Apple Varieties for Minnesota

When selecting apple varieties for Minnesota, be sure your selection is hardy for your growing area. The southern part of the state, including the Twin Cities, is part of USDA hardiness zone 4. The area north of St. Cloud is zone 3.

Apples are divided into early, mid- or late season based on their ripening date. Early varieties ripen from August through early September. They are usually firm and crisp at harvest but have a relatively short storage life.

• Early maturing varieties for the Twin Cities or farther south include: State Fair, Beacon, Paula Red, Wealthy, Chestnut Crab, and the newest introduction from the University of Minnesota, Zesta. Early maturing varieties for the north include: Duchess, State Fair, Beacon, Hazen, Chestnut Crab and Centennial Crab.
• Mid-season varieties ripen in September. They generally have a longer storage life. Mid-season varieties for the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota include: Sweet 16, Red Baron, McIntosh, Cortland and Minnesota's most promising new variety, Honeycrisp. Mid-season choices for the northern half of Minnesota include: Red Baron, Sweet 16, Goodland and Kerr Crab.
• Late-season varieties ripen in October. They are generally the highest quality varieties and also have the best storage life. Good choices for the Twin Cities and southward are: Haralson, Honeygold, Fireside, Regent and Keepsake. For the North, the best choices are: Haralson, Prairie Spy, Lobo and Keepsake.

Two varieties that have shown resistance to apple scab and require fewer sprays are Liberty and Freedom. They are hardy in the southern part of the state.

Gertens carries a variety of apple tree and crabapple tree varieties. For our current selections, please visit our Tree Lot.

The following description includes interesting varieties listed in the their order of ripening:

• Zestar: The newest apple from the University of Minnesota. It ripens in late August and has a delightful balance of flavors.
  Chestnut Crab: One of Minnesota's best-kept secrets. Small and ugly but wonderful flavor.
• Sweet 16: One of the most unusual flavored apples in Minnesota. Very sweet with a flavor like cherry candy.
• Honeycrisp: Perhaps Minnesota's premier eating apple. It has a well-balanced sweet/tart flavor and unusually crisp texture, which has been called :explosively crisp." It's also one of the best keeping apples, storing up to seven months in refrigeration.
• Haralson: One of Minnesota's favorites. Tart flavor, good storage and excellent for cooking.
• Honeygold: A tasty, yellow apple with an excellent sweet flavor and a crisp texture.
• Regent: One of Minnesota's newer high-quality apples. It has a delightful balance of sweet and tart with a firm, crisp texture and good storage.
• Fireside: Another one of Minnesota's old favorites with a sweet flavor and good storage life. Connell Red is a redder version of Fireside.
• Keepsake: A small, late-ripening variety with very unusual flavor, somewhat like sugar cane, and excellent storage life.

Remember,since apples require cross-pollination, it's necessary to plant at least two different varieties. Consider varieties from different ripening seasons to lengthen your season of harvest.