Bank (one of the harshest climates in the state, and also where some of our family homesteaded!), but also producing superb flavor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eWinter Tip for Extreme Cold\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eOne thing we recommend for anyone who might see sub -40°F temps in the winter: lie the canes down on the ground and mulch over them. Just know that you’ll definitely need to give them a support structure come spring—after spending the whole winter under mulch, they’ll have a hard time standing up on their own. But that extra layer of protection can make all the difference if you’re unsure how cold it’s going to get. Sometimes, in the coldest parts of the state, we’ll go years without seeing -50°F—and then the polar vortex dips south, and boom, severe frost!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003e2027 Plant Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eOur 2027 Boyne raspberry plants are large, well-established raspberries with extensive root systems—ready to thrive in tough conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003eAbout the photo: this isn’t Boyne itself. Photos of Boyne are either under copyright or simply unavailable, so we picked the open-source image that looks closest to the fruit. Photo: “004 2018 06 14 Obst” by Friedrich Haag, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:004_2018_06_14_Obst.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 Boyne Raspberry\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Boyne Raspberry need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Boyne Raspberry is self-fertile, so a single tree can set fruit. Raspberries set fruit on their own, so one variety is enough. Bloom timing does not limit pairing for raspberries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Boyne Raspberry?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Boyne Raspberry 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 Boyne Raspberry need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 700 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 600 and 1,000. That comes from published figures for this variety. Boyne needs roughly 600 to 800 chill hours. Prairie and Montana winters supply that easily; cane hardiness matters more. 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#boyne-raspberry-bundle-of-5\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Boyne Raspberry good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Boyne Raspberry are jams and jellies (8\/10), fresh eating (7\/10), canning and freezing (7\/10), sauce and butter (7\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Boyne Raspberry?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Boyne Raspberry with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Boyne Raspberry 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. 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":"Default Title","offer_id":42472434499650,"sku":null,"price":79.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/red-raspberry-on-cane-representative.jpg?v=1791615309"},{"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":"kerr-crab","title":"Kerr Applecrab (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Kerr Applecrab is an applecrab 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 Sep 11 to Sep 25 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 800 hours (600 to 1,000). 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#kerr-crab\"\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 Sep 11 to Sep 25 in Missoula (estimated for Missoula 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 (9\/10), juice and sweet cider (8\/10), winter storage (8\/10), sauce and butter (7\/10), cooking and roasting (7\/10), canning and freezing (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. 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\u003eOne of our all-time favorites, Kerr is an applecrab (\u003ca href=\"\/products\/haralson-apple\"\u003eHaralson\u003c\/a\u003e x \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo\u003c\/a\u003e) bred by W.L. Kerr at the Canada Experimental Farm in 1938 and released in 1952. First introduced to us by Roger Joy in the summer of 2016, this variety immediately stood out. It’s Roger’s favorite, and we totally get why. It. has since become one of our go-to applecrabs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFlavor \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBold, complex flavor with a beautiful red skin and yellow-tinged flesh\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFlavor notes people have reported: \u003cem\u003e\"Floral, cinnamon, cherry, grape, almond, pineapple, and even hoppy\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBest for fresh eating, but also makes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGorgeous rosé-colored cider\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVibrant pink applesauce\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn amazing addition to oatmeal\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStores actually fairly well for several months. Loses flavor but as of 2\/22\/26 (when this was written), we've got lots in the fridge. Again, flavor is not as strong as right off the tree, and they have become a bit mealy, but they aren't bad. However, they did not store nearly as well for us in 2025 because they were picked in the latter part of their two week window to harvest the fruit. If harvested in the earlier part of that window, they will keep significantly longer. A quick rough estimate would be that for every day one waits to harvest the tree in that window, their shelf life drops a week. It would be interesting to compare this phenomenon with other apples across the board because perhaps this holds true generally?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe love it alongside \u003ca href=\"\/products\/chestnut-crabapple\"\u003eChestnut\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/martha-applecrab\"\u003eMartha crabapples\u003c\/a\u003e—together they make an unbeatable trio for flavor and versatility.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSurvived -47°F at Ed Schultz’s orchard in Gallatin Gateway, although it did have a little bit of limb damage at those temps (not to the trunk, though).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHardy to -50°F (zone 2), with some winter damage but not to the trunk. Its limit may be a tad colder. Look towards \u003ca href=\"\/products\/centennial-apple-crab\"\u003eCentennial\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/rescue-apple-crab\"\u003eRescue\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trailman-crab\"\u003eTrailman\u003c\/a\u003e for even hardier applecrabs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Kerr Applecrab\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Kerr Applecrab need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Kerr Applecrab 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 Kerr Applecrab?