{"title":"Zone 2 Self-Fertile Fruit Trees","description":"\u003cp class=\"mft-zone-btn\" style=\"margin:0 0 16px\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\" title=\"Our zones follow the MFTC Modified Zone Hardiness Scale. Comparing them to USDA averages will give you a discrepancy, so look up where these trees will be planted.\" style=\"display:inline-block;padding:11px 20px;border-radius:4px;background:#3e6b33;color:#fff;text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;line-height:1.3\"\u003eMFTC Zones, Not USDA Averages: Look Up Your Address →\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSelf-fertile fruit trees for zone 2. One tree will fruit, and every one of these can take a zone 2 winter. Everything is listed A to Z, and the plants rated only to 2b, the warmer half of the zone (-45°F to -40°F), have a 2b tag on them.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdetails class=\"mft-more\"\u003e\u003csummary\u003eMore About Zone 2 Self-Fertile Fruit Trees\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp\u003eJuliet and Romeo dwarf cherries are rated through all of zone 2. The apricots, Evan's Bali cherry and Mount Royal plum are rated to 2b, the warmer half.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn this page: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/debbies-gold-apricot\"\u003eDebbie's Gold Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/evans-bali-tart-cherry\"\u003eEvan's Bali Tart Cherry\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/juliet-dwarf-cherry\"\u003eJuliet Dwarf Cherry\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/morden-604-apricot\"\u003eMorden 604 Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/mount-royal-plum\"\u003eMount Royal Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/romeo-dwarf-cherry\"\u003eRomeo Dwarf Cherry\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/westcot-apricot\"\u003eWestcot Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRelated: \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/zone-3-self-fertile-fruit-trees\"\u003eZone 3 Self-Fertile Fruit Trees\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\u003eWhat does zone 2 mean on your scale?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn our MFTC scale, zone 2 means the coldest night you should plan for (the 1-in-30-year low) falls between -50°F and -40°F. Zone 2a runs -50°F to -45°F and zone 2b runs -45°F to -40°F. That is colder than a USDA zone 2, which is built on the average yearly low, so run your address through our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e instead of going off a USDA map.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat fruit trees fruit alone in zone 2?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJuliet and Romeo dwarf cherries, Evan's Bali tart cherry, Mount Royal plum and the prairie apricots like Westcot and Debbie's Gold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eShould I still plant two?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA second variety almost always helps the crop, even on a self-fertile tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"evans-bali-tart-cherry","title":"Evan's Bali Tart Cherry (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Evan's Bali Tart Cherry is a cherry tree rated hardy to zone 2b in our ratings (winters to -45°F), self-fertile, so one tree can crop (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for a tart cherry), and it ripens about Aug 6 to Aug 17 in Missoula (our Missoula estimate).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAlso called\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEvans cherry, Bali cherry (Prunus cerasus)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 2b to 8. The b means the warmer half of zone 2 only (winters to -45°F). Our notes have it taking -42°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 1,100). 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#evans-bali-tart-cherry\"\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 4 of 7 (mid), mid spring here. Evans Bali is self-fertile, so one tree will crop on its own. It blooms with Montmorency and Meteor if you want to plant more than one. Nearby varieties that can boost the crop: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/meteor-tart-cherry\"\u003eMeteor Tart Cherry\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/montmorency-tart-cherry\"\u003eMontmorency Tart Cherry\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/fe-tart-cherry\"\u003eFE Tart Cherry\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/balaton-tart-cherry\"\u003eBalaton Tart Cherry\u003c\/a\u003e and 1 more. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/tart-cherry-pollination-map\"\u003eTart Cherry 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 6 to Aug 17 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\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePies and baking (8\/10), jams and jellies (8\/10), fresh eating (7\/10), sauce and butter (7\/10), drying (7\/10), juice and sweet cider (7\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA deer favorite. Fence it or cage it.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 3-5 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"75\" data-end=\"93\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"94\" data-end=\"288\"\u003ePerhaps the most cold hardy of all tart cherries, Evan’s Bali is a prolific bearer of decently sized (roughly 1” diameter) cherries that are sweeter than most of the other tart cherry varieties.