Iron-clad Crabs

[Bowsnbucks]

Who has any local ( possibly un-named ) crabs that just chug along, year-in, year-out with good production and no real headaches ?? Crabs that are 1" or greater in dia. and would make good deer trees. I know some of you on here mention " airport " crab, " swamp " crab, " highway " crab, and other such names.

I thought I'd bring this up for an early round-up of possible sources for guys that may want to exchange scion as we get into the winter. Greyphase put a post on his " chicken coop " crab a few days ago and it got me to thinking maybe there are a bunch of good crabs out there that would be great additions to our plantings.

I'm stuck here waiting on a phone call / fax from a dentist concerning a root canal. Figured I'd do something useful (?) for the fruit tree gang. My tree stand will have to wait for now.

 

[DrDirtNap]

This is a great idea... from my experience with crabapples in the South, Calloway is a great one to have - disease resistant and late dropping - you really need to shake the tree to get it to drop.

 

[sandbur]

I️ have about 4 crabs that fit that category. I️ have promised scion from one to a buddy and I️ want some scion myself so I️ might be just a bit short on that one. In my view, crab apples are the way to go.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sandbur]

Dolgo seedling. The lower apples are gone cause I️ picked them for cider.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sandbur]

Seedlings from wild crabs.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Apple Junkie]

Nice looking crabs Sandbur. I am a fan of any apple that holds fruit late into the season, regardless of when the apple ripens. So far, I have Ida Red and Ark Black that do this year in and year out. It appears I can add Doglo crabs to this list, even though the catalogs say they ripen in September. Thanks for sharing - a picture is worth a thousand words.

 

[sandbur]

Nice looking crabs Sandbur. I am a fan of any apple that holds fruit late into the season, regardless of when the apple ripens. So far, I have Ida Red and Ark Black that do this year in and year out. It appears I can add Doglo crabs to this list, even though the catalogs say they ripen in September. Thanks for sharing - a picture is worth a thousand words.

Dolgo ripens and drops for me on Labor Day. Some of these are dolgo seedlings which are showing different characteristics /genetics.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sandbur]

Sick NW Greening.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Big Snow Man]

Sandbur how old are those crabs ?

 

[sandbur]

Sandbur how old are those crabs ?

I️ need to check the tags on them. Some of those I️ collected the seed myself.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Bur - The Dolgo's you have in your hand in post #4 are the biggest Dolgo crabs I've ever seen - in pics or anywhere. Maybe the genetics of that particular seedling?? Do you have any named varieties??

At any rate, your crabs are looking really good. I wish ours were as far along in productivity as yours. It'll be another 2 or 3 years for ours to kick into high gear, I think. Our most productive so far are the All-Winter-Hangover crab and the Winter Wildlife crab - both from St. Lawrence Nursery. The first of those were planted in spring of 2013, and are now 11 to 12 ft. tall & well-branched.

Thanks for the pix Art !!

Who else has dependable crabs ??

 

[sandbur]

Bur - The Dolgo's you have in your hand in post #4 are the biggest Dolgo crabs I've ever seen - in pics or anywhere. Maybe the genetics of that particular seedling?? Do you have any named varieties??

At any rate, your crabs are looking really good. I wish ours were as far along in productivity as yours. It'll be another 2 or 3 years for ours to kick into high gear, I think. Our most productive so far are the All-Winter-Hangover crab and the Winter Wildlife crab - both from St. Lawrence Nursery. The first of those were planted in spring of 2013, and are now 11 to 12 ft. tall & well-branched.

Thanks for the pix Art !!

Who else has dependable crabs ??

They are bigger than any dolgos I have seen.

 

[Knehrke]

I have a crab that is growing among mature Tamarack and is actually using one of them for "support" as its limb grow heavy with fruit. I assume this means that it's somewhat shade tolerant, which is a true surprise to me. It also holds clusters of 1" bright red fruit through December in upstate NY. The deer hammer it. I will try to get some pictures, but I'd be pleased to share...the caveat is that I've never harvested scion wood and would need to learn first...I do not graft (yet).

 

[sandbur]

I have a crab that is growing among mature Tamarack and is actually using one of them for "support" as its limb grow heavy with fruit. I assume this means that it's somewhat shade tolerant, which is a true surprise to me. It also holds clusters of 1" bright red fruit through December in upstate NY. The deer hammer it. I will try to get some pictures, but I'd be pleased to share...the caveat is that I've never harvested scion wood and would need to learn first...I do not graft (yet).

Start and you will be addicted!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk