Apple trees are one of nature’s great investments. Plant one sapling, and a few years down the road, you receive hundreds of apples every autumn, not to mention the beautiful springtime blossoms. As one of the best cold-hardy fruits, we don’t have to settle for crab apples or less desirable varieties—some of the tastiest apple varieties available are right at home in our region.
Our Favorite Varieties for Moultonborough
McIntosh
McIntosh apples are an extremely popular variety in North America. They’re medium-sized with marbled green and red skin. They are an “all-purpose” apple; the crisp, white flesh and tart flavor make them ideal for eating, ciders, or cooking into desserts or sauces. Originating from Ontario, Canada, they’re a cold-hardy species that thrives in our region.
Granny Smith
Another famous apple, the Granny Smith, is known for its bright green skin and crisp, tart, and sharp taste. This flavor profile makes them ideal for baking into pies, sauces, preserves, and other desserts, and the crispness guarantees that they won’t go mushy once cooked. Their well-known tanginess is equally loved and enjoyed for straight eating. They grow to a mature width of 15-20 feet and start producing after two seasons in the soil.
Cortland
A descendant of the McIntosh, Cortlands have a snappy crunch and a sweeter flavor, balanced by a subtle tanginess. They are an ideal eating apple, produce great cider, and hold their shape when baked. They go mushy in storage quicker than their cousins, so they’re best enjoyed or processed soon after harvest. Cortland’s don’t need a companion tree for pollination but increase production if they have one.
Gala
Galas are another all-around apple for any purpose, from eating to baking or cider, and are known for their sweet, mild flavor, and crispy texture. They are another one of the few self-pollinating apple trees. They grow to a manageable size of 10′ in height and 15′ across, and need a hardiness zone 5 or above.
Why It’s Often Necessary to Plant Two Varieties of Apple Trees
Unless they’re self-pollinating, most apple trees need the pollen of another tree to produce fruit, and that tree needs to be a different apple cultivar. So if you’re planning to plant an apple tree that needs cross-pollination, make sure one of your neighbors has an apple tree nearby or plan to plant two on your property. Whether self-pollinating or not, having more than one tree improves pollination rates, making for bigger yields.
What to Do with Apples After You Harvest Them
Besides spring pruning, growing an apple tree is very low maintenance. Without much work, you reap a bountiful harvest. The main challenge is figuring out what to do with so many apples at once. Fortunately, there are many solutions.
Apples that store well can stay in cold storage throughout the fall and winter. You can also make apple sauce and store it in the deep freeze; press the apples into cider, juice, or vinegar; or you can boil them into apple butter. You can dry them in rings or press them into fruit leather. If all else fails, you can share the harvest with friends and neighbors.
The apples we mentioned above are certainly not the only ones available. Empire, Freedom, Red and Gold Delicious, Red Rome, and Spartan apples also grow in zone 4/5. When choosing a site for planting, ensure that your apple is in full sun, in well-draining soil, and away from wooded areas. Know the mature tree size before you plant to ensure you have space, and then you’re ready to plant.
For more advice on growing apples, feel free to visit our garden center in Moultonborough! We have plenty of delicious varieties available. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for updates and featured products.