Creative ways to use free crab apple trees?

[Dexter]

I am picking up 8, 10' tall, 5" trunk girth crabapples today.

However I have a full orchard already. Plan is I will plant 2 near the chicken run, (beside the mulberry) for additional feed.

Any other suggestions? If I can't think of anything else they will likely go in the pasture for the cows... but that will be a pain fencing them from the cows.

Any ideas appreciated! Don't want to waste them. Thanks!

[chickenista]

You could use them as a start of a hedgerow or windbreak on the borders of your garden. The blossoms will be nice to lure pollinators.
The shape and foliage etc.. are very nice on crabapples. Anywhere you have a spot to just put in a line of them would be lovely. Along the road, property line, to make a new area of the polace that didn't exist before....

[NCLee]

Put them along the driveway.
Put them in a row along the street/road in front of your home.
Put the along side a blank wall such as a garage.
Plant them near a deck or patio to help provide some shade/privacy.
Plant them as a wind break if you have a cookout area in your backyard.

Lee

[Dexter]

Lots of great ideas here. Will go down the list tonight while looking at the farm. Thanks!

[firegirl969]

When are crabapples ripe? We have 2 trees on our place and I don't know when they are ready. I want to make crabapple jelly. Anybody got a good tried and true recipe for crabapple jelly? Any other ideas for using crabapples? Someone posted a recipe for making your own pectin a while back.

[Old Vet]

Originally Posted by firegirl969

When are crabapples ripe? We have 2 trees on our place and I don't know when they are ready. I want to make crabapple jelly. Anybody got a good tried and true recipe for crabapple jelly? Any other ideas for using crabapples? Someone posted a recipe for making your own pectin a while back.

In northern Arkansas they are ripe about the same time as plums July 1. You may get them as late as August 1 if you are north or as early as June in the southern US.

[GREENCOUNTYPETE]

plant them infront of your deer stand

at first i thought this was a thread about what to do with all the extra crab apples
when i was a kid my neighbor had a crab that they didn't use the fallen apples from Dan the neighbors son and i would use tenis racuets to bat them into the brush area at the back of thier yard he was supposed to be picking them up so they could mow and not have a mess up close to the house atracting wasps but batting them into the brush with tenis racqkets is way more fun when your 10

[coup]

it might be something differant anyway......

[Old Vet]

Originally Posted by coup

it might be something differant anyway......

Grafting will only produce the same fruit and not change the variety. If you put a golden delicious apple on a crabapple that branch will only produce golden delicious apple and the rest of the branches will produce crabapples.

[willow_girl]

Espalier?

[firegirl969]

Our crabapples are small and green. I thought they would turn a different color when they were ripe. They are still small and firm.

[haypoint]

Even though you have an orchard, I'd cut them back a bit and graft a few other varieties to them. Even if they are just for chicken feed, you'd get a lot more from full sized apples.

If they are a variety that has pretty blossoms, use in your landscape plans.

[WildernesFamily]

Made this last year and the year before, and everyone really enjoyed it. Not enough crab apples this year because the snow knocked all the blossoms off. Do NOT plant the trees too close to the house. Our neighbors have two trees out front and they can get really messy and stinky *really* fast. The ones here ripen towards the end of July.

Crabapple Jelly

Wash 16 c. ripe de-stemmed crabapples
Cover with water (about 8 c.) & bring to boil.
Simmer 15 minutes.
Crush crabapples after 10 minutes.

Place cooked crabapples & liquid in strainer (lined with cheesecloth, or jellybag if you have one) over large bowl until juice is strained (makes about 6 cups.)

Measure juice = _____ c. (Make note of quantity for later.)

Sterilize canning jars (about 6 half pint jars) and other canning equipment.

Boil crabapple juice in large pot about 5 minutes.
Add slightly less sugar than the juice measure (above.)
Boil about 20 minutes to 220 F.
Skim off foam.

Prepare canning lids according to package directions.

Ladle juice into jars leaving 1/2" headspace.
Wipe rims clean for a tight seal.
Put on lids & rings fingertip tight.

Can in boiling water canner for 10 minutes, remove jars and allow to sit overnight on cooling rack.

Check seals, label jars and enjoy! It really makes a very pretty and very yummy jelly. My kiddos finish it off in record time!