Was back in the apple storage after you all got me thinking about them again.
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Speak of seedling apples my understanding is @SkillCult has been turning out some great new apple varities specifically “bite me”. Since we talked apples in 2016 and several times since then i saw he loves growing apples and self sufficiency like i do. When we talked apples on this thread New Apple Seedling Varieties he continued on that path to improve the availability and taste etc. of red fleshed and other apples. It appears his apple breeding project is going well since he released one. Wish everyone was interested in apples. We wish him the best on his project.
https://skillcult.com/plant-breeding
@39thparallel has continued on his path of growing the ultra rare varities like Clark’s crabapple or the lazy j pear and hundreds of more types of ultra rare apples, pears. Jujube, persimmon, pawpaw, Cherries, mulberry, etc. Not even half of it has made it to his website yet
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Those fruit look to be all of 2"? Any chance your crab is more of a small apple? Many of my Keepsake fruit are under 2", yet they’re considered an apple.
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Yes Clark’s crabapple can be larger than 2 inches and frequently are. They are perfect for eating because i eat what i want instead of facing down a softball sized apple. Prefer mandarin oranges for the same reason usually. If i want more i eat 2 apples. There are other reasons i prefer more reasonable sized fruit. Think about insects and disease related to apples. One apple gets scarred by pc no problem. How about children ? Do adults really think they want a huge apple? These apples should be in every kids lunch. Like cherry tomatoes for the same reason but i like the cherry tomato that is more of a salad tomato between full sized and small. The little ones give me an aching back picking the small tomatoes. These apples are nice to pick so that part is pretty easy for me.
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I would have likely ordered more than i did but as you say they arent for sale. I think you said the same thing last year so ive been waiting.
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@39thparallel is very selective on what he grows and sells. If you have received his trees before you likely know that. He tries to keep prices down as well. He grows many things at his orchard worth seeing in the summer. Usually i try to take a few pictures when im there.
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There were a couple shown in stock on Mike’s website this morning. I snagged one; the other is still there if someone else is still looking for one.
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@39thparallel
@clarkinks
There is a first time for everything. Ordered my first ever scion and it was the Clark’s Crab. I guess I got the last one.
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That will give us a good idea how it does in warmer climates. I’m suspecting it will get really sweet there under that slightly hotter sun. It can take Kansas extreme weather so i think it will be fine in most places. Figured you had ordered a thousand scions by now so that is a big compliment. Thanks
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Started out with a few trees and through several swaps I’m overloaded. With a small space I only add a few that really catches my eye.
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I added 40 more scions to the site. I looked at the trees and there is plenty available. The reviews on the variety should in soon because it’s fast to bear fruit. Someone told me a nursery tree I sold them in the Spring produced a couple apples this fall.
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I may have to start more if demand keeps up. It will probably be all fruit spurs in a couple years because of the heavy bearing tendency.
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Great looking scions there. Can’t wait to do some grafting and see how they hold up to MN weather.
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I may not wait to plant one and may just get a bareroot now. It says on your website the Clark’s Crab are semi-dwarf, but I do not see anything regarding what rootstock—any chance you can provide more information on that (and my apologies if I missed it on your site)?
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I grafted them on M111 in 2022. B118 and M111 in 2021. I might have a few B118 in the nursery, but they are mostly on m111. If you buy a tree from me, it will specify the rootstock on the tag. It seems to grow vigorously on any rootstock, but I imagine it may runt out eventually on m111 when it starts bearing heavy crops. A smaller tree on drought resistant, free-standing rootstock is ideal to me. If you want a semi-dwarf tree size tree, B118 or even standard size rootstock might be the ticket.
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Thanks! My hope is to get something that may bear early (I’m impatient and saw that it may bear this year or next) and be smaller (most of my trees are dwarf rootstocks). Sounds like from your comment that mm111 may be the better option then, correct?
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Was really happy with the 20 pears I got in late november. Just the right size to establish quickly, nice roots, good price. Schlabach’s has been out of most things that I want for the last few years so its nice to have quality options.
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