A Seed Saver's Garden

[Pulsegleaner]

New summer, new surprise.

I was back over the bridge today, and so decided to investigate something I thought I had seen last time. As we were driving out of a parking lot (I swore I saw apples growing on one of the shrubs.) So off I plodded across the parking lot.

When I got to the shrub, I at first was sure I had been mistaken. The shrub WAS an apple, but it was clearly an ornamental crab apple, with the small fruits on long stems. So I thought it might be the tree next to it,, but no, that was the same, So I was turning to leave, and that's when I saw them, two full size apples in the middle of the first tree.

I've got them now (the were already shiny, so if they aren't ripe, they are far enough along to finish inside.).

It's clear the tree was grafted, and the rootstock sent up a branch, but I am surprised anyone would graft an ornamental crab apple ONTO a regular apple (it's usually the other way round, as crab apples tend to be hardier.) Plus, the middle of the first tree is a little high for a rootstock branch to be (unless, to get a round shape, they grafted each branch on one by one,)

 

[heirloomgal]

New summer, new surprise.

I was back over the bridge today, and so decided to investigate something I thought I had seen last time. As we were driving out of a parking lot (I swore I saw apples growing on one of the shrubs.) So off I plodded across the parking lot.

When I got to the shrub, I at first was sure I had been mistaken. The shrub WAS an apple, but it was clearly an ornamental crab apple, with the small fruits on long stems. So I thought it might be the tree next to it,, but no, that was the same, So I was turning to leave, and that's when I saw them, two full size apples in the middle of the first tree.

I've got them now (the were already shiny, so if they aren't ripe, they are far enough along to finish inside.).

It's clear the tree was grafted, and the rootstock sent up a branch, but I am surprised anyone would graft an ornamental crab apple ONTO a regular apple (it's usually the other way round, as crab apples tend to be hardier.) Plus, the middle of the first tree is a little high for a rootstock branch to be (unless, to get a round shape, they grafted each branch on one by one,)

That is a puzzler, hard to imagine for what purpose, or with what idea, someone would graft a crab onto a regular eating apple since they aren't nearly as hardy?? You could just grow a crab by plunking one in the ground, no grafting needed?

 

[heirloomgal]

As an experiment I planted a row of 'Shirley' poppies between 2 carrot rows. I'm finding carrots appreciate a bit of shade, so wondered if they might like a bit of 'shady' company for a little bit. The plan was to pull them after blooming and free up space for the carrots.

While these are not robust poppies, and being WAY overcrowded (oops) they are even more delicate than if I had planted them properly but still...I am reminded that I have a real soft spot for poppies. Any kind. The pink ones really stole my heart.

 

[Pulsegleaner]

That is a puzzler, hard to imagine for what purpose, or with what idea, someone would graft a crab onto a regular eating apple since they aren't nearly as hardy?? You could just grow a crab by plunking one in the ground, no grafting needed?

The only idea I've had is the apple stock is dwarf, and they wanted to keep them short (except I'm fairly sure there are dwarf crab rootstocks as well).

And, of course, "eating" is a relative term. I was using it in the sense of "Malus domestica, as opposed to other species of Malus." They could very well be cider apples, and totally inedible raw. Genetically, "Kisco Spitter" (last year's work) IS an eating apple, and "Peabody's Pride" might not be (forgot what the leaves look like). It certainly doesn't GROW like one (it's basically the reverse of dwarfing, 20'-25' and ramrod straight).

The official definition of a crabapple is based solely on fruit size (2" or less).

 

[heirloomgal]

The only idea I've had is the apple stock is dwarf, and they wanted to keep them short (except I'm fairly sure there are dwarf crab rootstocks as well).

And, of course, "eating" is a relative term. I was using it in the sense of "Malus domestica, as opposed to other species of Malus." They could very well be cider apples, and totally inedible raw. Genetically, "Kisco Spitter" (last year's work) IS an eating apple, and "Peabody's Pride" might not be (forgot what the leaves look like). It certainly doesn't GROW like one (it's basically the reverse of dwarfing, 20'-25' and ramrod straight).

The official definition of a crabapple is based solely on fruit size (2" or less).

I don't know much about apples, never having grown them or even seen many trees in my life. But I did get a little tutorial once from a greenhouse owner that sold various kinds of apple trees. What I retained from that was bugs like the same qualities in apples we do, and the further away from those qualities you go the less the bugs like them too, and vice versa. And of course, in my climate there can be hardiness issues so almost all fresh eating apples are grafted onto basically crab apple type stock.

An interesting thing I've observed this year in terms of grafting, but with my tree peony; once the base is damaged and the original rootstock starts making branches (as mine did when it was dug up & nicked with the shovel blade by accident) it seems to take over. The grafted tree peony is losing ground to the point I think I will have to throw it in the compost pile. It's like it's original nature got a foot in the door and now it's going to simply revert altogether it's just a matter of time.