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"290\" data-end=\"314\"\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"315\" data-end=\"499\"\u003eHardy to zone 2b because of their ability to withstand -42F temps near Bozeman, although surely these have survived colder temps on the Canadian prairie’s where the tree was discovered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"501\" data-end=\"522\"\u003ePropagation\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"523\" data-end=\"627\"\u003eThese Evan’s Bali’s are clonally propagated from root suckers and are therefore identical to the parent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"629\" data-end=\"653\"\u003eNotable Traits\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"654\" data-end=\"886\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eNoted for their ability to withstand long, advective frost events including polar high pressure systems that affect the region for days on end, their flower buds’ hardiness, the prolific bearing nature of the tree, and their flavor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Evan's Bali Tart Cherry\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Evan's Bali Tart Cherry need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Evan's Bali Tart Cherry is self-fertile, so a single tree can set fruit. Evans Bali is self-fertile, so one tree will crop on its own. It blooms with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/montmorency-tart-cherry\"\u003eMontmorency\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/meteor-tart-cherry\"\u003eMeteor\u003c\/a\u003e if you want to plant more than one. Partners we carry include Meteor Tart Cherry, Montmorency Tart Cherry, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/fe-tart-cherry\"\u003eFE Tart Cherry\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Evan's Bali Tart Cherry?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Evan's Bali Tart Cherry hardy to zone 2b, which means winters down to about -45°F. Our notes have it taking -42°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 Evan's Bali Tart Cherry 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 1,100. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. An Alberta prairie survivor. Montana winters easily meet its chill; what it's really known for is shrugging off deep winter cold. 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#evans-bali-tart-cherry\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Evan's Bali Tart Cherry ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 6 to Aug 17 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\u003eWhat is Evan's Bali Tart Cherry good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Evan's Bali Tart Cherry are pies and baking (8\/10), jams and jellies (8\/10), fresh eating (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 Evan's Bali Tart Cherry?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Evan's Bali Tart Cherry with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Evan's Bali Tart Cherry ship?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA dormant bare-root plant, roots wrapped in moist sawdust with a vapor barrier, shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring. Sizes offered: 3-5 ft. We guarantee our plants bud out. Stone fruits can be slow, so if one still has not budded out by August 15, write to us and we credit you for the following spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"3-5 ft.","offer_id":42499065741378,"sku":null,"price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/evans-bali-tart-cherry-fruit.webp?v=1789020066"},{"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":"mount-royal-plum","title":"Mount Royal Plum (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mount Royal Plum is a plum tree rated hardy to zone 2b in our ratings (winters to -45°F), self-fertile, so one tree can crop (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for a European plum), and it ripens about Aug 31 to Sep 12 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). Our notes have it taking -44°F. Find your zone with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr class=\"mft-chill\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eChill hours\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 800 hours (700 to 1,000). 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#mount-royal-plum\"\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 4 of 7 (mid), mid spring here. Mount Royal is self-fertile and fruits as a single tree. It is also a good pollenizer for other European plums. Nearby varieties that can boost the crop: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/stanley-plum\"\u003eStanley Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/italian-plum\"\u003eItalian Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/early-italian-plum\"\u003eEarly Italian Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/longjohn-plum\"\u003eLongjohn Plum\u003c\/a\u003e and 6 more. Bloom group is our estimate from the variety's origin and relatives. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/plum-pollination-map\"\u003ePlum 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 31 to Sep 12 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\u003eNative Plum: semi-dwarf, about 10 to 15 ft tall unpruned. Suckers, so mow or pull suckers. Prairie Red Plum: semi-dwarf, about 10 to 15 ft tall unpruned. A seed-grown American plum hybrid from the USDA plant materials center in Bismarck; it suckers. