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How to Grow a Flowering Crab Apple Tree©

By: Arlene Wright Correll

While we enjoy April showers we get a chance to see the blue sky and sun shine on the glory of the Flowering Crab Apple tree and that is what I was able to enjoy on my way to my Thursday night art lesson. As a passenger in a car one can really enjoy the landscape as it flies by.

Here in Kentucky there is about a 35 mile ride between our home and the instructor’s studio and last night the Flowering Crab Apple trees were at their peak and I was amazed at the sight of them.

I have been watching them for the past few days because these trees are what I call the surprise trees in the spring. The artist in me recognizes the delicate colors of the unopened buds but I am pleasantly surprised when the flowers open and the tree give off a wondrous floral display of yet another hue. The surprise of whether it will be pearly white or pink going down to a salmon, coral or deep red is most appealing. Their blooms form gigantic clouds of various colors of pinks that make the tree appear to be a softness one could float through without hitting a branch. Once the flowers go by the leaves offer the brilliant greens to compliment the landscape and when the fall crispness arrives I envy the colors that the leaves turn to knowing I can rarely capture them on my artist’s palette. Then I look again as the little snow we get here in Kentucky to see the magnificent shape of the Crab Apple tree with its fruit that will feed many birds during the winter. This is truly a four season tree and one that would be a welcomed addition to anyone’s landscape.

Another thing I love about the Flowering Crabapple tree is its diverse shape. I saw incredible weeping ones on my ride and some rounded and spreading beauties. Here and there along my trip there would be a couple of upright ones and occasionally a pyramidal or vase shaped tree. What a delight!

The fruit of the Flowering Crabapple tree resemble small apples being 2 inches in diameter or less because anything large will technically be labeled an apple.

You can harvest your crabapples in late summer and early fall and the fruit also has an appealing color ranging from green, through golden yellow to red and even purple. One can make jelly or pickle them.

Flowering Crabapple trees require 8 to 12 hours of direct sun in order to get the best of blooms and fruit. These trees are really hardy and can be found as far north as zone 4.

I like to buy my Flowering Crabapples again at my nursery center either balled and bur lapped or in the gallon containers. These acquisitions can be planted anytime after the last spring frost and up to about 3 weeks before the ground freezes in the fall. Bare root trees should only be planted in the spring or the tree will become too stressed and not do well.

Keep your balled and burlapped tree well wetted and do not allow it to dry out. For these type of trees make sure you hole is dug in a sort of saucer shape, two times the diameter of the ball and put the ball in the center untying the burlap making sure you remove any string or wires from the hole before you fill it in. If you are planting a bare root tree make sure your hole is dug wide because you do not want to have your roots cramped or folded over or under each other. If you have a tree that is in a container then do not remove it from the container until you are ready to put it directly into the hole.

Your Flowering Crabapple will thrive in a rich loam type of soil which is a combination of clay, silt and sand. Since we have a lot of hard packed clay here we have to amend it a little and remember that good drainage is very important for this tree.

When I backfill the hole I mix some leaf humus, peat moss or compost with some of the original soil in a fifty percent ratio of the soil and the amendment. I use a lot of water to help settle the soil around the roots once the hole is filled about three quarters of the way. I wait until the water has drained down, settling the dirt and then I finish filling up the hole completely and water it again.

Once I have completed this I place about 2 inches deep of mulch around the base of the tree trunk in about a 3 foot diameter. Again I will mention that if you live in a windy area your tree may need to be staked and tied for about 3 seasons until it is established into a nice tall tree or it will be tilting to the side.

This is one of the loveliest trees one can add to their landscaping.

Harvest Time Quick and Easy Crabapple Jelly

1. Wash apples, remove blossom end, halve and remove stems.
2. Barely cover fruit with water and cook until very soft and slightly mushy.
3. Extract the juice by tying the apples in cheesecloth and suspending over a bowl until it no longer drips. Do Not Squeeze!
4. Boil 8 cups juice with 6 cups sugar (3/4 cup sugar per cup of juice) to the jelly (use thermometer).
5. Optional: Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla or lemon juice.
6. Pour into hot, sterile jelly jars and seal.
7. Note: It's best to keep the batches around 8 cups.

My Favorite Pickled Crab Apples

Ingredients

4 pounds Crab apples
2 ½ cup Vinegar
2 cups Water
4 cups of Sugar
1 Tbsp whole cloves
3 (3 inch) sticks of Cinnamon
1 tsp whole ginger

Directions

1. Wash and remove blossom ends of crab apples, do not remove stems.
2. Prick each apple in several places.
3. Bring vinegar, water and sugar to a boil.
4. Add spices tied in a bag.
5. Cook half the crab apples in the syrup for 2 minutes; remove.
6. Repeat the process till all crab apples are cooked.
7. Pour syrup with spice bag over apples and let stand overnight.
8. Remove spice bag. Pack apples in hot pint jars. Bring syrup to a boil. Pour over fruit.
9. Adjust lids.
10. Process in boiling water bath (212 F.) for 30 minutes.
11. Remove jars from canner and completely seal unless jars are the self sealing type. This recipe makes 4-5 pints (depending on apple size)

Author Resource:-> For more gardening or cooking information click http://www.learn-america.com/
To see Arlene’s Gardens and to read her gardening diaries or click on Arlene’s Books where you can download or buy her gardening & cook books. Arlene says, "All my royalties from the sale of my books go to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and I thank you for visiting my site."

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