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Minnesota Hardy

Tree Fruits

Apricots Plums Pears Cherries Apples

Apricots, cherries, and plums grow rapidly and often produce fruit in the first or second year--a benefit to fruit breeders evaluating fruit for flavor, texture, and timing. The University continues to investigate wild germplasm in breeding fruit plants that better resist cold-temperature injury. The fruit-breeding program also evaluates varieties from other breeding programs around the world, looking for any fruit that may be adaptable to our region.

 apricots

Sungold apricot
Sungold

Apricots

'Sungold' apricot is a fine ornamental small tree with an early spring bloom and bright orange-yellow fall color. It requires another apricot for cross-pollination. The fruit is good eating fresh and in preserves and sauces. Trees usually remain healthy for about 15 to 20 years.

Apricot Year Ripens Features
Moongold 1960 Late July Golden yellow, very hardy. Blooms the third week of April. 1-3/4" fruit hands on tree until ripe. Self-unfruitful. Freestone.
Sungold 1960 Early August Yellow with red blush, very hardy, 1-1/4" fruit with clear flesh. Fruit hangs on the tree until ripe. Mild flavor. Upright growth habit. Blooms third week of April. Requires another apricot for cross-pollination. Freestone.

plum blossoms

Plums

'Alderman' plums are large, with golden flesh with burgundy skin. The horizontal branches make it an attractive small tree for landscape use. Plant 'Superior,' 'Toka,' or 'Compass' as pollinators along with 'Alderman' for best fruit set.

 Alderman plum
Alderman
Plum Year Ripens Features
Alderman 1986 Late August Fruit is burgundy red with golden yellow, sweet, juicy flesh. Eat fresh or use for preserves. Tree is very attractive, valued as an ornamental and fruits consistently. Clingstone.
La Crescent 1923 Early August High quality yellow plum. Fruit is small to medium, sometimes with a light blush skin. Flesh is sweet, juicy, freestone, and somewhat suggestive of apricots. Vigorous grower, but often a shy bearer.
Pipestone 1942 Late August Large, attractive red fruits for drier areas. Sweet, juicy yellow with excellent quality for jam, jellies, and fresh use. Very hardy. Tree is productive. Clingstone.
Superior 1933 Mid-August Hybrid with large fruit with dark red, russet-dotted skin. Flesh is yellow, juicy, and sweet. Heavy bearing tree lacks hardiness in northern areas. Often sets fruit the first year. Clingstone.
Underwood 1920 Late July Medium-large, red fruit with golden yellow flesh, juicy and sweet flavor. High quality for fresh use and jam. Clingstone. Hardy, vigorous grower with horizontal spread.

Pears

'Summercrisp' pear is hardy in most of Minnesota. To improve productivity, plant another type of pear to serve as a pollinator.

 Summercrisp pear
Summercrisp
Pear Year Ripens Features
Golden Spice 1949 Early Sept. A small, very hardy pear. The 1-3/4" fruits are a medium yellow, lightly blushed with dull red. Flesh is tart, spicy and ready for harvest in midseason. Good for canning and spicing, fair for eating.
Parker 1934 Mid-August Medium to large, roundish, yellow-bronze fruit. Popular for fine-grained, tender, juicy flesh. Fruit must be picked before it ripens. Upright, vigorous growing tree used as pollinator for 'Luscious.' Tree susceptible to fire blight.
Summercrisp 1985 Mid-August Sweet flavored, crisp fruit, 2-1/2 - 3" in diameter and 3 - 4" long. Blooms early May. Fruit harvested when crisp, green with a red blush, and may be stored up to 2 months. Hardiest pear at U of M.

Meteor cherry
Meteor

Cherries

'Meteor' tart cherry is hardy in central and southern Minnesota. One tree will produce fruit; it does not require another tree for pollination and fruit set.
Tart Cherry Year Ripens Features
Meteor 1952 Mid-July Semidwarf (10 - 14'), hardy, vigorous pie cherry tree with large bright red fruit, no cross-pollination needed.
North Star 1950 Early July Dwarf tree (7 - 10'), pie cherry, no cross-pollination needed, very productive, bright red deepening to mahogany skin. Yellow, juicy, tender flesh. Tree resistant to leaf spot and brown rot.
Apricots Plums Pears Cherries Apples


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