RENEGADE GARDENER™

How Do You Like Them Apples

It appears that two very popular apple trees developed by researchers at the University of Minnesota have even more going for them than merely producing fabulous-tasting apples.

New research by the U’s Horticultural Research Center shows that the Honeycrisp and Zestar! varieties of apple trees are far less prone to apple scab and fire blight, the two prominent diseases that reduce to tears many hobby apple growers in our region each year.

The Honeycrisp, in fact, has been officially categorized as “resistant,” a classification the University does not bestow lightly. Now if you can just find one at the nurseries. Demand is so high that getting your hands on a Honeycrisp to plant in your yard requires some calling around town, but you’ll find one.

Don Engebretson
The Renegade Gardener