![]() It is vital that for at least 3 years after planting your tree or hedge has a circle or strip one metre wide completely free of grass. When trees are first establishing, the grass roots would be at the same level as the tree roots and are far more efficient at taking up water and thus choke the tree. One of the most common causes of lack of water is competition from grass. In hot dry spells give the equivalent of 2 bucketfuls every three days. It is essential throughout the spring and summer, to give a heavy enough watering to enable the water to penetrate right down to the deepest root level of the tree. The main reason that plants die within 12 months of having been planted is lack of water. Store in a cool dark place.įor the continued healthy growth of your trees, shrubs or hedging it is vital that you follow the advice below. Pour into warm, sterilised preserving jars and tightly seal while still slightly warm. When the jelly is set, it will solidify on the back of the spoon. To test, chill a dessertspoon in the fridge. Keep at a rolling boil for 35–40 minutes, skimming off the froth regularly. Add the lemon, then bring to the boil to dissolve the sugar. The next day, measure the juice, and combine with sugar at the ratio of 10 parts juice to 7 sugar. Don’t squeeze the bag, it will cloud the jelly. Pour the pulp into a jelly bag or several layers of muslin and let drip overnight into a pan beneath. Simmer for 25 minutes until the fruit is soft. Put in a saucepan, fill with water to cover the apples and bring to the boil. ![]() Wash the apples, remove the blossom heads and cut out any bruised bits. The fruit makes a very good crab apple jelly and is often grown for this purpose. If the ground is stony or nutrient poor, add some compost to the backfill when planting. They will not tolerate very wet or waterlogged soils. They will do best with a little protection from exposure and wind if they are to flower and fruit well, as they depend upon insect pollination. The flowers are white and star shaped though not large.Ī small tree with arching branches and dark green leaves, it typically grows to 6m (20ft) with a spread of 5m (16ft) Where to growĬrab Apples grow best in fertile, moist, deep, loamy soils. Probably the most popular of all the Crab Apple trees this tree is notable for its oval fruit which are glossy and display orange, yellow and scarlet patches. They’re now growing with gusto, and I stand there, like a proud parent, gloating over their deeply cut, triangular leaves, and cheering them on.Malus John Downie- Crab Apple Characteristics I sowed some a couple of years ago, and rowed out the pot of seedlings into a spare bed a few weeks ago, just before they leafed up. Again, at ‘Ceres’īeing a species, you can grow it from seed. There’s no reference to such a thing online, but it’s the perfect descriptor and the one that most makes me want to grow it. In fact, the client in whose garden I first saw it told me that she knew it as the stained glass crab apple. The crowning glory, and the real distinction, is the fruit, which is small, but apricot blushed red, and with a remarkable transparency that, when back lit, glows like stained glass. I really didn’t think the client had a chance of finding them and thought we’d end up with a substitute, but a local nursery came through The references all say that Malus toringoides will grow to eight metres, but the garden plants I’ve seen have been no more than half of that. The flowers are on the small side, but when it comes to crabapples, it’s never really about flower size, but about abundance. My limited experience so far would suggest they’re much more evident on a young plant. The occasional lobed leaves are an interesting addition, but without looking closely and deliberately, you probably wouldn’t even notice them on a mature plant. My current favourite crab – quite possibly only because it’s amongst the rarest in the trade (though I’d like to think that there’s more to my discernment than just that) – is Malus toringoides, the cut-leaf crab. Crabapple flowers are measured by abundance, rather than size Or maybe it’d be the shape of the tree – ‘Golden Hornet’ in particular, forming a distinct vase shape. Ultimately, it would be the fruit that would probably be what would guide your selection, whether that’s for large orange-red fruit on ‘John Downie’, or smallish red fruit on ‘Gorgeous’ or medium sized yellow fruit on ‘Golden Hornet’. I’ll let the pics do most of the talking.Įveryone knows the crabapples, and if you’re after a white flowering one, you’re kind of spoiled for choice. Quick one today, as there’s not a lot to say.
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