We offer many different disease resistant apple trees on a variety of rootstocks. Factors affecting eventual size of fruit trees include the natural fertility of the site, fertilizer, age, and variance between individual varieties. For example, some apple varieties are naturally vigorous - William's Pride, Gravenstein, Chehalis, King, Northern Spy, and Spitzenberg or compact such as Liberty, Akane, and Winter Banana.
The advantage of dwarfing rootstocks is in ease of harvest, quick bearing and large fruit. Small trees can be planted much closer together, allowing for greater variety in a small area. One disadvantage of dwarfs are a smaller root systems, resulting in poorer anchoring and more drought susceptibility.
Dwarfing apple trees with heavy fruit loads may need staking or other support to keep from falling over. Early thinning of heavy crop loads can lessen this problem and will increase the size of remaining fruit.
Summer pruning, from June to early August, has a naturally dwarfing effect on dwarfs or standard sizes, keeping them small for ease of harvest and to accommodate smaller spaces. With annual pruning, the apple trees can be maintained short enough to reach from the ground with an arm outstretched. A compact tree is also much easier to net if bird predation is a problem.
Rootstocks: If we're out of a rootstock size for the variety you select, we will substitute the closest size available unless you request no substitutions.
Mini Dwarf - EM27 is our most dwarfing rootstock to about 5 ft. M9 and Bud 9 are more typically 6-10 ft. All are very precocious and require staking or trellising.
Dwarf - EM26 reach 8-12 ft. and can be free standing if thinned when young.
Semi-dwarf - EM7A and M106 are semi-dwarfs that grow 10-17 ft. M111 is a slighter larger semi-dwarf. BUD118 is an extra hardy Russian rootstock, gives a large semi-dwarf tree, about the size of M111. They are all better anchored and more drought tolerant.
Standard - Antonovka is a standard rootstock which gives a very hardy, well anchored, full sized tree (+20 ft.).
THE APPLE VARIETIES ARE LISTED BELOW IN ORDER OF RIPENING
Very early, large, red dessert apple, crisp, juicy, and flavorful. Scab immune, resistant to fire blight, cedar apple rust and powdery mildew. Willliams Pride Apple is pollinated by all but Gravenstein and King. Zone 4-9.
Canadian variety with round red fragrant fruits known for flavor, crispness and lots of juice. Goodland Apple Trees ripen in late August. Hardy to Zone 2.
Red striped fruit of good quality for fresh eating or cooking. A natural dwarf. Ripens early, keeps 4 months in cold storage. Norland Apple is a Canadian variety. Hardy to -40 F. Zone 2.
Early ripening, luscious dessert apple with good resistance to fireblight and scab. Sweet, juicy and crisp red fruits keep well for an early ripener. Early midseason bloom. Sansa Apple is a cross between Gala and Akane.
The best flavored hardy apple. Large red fruits are crisp, juicy and sweet. Great keeper. Moderate disease resistance. Honeycrisp apples originated in Minnesota. Zone 3-8.
Triumph™ apple is well named for its beautiful bright red fruits with nicely balanced flavor and texture. This University of Minnesota cross between Honeycrisp and Liberty has resistance from two strains of apple scab. Blooms midseason, ripens in early fall. Zone 4.
Very resistant to scab, mildew, cedar apple rust and fireblight. Liberty Apples have attractive red fruit that is medium size, with a crisp sweet/tart flavor and is especially high in antioxidants. Midseason ripening, very productive. Bears annually and is a good keeper. Self-fertile. Early- to mid-season bloom; pollinates with Akane, Prima, William’s Pride, Spartan, and most others. Zone 4-9.
Medium to large red apples that are juicy, crisp and very good for fresh eating, baking and cider. Mid-season ripening. Freedom Apple Trees are resistant to scab, mildew and fireblight. Zone 4.
Reddish-pink flowers followed by medium to large fruits that are quite fragrant with a bright pink flesh. Pink Pearl apple is a good dessert apple, thought most commonly used to add color in cider, sauce and pies. Blooms and ripens fairly early. Zone 4-9
Red-striped, sweet and crisp dessert apple that ripens in October. King Apples can be pollinated by Northern Spy, Sweet 16, Gold Rush and Prairie Fire. Also known as Tomkins King, or King of Tomkins County. Zone 5-9.
England's favorite apple. Excellent flavor, juicy, sweet and crisp. Medium-sized round fruits, yellow/orange skin with reddish brown streaks. Cox Orange Pippin is a vigorous apple variety. Mid-season ripening. Self-fruitful.
Large, firm, juicy, tart fruits are often picked green for pies and sauces. Allowed to fully ripen, fruit is yellow/red and suitable for fresh eating. Bramley's Apples are also used in cider blends. High vitamin C content and especially high in beneficial antioxidants. Vigorous and heavy bearing trees in mid-season. Scab and mildew resistant. Pollen sterile, needs a late blooming pollinator such as Northern Spy, Gold Rush, Wolf River or Winecrisp. Zone 4-9.
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