NGC - Apples for the Prairies

FRUIT TREE

MALUS: APPLECRAB

There are 3 types of edible apples - the regular-sized eating apples, medium sized apple-crabs and smaller crab apples.

These edible apple varieties require two different cultivars in order to cross pollinate so that they can produce a good quantity of fruit.

Bees and insects can cross pollinate your tree from other apple trees growing in the neighborhood if they are within 150 metres (450 feet) of your tree.

In the spring, apple trees display a beautiful show of fragrant white flowers, making them useful as an ornamental tree as well as a fruit tree. Apples prefer to be planted in well drained soil in a sunny location.

Applecrab Cultivars for the Prairies

Cultivar Name	Height & Spread	Zone	Fruit	Description	Photographs
Kerr Applecrab Malus x 'Kerr'		2	Small, deep red applecrabs with crisp white flesh.	This sweet-tart tasting apple is good for eating fresh, canning, jelly or juice. It also stores extremely well. The Kerr Applecrab is a heavy producer with the fruit ripening in late September. The tree is a strong & vigorous grower and is resistant to fireblight.
Rescue Applecrab Malus x 'Rescue'		2	Small, greenish-yellow applecrabs that are striped with dull red. The flesh is cream colored.	This hardy tree is an annual producer of sweet tasting fruit that ripens in early August. Apples are excellent for eating fresh and good for canning.
Shafer Applecrab Malus x 'Shafer'		3	Small	The Shafer Applecrab is sweet like its 'Trail' parent. Stores better than it's 'Rescue' parent.
Trail Applecrab Malus x 'Trail'		3	Small applecrabs that are striped red over yellow	The sweet, juicy flavor of this applecrab makes it excellent for eating fresh. Very productive.

Compiled by Rachel Giesbrecht on June 8, 2004