{"product_id":"haralson-apple","title":"Haralson Apple","description":"\u003ch1\u003eThe Classic Minnesota Pie Apple That Keeps All Winter\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Haralson Apple (\u003cem\u003eMalus\u003c\/em\u003e × \u003cem\u003edomestica\u003c\/em\u003e 'Haralson') is a true Minnesota heritage tree — a 1922 University of Minnesota release that has been a Midwest favorite for over a century. Its crisp, bracing tart-tangy flavor makes it the go-to apple for pies, sauce, and baking, and it's a famously excellent keeper that holds in cold storage well into winter. Best of all, it's supremely cold-hardy through zone 3, sailing through Minnesota winters that defeat lesser apples. White-pink spring blossoms lead to fruit that ripens in late September. Whether you're planting a backyard orchard in Lakeville, an edible landscape in Woodbury, or simply want the classic baking apple your grandparents grew in Maple Grove, Haralson is Minnesota tradition on a tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHaralson Apple Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAttribute\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetail\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eMalus\u003c\/em\u003e × \u003cem\u003edomestica\u003c\/em\u003e 'Haralson'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHaralson Apple, Haralson\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15–20 feet (standard); smaller on dwarfing rootstock\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12–18 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (6+ hours) — essential for good fruiting and flavor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate. Needs consistent moisture, especially while fruit is sizing up in summer.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) — exceptionally cold-hardy\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdaptable. Tolerates Minnesota clay-loam; prefers deep, well-drained, fertile soil.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBloom\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWhite-pink flowers in mid-spring\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHarvest\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCrisp, tart-tangy apples ripening in late September; an excellent long-keeping storage apple\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePollination\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBest with a different apple or flowering crabapple nearby that blooms at the same time\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to about -40°F — one of the hardiest apples ever bred\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLow — deer love apple trees; protect the trunk and lower branches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHaralson Apple Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Baker's Apple for a Home Orchard\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHaralson's firm flesh and tart-tangy bite hold up beautifully in the oven, making it the classic Minnesota choice for pies, crisps, and applesauce. A single tree on dwarfing rootstock fits a Lakeville or Woodbury yard and yields bushels of baking apples each fall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eLong-Storage Heritage Apple\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of Haralson's signature traits is how well it keeps — properly stored, the apples stay crisp and tangy for months, giving you homegrown fruit deep into a Minnesota winter. It's a practical, productive choice for anyone who wants to put up their own harvest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpring Flowers and Pollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhite-pink spring blossoms make Haralson a fine ornamental flowering tree and a good pollen source. Because it blooms in mid-spring, it's an ideal pollination partner for Honeycrisp and other Minnesota apples planted nearby.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Haralson Apple in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApple trees are deciduous, so you have two good planting windows in the Twin Cities:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring (late April–May)\u003c\/strong\u003e, once the ground has thawed, is ideal — the tree gets the full growing season to establish before its first winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFall (September–mid-October)\u003c\/strong\u003e also works. Plant at least six weeks before the ground freezes so roots can settle in. Avoid mid-summer planting, and never plant into frozen ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Haralson Apple\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChoose a full-sun site with good air circulation, and plant a compatible pollination partner (another apple variety or a flowering crabapple) within about 50 feet.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep — 2–3 times the root ball width, only as deep as the ball. Keep any graft union 2–3 inches above the soil line.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck drainage — if water pools in the hole, break through clay hardpan or mound-plant slightly; apples dislike wet feet.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with the native soil mixed with 20–30% compost for fertile, well-drained footing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuild a 3–4 inch water basin around the root zone to direct water to the roots; flatten it before winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch with 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood chips kept 2 inches from the trunk, and wrap the trunk to protect against rabbits, deer, and winter sunscald.