Name: Crabapple Tree (Dolgo) | Apple
SKU: Crabapple Tree (Dolgo)
Availability: InStock

Crabapple Tree (Dolgo)

Dolgo is a self-fertile crabapple loaded with bright red, tart-sweet fruit, and its long, heavy bloom makes it one of the best pollinizers for other apples.

Self-fertile; one tree sets a full crop on its own
Bright red, 1 to 1.5 inch fruit, tart-sweet flavor
Long bloom makes it an excellent pollinizer for other apples
Extremely cold-hardy, to about -40°F
Good resistance to fire blight, cedar-apple rust and mildew

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Ships late January to February Bare-root pre-order: we ship when the trees are dormant, timed for your region.

Description

Dolgo is a Siberian heirloom crabapple, long grown in cold-climate orchards both for its fruit and as a dependable pollinizer. It is self-fertile, so a single tree sets a full crop without a partner nearby.

The fruit is bright red, an inch to an inch and a half across, with a tart-sweet flavor well suited to jelly, cider and syrup. Its bloom lasts three weeks or more, long enough to overlap the flowering window of most apple varieties, which makes Dolgo one of the most effective all-purpose pollinizers to plant in an orchard.

Overview

Self-fertile; sets fruit without a partner
Bright red, tart-sweet fruit for jelly and cider
Long bloom, an excellent apple pollinizer
Extremely cold-hardy, to about -40°F
Good resistance to fire blight, cedar-apple rust and mildew

Growing Details

Latin Name: Malus ‘Dolgo’
Site and Soil: Full sun; well-drained soil
Hardiness:Hardy to USDA Zone 2 or 3, about -40°F
Rootstock: M-106 (semi-dwarf)
Bearing Age: 1 to 3 years
Size at Maturity: 12-15′ tall and wide – easily maintained smaller with pruning.
Flowering Group: Extended bloom, three weeks or more
Ripening Time: Early season; August into September
Pollination: Self-fertile; sets fruit alone and pollinates many apple varieties
Pests & Diseases: Good resistance to fire blight, cedar-apple rust and mildew

Additional Notes

Grower’s Insight: The fruit’s tart astringency mellows after the first frost, when it is at its best for fresh eating straight off the tree.
Regional Insight: Hardy to about -40°F, Dolgo is an easy choice across the Upper Midwest, the Mountain West and New England, regions where many crabapples struggle.
Explore more apple trees in our collection: Apple Trees

Planting & Care

At a Glance – Dolgo Crabapple

Sun: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water: Moderate; consistent moisture during establishment
Size: 12-15′ tall and wide, easily kept smaller
Pollination: Self-fertile; also pollinates other apple varieties
Harvest: Early season (August into September)
Hardiness:Hardy to USDA Zone 2 or 3, about -40°F

Planting & Care – Dolgo Crabapple

Site Selection

Choose a full-sun site; Dolgo tolerates cold better than most crabapples.
Good airflow supports fruit quality and a long bloom display.

Soil Preparation

Plant in deep, well-drained soil.
Adaptable to a wide range of soils if drainage is adequate.

Planting Instructions

Dig a hole twice the width of the root system.
Plant with the root flare at or just above soil level.
Backfill with native soil and water thoroughly.
Mulch 2 to 3 inches deep, keeping mulch away from the trunk.

Watering & Fertilizing

Water consistently during the first one to two years.
Once established, water deeply only during prolonged dry periods.

Pollination

Dolgo is self-fertile and sets a full crop without a partner.
Its three-week bloom overlaps most apples, making it an excellent orchard pollinizer.

Pruning & Training

Prune in late winter to keep an open, airy canopy.
Remove crossing or crowded branches; otherwise needs little training.

Harvest & Use

Harvest August into September, while fruit is still tart on the tree.
Fruit mellows and sweetens after the first frost, best eaten fresh then.
Pick earlier for jelly, cider, and syrup.

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