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Kerr Applecrab 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 Kerr Applecrab need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 800 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 600 and 1,000. That comes from published figures for this variety. Lab tests put Kerr a bit below standard apples, about 800 hours on the grower scale. 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#kerr-crab\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Kerr Applecrab ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Sep 11 to Sep 25 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 Kerr Applecrab get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Kerr Applecrab 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 Kerr Applecrab good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Kerr Applecrab are fresh eating (9\/10), juice and sweet cider (8\/10), winter storage (8\/10), sauce and butter (7\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Kerr Applecrab?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Kerr Applecrab 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. (One Year Older)","offer_id":42751565463618,"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":45133588627522,"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":45133588660290,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/kerr-applecrab-in-hand.webp?v=1789020384"},{"product_id":"morden-604-apricot","title":"Morden 604 Apricot (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Morden 604 Apricot is an apricot tree rated hardy to zone 2b in our ratings (winters to -45°F), and self-fertile, so one tree can crop (bloom group 2 of 7, early for an apricot).\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 600 hours (400 to 800). 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#morden-604-apricot\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelf-Fertile. Bloom group 2 of 7 (early), very early spring here. Self-fertile, so one tree can crop alone. Another early apricot such as Westcot nearby usually improves yields. Nearby varieties that can boost the crop: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/westcot-apricot\"\u003eWestcot Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/montana-mango-apricot\"\u003eMontana Mango Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/debbies-gold-apricot\"\u003eDebbie's Gold Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/manchurian-apricot-bundle-of-2\"\u003eManchurian Apricot (Bundle of 2)\u003c\/a\u003e and 6 more. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/apricot-pollination-map\"\u003eApricot 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\u003eManchurian: full size, about 15 to 20 ft tall unpruned. The hardiest apricot root there is. \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), jams and jellies (7\/10), pies and baking (6\/10), canning and freezing (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\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\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 6-8 ft or 7-9 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\u003eMorden 604 is one of the earliest and most notable improved, ultra-hardy apricot varieties developed for the prairies. It was released in 1946 by the Agriculture Canada research facility in Morden, Manitoba, and represents a major milestone in cold-climate fruit breeding.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBreeding Background\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMorden 604 is a cross between:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e‘Scout’ – a seedling of \u003ca href=\"\/products\/manchurian-apricot-bundle-of-2\"\u003eManchurian apricot\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e‘McClure’ – another hardy cultivar with proven resilience\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe received our first harvest in Summer 2023 in Missoula, and the flavor did not disappoint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLuke’s tasting notes:\u003cbr\u003e“Creamy, and very sweet. It’s too bad we only got a few this first year. Looking forward to more.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit \u0026amp; Flavor Profile\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFlavor: Creamy, sweet, and pleasant\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize: Large fruit, averaging 4.5 cm (1¾\")\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eColor: Classic apricot tones\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eExceptional Cold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMorden 604 is one of the most cold-hardy apricots available, with buds capable of withstanding -40°F or colder. It rivals (and possibly exceeds) the hardiness of other known cold-climate champions:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/debbies-gold-apricot\"\u003eDebbie’s Gold\u003c\/a\u003e: -41°F\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrookcot: -48°F\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/westcot-apricot\"\u003eWestcot\u003c\/a\u003e: -48°F near Bemidji, MN\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSunrise: -50°F+\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe comfortably list this as a Zone 2b apricot, although it can be feast or famine the colder you are in terms of reliably getting a crop due to the blossoms getting damaged from late Spring frosts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTree Size \u0026amp; Rootstock\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrafted onto: Full-size, cold-hardy Manchurian apricot rootstock\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMature height: Up to 25 feet if left unpruned\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSizes available: Varies by inventory (see size options when ordering)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Morden 604 Apricot\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Morden 604 Apricot need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Morden 604 Apricot is self-fertile, so a single tree can set fruit. Self-fertile, so one tree can crop alone. Another early apricot such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/westcot-apricot\"\u003eWestcot\u003c\/a\u003e nearby usually improves yields. Partners we carry include Westcot Apricot, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/montana-mango-apricot\"\u003eMontana Mango Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/debbies-gold-apricot\"\u003eDebbie's Gold Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Morden 604 Apricot?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Morden 604 Apricot 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 Morden 604 Apricot need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 600 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 400 and 800. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Montana winters cover its chill easily. The real risk is early bloom, so a spot that warms slowly in spring helps dodge frost. 