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/rootstocks\"\u003eOur rootstock guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFresh eating (8\/10), jams and jellies (7\/10), canning and freezing (7\/10), drying (7\/10), cooking and roasting (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, 3-5 ft or 5-7 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMount Royal plum has been a reliable European plum variety for northern growers. It is an upright to spreading tree with an open center and moderate vigor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFlavor and Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe light blue plums are juicy, semi-freestone, and have sweet flesh. They are excellent for fresh eating, okay for drying, and ripen in late August to early September.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMount Royal has survived temperatures as low as -44°F in West Central MN and -42°F in Columbus, MT, proving its hardiness in extreme conditions. UPDATE FALL 2025: We just discovered that Mount Royal has survived and borne a consistent crop in Lodgepole, Montana at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/agresearch.montana.edu\/warc\/research_current\/msu-ext-fruit-research-sites\/lodge_pole.html\"\u003eMSU's Lodgepole Fruit Research Site,\u003c\/a\u003e where it has gotten down to sub -45F temps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRootstock and Cold Tolerance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur Mount Royal plums are grafted onto Native Plum and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-red-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003ePrairie Red Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, both of which are hardy to at least -50F. Native Plum is semi-dwarf in our MT climate\/soils, although we have found that there is some natural variation in size, as these plants are grown from seed. Prairie Red, meanwhile, exhibits less variation in size according to what Dan Sheild has observed at his site in MN.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003ePhotos: “Fruits du prunier Mont-Royal (Prunus domestica 'Mont-Royal')” by Maxime Laterreur, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Fruits_du_prunier_Mont-Royal_(Prunus_domestica_%27Mont-Royal%27).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; “Fleurs du prunier Mont-Royal (Prunus domestica 'Mont-Royal')” by Maxime Laterreur, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Fleurs_du_prunier_Mont-Royal_(Prunus_domestica_%27Mont-Royal%27).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY 4.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Mount Royal Plum\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Mount Royal Plum need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Mount Royal Plum is self-fertile, so a single tree can set fruit. Mount Royal is self-fertile and fruits as a single tree. It is also a good pollenizer for other European plums. Partners we carry include \u003ca href=\"\/products\/stanley-plum\"\u003eStanley Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/italian-plum\"\u003eItalian Plum\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/early-italian-plum\"\u003eEarly Italian Plum\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Mount Royal Plum?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Mount Royal Plum hardy to zone 2b, which means winters down to about -45°F. Our notes have it taking -44°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 Mount Royal Plum need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 800 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 700 and 1,000. 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#mount-royal-plum\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Mount Royal Plum ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Aug 31 to Sep 12 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 Mount Royal Plum get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Mount Royal Plum onto Native Plum (semi-dwarf), which makes a tree roughly 10 to 15 ft tall if you never prune it. Some sizes are on \u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairie-red-plum-bundle-of-2\"\u003ePrairie Red Plum\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Mount Royal Plum good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Mount Royal Plum are fresh eating (8\/10), jams and jellies (7\/10), canning and freezing (7\/10), drying (7\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Mount Royal Plum?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Mount Royal Plum with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"Native Plum Semi-Dwarf: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":42500896686146,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Prairie Red Plum Semi-Dwarf: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":45134015365186,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Native Plum Semi-Dwarf: 3-5 ft.(One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45134015397954,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Prairie Red Plum Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45134015430722,"sku":null,"price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Native Plum Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft.(Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45134015463490,"sku":null,"price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Native Plum Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft.