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Characteristics of the tree

Height at maturity
7 meters (23 feet)
Spacing
9 meters (30 feet)
Soil
Well drained
Sun / shade
Full sun
Flowering
mid-May
Harvest
Mid-October
Average fruit weight
85g
Fruit color
Burgundy red
Years to bear
5
Self-sterile
Average diameter of fruit
60-70mm (2-2/12 inches)
Organic

Minnesota 447 is a perfectly crisp, late-season apple. It is one of our absolute favourites, flavoured with hints of sugar cane and litchi. One of the most exceptional apples you will ever taste!

Height at maturity
7 meters (23 feet)
Spacing
9 meters (30 feet)
Soil
Well drained
Sun / shade
Full sun
Flowering
mid-May
Harvest
Mid-October
Average fruit weight
85g
Fruit color
Burgundy red
Years to bear
5
Self-sterile
Average diameter of fruit
60-70mm (2-2/12 inches)
Organic

Minnesota 447 is a small apple averaging about 6cm in diameter, but it packs an intense flavour that is reminiscent of sugar cane. The skin is a dark red over a yellow/gold background and the flesh is a creamy colour verging on light orange. The apple is extremely juicy and has a firm and crisp consistency. It is a remarkable treat for fresh eating and is a particular favourite of cider makers. The fruit is one of the last to harvest: around mid to late October and can be stored for over 6 months. Note that if you wish to store them for several months, it is better to harvest them before they are completely ripe; that way the sugars will continue to develop during storage.

The Minnesota 447 apple tree is an annual producer and is hardy to zone 3. One of its advantages is that it produces consistently very good harvests every year. The Minnesota 447 apple tree is a relatively vigorous tree with a spreading growth pattern. This tree is self-sterile, so it needs a different apple cultivar to pollinate it.

This apple tree originated as a chance seedling at the University of Minnesota breeding farm in 1936. It has since played a major role in their breeding program as a parent of Keepsake and Sweet Sixteen and grandparent of Honeycrisp.

The illustration shows different stages of our apple trees growth up until the age of 20 years (as one rarely plans a landscaping arrangement with a longer time period in mind). At 100 years old, the apple tree will be even larger than shown here – it can reach 7 m in height and spread over 9m – while the house might no longer exist!

You should note that this illustration is meant only to give a general indication of what you can expect, and the growth of your tree might look somewhat different. The development of a tree depends on the soil type, irrigation, fertilisation and climatic conditions. What we show here is based on our observation of observations of the growth of apple trees in zone 4, in rather poor soil. In zone 2, growth will probably be slower, while in a rich soil it would be faster.

Growth of an apple tree in Canada

All our apple trees are sold bare-root, without pots. They have been cultivated directly in our soil. Bare-root trees must be taken out of the ground and shipped during their period of dormancy, which is why we only ship trees in the spring. A big advantage with these kinds of trees, is that they take up very little space, and can therefore be easily shipped by mail all over Canada! 

This photograph shows a 2-3-foot apple tree, just like one that you might receive. Depending on the height you choose at the time of purchase, the tree might be a little smaller (1-2 feet) or somewhat taller (3-5 feet.)

All our apple trees are grafted on standard-sized rootstock, which we grow ourselves at the nursery. Trees that are grafted on standard-sized rootstock will become full-sized apple trees (as opposed to dwarf, or semi-dwarf.) While the life expectancy of a dwarf apple tree is only about 20 years, full-sized apple trees such as those we propagate have a lifespan of around 100 years. We believe it is of the utmost importance to plant for future generations, which is one of the main reasons we prefer these kinds of trees.

Besides this, standard-sized apple trees also have many other qualities that set them above dwarf and semi-dwarf trees in our view. For example, their deep and well-developed root systems allow them to draw water from deep underground during periods of droughts. They are more vigorous and resilient, which in turn also makes them more disease-resistant. They are very hardy, and last but not least, much more productive! 

To learn more about grafting and the role of rootstocks, see our article here!

Grafting on full-size rootstocks