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#morden-604-apricot\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Morden 604 Apricot get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Morden 604 Apricot onto Manchurian (full size), which makes a tree roughly 15 to 20 ft tall if you never prune it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Morden 604 Apricot good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Morden 604 Apricot are fresh eating (8\/10), jams and jellies (7\/10), pies and baking (6\/10), canning and freezing (6\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Morden 604 Apricot?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Morden 604 Apricot now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Morden 604 Apricot 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 4-6 ft or 6-8 ft or 7-9 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":"Manchurian Full Size: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":42500894556226,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Manchurian Full Size: 4-6 ft. Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45133941997634,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Manchurian Full Size: 6-8 ft. Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45133942030402,"sku":null,"price":79.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Manchurian Full Size: 7-9 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":42500894588994,"sku":null,"price":129.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/morden-604-apricot-in-hand.webp?v=1789020641"},{"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":"trailman-crab","title":"Trailman Applecrab (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Trailman Applecrab is an applecrab tree rated hardy to zone 1b in our ratings (winters to -55°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 27 to Sep 8 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 1b to 7. The b means the warmer half of zone 1 only (winters to -55°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 700 hours (500 to 900). 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#trailman-crab\"\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 27 to Sep 8 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\u003eFresh eating (8\/10), cooking and roasting (7\/10), canning and freezing (7\/10), drying (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, 4-6 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 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eBred at the Morden Research Station in Manitoba and introduced in 1973, Trailman is a cold-hardy apple crab that consistently produces heavy crops of small, orange-peach-colored fruits (1–1.5” in size). It’s a cross between \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trail-crabapple\"\u003eTrail\u003c\/a\u003e and Osman, and one of the best-performing applecrabs we've seen for extreme northern climates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eFlavor Profile\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eDon’t let the size fool you—Trailman packs a punch:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eSweet with a bold tart kick – might be a bit much for some early on, but if left to ripen longer, it mellows into a sweeter, nuttier profile\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eHas a flavor somewhat similar to \u003ca href=\"\/products\/chestnut-crabapple\"\u003eChestnut Crab\u003c\/a\u003e (although more flavorful and less sweet) with a nice crunch\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eLikely a great addition to hard cider blends\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eSurvived -47°F at Ed Schultz’s orchard near Bozeman in 2024 with zero damage. Alaska Fruit Trees lists it as one of their hardiest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eEstimated hardiness: -50°F to -60°F, making it ideal for extreme cold climates in zone 2 and zone 1b. We're listing it conservatively at zone 1b (-55°F) until we have more data.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRootstock Info\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eFor Spring 2027, these trees are one year older and grafted onto \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo\u003c\/a\u003e and Bud 118.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Trailman Applecrab\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Trailman Applecrab need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Trailman Applecrab 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 Trailman Applecrab?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Trailman Applecrab hardy to zone 1b, which means winters down to about -55°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 Trailman Applecrab 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 900. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Morden applecrab bred for the prairies. Chill estimated around 700 hours and untested where winters are mild. 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#trailman-crab\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Trailman Applecrab ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 27 to Sep 8 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 Trailman Applecrab get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Trailman Applecrab 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 Trailman Applecrab good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Trailman Applecrab are fresh eating (8\/10), cooking and roasting (7\/10), canning and freezing (7\/10), drying (6\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Trailman Applecrab?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Trailman Applecrab 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":42507281236034,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Dolgo Full Size: 3-4 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":42507281334338,"sku":null,"price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Dolgo Full Size: 5-7 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":42507281268802,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/trailman-applecrab-on-tree.png?v=1789021268"},{"product_id":"westcot-apricot","title":"Westcot Apricot (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Westcot Apricot is an apricot tree rated hardy to zone 2b in our ratings (winters to -45°F), self-fertile, so one tree can crop (bloom group 2 of 7, early for an apricot), and it ripens about Jul 26 to Aug 5 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 2b to 7. The b means the warmer half of zone 2 only (winters to -45°F). Our notes have it taking -50°F. We're listing it conservatively until we have more data. 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 (400 to 800). 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#westcot-apricot\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelf-Fertile. Bloom group 2 of 7 (early), very early spring here. Self-fertile, so a single tree will set fruit. Adding another early apricot such as Morden 604 or Debbie's Gold gives heavier crops. Nearby varieties that can boost the crop: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/morden-604-apricot\"\u003eMorden 604 Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/montana-mango-apricot\"\u003eMontana Mango Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/debbies-gold-apricot\"\u003eDebbie's Gold Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/manchurian-apricot-bundle-of-2\"\u003eManchurian Apricot (Bundle of 2)\u003c\/a\u003e and 6 more. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/apricot-pollination-map\"\u003eApricot Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRipens\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout Jul 26 to Aug 5 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\u003eManchurian: full size, about 15 to 20 ft tall unpruned. The hardiest apricot root there is. \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), pies and baking (7\/10), jams and jellies (7\/10), canning and freezing (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\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\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 or 6-8 ft or 7-9 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;\"\u003eWestcot is another standout cold-hardy prairie variety from Manitoba, bred for tough northern climates. Like \u003ca href=\"\/products\/morden-604-apricot\"\u003eMorden 604\u003c\/a\u003e, it’s a cross between ‘Scout’ and ‘McClure’, but was introduced later in 1982 by Agriculture Canada at Morden, MB.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eCold Hardiness \u0026amp; Climate Adaptation\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" class=\"\"\u003eHardy to: -48°F (proven in Bemidji, MN). Zone: 2b (we're listing it conservatively at -45°F until we have more data). Bloom time is just before \u003ca href=\"\/products\/debbies-gold-apricot\"\u003eDebbie’s Gold\u003c\/a\u003e. Second only to Sunrise (hardy to -50°F+) in terms of extreme cold resilience amongst named varieties (that we know of).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eSelf-Fertile \u0026amp; High-Yielding\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" class=\"\"\u003eSelf-fertile, so no pollination partner is required, although greater yields may be obtained if planted with Debbie's Gold, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/sungold-apricot\"\u003eSungold\u003c\/a\u003e, Morden 604, or some of the other Prairie Province apricots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eFrom Bob Purvis:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" class=\"\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e“Westcot is sweet (18° Brix), with yellow-orange skin, good for fresh eating and firm enough to can. Tree vigor is moderate, growth habit is irregular but can be trained with spreaders. Average production on two 9-year-old trees in SW Minnesota was 200 lb\/tree in 2010.”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" class=\"\"\u003eRipens in mid-July in southern Minnesota. In Missoula, it ripens anywhere from last week of July to first week of August. In Homedale, it was ripe when we filmed our \"\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/G06qBrYmMWU?si=lsS-T4tKwVokPG2F\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Luke Ruffner Robinson of Montana Fruit Tree Co and Bob Purvis of Purvis Nursery and Orchard get together on Bob's farm to discuss cold climate apricot growing \" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eCold Climate Apricot Growing with Bob Purvis\u003c\/a\u003e\" on July 8th 2024.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eFruit Qualities\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" class=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFlavor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sweet, 18° Brix\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" class=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTexture:\u003c\/strong\u003e Firm enough for canning\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" class=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSkin color:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yellow-orange\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" class=\"\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUses:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fresh eating, canning, and potentially drying\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eTree Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" class=\"\"\u003eRootstock: Grafted onto cold-hardy \u003ca href=\"\/products\/manchurian-apricot-bundle-of-2\"\u003eManchurian apricot\u003c\/a\u003e, which can reach up to 25 feet if left unpruned.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Westcot Apricot\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Westcot Apricot need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Westcot Apricot is self-fertile, so a single tree can set fruit. Self-fertile, so a single tree will set fruit. Adding another early apricot such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/morden-604-apricot\"\u003eMorden 604\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/debbies-gold-apricot\"\u003eDebbie's Gold\u003c\/a\u003e gives heavier crops. Partners we carry include Morden 604 Apricot, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/montana-mango-apricot\"\u003eMontana Mango Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e, Debbie's Gold Apricot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Westcot Apricot?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Westcot Apricot hardy to zone 2b, which means winters down to about -45°F. Our notes have it taking -50°F. We're listing it conservatively until we have more data. 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 Westcot Apricot need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 600 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 400 and 800. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Montana winters cover its chill easily. The real risk is early bloom, so a spot that warms slowly in spring helps dodge frost. 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#westcot-apricot\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Westcot Apricot ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Jul 26 to Aug 5 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 Westcot Apricot get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Westcot Apricot onto Manchurian (full size), which makes a tree roughly 15 to 20 ft tall if you never prune it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Westcot Apricot good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Westcot Apricot are fresh eating (8\/10), pies and baking (7\/10), jams and jellies (7\/10), canning and freezing (7\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Westcot Apricot?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Westcot Apricot now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"Manchurian Full Size: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":42511194357826,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Manchurian Full Size: 5-7 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45144385945666,"sku":null,"price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Manchurian Full Size: 5-7 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45144385978434,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Manchurian Full Size: 6-8 ft. Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45144477073474,"sku":null,"price":79.