Once it starts fruiting it runts out pretty fast from my understanding so it depends on how big you want the tree
I really want to strip the flowers on one for 5+ years on standard rootstock so it gets massive
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So far Clark’s on B10 and P.2 has turned out opposite of what I expected. P.2 is twice as tall as B10. I fear Bud of all three common types runt in our heat here.
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Still not looking visibly ripe at my place in western Washington (pale green with red blush). However, I went ahead and picked one to taste. The seeds inside have already turned brown which indicates ripe (or close to it), but it didn’t taste fully ready. It was however quite juicy and crisp, very mildly sweet and tart. It also had a very light bitterness which was not significant, but I hope it goes away with further ripening.
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Here in northwest Ohio I think they are good and ripe.
Planted November 2023. The combination of sweet/tart remind me a bit of pink lady apples. Just a hint of bitterness as well that I think will be great when I have enough to make hard cider with them.
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They do seem juicy enough for cider.
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@dgerdem @dannytoro1 @JohannsGarden
Glad to see the Clark’s Crabapple doing well for everyone. I never tasted any bitterness here in Kansas. They turn yellow when fully ripe. They have an addictive sweet tart balanced flavot when ripe. The storage qualities are very impressive. Please keep me in the loop!
It is already 4 feet what mixture of fertilizer are you applying that is excellent growth!
@Auburn @Phlogopite @Chunky @steveb4
Thanks for the updates and observations / posts. Hopefully this apple works out great for everyone.
You all have some gorgeous trees! This apple really impressed my close friend @39thparallel when he first saw it. Mike said what apple is this and i explained how i developed it and wanted the entire world to grow it. I want everyone to do well and i.hope this apple adds to the richness of everyones life. Perhaps the world will be a better place by the sharing of this apple patent and trademark free.
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It’s mainly due to the longer growing season here and the big well-manicured hole it was planted in. It receives a tiny dosage of 15-5-10 + micros with every watering.
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The two I left on for this year still have just a touch of green. A little sooty blotch, but otherwise perfect.
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well my Clarks crab are finally ripe. taste is excellent. seeds are fully brown. because i let too many fruit set, size is small. most about a golf ball size or a little bigger on a 5.5ft tree. there was probably 20-25 on there. next year ill thin alot earlier and only let about a doz set so the tree puts energy into more growth. put them all in the crisper. my grand daughter is staying with us this weekend. they are the perfect size for her. plenty sweet as well. they got hit by 2 light and one heavy frost. that changed the green that was left to a deep yellow with a orange/ red blush on the south side of the apples. no bitterness like last years. so they will properly ripen in n. Maine.
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That sounds great! Yes you mention the color change and that is very important for that apple. Many people pick them too early. It takes some practice but if it is not cold when you pick them it is likely too early.
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yeah, last year they never got that deep yellow and so were bitter. maybe the tree was still to young to handle ripening fruit. it hasnt grown much in height in 2 years but the trunk/ branches have gotten noticeably thicker.
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I checked the single sample and found the stem quite long and clinging to the spur still. No frost this way yet. Will wait.
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Many people ask how yellow they should be when they are ripe. Everyone has different tastes though some years i picked mine around this time of year as they changed colors and it gets cold. I picked these on October 5th several years back. A different year i picked them in November. They yellow more once you bring them inside. If you pick them a little early you will find out they are among the best keeping apples. This color is ripe.
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those are identical to the ones i harvested last week in color and size. that reminds me , i left 10 on there to see how flavor changed in a weeks time. ill pick the rest tom.
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thats what i wanted to see. the tree still has all its leaves but they are about half yellow now.
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So leave on the tree till November for maximum sweetness?
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For some people that will be true they should leave them until november if they can. Cold weather sweetens them. In warmer climates they wont hang that long. It is not true everywhere or every year. Look for a slight color change at least. They will turn more yellow inside the house after you pick them also. Some areas will start having the apples stolen if you fully ripen them on the trees. My racoons have a healthy respect for fruit by this of year and are fed up with the windfalls. They are headed to the corn patches and persimmon trees.
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