Zestar! is an attractive early-season apple, which can usually be picked in late August / early September. Unlike many early varieties it is a notably crisp apple and can be stored for at least a month in the fridge. It needs careful handling though, as it brusies easily.
It was developed by the University of Minnesota, and is a good choice for areas with cold winters.
You can pre-order now for spring 2025
Fill in the form below and we will notify you when Zestar! apple trees are back in stock.
If you do not hear from us by February you can contact us in June to pre-order for the following spring.
Zestar! is generally an easy variety to grow, but it has an unusually early bloom which can make pollination tricky. Use our pollination checker to find suitable pollination partners or choose an early-flowering crab-apple such as Wickson. It is also one of the first apple varieties to come out of winter dormancy - you will notice the buds starting to swell.
Zestar! should be hardy to zone 4, on suitable cold-hardy rootstocks.
Advice on fruit tree pollination.
Developed by the University of Minnesota and released in 1999.