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Manchurian Full Size: 7-9 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45144386011202,"sku":null,"price":129.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/westcot-apricot-on-tree.jpg?v=1789021309"},{"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":"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":"norda-apple","title":"Norda Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Norda Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 2 in our ratings (winters to -50°F), and not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 2 of 7, early 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). 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 1,150). 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#norda-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, Norland 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\/norland-apple\"\u003eNorland 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\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), cooking and roasting (6\/10), winter storage (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, 3-4 ft or 4-6 ft or 6-7 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\u003eNorda is a Canadian-bred cold-climate apple introduced in 1976 and developed for far-northern regions. It’s valued for reliable production under harsh conditions, early ripening, and respectable fresh-eating quality with moderate storage for a summer apple.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin \u0026amp; History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorda was developed in Canada as part of northern apple breeding, selected at the Morden Research Station in Manitoba and introduced in 1976 through Agriculture Canada’s Beaverlodge Research Station near Grande Prairie, Alberta. It belongs to the group of apples bred for cold climates and northern plantings, where reliable fruiting and winter survival are priorities. The accepted parentage for Norda is Rosilda × \u003ca href=\"\/products\/trail-crabapple\"\u003eTrail\u003c\/a\u003e, reflecting its heritage from these two hardy apple cultivars.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit Quality \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorda is a small-to-medium apple with a red blush or striping, crisp flesh, and good flavor for a very hardy apple, with a reputation for being a good keeper among cold-climate summer apple varieties. It’s typically positioned as a dual-purpose apple (fresh plus kitchen), especially in northern contexts where flavor is often traded for survival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit \u0026amp; Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorda is vigorous to moderately vigorous with an upright-spreading habit, and relatively precocious. Spacing depends on rootstock, but a practical baseline is 12–15 ft on semi-dwarf systems and 18–20+ ft on more vigorous or standard systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorda needs another apple variety that blooms at the same time. Any compatible apple cultivar that overlaps bloom can serve as a pollenizer, including some other apples varieties we offer, and varieties of applecrabs\/crabapple. Some examples include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norkent-apple\"\u003eNorkent\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norson-apple\"\u003eNorson\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/norland-apple\"\u003eNorland\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 as well as some applecrabs including \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\u003eIn Alaska-oriented sources, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/site\/alaskafruittrees\/home\/apples\/norda\"\u003esuch as this one here,\u003c\/a\u003e it is described as moderately hardy relative to the very hardiest apples for Alaska, and they not that it may not be hardy enough for interior Alaska.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNorda has survived −47°F in multiple winters in Gallatin Gateway, Montana for Ed Schultz with no winter injury. That said, this was in the wee of of a morning. Can it withstand these cold temps for extended periods of time? This may be where there have been some reports on Norda not doing as well in some parts of interior Alaska. Site selection therefore for Norda must be considered (avoid depressions or areas prone to frost pooling). Plant in a spot uphill or where there is good frost drainage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe would list Norda as a zone 2 apple, good for about everywhere in Montana, even some of the coldest places east of the divide. But again, if we're talking hardy for some of the coldest places in interior Alaska, look to some others such as Norland, Norkent, Norson, (of the Nor-series we are offering for 2027), Dearborn's Unknown, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/rescue-apple-crab\"\u003eRescue\u003c\/a\u003e, Trailman, Chestnut, and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhole-and-cut photo: Resolution enhanced from a public domain image. The crabapple is unchanged, but some of the surrounding text and numbers may vary.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003eAbout the photo: this isn’t Norda itself. Photos of Norda are either under copyright or simply unavailable, so we picked the open-source image that looks closest to the fruit. Photo by From Marwool, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/selective-focus-photo-of-red-apple-GbY8Xg5iTOA\" 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\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Norda Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Norda Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Norda 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\/norland-apple\"\u003eNorland\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, Norland Apple.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Norda Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Norda 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 Norda 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#norda-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Norda Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Norda 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 Norda Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Norda Apple are fresh eating (7\/10), cooking and roasting (6\/10), winter storage (6\/10), pies and baking (6\/10).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Norda Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Norda Apple with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Norda 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 or 6-7 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":"Dolgo Full Size: 3-4 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":42502385434690,"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":42502385500226,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bud 118 Semi-Dwarf: 4-6 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":42502385205314,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bud 118 Semi-Dwarf: 6-7 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":42502385270850,"sku":null,"price":94.