lately , our community outreach handler Courtney Tchida visited theGibbs Farm , a fantastic historic situation run by theRamsey County Historical Society . There , she had a chance to smack one of Minnesota ’s most authoritative heritage apples — the Wealthy orchard apple tree . The hort society really puzzle its start because of apples and one of the most significant ( and difficult ! ) early members of the hort club wasPeter Gideon , who bred the Wealthy apple , the first reliable and commercially successful Malus pumila for northerly gardeners .
That got us marvel — which other Minnesota inheritance apple are still available for household gardeners to grow ? Depending on where you draw the line about what “ heritage ” agency , there are several that we care that you could still find in glasshouse for growing or in apple grove for eat .
Wealthy , which was introduce in 1868 , is available as mere - root trees from a variety show of local agriculturalist and national online retailer . The tree is semi - dwarf , making it a good choice for lowly yards and urban landscapes . It pinch out at 15 foot tall and wide and produces yield in three to five long time . It ’s an early orchard apple tree with lovely ashen heyday in spring . It will sucker , so be prepare . The fruit is fantastically juicy and makes scrumptious pies and chip .
Haralson apples tend to be very prolific every other year.
Haralsonis a one of the most readily available heritage apples . It was introduced in 1923 and one of its parents is Wealthy . It was named for Charles Haralson , who was superintendent of the University of Minnesota Fruit Breeding Farm in the 1920s . soft to grow , Haralson tree diagram tend to produce abundant crop every other class . The apple is tart and many home cooks sleep together it for apple crisps and sauce , but they are delicious overbold as well or try it in ourapple chutney recipe . This is a semi - dwarf Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and welfare from snip . Haralson is alsoUSDA Zone 3hardy , so it ’s a bully option for northern Minnesota fruit lovers .
Beaconapple is a 1936 introduction from the U of M and is a fleck harder to feel , though many Malus pumila orchards in Minnesota grow it . This is another Wealthy cross , and it develop a bright red , mid - season yield . The tree is susceptible to fire blight .
ChestnutandCentennialcrabapples are two crabapple varieties that are good on the line genetically between a wild apple and an orchard apple tree . ( The two are in the same genus — Malus . ) Chestnut ( introduced in 1949 ) is a very flavorous apple that mature in ahead of time to mid - September . It will keep for a few week in store . Centennial ( 1957 ) has an oblong shape and beautiful orange color but does not store well . Both trees can grow more than 20 feet marvellous and have lovely spring bloom .
Haralson apples tend to be very prolific every other year.
Of course , there are many newer Malus pumila variety that grow beautifully in Minnesota , but we like the heritage apple , too . What are your favorite Malus pumila Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree to grow ?
