Zone 3 Apple tree recommendations for deer

sandbur

5 year old buck +
If one wanted to start a zone 3 apple tree planting to feed deer for the longest periods possible, what would you use and which rootstock.

Let's say the area is in northern Mn. or Wis.
 

sandbur

5 year old buck +
Here is what I am considering- dolgo rootstock or whatever Bailey's uses. If I were twenty years younger, I would use ant.

Varieties in approximate order of ripening-
whitney crab, centennial or dolgo crab, chestnut crab, Haralson or haralred, (maybe kerr crab),

for drop times after mid October, choices seem more limited for zone 3. Columbia crab would be a choice if one could find it.
 

SD51555

5 year old buck +
Couldn't you be a little more cavalier if you were able to get them on bud-118?
 

sandbur

5 year old buck +
I did some reading on Wolf River and it seems to be quite disease resistant. I tasted an apple last fall and was not impressed with the flavor, so I eliminated it from future consideration. The Fruit, Berry, and Nut Inventory book says that WR can make a fine dessert apple when grown on light soil and in full sun.
 

sandbur

5 year old buck +
Here is what I am considering- dolgo rootstock or whatever Bailey's uses. If I were twenty years younger, I would use ant.

Varieties in approximate order of ripening-
whitney crab, centennial or dolgo crab, chestnut crab, Haralson or haralred, (maybe kerr crab),

for drop times after mid October, choices seem more limited for zone 3. Columbia crab would be a choice if one could find it.
Zone 2 hardy, also.
 

tooln

5 year old buck +
Wolf river make for great applesauce & pies.
 

sandbur

5 year old buck +
stu-from your experience, when did wolf river drop?

My red prairie spy has not impressed me. I mowed around it tonight and thought that I should take it out.
 

sandbur

5 year old buck +
Does anyone have personal experience with Nova Easy Gro?

I have one on first leaf.
 

Bowsnbucks

5 year old buck +
Smsmith & anyone else interested in regular Prairie Spy - Saint Lawrence had them in their catalog this past winter/spring. Mr. Bill MacKentley told me by phone that they're a " lot less fussy tree " to grow. Their catalog lists them as resistant to scab & rust. I bought one from them to try. So far it's doing well. ( antonovka )
 

leexrayshady

5 year old buck +
I got scions from maple valley for this year both seem to be doing great
 

leexrayshady

5 year old buck +
I would say at least 3, depending on how may buds you wanted per graft
 

Jordan Selsor

5 year old buck +
Honey crisp on b118 or standard rootstock
 

wiscwhip

5 year old buck +
No idea what they are, but some type of apple/crabapple grows in Talkeetna, AK.
Did you get any scions?;)
 

Bowsnbucks

5 year old buck +
For any of you guys looking for cold-hardy zone 1 to 3 apples & crabapples - Check out this site link. https[URL='https://www.uaf.edu/.../']://www.uaf.edu/.../HGA-00038.pdf[/URL]. The University of Alaska -Fairbanks lists some apples & crabapples for fruit and --- for rootstocks --- Siberian crab, Columbia, Dolgo, Ranetka, or Red Splendor crabs. Some of the recommended apples are Prairie Magic, Carroll, Norland, Zestar, Yellow Transparent, Rescue, Lodi, Geneva Early, Kerr, Heyer #12, Hazen, Patterson. There are more on the list. I hope the reading helps you guys in your quest for some hardy trees.
 

chummer

5 year old buck +
I planted my first apples this year. I tried NY 35 Bonkers and they have more than doubled the growth of most of the other 3 varieties. They are going on 3' of growth already. They ripen mid October.
 

Bowsnbucks

5 year old buck +
Chummer - I planted a N.Y. 35 Bonkers this spring too. Mine is also doing pretty well. Got it from Cummins on B-118. It's planted in a small field with an Enterprise and a Goldrush. Prairie Spy ( apple ), Dolgo, & All-Winter-Hangover crabs are really kicking butt as well. Got those from SLN.
 

sandbur

5 year old buck +
For any of you guys looking for cold-hardy zone 1 to 3 apples & crabapples - Check out this site link. https[URL='https://www.uaf.edu/.../']://www.uaf.edu/.../HGA-00038.pdf. The University of Alaska -Fairbanks lists some apples & crabapples for fruit and --- for rootstocks --- Siberian crab, Columbia, Dolgo, Ranetka, or Red Splendor crabs. Some of the recommended apples are Prairie Magic, Carroll, Norland, Zestar, Yellow Transparent, Rescue, Lodi, Geneva Early, Kerr, Heyer #12, Hazen, Patterson. There are more on the list. I hope the reading helps you guys in your quest for some hardy trees.[/URL]
https://www.uaf.edu/.../HGA-00038.pdf


For some reason I cannot get that link to work.
 

sandbur

5 year old buck +
Thank You. It works.
 
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