The Honeycrisp apple is a number that was released to the commercial marketplace in the 1990s. It continues to gain in popularity and keeps its crispness and taste for many months when kept in cold storage. There are over 160 feasible pollinators for the Honeycrisp apple, however, its preference for cool weather and use as a fresh apple, instead of a cooking apple, can help narrow down the choice of pollinators for the home garden.
Pollination Window
Cross pollination demands the blossom times of two trees to overlap. The Honeycrisp apple is currently in flowering group 4, meaning it blooms in mid to late season. Trees in flowering group 4 will overlap in blossom period, be pollinated by and help pollinate trees in groups 3, 4 and 5. The Honeycrisp apple tree is self-fertile, but even self-fertile trees provide a much better crop of apples when cross pollinated from another tree.
Apple Pollinators
The Honeycrisp prefers the cooler temperatures of U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 4 through 6, but it is going to grow in zones 3 through 8. The Calville Blanc is a traditional dessert apple which dates from the late 16th century which grows well in zones 4 to 7. It cooks very well and is more tart than the Honeycrisp, which will add variety to your apple choices at harvest. The Calville Blanc can also be in flowering group 4. The Esopus Spitzenburg has been considered to have been one of Thomas Jefferson’s favourite apples. Additionally it is a tart apple which blooms in flowering group 4 and grows well in zones 4 though 6. A sweet apple which blooms in flowering group 4 is that the Gala apple. Gala apple trees are consistent producers in zones 5 and over.
Crabapple Pollinators
Crabapples are also great pollinators for additional apple trees. The Hewe’s Crab is a famous variety that blooms in 3. This assortment of crabapple gives a good taste for cider. The Malus Golden Hornet crabapple is a late-season bloomer in flowering group 5. It is mainly an ornamental tree with pink blossoms and bright yellow fruit, but the fruit is also used to make jellies or as a source of pectin.
Choose Similar Rootstocks
The choice for a pollinator must also include consideration of this rootstock. If the trees are to be planted near one another, they should be grafted onto rootstock that will offer a similar sized tree. For example, both ought to be dwarf or both must be semi-dwarfing rootstocks. If one tree grows much bigger than the moment, blocking light from the sun will become a problem when they reach their mature height. Planting in different regions of the garden can ease this problem if other trees or plants are not shaded from the procedure.