Plant hardy varieties that survive cold weather

Only grow varieties grafted to hardy rootstock, and plant two varieties for cross-pollination. Apple-crabapple hybrids are the hardiest and, consequently, the best choices for the coldest areas such as interior Alaska ( Sunset climate zone A1).

‘Breakey’, midseason. Medium-size fruit has yellow green skin striped or blushed with red; white flesh is juicy with mild, spicy flavor. Good fresh or cooked.

‘Heyer 12’, early to midseason. Medium-size fruit has greenish yellow skin; coarse flesh with tart taste. Good for pies and sauce. Very hardy apple.

‘Lodi’, early to midseason. Medium-size apple has greenish yellow skin and tart flesh. Good for cooking; stores well.

‘Norland’, early. Medium-size fruit has greenish skin striped with red. Good fresh or cooked; stores well. Smallish tree. One of a series of very hardy apple-crabapple hybrids from Canada (others include ‘Noran’, ‘Norda’, ‘Norsan’, ‘Parkland’, and ‘Westland’).

‘Oriole’, early. Large fruit has yellow orange skin striped or spotted red. Excellent fresh or cooked. Susceptible to mildew.

‘Patterson’, midseason. Small to medium-size fruit has yellow skin blushed with red; excellent flavor and quality. Apple-crabapple hybrid.

‘Rescue’, early. Medium-size fruit has yellow skin covered with red; yellowish flesh is sweet. Apple-crabapple hybrid. A favorite in Alaska.

‘Summerred’, early. Medium-size fruit has bright red skin and tart flesh. Good for cooking until fully ripe, then good for fresh eating too. Sets fruit without a pollenizer.

Other hardy varieties include ‘Carroll’, ‘Collet’, and ‘Goodland’ apples, and ‘Kerr’, ‘Trail’, and ‘Trailman’ apple-crabapple hybrids.