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Fruit/Apple trees #743595

Asked April 10, 2021, 1:45 PM EDT

1. Growing up on our farm we had a Whitney Crab Apple tree. I so enjoyed apples from that tree. I have tried to locate a Whitney crab apple tree to plant but they are generally unavaidable. Is there another apple tree that is like a Whitney crab and available. 2. What is the type of tree in the Honey Crisp family that bears smaller sized apples? I believe it might have the word "Krispi" in its name 3. Will a sweet cherry tree grow and thrive in our climate?

Dakota County Minnesota

Expert Response

Whitney crabapple is offered bare root by a  number of online sources so although it is currently out of stock at many of these, the shortage is probably seasonal.

Although we do not recommend or vouch for the reliability of any vendor, at the moment Whitney crabapple appears to be available here:
https://theappletreeguy.com/product/whitney-crab-apple-trees/

Chestnut crabapple has some of Whitney's characteristics and is a popular alternative developed by the University of Minnesota. It's described here:

https://www.startribune.com/chestnut-crabapples-make-a-sweet-or-savory-treat/396819521/

The University of Minnesota is using Honeycrisp in its breeding program.  The most recent cultivars are listed here, some of which are Honeycrisp descendants.

https://mnhardy.umn.edu/varieties/fruit/apples

Triumph is an even more recent example of these.  Go here to learn about it:

https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/u-of-ms-next-apple-has-been-named-introducing-triumph/89-cbcb4b59-8d7d-4b12-9213-fe0091bca9fb

We don't know of a sweet cherry variety that's reliably hardy in Minnesota. Some claim Evans Bali cherry, a sour variety, is sweeter than most.  Go here to learn about it:

https://trees.umn.edu/evans-bali-cherry-prunus-cerasus-evans-bali

An Ask Extension Expert Replied April 10, 2021, 3:53 PM EDT

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