(One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45134015496258,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/mount-royal-plums-on-tree.jpg?v=1791616066"},{"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":"debbies-gold-apricot","title":"Debbie's Gold Apricot (Spring 2027)","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Debbie's Gold 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 3 of 7, early-mid for an apricot), and it ripens about Jul 28 to Aug 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 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 650 hours (450 to 850). 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#debbies-gold-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 3 of 7 (early-mid), very early spring here. Self-fruitful per Bob Purvis, though crops are better with a second early apricot such as Westcot, Morden 604 or Manchurian nearby as a pollenizer. 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\/perfection-apricot\"\u003ePerfection Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/tomcot-apricot\"\u003eTomcot Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e and 8 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 28 to Aug 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\u003eManchurian: full size, about 15 to 20 ft tall unpruned. The hardiest apricot root there is. 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\u003eCanning and freezing (8\/10), fresh eating (7\/10), jams and jellies (7\/10), pies and baking (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\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 5-7 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\u003ch3 data-start=\"185\" data-end=\"199\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"200\" data-end=\"604\"\u003eDebbie’s Gold Apricot is a cold-climate apricot originating from the Canadian prairies, where it was selected for its ability to survive harsh winters while still producing high-quality fruit. It has earned a strong reputation among northern growers as one of the better-flavored hardy apricots for areas where apricots are often considered marginal. Still blooms fairly early, so this part it always a risk in the Spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"606\" data-end=\"657\"\u003eGrowth Habit \u0026amp; Spacing (Manchurian Rootstock)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"658\" data-end=\"1110\"\u003eOur Debbie's Gold are all grafted onto \u003ca href=\"\/products\/manchurian-apricot-bundle-of-2\"\u003eManchurian apricot\u003c\/a\u003e rootstock. Debbie’s Gold grows as a vigorous, upright to spreading tree with good structural strength and anchorage. Manchurian rootstock is equally cold hardy (-50F) and adaptable to our dry, alkaline soils. Trees should be spaced approximately 15 ft. apart (or more for less dense spacing). With pruning, size can be managed, but this is not a dwarf tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1112\" data-end=\"1138\"\u003eFruit Quality \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1139\" data-end=\"1659\"\u003eDebbie’s Gold produces medium-sized, golden-yellow apricots with firm, sweet flesh. The fruit is well suited for fresh eating, drying, canning, preserves, sauces, and desserts. While we did not have the opportunity to taste Debbie’s Gold specifically in our video, its reputation for flavor aligns closely with the types of hardy apricots we discussed in \u003cstrong data-start=\"1491\" data-end=\"1584\"\u003e\u003ca data-start=\"1493\" data-end=\"1582\" class=\"decorated-link\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=G06qBrYmMWU\"\u003eCold Climate Fruit Growing with Bob Purvis\u003cspan aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ms-0.5 inline-block align-middle leading-none\"\u003e\u003csvg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-rtl-flip=\"\" class=\"block h-[0.75em] w-[0.75em] stroke-current stroke-[0.75]\"\u003e\u003cuse href=\"\/cdn\/assets\/sprites-core-i9agxugi.svg#304883\" fill=\"currentColor\"\u003e\u003c\/use\u003e\u003c\/svg\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e, where fruit quality, genetics, and cold adaptation are explored in depth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1139\" data-end=\"1659\"\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDebbie's Gold is at least partially self-fertile, like most apricots, although fruit set\/productivity will be higher if planted with any of our other Prairie Province apricots, such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/westcot-apricot\"\u003eWestcot\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/morden-604-apricot\"\u003eMorden 604\u003c\/a\u003e, as well as Manchurian, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/precious-apricot\"\u003ePrecious\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/zard-apricot\"\u003eZard\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1661\" data-end=\"1681\"\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1682\" data-end=\"2074\"\u003eDebbie’s Gold is hardy to zone 2b (-45°F), having withstood temps into the -40Fs. Both the wood and buds have shown good tolerance to severe winter temperatures typical of prairie and northern mountain climates. Like many hardy apricots, it tends to shut down earlier in fall than tender varieties, which helps reduce winter injury and improves survival in regions with early cold snaps and long winters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003eAbout the photo: this isn’t Debbie's Gold itself. Photos of Debbie's Gold are either under copyright or simply unavailable, so we picked the open-source image that looks closest to the fruit. Photo: “Marelica Kečkemetska ruža - zreli plodovi na grani” by Silverije, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Marelica_Ke%C4%8Dkemetska_ru%C5%BEa_-_zreli_plodovi_na_grani.