Apples vs crabapples?

[KY wild]

I was reading recently and the guy was saying he prefers apple trees over crabapples or apple crabs because the apple tree, all things being equal, would produce more volume or more poundage than the other two. I always assumed this not to be true, I assumed if a apple crab fruit was half the size of an apple fruit then that apple crab would produce twice as much fruit and the volume or mass would be about the same. So for an example a crabapple would produce 800 apples to equal a bushel and regular apple would produce 150 apples to make a bushel in a given year. What do you guys think?

 

[Native Hunter]

I think for wildlife it’s a moot point. If one tree isn’t producing the needed amount of fruit add more trees. I also think that most popular apples, crabapples and apple crabs produce significant enough crops or they wouldn’t be popular to begin with.

What really matters is a drop time that works for you, disease resistance, zone compatibility, and a rootstock that doesn’t let your tree fall over. If you have these things, you have what you need.

 

[TenPoint]

I do it for less maintenance, keeping in mind all of the things Native listed as well. So far so good on the less maintenance part. I’ve hardly touched my crabs.