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Dolgo Full Size: 6-7 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45134046330946,"sku":null,"price":94.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/photo-1503327655231-9a047d4772b6.jpg?v=1791638046"},{"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":"ure-pear","title":"Ure Pear (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ure Pear is a pear 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 a European pear), and it ripens about Aug 11 to Aug 25 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 800 hours (500 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#ure-pear\"\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), mid spring here. Ure is not self-fruitful, so plant a second pear. Early hardy pears like Savignac or Summercrisp are the best partners. Good partners we carry: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/summercrisp-pear\"\u003eSummercrisp Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/savignac-pear\"\u003eSavignac Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/danjou-pear\"\u003eD'Anjou Pear\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/stuttgarter-gaishirtle-pear\"\u003eStuttgarter Gaishirtle Pear\u003c\/a\u003e and 25 more. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/pear-pollination-map\"\u003ePear 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 11 to Aug 25 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\u003eUssurian: full size, about 20 to 30 ft tall unpruned. The hardiest pear species there is. \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), canning and freezing (8\/10), cooking and roasting (7\/10), ornamental value (6\/10), jams and jellies (6\/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\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\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\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUre is a prairie-proven, ultra-cold-hardy pear grown primarily for reliability in harsh climates, with small “\u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartlett-pear\"\u003eBartlett\u003c\/a\u003e-type” fruit that can be genuinely enjoyable when picked mature and ripened off the tree. \\\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin and History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUre was introduced by the Morden, Manitoba Research Station in 1978.\u003cbr\u003eIn the Alaska Pioneer Fruit Growers Association write-up, Ure is explicitly described as an interspecific cross of \u003cem\u003ePyrus ussuriensis\u003c\/em\u003e × \u003cem\u003ePyrus communis\u003c\/em\u003e, and it notes the cultivar was named after Frank Ure, a Canadian pear breeder. (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apfga.org\/hardy-pears-comments-and-observations\/\" title=\"HARDY PEARS – COMMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS – Alaska Pioneer Fruit Growers Association\"\u003eAlaska Pioneer Fruit Growers Association\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fruit is relatively small (about 2–2½ inches diameter), nearly round, thin-skinned, with good flavor, no astringency, and a smooth texture on tasted samples. \u003cbr\u003eUniversity of Minnesota Extension describes Ure as producing small “Bartlett-type” fruit with good flavor and lists harvest around mid-August in their recommendations for northern gardens. (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/extension.umn.edu\/fruit\/growing-pears\" title=\"Growing pears in the home garden | UMN Extension\"\u003eUniversity of Minnesota Extension\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003cbr\u003ePractically: Ure is best treated as an early pear you pick firm and ripen off-tree for best eating quality (and it’s also very serviceable for canning\/cooking). (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/extension.umn.edu\/fruit\/growing-pears\" title=\"Growing pears in the home garden | UMN Extension\"\u003eUniversity of Minnesota Extension\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit \u0026amp; Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUre is a smaller tree (to ~15 feet), however, given that we offer it on full size Ussurian pear rootstock, which generally pushes trees toward a larger, more vigorous, standard form the best way to reconcile this: expect Ure to be “moderate-sized for a hardy pear,” but don’t plan on it behaving like a tight semi-dwarf just because the cultivar can be compact in some settings. A safe long-term spacing band for Ure on Ussurian rootstock is about 16–20 feet (closer if you’ll prune annually to keep the canopy narrow, wider on rich soils or if you want minimal pruning).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUMN Extension states that in areas too cold for other pears, Ure can be grown with Golden Spice for pollen. (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/extension.umn.edu\/fruit\/growing-pears\" title=\"Growing pears in the home garden | UMN Extension\"\u003eUniversity of Minnesota Extension\u003c\/a\u003e), although \u003ca href=\"\/products\/summercrisp-pear\"\u003eSummercrisp\u003c\/a\u003e is also a known pollenizer for Ure as well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe APFGA notes report that Clair Lammers had good survival of -46°F with his Ure in Fairbanks during the winter of 1989–90. (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apfga.org\/hardy-pears-comments-and-observations\/\" title=\"HARDY PEARS – COMMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS – Alaska Pioneer Fruit Growers Association\"\u003eAlaska Pioneer Fruit Growers Association\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003cbr\u003eSeparately, multiple nursery references rate Ure around -40°F (or roughly zone-3 class hardiness), but those are best treated as generalized ratings rather than a single verified event record. (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.thetreefarm.com\/pear-ure\" title=\"Pear, Ure\"\u003ethetreefarm.com\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo the best evidence-based way to say it is: Ure has at least one documented report of surviving -46°F, and it is widely treated in cold-climate guidance as one of the hardiest named pears commonly available that doesn't come from the South Ural Research Institute of Horticulture and Potato Growing. (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.apfga.org\/hardy-pears-comments-and-observations\/\" title=\"HARDY PEARS – COMMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS – Alaska Pioneer Fruit Growers Association\"\u003eAlaska Pioneer Fruit Growers Association\u003c\/a\u003e) We're listing it a bit conservatively at zone 2b (-45°F) until we have more data.