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Apples

Apples can do very well here in the Uintah Basin.  Different apples each have their own taste and qualities.

Most apple varieties are grafted on to a specific rootstock to control vigor, hardiness, and disease resistance.  In our area we recommend purchasing apple trees with semi-dwarf or standard rootstocks.  Try to avoid dwarf rootstocks.  Dwarf rootstocks are usually shallow rooted and weaker than trees on semi-dwarf and standard rootstocks.  Apple trees grafted on semi-dwarf rootstock usually grow 15-20 feet tall and 12-15 feet wide.  Apple trees on standard rootstock usually grow 20-25 feet tall and 15-20 feet wide.  If a smaller tree is desired then both semi-dwarf and standard trees take pruning well and can be kept smaller by yearly pruning.  If planting more than one tree space the trees 15 or more feet apart.

There are well over 200 different varieties of apples that are hardy in our area.  We have listed a few of favorites below.

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  • Black Oxford - Great tasting, hard, crunchy, deep red almost purple apple.  Good for fresh eating, cooking, cider, and dehydrating.  It is also a great storage apple.  Many say its flavor improves after being in storage for a while.  Ripens in October.  Hardy zones 3-8

  • Cortland - Good all purpose red apple.  It is a reliably annual bearing apple with fruit that is good for fresh eating, baking, and cider.  Hardy zones 3-8.

  • Empire - Tasty apple with the perfect blend of sweetness and tart crunchiness. Hardy in zones 4-9. 

  • Freedom - A great red-tinted apple that has the perfect sweet-tart blend.  This apple is perfect for fresh eating, baking, and even applesauce.   The tree has also been bred to be disease resistant to fireblight, apple rust, and scab.  Hardy zones 3-8.  

  • Honeycrisp - A great tasting apple that is also commonly found in stores.  This apple is tasty and best used for fresh eating and sauces.  Ripens in late August to Early September.  Hardy in zones 3-6.  USPP7197P.

  • Honeygold - Another great apple for those of us living in the basin.  The golden-yellow apple is similar to a Golden Delicious but slightly smaller in size and a little bit sweeter.  It is great for fresh eating and applesauce.  It ripens in late August-September.  Hardy in zones 3-7.

  • Liberty - A dark red, tasty, and juicy apple.  It is also disease resistant to scab, fireblight, apple rust, and mildew.  It is primarily used for fresh eating and juicing.  Hardy zones 4-8

  • MacIntosh - A traditional apple that can commonly be found in fruit stands.  The red tart crisp apple is good for fresh eating, tart sauces, and cider.  Ripens in September.  Hardy zones 4-8.

  • Snow (Fameuse) - This aromatic yet sub acidic apple are small to medium, very hardy, long-living, and come from a heavy-bearing tree. Ripens in late-August to mid-September. Hardy zones 4-8.

  • SnowSweet® - This red, crisp apple has the perfect blend of sweet and tart flavors. It also is slow to oxidize. This makes it great for fresh eating and in salads. Hardy zones 4-7.

  • Sweet Sixteen - Do you want an apple with a different taste?  Then the Sweet Sixteen apple may be your choice of apple.  This hardy apple tree produces a reliable crop of red medium sized fruit.  It is also a good storage apple.  Hardy zones 3-8.

  • Yellow Transparent - This antique yellow apple has its own unique spot among apples.  Some of the oldest apples in the Uintah Basin are Yellow Transparent apples.  It is one of the first apples to ripen.  Its sweet-tart taste is always a nice treat in late July and early August.  It is primarily used for fresh eating and apple sauce.  It is not a keeper and must be eaten or sauced within a week or two of being ripe.  Many consider this apple the best apple-sauce apple.  Hardy in zones 2-7.

  • Zestar!® -  Zestar is a good red/green sweet-tart apple that is perfect for fresh eating and juicing.  It is a good keeper and is very cold hardy.  Fruit ripens in mid-August to mid-September. Hardy zones 3-7.

Disclaimer:  This is a listing of varieties that have performed well in the area.  This listing does not guarantee that the varieties are in stock.  Please call to inquire if an item is in stock or not.

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