Need help deciding on apple tree for back yard

In My Humble Opinion
1

Hi Everybody -
The apple trees are on a really good sale right now, and I’m thinking of putting an apple tree in the yard. I’m not too concerned about the tree itself and what it looks like; I’m more concerned about getting good apples for eating, cooking, and storage. We’re in Zone 3 here with strong, desiccating chinook winds every winter. A species that is more resistant to fireblight would be a good idea, too.

Any ideas? Any suggestions of what I should look for or stay away from?

2

Look for something that keeps squirrels away.

3

I can’t help you pick out a specific tree, but there are a couple of more questions you should ask. If you’re looking at a single tree, you’ll need to pick one that’s capable of self-pollination, or be sure that there are compatible mates nearby – most apple trees are not capable of self-pollination. Suitable mates don’t only mean that they’re sexually compatible, but that they tend to flower at the same time, too.

My house is in zone five or six, and so I settled on a Fuji and a Braeburn earlier this year. They were happy enough together that I had to pluck off at least 100 little apples between them (you should also let them get settled for at least a season or two without growing fruit – hopefully mine will be fully established when I’m done with my current, non-home assignment).

4

Bwahahahhaha, uh, crabapple?

Unless you have a very sheltered area with its own microclimate where you can put this tree, fruit bearing apple trees will not thrive in Calgary. Most of the apple trees people have are crossed with crabapple or they bear tiny unripe fruits, usually the fruit is left to the squirrels. There have been some hardy apple trees developed by the University of Saskatchewan that would be your best bet. Some of the old fashioned ones with names starting with ‘Nor’, Norland for example, are possibilites, but I believe those are susceptible to blight.

5

Thanks, guys. So, doing more research (and talking to a guy who’s gardened here for decades), we might go with a crabapple or just wait for the dwarf sour cherry bushes to show up in town. Meanwhile, I think I’ll look into putting in some blueberry or currant bushes.

6

Just a quick googling;

http://www.wallace-woodstock.com/appletrees.htm

Shows zone 3 hardy varieties as; Duchess of Oldenburg, Fireside, Frostbite, Goodland, Haralson, Hazen, Honeycrisp, Honeygold, Keepsake, Lodi, Northern Spy, Red Baron, Snowsweet, State Fair, Sweet Sixteen, Westland, Zestar. Just from that one vender. That’s 17 different varieties.

Unfortunately, that place is out of most of everything. But you may be able to find those varieties at places in your province.