Norkent – A Cold-Hardy Powerhouse with Pear-Like Flavor

Norkent is a cross between Haralson (a true apple) and Rescue (an apple-crabapple hybrid), making it technically an apple-applecrabapple—but let’s not get too carried away with classifications. What really matters is that Norkent is one of the most cold-hardy and great-tasting apples available.

Although 2024 is our first year growing Norkent, we’ve already been impressed by its performance in Montana’s brutal winters. It has shown remarkable resilience, including surviving -47°F on Ed Schultz’s farm without any winter injury. Ed considers it the best tasting apple in the “Nor Series,” which aligns with reports describing Norkent as one of the best-flavored ultra-hardy apples available.

Flavor and Uses

Norkent is often described as having a pear-like flavor, making it an excellent fresh eating apple. It’s a summer variety, meaning it ripens early enough to be suitable for short growing seasons like those in Alaska and Canada, where winters can reach -50°F or colder.

Beyond fresh eating, Norkent is also used in sauces, cider, and other culinary applications.

Cold Hardiness

• Hardy to Zone 2, and possibly even Zone 1

• Can withstand temperatures below -50°F

This makes Norkent an excellent option for growers in the coldest parts of Eastern Montana, the Canadian Prairies, or Alaska.

Spring 2025 Availability and Rootstock

For Spring 2025, we are offering Norkent grafted onto two of the cold-hardiest rootstocks available:

• Bud 118: While often categorized as a semi-standard rootstock, in Montana’s calcareous (high pH) soils, it behaves more like a semi-dwarf. Growers in Washington’s Yakima Valley have observed the same. Hardy to -50°F or more.

• Dolgo: A full-size rootstock, hardy to -60°F or more. Excellent for growers in extreme cold climates needing maximum resilience.