Honeycrisp apple tree
- Picking season: Late
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Pollination group: 4
Honeycrisp is a very attractive high quality apple with a predominantly sweet flavor. It lives up to its name - it is a remarkably crisp apple and one of the outstanding new apples of the late 20th century. The flavor is excellent, with a rich sweetness and good balancing acidity.
The apples are medium-to-large in size, with a light green/yellow background largely covered with red-orange flush occasionally with a hint of pink. They keep well in storage, and retain their unique crispness.
Honeycrisp apple trees for sale
You can pre-order now for spring 2025
Semi-dwarf 1-year bare-root tree
$37.95
Mature height: 8ft-12ft after 10 years
G.210, G.214
rootstock
How to grow
Honeycrisp was developed to be cold-hardy and is a good variety for colder apple-growing regions, where its crispness and sweetness are enhanced - although it likes a warm fall season. It is one of the most cold-hardy of all apple varieties.
However don't think this means it won't grow in the southern states - Honeycrisp has a wide climate range and seems quite at home in warmer zones - as long as it gets sufficient winter chilling.
The well-balanced flavor can become bland if the tree is allowed to over-crop - and Honeycrisp does tend to over-crop if given a chance. This can also lead to pre-harvest drop, a particular issue with Honeycrisp in warmer areas. So although this is not a tree that requires thinning if outright production is your goal, if you want the best flavor then thin the fruitlets as soon as they have formed.
Honeycrisp is known for its excellent scab-resistance. It appears to have some resistance to fireblight as well, but if you are in a fireblight area the University of Minnesotal recommends using fireblight-resistant rootstocks, such as the Geneva series.
Honeycrisp leaves may show some yellowing or chlorosis over the summer, particularly if the crop is light. The problem is specific to Honeycrisp and other varieties nearby will not be affected. As long as the tree is being regularly watered this is just a cosmetic issue.
Honeycrisp is a low-vigor weak-growing variety. It is a good idea to let Honeycrisp trees reach their full size before allowing cropping to begin, so remove any fruitlets that might form in the early years. Even when the tree is mature it is still important to remove excess fruitlets as soon as they form after the blossom, as this can affect the formation of next spring's flower buds.
Advice on fruit tree pollination.
History
Honeycrisp was introduced in the 1990s by the University of Minnesota. It is related to Keepsake and distantly related to Northern Spy, a traditional American cold-hardy apple variety.
Honeycrisp characteristics
- Gardening skillExperienced
- Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
- Pollination group4
- Pollinating othersAverage
- Picking seasonLate
- UsesEating fresh
- Keeping (of fruit)3 months or more
- General resistanceGood
- FireblightSome resistance
- ScabVery resistant
- Cedar apple rustSome susceptibility
- MildewSome susceptibility
- Cold hardiness (USDA)Zone 3 (-40C)
- Summer maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)Hot (>30C / 86F)Cold (< 20C / 67F)
- Country of originUnited States
- Period of origin1950 - 1999
- Fruit colorOrange / Red
Similar varieties
TriumphAlso known as MN80, Triumph is a new release from the well-regarded University of Minnesota apple breeding program.
