Fruit Tree Pruning, Introduction

» Georgene A. Bramlage - Use for crabapples

Hi Traute,

Very interesting way, you've laid out this article.

One reason to plant crabapples, other than beauty, is that in many cases they can serve as cross-pollinators for other apple varieties. Several large orchards down this way have planted crabs for this reason.

Also, if a crab variety is a suitable one and the fruit is picked before it hits the ground, pickled or spiced crabapples are wonderful.

The cultivars of crabaples are numerous - there is literly a tree for every taste or viewpoint. Can you tell that I do like and value crabapple trees?

-- posted by Georgene A. Bramlage

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» biogardener - Crabapples

The trouble with crabapples in zone 3 is that they are the only apples which are sure to be hardy, so most people don't bother trying to plant big apples. Then they leave all those millions of crabapples on the ground to rot.

The City planted flowering crabapples all along the boulevards on both sides of our street, and the apples just lie there to rot every year. We certainly do not need them as cross-pollinators, because no one besides me in the whole neighborhood even tries to grow real apples. I have 4 trees of three hardy varieties, and they are able to cross-pollinate each other.

Actually, I do have one crabapple tree which is self-seeded, and I let it grow for its lovely maroon leaves and apples. I do, however, keep it short because it grows right under our electic drop off the power pole. If I let it grow unchecked, it would damage the line eventually.

-- posted by biogardener

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