It's Different Here: Cold winters in Zone 4 and 3
The cold winters and short growing season in Minnesota require, in most cases, plants adapted specifically for such conditions. Consequently, much of the advice you may find in general-interest gardening books, magazines, and catalogs doesn't apply.
Most of Minnesota, including Minneapolis and St. Paul and the area roughly south of I-94, is in USDA Zone 4, with the lowest typical winter temperature somewhere between -20 and -30 degrees Fahrenheit. The nothern part of the state is in Zone 3, with typical winter lows between -30 and -40 degrees, except for a few colder areas around Bemidji and International Falls.
There is a similar climate in the colder inland portions of Maine, North and South Dakota, northern Wisconsin, and parts of Canada and Alaska. Worldwide, portions of Russia and China have similar climates as well.
As a consequence, the major varieties of fruit that you see in the supermarket won't live through a hard winter. Fortunately, there are well-adapted varieties that are just as good or better that you can grow.
Recommended varieties
These varieties have worked for me or for neighboring orchards in Zone 4. Since I have just started storing apples this year, information in storage is from other sources. Information on Zone 3 hardiness is from sources believed to be reliable.
I follow the traditional English terminology: A "dessert" apple is for eating raw. A "cooking" apple is for dishes like apple pie where flavor and texture after cooking are important. A "cider" apple is for making a fermented, wine-like beverage.
I've chosen these varieties to provide unimpeachable hardiness in Zone 4, progressive maturity dates, a mixture of dessert and cooking apples, and contrasting colors and flavors.
| Variety | First picking | Zone 3 | Uses | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MN 1661 | August 6 | Dessert | ||
| Duchess | August 15 | Yes | Cooking | |
| Dolgo | August 15 | Yes | Jelly; cider (weak ittersharp) | |
| Zestar | August 20 | Yes | Dessert | |
| Wealthy | September 5 | reports vary | Cooking | |
| Haralson | September 5 | Yes | Dessert, cooking | |
| Honeycrisp | September 15 | Yes | Dessert | long |
| Honeygold | October 1 | No | Dessert | December |
| Prairie Spy | October 15 | reports vary | Dessert | long |
| Northwestern Greening | October 31 | reports vary | Cooking | long |
I also have planted these more experimental varieties:
| Variety | First picking | Zone 3 | Uses | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston Black | Late | doubtful | Cider - bittersharp |
| Twistbody Jersey | Late | doubtful | Cider - sweet |
| Foxwhelp | Late | doubtful | Cider - bittersharp |
| Yarlington Mill | Late | doubtful | Cider - bittersweet |
| Johnny Appleseed | doubtful | Dessert | |
| Garden Royal | midseason | doubtful | Dessert |
| Black Oxford | Late | doubtful | Cooking, Cider |
| Alexander | Late | doubtful | Cooking |
In general, the University of Minnesota publishes extremely conservative hardiness information intended as guidance for commercial plantings of hundreds or thousands of trees. There are reports from other sources of trees doing well in colder climates than the University reports as suitable. I have indicated these as "reports vary" in the table.