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 Debbie's Gold Apricot\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Debbie's Gold Apricot need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Debbie's Gold Apricot is self-fertile, so a single tree can set fruit. Self-fruitful per Bob Purvis, though crops are better with a second early apricot such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/westcot-apricot\"\u003eWestcot\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/morden-604-apricot\"\u003eMorden 604\u003c\/a\u003e or Manchurian nearby as a pollenizer. Partners we carry include Morden 604 Apricot, Westcot Apricot, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/perfection-apricot\"\u003ePerfection Apricot\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Debbie's Gold Apricot?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Debbie's Gold 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 Debbie's Gold Apricot need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 650 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 450 and 850. 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#debbies-gold-apricot\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Debbie's Gold Apricot ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Jul 28 to Aug 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 Debbie's Gold Apricot get?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe graft Debbie's Gold Apricot onto Manchurian (full size), which makes a tree roughly 15 to 20 ft tall if you never prune it. Plant about 15 ft apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat is Debbie's Gold Apricot good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Debbie's Gold Apricot are canning and freezing (8\/10), fresh eating (7\/10), jams and jellies (7\/10), pies and baking (6\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Debbie's Gold Apricot?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes. Deer browse Debbie's Gold 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 Rootstock: 3-5 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":42499020456002,"sku":null,"price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Manchurian Full Size Rootstock: 4-6 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45125634097218,"sku":null,"price":64.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Manchurian Full Size Rootstock: 5-7 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":42499020521538,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Manchurian Full Size Rootstock: 6-8 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45125634129986,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Manchurian Full Size Rootstock: 6-8 ft. (One Year Older) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45125634162754,"sku":null,"price":109.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/golden-yellow-apricots-on-branch.jpg?v=1791615372"},{"product_id":"juliet-dwarf-cherry","title":"Juliet Dwarf Cherry (Bundle of 2) | Spring 2027","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Juliet Dwarf Cherry is a cherry tree rated hardy to zone 2 in our ratings (winters to -50°F), self-fertile, so one tree can crop (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for a dwarf sour cherry), and it ripens about Jul 19 to Jul 29 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\u003eAlso called\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDwarf sour cherry, bush cherry, Romance series cherry (Prunus cerasus x Prunus fruticosa)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\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 800 hours (600 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#juliet-dwarf-cherry\"\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 4 of 7 (mid), mid spring here. Juliet is self-fertile, so one plant will crop on its own. It blooms with Romeo, Cutie Pie and Wowza!, and planting a mix can still help yields. Nearby varieties that can boost the crop: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/cutie-pie-dwarf-cherry\"\u003eCutie Pie Dwarf Cherry (Bundle of 2)\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/romeo-dwarf-cherry\"\u003eRomeo Dwarf Cherry (Bundle of 2)\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wowza-dwarf-cherry\"\u003eWowza! Dwarf Cherry (Bundle of 2)\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/tart-cherry-pollination-map\"\u003eTart Cherry 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 19 to Jul 29 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\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFresh eating (8\/10), pies and baking (8\/10), jams and jellies (7\/10), drying (7\/10), juice and sweet cider (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, 3-5 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"248\" data-start=\"227\"\u003eOrigin \u0026amp; Breeding\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"630\" data-start=\"249\"\u003eJuliet Dwarf Cherry, a cross between Prunus fruticosa (Mongolian bush cherry) and Prunus cerasus (sour cherry), was developed by the University of Saskatchewan as part of the Romance Series of bush cherries, bred specifically for extreme cold