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Haralson Apple in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeeks 1–2: water every 1–2 days, deep and slow. Month 1–2: every 3–4 days. Month 3 through fall: every 5–7 days during active growth, less when rainfall is adequate. Consistent moisture is especially important while fruit is developing. Stop watering 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes in late October so the tree can harden off.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstablished Haralson benefits from steady moisture during the growing season — especially mid-summer as the apples size up — for the best fruit quality. Water deeply during dry spells (2+ weeks with no rain), soaking to 6–8 inches, and keep a mulch layer to hold moisture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need a second apple tree?\u003c\/strong\u003e For the best fruit set, yes — plant a different apple variety or a flowering crabapple that blooms at the same time nearby. Honeycrisp makes a great companion, and the two pollinate each other.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat's Haralson best for?\u003c\/strong\u003e Baking and storage. Its firm texture and tart-tangy flavor are ideal for pies, crisps, and sauce, and the apples keep exceptionally well in cold storage through winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e Absolutely — bred at the U of M in 1922 for our climate, it's one of the hardiest apples in existence, reliable to about -40°F (zone 3).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhen are the apples ready?\u003c\/strong\u003e Haralson ripens in late September in the Twin Cities, a touch after Honeycrisp, extending your home harvest season.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHoneycrisp Apple\u003c\/strong\u003e — Minnesota's famous ultra-crisp eating apple and an ideal pollination partner.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrairiefire Crabapple\u003c\/strong\u003e — a disease-resistant flowering crabapple that doubles as an apple pollinator.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring Snow Crabapple\u003c\/strong\u003e — a fruitless flowering crabapple that still supplies pollen for nearby apples.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring Flurry Serviceberry\u003c\/strong\u003e — a native tree with edible June berries for the edible landscape.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Haralson Apple Trees Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHaralson is a specimen and orchard tree, not a hedge plant. One tree supplies a family with baking apples, but plan on two trees for fruit: Haralson needs a different apple or crabapple variety blooming nearby (within about 50 feet) to set a good crop. Space standard trees 15–18 feet apart; trees on dwarfing rootstock can go 8–10 feet apart in a backyard orchard row. Give every tree full sun and room for a 12–18 foot mature spread.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHaralson Apple Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Clouds of white-pink blossoms in mid-spring hum with bees — peak ornamental moment and pollination time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e A full green canopy shades the yard while the fruit slowly sizes up; keep moisture steady through July and August.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Late-September harvest of crisp, tart-tangy red-striped apples, with foliage turning soft yellow afterward.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bare, sturdy branching shrugs off −40°F while your stored Haralsons stay crisp in the root cellar into February.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Pollinator-Friendly   ✔ Edible\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/honeycrisp-apple\"\u003eHoneycrisp Apple\u003c\/a\u003e — the ideal cross-pollination partner; the two set heavier crops together.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/prairiefire-crabapple\"\u003ePrairiefire Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e — disease-resistant pink bloomer that doubles as an apple pollinator.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/spring-snow-crabapple\"\u003eSpring Snow Crabapple\u003c\/a\u003e — fruitless white crabapple that still supplies pollen with no cleanup.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/spring-flurry-serviceberry\"\u003eSpring Flurry Serviceberry\u003c\/a\u003e — native companion with edible June berries for a fuller edible landscape.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Haralson Apple Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant Haralson if you have full sun (6+ hours), decently drained soil, room for a 15–20 foot tree (or a dwarf form in tighter yards), and a spot for a second apple or crabapple to pollinate it. It rewards you with a century-proven baking apple that laughs at zone 4 winters. It's not a fit if your yard is shady, soggy, or under heavy deer pressure you can't fence — deer love apple trees, and unprotected young trunks won't last their first winter.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"1.5\"BB","offer_id":54260816347441,"sku":"GT-T2565","price":343.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"1.75\"BB","offer_id":54260816380209,"sku":"GT-T2566","price":370.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2\"BB","offer_id":54260816412977,"sku":"GT-T2567","price":411.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/haralson-apple.jpg?v=1779426701","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/haralson-apple","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}