Norland
Norland is a naturally dwarfing, early-season summer apple renowned for its cold-hardiness, sweet-crisp flesh, and dual-purpose versatility. It’s a go-to choice for homesteaders and orchardists seeking reliable yields in harsh climates. If you need cold hardiness above everything else, this is the tree for you.
- Taste: a good tart-sweet balance.
- Skin & Flesh Color: Greenish-yellow base with dark red blush over half the fruit and red striping on the shaded side; light greenish-white, firm, crisp flesh.
- Harvest Season: Very early and goes from not-quite-ripe to overripe rather quickly.
- Disease Resistance: Susceptible to fire blight and scab in wet seasons; requires diligent pruning and spray programs for powdery mildew control.
- Best Uses: Best as a cooking apple, but good for eating fresh when picked at their peak.
- Storage Life: Relatively short storage life. Keeps 4–8 weeks in cold storage if picked under-ripe; ripe fruit tends to drop shortly after maturity.
- Pollination: Self-sterile (pollination group 1); cross-plant with early-blooming varieties from groups 1 or 2 for reliable set.
- Hardiness: Thrives to USDA zone 2 and requires low chill hours, ideal for short-season regions.
- Tree Habit & Size: Moderately vigorous, upright-spreading habit; naturally dwarfing and seldom exceeding 12–15 ft on its own roots; starts cropping by year three or four.
- Origin & Heritage: Developed by Dr. C.R. Ure at Canada’s Morden Research Station (Rescue × Red Melba), introduced in 1979 and valued for its extreme winter tolerance.
