Crabapple timeline

[sandbur]

Root system on Lee 37 root graft that was bench grafted on a section of dolgo root. Grafted one year ago.

I prefer this type of root over the Antanovka rootstock. It seems like these take off quicker.


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[sandbur]

My original Big Dog took last year off and produced scion instead of fruit.

If we get rain, the deer will be happy from late October into March. I also am assuming we are past any late freeze.

Some of my Big Dog top works produced fruit last year.


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[sandbur]

This is another rootstock crab. I have used it in cider and it is actually an apple crab. A friend gave me three of these trees and I have no idea which rootstock.


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[BuckSnort]

My original Big Dog took last year off and produced scion instead of fruit.

If we get rain, the deer will be happy from late October into March. I also am assuming we are past any late freeze.

Some of my Big Dog top works produced fruit last year.


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That is AMAZING!!

 

[rocksnstumps]

Had 4 days in a row of light frost each morning about a week before bloom time but crabapples look good for fruit set. Gotta like how they are grow great and seem to just keep it up like Energizer bunny.

Will see if the cider apple ones manage to finally do something as now 5th leaf this yr. Got about 1/2 doz on B118 and not sure of impact but not as vigorous as crabs on their own roots. Nothing like how Red Splendor, Ranetka, and Siberian seedlings go gang busters on this glacial till that gets pretty sandy past the sandy loam top layer.

 

[sandbur]

Had 4 days in a row of light frost each morning about a week before bloom time but crabapples look good for fruit set. Gotta like how they are grow great and seem to just keep it up like Energizer bunny.

Will see if the cider apple ones manage to finally do something as now 5th leaf this yr. Got about 1/2 doz on B118 and not sure of impact but not as vigorous as crabs on their own roots. Nothing like how Red Splendor, Ranetka, and Siberian seedlings go gang busters on this glacial till that gets pretty sandy past the sandy loam top layer.

Which cider varieties do you have?


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[sandbur]

Had 4 days in a row of light frost each morning about a week before bloom time but crabapples look good for fruit set. Gotta like how they are grow great and seem to just keep it up like Energizer bunny.

Will see if the cider apple ones manage to finally do something as now 5th leaf this yr. Got about 1/2 doz on B118 and not sure of impact but not as vigorous as crabs on their own roots. Nothing like how Red Splendor, Ranetka, and Siberian seedlings go gang busters on this glacial till that gets pretty sandy past the sandy loam top layer.

I have St Edmunds Russet, GoldenRusset, And Franklin which I think are all called cider apples. None have had fruit yet. I have had great hard cider from Chestnut crab.

I have another out there whose name escapes me right now. I struggle at how to determine which are and aren’t cider crabs.


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[rocksnstumps]

I have St Edmunds Russet, GoldenRusset, And Franklin which I think are all called cider apples. None have had fruit yet. I have had great hard cider from Chestnut crab.

I have another out there whose name escapes me right now. I struggle at how to determine which are and aren’t cider crabs.


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On B118 are Franklin cider and Harrison cider. The Harrison is a rather slow grower and still no blooms after 5th leaf. It might be zone 4 is a bit of a stretch for a famous apple whose origin was New Jersey or since there is only the single tree a spot with really margin soil.

Others include Bilodeau crab and a heritage variety from WI called the Milwaukee apple but these are younger trees and on Antonovka

I am down to just 1/2 a Chestnut crab as one tree did not wake up after winter (assume something got to roots) and the 2nd had the entire top half of tree taken out by critter damage. Just planted a couple more of these this spring and tried some bark grafts as well on a crab that has bloomed for at least 10 yrs but never sets fruit.

Edit: and a couple Kerr which also can be used for cider.

 

[sandbur]

On B118 are Franklin cider and Harrison cider. The Harrison is a rather slow grower and still no blooms after 5th leaf. It might be zone 4 is a bit of a stretch for a famous apple whose origin was New Jersey or since there is only the single tree a spot with really margin soil.

Others include Bilodeau crab and a heritage variety from WI called the Milwaukee apple but these are younger trees and on Antonovka

I am down to just 1/2 a Chestnut crab as one tree did not wake up after winter (assume something got to roots) and the 2nd had the entire top half of tree taken out by critter damage. Just planted a couple more of these this spring and tried some bark grafts as well on a crab that has bloomed for at least 10 yrs but never sets fruit.

Edit: and a couple Kerr which also can be used for cider.

I grafted a Bilodeau last spring. I don’t know if Bastians Orange flesh is considered a cider apple, but it bloomed this spring.


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[rocksnstumps]

Bastians must be a somewhat new variety out there. No mention in the 7 volume set published by Dan Bussey on US and Canada apples. Kinda like Bilodeau, that is not listed either.

 

[rocksnstumps]

I have St Edmunds Russet, GoldenRusset, And Franklin which I think are all called cider apples. None have had fruit yet. I have had great hard cider from Chestnut crab.

I have another out there whose name escapes me right now. I struggle at how to determine which are and aren’t cider crabs.


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Haven't tried to grow any of the russets although know some orchards in Door county can do well with them. Moderate weather helps grow all kinds of fruit there tho.

Any experience with MN 1734? Supposed to be similar and very cold hardy.

 

[H20fwler]

I grafted a Bilodeau last spring. I don’t know if Bastians Orange flesh is considered a cider apple, but it bloomed this spring.


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What? Orange flesh? Dammit...I just got on the red flesh train, now there are orange! This place is a crack house...and I'm the junkie!

 

[sandbur]

Haven't tried to grow any of the russets although know some orchards in Door county can do well with them. Moderate weather helps grow all kinds of fruit there tho.

Any experience with MN 1734? Supposed to be similar and very cold hardy.

That is the one who’s name escaped me. Gophers set it back, but I think I resurrected it.

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[sandbur]

That is the one who’s name escaped me. Gophers set it back, but I think I resurrected it.

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No fruit yet.


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[sandbur]

Round up drift about 10 plus years ago, maybe some sunscauld, and high winds finished off my Wickson.


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[Tree Spud]

Round up drift about 10 plus years ago, maybe some sunscauld, and high winds finished off my Wickson.


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Ouch! I just planted 4 Wicksons this year. Appear to have pink blooms on the flowers that are popping.

 

[sandbur]

Last year, 95% of the Wickson fruit was cracked. I guess that can be a problem with Wickson. Perhaps the damaged trunk also added to that problem.

I think I have another small Wickson, unless I top worked it this year.

I haven’t been real impressed with Wickson for eating. Probably OK for cider, but I would choose chestnut crab over it if there was only room for one tree.


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[Tree Spud]

I put one in our apple orchard the other 3 if deer orchard locations. Have about 10 chestnuts planted as the are good pollinator partners also.

Still in that research, find reliable tree suppliers, plant, observe mode to see what works on our property.

 

[4wanderingeyes]

Sandbur, or anyone in the northern region, zone3-4, what is your thoughts on Kerr? I have Kerr written down on my chart of trees I want to plant, but I dont remember why, and the last couple years, I havent been able to find any local to buy, and plant. Are they decent in the north, good producing deer apple? Disease resistant?

 

[KickapooKid#1]

Last year, 95% of the Wickson fruit was cracked. I guess that can be a problem with Wickson. Perhaps the damaged trunk also added to that problem.

I think I have another small Wickson, unless I top worked it this year.

I haven’t been real impressed with Wickson for eating. Probably OK for cider, but I would choose chestnut crab over it if there was only room for one tree.


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I have a wickson planted on M111 and its always extremely behind all my others varieties waking up from dormancy and blooming. Not sure of the reason for this.