climates. These cherries were selected to combine the winter hardiness of native cherry species with improved fruit size, flavor, and productivity. Juliet is one of the largest-fruited and most productive selections in the series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"650\" data-start=\"632\"\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"969\" data-start=\"651\"\u003eJuliet is exceptionally cold hardy and is reliably winter hardy to even −50°F. This makes it suitable for some of the coldest fruit-growing regions in North America, including much of the northern Plains, interior mountain valleys, and exposed continental sites where traditional sweet and sour cherries fail. Juliet will work in just about all of Montana apart from perhaps the absolute coldest places that can see sub -50°F temps. If you are in an area like this, Juliet and other Romance series cherries could still do well if you site them in a spot free of frost-pooling (higher up\/out of depressions on the landscape).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"993\" data-start=\"971\"\u003ePlant Form \u0026amp; Habit\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1325\" data-start=\"994\"\u003eJuliet grows as a compact, multi-stemmed shrub rather than a standard tree. Sources online typically note Juliet reaching 6–8 feet tall and wide, although a ten year old Juliet tree we saw at the Western Ag. Research Center in Corvallis, MT is closer to 8-10 ft. The bush form eliminates the need for ladders and makes pruning, netting, and harvest straightforward. Plants are naturally dense and upright, and they fit well into small orchards, hedgerows, or mixed plantings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"1347\" data-start=\"1327\"\u003eLeaves \u0026amp; Flowers\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1612\" data-start=\"1348\"\u003eLeaves are medium-sized and deep green through the growing season, contributing to good vigor and fruit development. In spring, Juliet produces abundant white blossoms that are attractive to pollinators. Flowering is typically reliable once plants are established.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"1635\" data-start=\"1614\"\u003eFruit Description\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1925\" data-start=\"1636\"\u003eJuliet produces large, dark red cherries that are among the biggest in the bush cherry category. Fruit is borne in clusters and ripens evenly, making harvest efficient. The skin darkens significantly as the fruit reaches full maturity, and allowing cherries to fully color improves flavor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"1944\" data-start=\"1927\"\u003eFlavor \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2300\" data-start=\"1945\"\u003eThe flavor of Juliet is balanced and rich, combining sweetness with enough acidity to keep the fruit lively. It is excellent for fresh eating when fully ripe and performs especially well for pies, preserves, juice, syrup, and drying. The higher sugar content compared to many bush cherries makes Juliet a standout for both home and small-scale processing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"2318\" data-start=\"2302\"\u003eProductivity \u0026amp; Pollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2528\" data-start=\"2319\"\u003eJuliet is highly productive once established and often bears heavy crops annually, with the fruit ripening in Missoula and the Bitterroot around third week to end of July. As with other bush cherries, yield and fruit quality tend to improve as plants mature and develop a larger, better-lit canopy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2528\" data-start=\"2319\"\u003eJuliet is at least partially self-fertile, meaning you'll get fruit without the need from another variety of dwarf cherry (pollenizer), but planting it near another dwarf cherry, such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/romeo-dwarf-cherry\"\u003eRomeo\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/cutie-pie-dwarf-cherry\"\u003eCutie Pie\u003c\/a\u003e, or \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wowza-dwarf-cherry\"\u003eWowza\u003c\/a\u003e!, can increase fruit yield.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"2566\" data-start=\"2530\"\u003eDisease Resistance \u0026amp; Reliability\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2809\" data-start=\"2567\"\u003eJuliet shows good resistance to common cherry diseases when grown in cold, dry-summer climates with good airflow. The bush form also provides resilience after harsh winters, as new shoots can regenerate from the base if older wood is damaged.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"2828\" data-start=\"2811\"\u003eGrowing Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"3127\" data-start=\"2829\"\u003eJuliet performs best in full sun with well-drained soil. Minimal pruning is required beyond removing dead or crowded stems and occasionally renewing older wood. Because of its extreme cold hardiness and manageable size, it is one of the most dependable cherries for growers in challenging climates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:12px;color:#777;margin-top:24px\"\u003eAbout the photo: this isn’t Juliet itself. Photos of Juliet are either under copyright or simply unavailable, so we picked the open-source image that looks closest to the fruit. Photo: “Morello Cherries (11530343543)” by Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia, via \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Morello_Cherries_(11530343543).