DON’T FORGET THOSE APPLECRABS

It is often said that the best things come in small packages. This is certainly the case with some of the applecrabs. People seem to equate the quality of a fruit with its size. It makes me sad to see applecrabs neglected simply because they are small. What is really being missed is a delightful taste treat.

Applecrabs are crosses between full sized apples and smaller tart crabapples. These crosses have developed fruits with distinctive flavors that make them very special.The fruit is excellent for canning whole, for jellies, juice or for delicious fresh eating. These tasty little apples are favorites with children because they can easily fill their pockets with handfuls and munch on them throughout the day.

Applecrabs are generally very hardy which makes them a valuable addition to prairie orchards, We find that this group provides us with the toughest trees that we grow. The applecrabs grow vigorously and produce abundant crops. They make excellent framework trees on which to graft less hardy varieties. The applecrabs that we recommend are all abundant producers and the addition of one or two to your orchard will produce the fruit you will require to provide you with an alternative to the regular apples.

The pollination requirements of applecrabs are the same as those for all apples or crabapples. They require cross pollination, so two different varieties of applecrabs should be planted or they should be planted with other apples or crabapples.

These trees grow quite vigorously and attention should be paid to pruning to see that they don’t become overgrown. Other than pruning, applecrabs require little special care and will grow under most conditions. Areas to avoid would be those that are very wet, or where there are frost pockets that damage blossoms in the spring.

The following cultivars are six of the most readily available of the applecrabs. These six encompass the best qualities of all of the applecrabs. There are many other cultivars that may not be as easy to obtain, but may well be worth growing if you find them desirable.

Rescue is the most commonly grown of the applecrabs and was for a long time considered to be the only quality apple tree that would grow on the prairies. Rescue is a common sight in many back yards and farm orchards throughout the province. We are so often asked for the one that Grandma has in her back yard, and we know that it is Rescue that they are talking about. The fruit of Rescue is about 3-4 cm in diameter, light yellow becoming almost completely covered with bright red when it is fully ripe.The fruit becomes very soft when it is fully ripe, so is best picked when underripe. At its best Rescue is very crisp and juicy. It makes excellent juice, we do not add sugar to our juice and it is a wonderful taste treat in mid-winter. The fruit is ripe early in August and is one of the first fruits we are able to enjoy from our orchard. It quickly becomes our favorite snack food at that time of the year.

Renown is about 3 cm in diameter with a slightly flattened shape. It is by far the sweetest applecrab that we grow. I often find myself standing by this tree in late August and suddenly realizing that there is a large pile of apple cores at my feet. Fresh eating is the best use for Renown and if you have small children you will often find them in the branches of this tree enjoying the fruit. The fruit will keep in the fridge for about 4 weeks. It should be picked a bit underripe if you intend to store the fruit. When dehydrating Renown becomes a sweet crunchy apple snack.

Rosybrook is the largest of the recommended applecrabs. It can be over 4 cm in size. It is a nice crisp, juicy applecrab with a beautiful rosy red coloring. The clear, sharp flavor of Rosybrook makes it a special addition to any orchard. Rosybrook is ripe in early September and will keep for about 12 weeks in storage. The unique flavor of Rosybrook makes it an excellent applecrab for fresh eating, canning and juice.

The unusual color of Trailman, golden yellow with a reddish brown blush, gives it a distinctive appearance. The fruit is ribbed and elongated reaching about 2.5-3 cm in diameter. The flesh is yellowish with a delicious sweet flavor. Trailman will grow well in difficult conditions. Introduced by the Beaverlodge Research Station, it is able to withstand the chinook conditions that are prevalent in that area. The fruit is ripe in late August to early September. Delicious for canning and fresh eating. When dehydrated it has a honey flavor.

Kerr is the best keeper of the applecrabs. Ripe in late September it will keep about 25 weeks. Many people are not fond of the taste of Kerr when it is first picked. Kerr sweetens in storage and by Christmas you’ll have a delicious fruit for fresh eating. The fruit is dark red and very firm. It holds its shape well when canned whole. The deep color of Kerr makes beautiful preserves.

Chestnut, so named because of its slightly nutty taste, is a very hard applecrab. An excellent fruit for winter storage and canning. This one is proving itself to be a consistent and prolific producer. Fruit that is not harvested in the fall is a favorite with the squirrels, who stash it away for winter eating. The fruit is greenish yellow well streaked with bronze. If making juice, all of the applecrabs add a unique flavor when blended with other apples. If added to crabapples when making jelly they will yield a lighter jelly. There are many uses for these wonderful little apples. I am sure that you will enjoy the addition of at least one to your apple orchard. So when you plan your orchards: "Don’t forget those applecrabs!"

Amanda Chedzoy

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