Chestnut Crab crab apple tree

Malus domestica 'Chestnut Crab'

• Gardening skill: Beginner
• Picking season: Mid
• Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
• Pollination group: 3
• Uses: Eating fresh
• Uses: Culinary
• Uses: Juice
• Uses: Hard cider
• List of other varieties that will pollinate Chestnut Crab

Although considered a crab-apple on account of its small fruit size, Chestnut Crab is perhaps best considered an apple that produces very small fruits rather than a true crab-apple.

The fruitlets have a sweet flavor with little of the tartness usually associated with crab-apples.

The juice quality is very good, making it an excellent choice for cider blends.

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Chestnut Crab crab apple trees for sale

• 1Medium 1-year bare-root tree $34.25
  Mature height: 8ft-12ft after 10 years
  G.890 rootstock
  

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• 2Full-size 1-year bare-root tree $34.25
  Mature height: 16ft-24ft after 10 years
  P.18 rootstock
  

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How to grow

Chestnut Crab is one of the best choices for north-country growers, as it is very cold-hardy.

Advice on fruit tree pollination.

Historical details

Chestnut Crab was developed at the University of Minnesota, and is related to one of their cold-hardy apple varieties, Malinda.

Chestnut Crab characteristics

• Gardening skillBeginner
• Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
• Pollination group3
• Pollinating othersAverage
• PloidyDiploid
• Picking seasonMid
• UsesEating freshCulinaryJuiceHard cider
• CroppingGood
• Keeping (of fruit)2-3 weeks
• Flavor style (apples)Sharper
• Juice styleSharper
• General resistanceGood
• Cedar apple rustSome resistance
• Cold hardiness (USDA)(3) -40F / -40C
• Summer maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)Cold (< 20C / 67F)
• Country of originUnited States
• Period of origin1950 - 1999
• Fruit colorOrange / Red
• Fruit sizeLarge