Raising apple trees takes the same planning as any other fruit trees, whether it’s one tree or a WE CAN HELP YOU…. grove. Start with planning and research! To identify plants Diagnose common insect and disease problems Choosing the Apple trees need full sun and a well-drained Find answers to your gardening questions Provide soil test kits area, so keep this in mind when choosing a You can see us at many local events: Apple Trees site. Also, make sure to do a soils test in Local Farmers Markets advance of planting. It will help you know what Chisago County Fair kind of soil you have and the nutrients that you Almelund Threshing Show Chisago Lakes Home and Garden Show That are Right might need to add to benefit the trees you choose to plant. Spring Gardening Expo An all-day gardening event held in March: Classes on a variety of horticultural topics for You Rootstock Info booth staffed by Master Gardeners If you eat a Honey Crisp apple or any other Local businesses display and sell merchandise apple and you plant the seeds, you may grow an apple tree but it won’t be a Honey Crisp Bare root plant sale Each spring the Master Gardeners offer for sale several apple. Fruit trees cannot be reproduced to the varieties of fruit and vegetable plants as bare root original stock. These varieties are University recommended for cultivar from our area and are often hard to find at local nurseries. seed. Parts of Order forms are available in January the desired Voice Mail Line651-277-0151 apple variety is grafted http://www3.extension.umn.edu/county/chisago onto the root “Friend” us on Facebook system called rootstock. Chisago County Extension Office Our office is located at the Ag Service Building in North Branch at 38814 Third Avenue. Chisago County Most of size controlling rootstock now used in this country comes from Europe as it controls Master Gardeners the size of the tree. Years ago all the Crabapple trees, Wealthy and Haralson trees were from standard rootstock. The trees were full size and very winter hardy. They produced http://www3.extension.umn.edu/county/chisago a lot of apples but were almost impossible to prune. Nurseries still have a lot of standard trees but you need to prune properly to keep The University of Minnesota Extension shall provide equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, them under control. gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Most of the trees planted in orchards today are Late September to late October apples are The mission of the University of from semi-dwarf good for just rootstock. The about everything Minnesota Master Gardener trees reach a including program: “Use research-based height of eight to storage. They horticultural knowledge and ten feet and are include Honey practices to deliver educational outreach and project-based efforts easy to prune Gold, Regent, that inspire change and promote and manage. Fireside, Connell healthy people, healthy communities Red, and Prairie and a healthy planet.” Varieties Spy. The first thing to decide is what varieties of apple trees you want. I say trees because it is There are also the new and the old: Haralson When you go to buy your trees, choose a suggested that you plant more than one tree was introduced in 1922, Snow Sweet reputable nursery or garden center. They when you plant. There are so many Minnesota introduced in 2006 and Frostbite in 2008. will have fruit trees for our area and if developed apples to choose from that you may something goes wrong, they should replace want apples that mature at different times. Next Steps them within a reasonable time frame. Now that you have selected an area with full Beacon, sun and good drainage, prepare the area by You should State Fair, removing the weeds, purchasing some mulch always check Centennial and be ready to plant. Make sure you have to make sure Crab and done a soil test. An advantage of a soil test is the plants you Zestar are when you can see what your soil is lacking, plant are August to then you can add required nutrients over a hardy for our early period of time. Lastly, when you have area. September chosen the type of trees you want and the apples for varieties of apples you desire, you will be When you eating and ready to plant your own orchard. plant your sauce. trees, go by the instructions provided by your chosen nursery and you should not have any Early to late problems. September apples include For more information on choosing and Chestnut Crab, planting apples in the backyard, check out Red Baron, the following site: Sweet Sixteen www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard- and Honey Crisp garden/fruit/apples-in-home-garden/ apples. .