Been out looking for late hanging apples and crabs

[cavey]

I have been keeping my eye out for late late season apples and grabs that are still hanging some fruit. Went out and got permission from landowners to take scion off a handful of them this weekend. Im looking for late hangers that are still dropping and came across some random pasture apple and crab trees. Its a good time to look, the tracks in the snow leading to the trees give them away. These were just being pounded by deer and turkey. I'm hoping these turn into some winners for me... looking to build in some late winter food sources for my local wildlife.

 

[Natureboy]

It looks like you've found some good ones. Definitely worth getting those in your orchard.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Nice finds !! Good luck with them.

 

[Telemark]

Nice! Now patent it and license it to Northern Whitetail Crabs.

 

[cavey]

I scored another loaded crab tree. I was telling a buddy about the scions I had gotten and he pointed to a tree in his pasture out behind the barn... deer had been in the night before and knocked down his electric fence while eating crabs off the ground; so..... me and a couple Charolais went for a stroll. With a couple cows as supervisors I nipped off a few sticks, fed them a snack and was off. Ive been naming the trees after the property owners or local land marks... its kind of fun. I guess a guy just has to keep his eyes and ears open.... """Big tip of the day....... Rural school bus drivers that hunt and know what apple trees look like are awesome sources of where to find late hanging fruit trees"""

 

[Prof.Kent]

I have been keeping my eye out for late late season apples and grabs that are still hanging some fruit. Went out and got permission from landowners to take scion off a handful of them this weekend. Im looking for late hangers that are still dropping and came across some random pasture apple and crab trees. Its a good time to look, the tracks in the snow leading to the trees give them away. These were just being pounded by deer and turkey. I'm hoping these turn into some winners for me... looking to build in some late winter food sources for my local wildlife.View attachment 16749View attachment 16751View attachment 16748View attachment 16750

I once found and apple hanging in February that looked like a large fig. The apple's skin was unbroken but the flesh had turned into runny applesauce. I hear if the skin isn't broken it is save to eat. "Safe", I said, not good!

 

[cavey]

I wouldn't be brave enough to give that a shot either, but the deer squirrels and turkey seem not to care... by this time of year everything I have ever seen that is left hanging is shriveled up.. and up here its generally still frozen... food value is still locked in and that is all the critters care about.. as long as some of the fruit continues to drop.

 

[Appleman]

As stated late hanging fruit has been dehydrated due to sun and wind. Freezing also breaks down cell structure turning fruit to be mushy. Sugar concentrations are elevated much like Cyro-extraction processing used in the production of ice cider with nutrient value still present for wildlife. The 3 top varieties I favor on our property are enterprise, Honeycrisp, and Franklin all which will hold fruit into February.