Norkent Apple

Overview

Norkent is a cross between Haralson (a true apple) and Rescue (an apple x crabapple hybrid). Norkent is one of the best tasting of the "Nor" series of apples, and is very hardy.

Although we've only been growing Norkent for a couple years, we’ve been impressed by its performance in Montana’s brutal winters. It has shown remarkable resilience, including surviving -47°F on Ed Schultz’s farm without any winter injury. Ed considers it the best tasting apple in the “Nor Series,” which aligns with reports describing Norkent as one of the best-flavored ultra-hardy apples available.

Flavor and Uses

Norkent has almost a pear-like flavor and is great for fresh eating apple. It’s a summer variety, meaning it ripens early enough to be suitable for short growing seasons like those in Alaska and Canada, where winters can reach -50°F or colder.

Beyond fresh eating, Norkent is also used in sauces, cider, and other culinary applications.

Cold Hardiness

Hardy throughout zone 2.

Can withstand temperatures to -47°F, although possibly colder.

This makes Norkent an excellent option for growers in the coldest parts of Eastern Montana, the Canadian Prairies, and many parts of Alaska, although interior Alaska should still site Norkent appropriately with good drainage and out of frost pooling areas.

Spring 2026 Availability and Rootstock

For Spring 2026, we are offering Norkent on several rootstocks:

Bud 118: While often categorized as a semi-standard rootstock, in Montana’s calcareous (high pH) soils, it behaves more like a semi-dwarf. Growers in Washington’s Yakima Valley have observed the same. Hardy to -50°F or more.

Dolgo: A full-size rootstock, hardy to -55°F or more. Excellent for growers in extreme cold climates needing maximum resilience.

Antonovka: Full size. Hardy but bury the graft if you see sub -40F (in our experience growing it in MT).