Growing Apples in Montana

By Katrina Mendrey

Montana has a long history of growing apples. Depending on the cultivar and rootstock, these often cold-hardy fruits can be grown in several areas of the state for both backyard enjoyment and commercial production. The following sections will provide helpful information on establishing and/or managing young and heritage orchards in Montana. University of Minnesota's guide, "Before You Start an Apple Orchard," is an excellent primer, as it will help you understand the time, cost, and personal committment growing a horticultural crop requires.

New Orchard Establishment

• Summary of Montana growing conditions

• Site selection

• Selecting rootstocks and apple cultivars

• Orchard design

• Orchard fencing and trellises

• Site preparation and planting

• Care of young trees

• MSU Extension and other general resources 

Orchard Management

• Irrigation

• Nutrition

• Pests  

  • Codling moth (backyard or commercial orchards)
  • Fire blight
  • Rodents

Heritage Orchard Guides & Resources

• Montana Heritage Orchard Program
  • Heritage apple tree sale
  • Register your heritage tree

• Caring for heritage trees
• Discovering the history of your orchard
• Heritage tree identification (coming soon)
• Montana fruit production history: A summary and expanded chronology

Financial

• Financial considerations for starting a commercial orchard

Recorded Workshops and Presentations

Apple and Fruit Workshops and Presentations