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eWikimedia Commons\u003c\/a\u003e, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eCC BY-SA 2.0\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Juliet Dwarf Cherry\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Juliet Dwarf Cherry need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Juliet Dwarf Cherry is self-fertile, so a single tree can set fruit. Juliet is self-fertile, so one plant will crop on its own. It blooms with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/romeo-dwarf-cherry\"\u003eRomeo\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/cutie-pie-dwarf-cherry\"\u003eCutie Pie\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wowza-dwarf-cherry\"\u003eWowza\u003c\/a\u003e!, and planting a mix can still help yields. Partners we carry include Cutie Pie Dwarf Cherry (Bundle of 2), Romeo Dwarf Cherry (Bundle of 2), Wowza! Dwarf Cherry (Bundle of 2).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Juliet Dwarf Cherry?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Juliet Dwarf Cherry 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 Juliet Dwarf Cherry 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 1,200. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Bred on the Canadian prairies, so Montana's winters give it all the chill it wants. No measured figure exists yet. 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#juliet-dwarf-cherry\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Juliet Dwarf Cherry ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Jul 19 to Jul 29 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\u003eWhat is Juliet Dwarf Cherry good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Juliet Dwarf Cherry are fresh eating (8\/10), pies and baking (8\/10), jams and jellies (7\/10), drying (7\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Juliet Dwarf Cherry?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Juliet Dwarf Cherry with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Juliet Dwarf Cherry ship?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA dormant bare-root plant, roots wrapped in moist sawdust with a vapor barrier, shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring. Sizes offered: 3-5 ft. We guarantee our plants bud out. Stone fruits can be slow, so if one still has not budded out by August 15, write to us and we credit you for the following spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"3-5 ft.","offer_id":42504520859714,"sku":null,"price":99.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/dark-red-sour-cherries-representative.jpg?v=1791615648"},{"product_id":"romeo-dwarf-cherry","title":"Romeo Dwarf Cherry (Bundle of 2) | Spring 2027","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt a glance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Romeo Dwarf Cherry is a cherry tree rated hardy to zone 2 in our ratings (winters to -50°F), self-fertile, so one tree can crop (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for a dwarf sour cherry), and it ripens about Jul 27 to Aug 4 in Missoula (our Missoula estimate).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAlso called\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDwarf sour cherry, bush cherry, Romance series cherry (Prunus cerasus x Prunus fruticosa)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\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 800 hours (600 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#romeo-dwarf-cherry\"\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 4 of 7 (mid), mid spring here. Romeo is self-fertile, so one plant will crop on its own. It blooms with Juliet, Cutie Pie and Wowza!, and planting a mix can still help yields. Nearby varieties that can boost the crop: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/cutie-pie-dwarf-cherry\"\u003eCutie Pie Dwarf Cherry (Bundle of 2)\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/juliet-dwarf-cherry\"\u003eJuliet Dwarf Cherry (Bundle of 2)\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wowza-dwarf-cherry\"\u003eWowza! Dwarf Cherry (Bundle of 2)\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/tart-cherry-pollination-map\"\u003eTart Cherry 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 27 to Aug 4 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\u003eSpacing\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant 5 to 7 ft apart.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eGood for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eJuice and sweet cider (9\/10), fresh eating (8\/10), sauce and butter (8\/10), pies and baking (7\/10), jams and jellies (7\/10), wine (7\/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDeer\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA deer favorite. Fence it or cage it.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBare root, 3-5 ft. 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\u003eRomeo is a Romance Series dwarf sour cherry from the University of Saskatchewan, bred for extreme cold hardiness and high-quality, dark fruit on a compact, shrub-form plant. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin and History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRomeo was officially released in 2004 as part of the University of Saskatchewan’s Romance Series of dwarf sour cherries. (\u003ca title=\"Sour Cherries - USask Fruit Program | University of Saskatchewan\" href=\"https:\/\/research-groups.usask.ca\/fruit\/Fruit%20crops\/sour-cherries.php\"\u003eusask\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003cbr\u003eThese Romance Series cherries are interspecific hybrids derived from \u003cem\u003ePrunus cerasus\u003c\/em\u003e (sour cherry) and \u003cem\u003ePrunus fruticosa\u003c\/em\u003e (dwarf\/cherry steppe types), commonly referred to as \u003cem\u003ePrunus × kerrasis\u003c\/em\u003e in cold-climate literature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRomeo produces deep red fruit that can ripen very dark and is slightly sweeter than some other bush cherry types. Good for fresh eating and can be used in pies, jellies, and pressed for juice. Never dried them but I'm sure they would be good.\u003cbr\u003eThey have relatively high soluble solids and are sweeter than most pie cherries, although do not listen to what some places say online which claim these are sweet cherries. They are not. They are sweeter for a tart cherry but they are still very much have a good deal of acidity. That said, children tend to love them fresh, which says a lot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit \u0026amp; Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRomeo is grown as a compact shrub-form plant (not a standard cherry tree), and cold-climate guidance warns that training these as a single-trunk “tree form” can reduce hardiness in very cold settings (this has not been a problem here in Western MT, although people in colder parts of Eastern MT should take note of this).\u003cbr\u003eFor spacing, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gardening.usask.ca\/gardening-advice\/gardenline-nested-pages\/food-plant-pages\/fruit\/sour-cherries.php\"\u003eUniversity of Saskatchewan gardening guidance\u003c\/a\u003e recommends dwarf sour cherries be spaced about 5–7 feet apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRomeo (like the other Romance Series bush cherries) is self-fertile, but fruit set can increase when you plant a second compatible bush cherry type nearby. Any of our other dwarf cherries we offer can cross with Romeo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRomeo is repeatedly positioned in \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/research-groups.usask.ca\/fruit\/Fruit%20crops\/sour-cherries.php\"\u003eresearch\/extension material\u003c\/a\u003e as a Zone 2–class hardy, and it should be able withstand near -50F temps. Good for the vast majority of growers in MT.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mft-faq\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions we get about Romeo Dwarf Cherry\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDoes Romeo Dwarf Cherry need a pollenizer?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Romeo Dwarf Cherry is self-fertile, so a single tree can set fruit. Romeo is self-fertile, so one plant will crop on its own. It blooms with \u003ca href=\"\/products\/juliet-dwarf-cherry\"\u003eJuliet\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/cutie-pie-dwarf-cherry\"\u003eCutie Pie\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wowza-dwarf-cherry\"\u003eWowza\u003c\/a\u003e!, and planting a mix can still help yields. Partners we carry include Cutie Pie Dwarf Cherry (Bundle of 2), Juliet Dwarf Cherry (Bundle of 2), Wowza! Dwarf Cherry (Bundle of 2).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow cold hardy is Romeo Dwarf Cherry?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe rate Romeo Dwarf Cherry 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 Romeo Dwarf Cherry 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 1,200. Nobody has published a chill figure for it, so that's our estimate from its relatives and origin. Bred on the Canadian prairies, so Montana's winters give it all the chill it wants. No measured figure exists yet. 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#romeo-dwarf-cherry\"\u003eresearch page\u003c\/a\u003e lists the sources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhen does Romeo Dwarf Cherry ripen?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout Jul 27 to Aug 4 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\u003eWhat is Romeo Dwarf Cherry good for?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur top use scores for Romeo Dwarf Cherry are juice and sweet cider (9\/10), fresh eating (8\/10), sauce and butter (8\/10), pies and baking (7\/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill deer eat Romeo Dwarf Cherry?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, deer love it. Protect Romeo Dwarf Cherry with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat arrives, and when does Romeo Dwarf Cherry ship?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA dormant bare-root plant, roots wrapped in moist sawdust with a vapor barrier, shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring. Sizes offered: 3-5 ft. We guarantee our plants bud out. Stone fruits can be slow, so if one still has not budded out by August 15, write to us and we credit you for the following spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"3-5 ft.","offer_id":42504520335426,"sku":null,"price":99.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/romeo-dwarf-cherry-on-tree.jpg?v=1789021037"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/collections\/evans-bali-tart-cherry-fruit_fbf3235a-6b43-40f7-83eb-02c0276f99bb.webp?v=1792787076","url":"https:\/\/www.montanafruittrees.com\/collections\/zone-2-self-fertile-fruit-trees.oembed","provider":"Montana Fruit Trees","version":"1.0","type":"link"}