Recent content by sandbur

Hazen (pictured) and Prairie Magic are dropping some apples but the seeds are a few days from being all brown. One dolgo is dropping, second one is close to drop. I will probably add dolgo to sauce or make a separate batch.

Trailman Crab is ripe and dropping. Time to make some applesauce.

I prune them off but I often see wild trees in open areas that look like a tall bush. The main trunk is then somewhat protected from sunscauld and buck rubbing. Perhaps a person could let them grow in the cage and then remove the cage. You might have less maintenance in the long run. Usually...

I have one B118 that has bent over. I do have several others that are doing ok, so far. I somewhat agree with Ben about them being tall and spindly.

Ignore an apple tree in a cage for six weeks and the wild cucumber takes over. It has happened before…

Update. Winter deer food here.

I try to taste all of them.

I also wonder how lack of chill hours will change flavor. It makes a big difference with Honeycrisp.

I have a long drop/ ripening on chestnut crab and actually prefer the later dropping/ ripening apples. If it is holding tight, don’t rush it.

Seedling from a wild tree.

I find an occasional wild crab on my place. My buddy is a bit west in the hills and he finds more wild crabs and apples. This week I found a wild plum that I have missed for several years. Some wild plum or if you can find some of those old farmstead plums might be interesting for you. Wild...

It looks like Buckman Crab will have a banner year. There is a tremendous amount of fodd in my area and deer aren’t focused on anything. Great rainfall and heat. Apples are on the ground, but acorns are starting to fall, lots of green browse in the woods. Great corn crop, alfalfa, brassica...

Years back, I received some crab scion from the GRIn site. Some of the varieties had a native crab parent that was crossed with domestic apples in the 1930’s. I tacked them on some flowering crabs and got some apples. I remember one limb broke off due to fruit load. Most faded away...

I didn’t pay enough attention . I have never worried about bloom period and didn’t know much about it’s significance. I have 3-4 types of flowering crabs and lots of seedlings that I just assumed there was plenty of pollen. I am referring to apples, not my dying franken pear.

I have a few apples on mine and hope to taste them this year.