A banal question maybe - Do crab scions graft just as well to another apple tree (or vice versa)? I guess as they’re both Malus but ~different species it’d be slightly less than between ‘regular’ or crab eh? I guess the answer’s yes (in fact my neighbor’s old, ignored apple appears to have both), but - ?
I had a Wickson on order but learned it’s unavailable, but still want to try it, so re-figuring what to get instead that I can graft that (and others) to.
I’ve got limited home orchard space (6 apples) but so many I want to try!
Yes, crabapples have always been one of the best ways to pollinate other apples because they usually have a much longer flowering period. The pioneers that came west used them in all of the heritage orchards that I have visited. So I suggest picking your tallest growing scaffolds to add crabs so that the pollen can reach all areas of your trees.
Dennis
Kent, wa
Crab Apples are defined as any apple under 2" in diameter. Not any particular genus or subspecies. Compatibility is good amongst most selections under Malus that I have never heard of incompatible. What I have heard of is the root stock influencing the flavor of the scion. YOU can discuss that here Crabapple (and other) Rootstock’s Influence on Flavor - Cider - Growing Fruit
My Geneva crab, Dolgo crab, and Chestnut crab had really small amounts of growth compared to regular non crabs, but that might be anecdotal at best. They were all on different trees, but the same MM111 rootstock. I’m curious as well.
I should have a bit of Kerr crabapple scion wood available this year. It is heart and seems pretty disease and bug resistant, for an apple that is. Since it comes from a Dolgo/Haralson cross it is quite cold hardy and will probably laugh at your winters. Seems to do fine here in VA as well and is a nice sweet/tart couple of bites.
Kerr is not only hardy to at least zone 3, it is hardy to hard frosts while both waking up in the spring and while ripening fruit. Here it may dip into the high 20s F overnight and the apples just keep on trucking in the morning. I wait for below freezing day temperatures to harvest them. The longer you wait the better they are.
Yeap. I keep reading good things on Kerr. But there seem to be so many interesting Crabs. I noticed at USDA-Grin there are a fair amount seemingly bred for eating/cider. But now sort of forgotten.
The Micromalus I hope to get next year is the only one with a larger tasty fruit{for micromalus…lol It is still small 35-40mm}
I’m curious since you happen to have 3 of the most burr knot featuring apples; if you ever tried to root them from cuttings Tom Putt, Benoni or Winter Banana.
I figure they all very vigorous growing; and might make interesting rootstock test subjects.
But also are not huge size trees. Tending to re-root at any opportunity. Maybe make a thicket if left alone.
Interesting idea. I had not really noticed burr knots with those. You certainly could get named varieties growing on their own roots. I would probably layer and stoolbed them. of course, each would have unique and unknown root attributes. It might be worth doing on something you wanted to mass produce as a larger tree (probably an ornamental crab in today’s market)
Yeah, I figured it might be a handy replacement/supplement to growing seedling rootstock. With the bonus it could be sold for it’s fruit as well. A potential space saver.