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003ePhotos: “PI 541556 'Ure' fruit, 2006 (pyr2285.001.fruit.2006a)” by USDA-ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Corvallis (GRIN-Global), via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov\/gringlobal\/accessiondetail?id=1436492\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eUSDA GRIN\u003c\/a\u003e, public domain; “PI 541556 'Ure' fruit, 2006 (pyr2285.001.fruit.2006b)” by USDA-ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository, Corvallis (GRIN-Global), via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/npgsweb.ars-grin.gov\/gringlobal\/accessiondetail?id=1436492\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eUSDA GRIN\u003c\/a\u003e, public domain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Ure Pear\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Ure Pear need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Ure Pear needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. Ure is not self-fruitful, so plant a second pear. Early hardy pears like \u003ca href=\"\/products\/savignac-pear\"\u003eSavignac\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/summercrisp-pear\"\u003eSummercrisp\u003c\/a\u003e are the best partners. Partners we carry include Summercrisp Pear, Savignac Pear, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/danjou-pear\"\u003eD'Anjou Pear\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Ure Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Ure Pear 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 Ure Pear need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 800 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 500 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#ure-pear\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Ure Pear ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 11 to Aug 25 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 Ure Pear get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Ure Pear onto Ussurian (full size), which makes a tree roughly 20 to 30 ft tall if you never prune it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Ure Pear good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Ure Pear are fresh eating (8\/10), canning and freezing (8\/10), cooking and roasting (7\/10), ornamental value (6\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Ure Pear?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Ure Pear now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"Ussurian Pear Full Size: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":45143677829186,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ussurian Pear Full Size: 3-5 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":42508244877378,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/ure-pear-on-tree_83236eb9-14fe-404e-af1c-59a0a6043c4b.jpg?v=1791616276"},{"product_id":"morden-604-apricot-seedling","title":"Morden 604 Apricot Seedling (Bundle of 2) | Spring 2027","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Morden 604 Apricot Seedling is an apricot tree rated hardy to zone 2b in our ratings (winters to -45°F), and partially self-fertile, so a second variety nearby makes crops more dependable (bloom group 2 of 7, early for an apricot).\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). Our notes have it taking -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 600 hours (400 to 900). Seedlings vary, so this is based on the parent tree. 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#morden-604-apricot-seedling\"\u003esee our sources\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePartially Self-Fertile. Bloom group 2 of 7 (early), very early spring here. Each seedling is genetically different, and self-fertility is not guaranteed. Plant both trees, or another early apricot, as pollenizers. Nearby varieties that can boost the crop: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/morden-604-apricot\"\u003eMorden 604 Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/westcot-apricot\"\u003eWestcot Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/montana-mango-apricot\"\u003eMontana Mango Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/debbies-gold-apricot\"\u003eDebbie's Gold Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e and 6 more. Bloom group is our estimate from the variety's origin and relatives. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/apricot-pollination-map\"\u003eApricot Pollination Map\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSpacing\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant about 15 ft apart.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eJams and jellies (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\u003eSometimes damaged by deer.\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 6-8 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\u003eThese are seedlings, so every tree is a little different. What's below describes the parent, Morden 604, and we don't have long-term data from our own seedlings yet.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are seedlings of Morden 604, one of the hardiest named apricots there is. Apricots don't come exactly true from seed, so each one is a new tree with Morden 604 as the mother.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin and History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMorden 604 was released in 1946 by Agriculture Canada's research station in Morden, Manitoba, from a cross of Scout and McClure. Morden 604 seedlings have been put to use before. An open-pollinated Morden 604 seedling became a parent in the Harrow, Ontario apricot breeding program.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit and Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe got our first Morden 604 harvest in Missoula in the summer of 2023. Luke's notes: \"Creamy, and very sweet.\" Agriculture Canada described the fruit as 4 to 5 cm, golden yellow becoming darker and reddish, ripe in early August at Morden and \"good for eating and cooking.\" Seed-grown apricots vary in quality, so your seedlings may be better or worse than the parent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit and Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are seedlings on their own roots, which makes them full size apricots that can reach 20 to 25 feet unpruned. Plan on about 15 feet between trees, or more if you want less pruning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMorden 604 is self-fertile, and apricots in general are at least partly self-fertile. Since each seedling in the bundle is genetically different, they'll also pollenize each other for better fruit set.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMorden 604's flower buds are hardy to -40F or colder according to Bob Purvis, and Purvis reports it cropping after its buds saw -42F. We list the grafted parent as a zone 2 apricot. Seedlings will vary, and we list these at 2b. Keep in mind that the colder you are, the more apricots are feast or famine on crops, because late spring frosts can take the blossoms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Morden 604 Apricot Seedling\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Morden 604 Apricot Seedling need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt helps. Morden 604 Apricot Seedling is partially self-fertile, so it can set some fruit alone, but a second variety nearby makes crops more dependable. Each seedling is genetically different, and self-fertility is not guaranteed. Plant both trees, or another early apricot, as pollenizers. