Northern Spy was one of our the favorite apples of our mentor Rod McIver. Rod was up in Kalispell where it was slightly colder and the growing season slightly shorter than our location in Missoula. A late season apple, Northern Spy was just on the edge of being able to ripen in time for him. According to Rod, “Excellent flavor and firmness, a personal favorite. Many great apples have been derived from it, including Honeycrisp, Sweet 16, Keepsake, etc. Seldom ripens on tree before last frost, however the fruits can be picked and ripen in storage, and they keep very well.”

We unfortunately only have Northern Spy on M106 rootstock, because that was all we had left. We are trying to phase out M106 completely because it is seriously susceptible to phytopthora, a soil-borne fungus that is present in most soils, but if the soils are poorly drained and M106 is in it, then it is almost a death sentence. Like all M series rootstocks, M106 is hardy to -40F, which is also the limit of Northern Spy.