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/morden-604-apricot\"\u003eMorden 604 Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/westcot-apricot\"\u003eWestcot Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/montana-mango-apricot\"\u003eMontana Mango Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Morden 604 Apricot Seedling?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Morden 604 Apricot Seedling hardy to zone 2b, which means winters down to about -45°F. Our notes have it taking -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 Morden 604 Apricot Seedling need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 600 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 400 and 900. That's based on the parent, Morden 604. Seedlings vary. Chill won't hold them back in Montana; early bloom and spring frost are the main risk. 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#morden-604-apricot-seedling\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Morden 604 Apricot Seedling good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Morden 604 Apricot Seedling are jams and jellies (6\/10).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Morden 604 Apricot Seedling?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Morden 604 Apricot Seedling now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Morden 604 Apricot Seedling 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 or 6-8 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":"3-4 ft.","offer_id":45133988528194,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"4-6 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":42500895277122,"sku":null,"price":99.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"6-8 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45133988560962,"sku":null,"price":129.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/morden-604-apricot-seedling-on-tree.jpg?v=1789020641"},{"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":"red-sparkle-apple","title":"Red Sparkle Apple (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Red Sparkle Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 2b in our ratings (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#red-sparkle-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), winter storage (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\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis one is new to our lineup, so what follows comes from the prairie nurseries and growers who have had it a lot longer than we have. We will update it once we have fruited it and taken it through a few Montana winters.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRed Sparkle is a Morden apple, which is shorthand for it will take a prairie winter. What makes it worth a spot is that it is also a genuinely good apple, which is not always true of the very hardy ones.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin and History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBred at the Morden research station in Manitoba and released in 1990, out of the same program that gave us \u003ca href=\"\/products\/goodland-apple\"\u003eGoodland\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/mantet-apple\"\u003eMantet\u003c\/a\u003e. McIntosh sits in its background, which is true of a remarkable number of the northern apples worth growing. Growers who have had Red Sparkle for a while tend to argue it improved on the Mac rather than just inheriting from it, which is a bigger compliment than it sounds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit and Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMedium sized fruit, bright red washed over a green underlay, with clean white flesh. Crisp and juicy, and the flavor gets described as nutty and fruity rather than straight sweet-tart. Good fresh, good for baking, and it stores for a couple of months, which is unusual for an apple that comes off in early to mid September. Reports from the prairies say the fruit will hang on the tree in good shape into late October.\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. You can go tighter if you are willing to prune it hard every year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRed Sparkle needs a pollenizer. It blooms mid-season, so most of our apples and crabapples in that window will work. Dolgo, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/chestnut-crabapple\"\u003eChestnut\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/centennial-apple-crab\"\u003eCentennial\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/honeycrisp\"\u003eHoneycrisp\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/liberty-apple\"\u003eLiberty\u003c\/a\u003e are all reasonable pairings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe are listing it at zone 2b. Morden material has a good track record in Montana, and this one was bred squarely for the coldest end of the apple range, but we have not personally taken it through a bad winter here yet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003eAbout the photo: this isn’t Red Sparkle itself. Photos of Red Sparkle are either under copyright or simply unavailable, so we picked the open-source image that looks closest to the fruit. Photo: “Apples on tree 2021 G3” by George Chernilevsky, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Apples_on_tree_2021_G3.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 Red Sparkle Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Red Sparkle Apple need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Red Sparkle 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 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 Red Sparkle Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Red Sparkle 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 Red Sparkle 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#red-sparkle-apple\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow big does Red Sparkle Apple get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Red Sparkle 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 Red Sparkle Apple good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Red Sparkle Apple are fresh eating (7\/10), winter storage (6\/10).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Red Sparkle Apple?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Red Sparkle Apple with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Red Sparkle 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":"Dolgo Full Size: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":45156162830402,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Dolgo Full Size: 5-7 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45156162863170,"sku":null,"price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/mcintosh-apples-on-tree.jpg?v=1791616422"},{"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"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/collections\/mantet-apples-basket.jpg?v=1792787152","url":"https:\/\/www.montanafruittrees.com\/collections\/morden-research-station-fruit-varieties.oembed","provider":"Montana Fruit Trees","version":"1.0","type":"link"}