Crabapple cross pollination

Joanie

I have a beautiful little crabapple (Malus sargentii) and was told on this forum that it needs another Malus around to be pollinated by, to set fruit. Well, I ordered another crabapple from Brent, which is really nice (thank you, Brent! Love the trunk!) but it isn't flowering yet, and my little one is already in flower. They are both sargentii's. Next year, if they have both been in the same environment, will they flower at the same time and so be able to help each other set fruit?

Our weather here is much warmer than up north, where the new one came from.

Joanie

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Dkozi

Joanie,

It may possibly flower at the same time next year given it expiriences the same weather. However alot also depends on it's povinence. That is how the plant is programmed to flower, break buds, set fruit, and new buds from it's genetic heritage. An example would be taking a bald cypress from down south to up here around Chicago, technically speaking the are the same species and should survive the same hardiness but the bald cypress that originated in say mississippi will likely not do as well this far north since it will tend to want to grow earlier and go into winter dormancy later and would likely suffer for it. If all else fail take some cutting next year and wait a little for them to mature. P.s. Any species of malus should help to encourage fruiting. It's not uncommon for apple orchards to grow flowering crabs for their ability to pollenate so prolifically. Good luck. -D

rockm

"An example would be taking a bald cypress from down south to up here around Chicago, technically speaking the are the same species and should survive the same hardiness but the bald cypress that originated in say mississippi will likely not do as well this far north since it will tend to want to grow earlier and go into winter dormancy later and would likely suffer for it."

Not really true. My bald cypress was collected in the Achafalaya basin in La. I've had it in Va. for over 10 years. It goes dormant when the weather here dictates. It emerges when the weather allows. It has not pushed new growth yet, but new growth has started down in La....

Apple species are notorious for their blooms, or rather lack of blooms. Depends more on weather and pruning habits than on species' origins. Some apples never flower, others flower so profusely the fruit has to be thinned or it will kill off the plant--by the way, flowering branches can become weak and decline on apples. I learned on this on a nice apple tree I had a while back. The darn thing never bloomed, much less produced any fruit. Apples have to be appreciated for their trunks and gnarled appearance. Flowers and fruit are the icing on the cake, IMO.

TreeBay

I hate to gum this up, but some flowering crabapples never set fruit. What variety do you have?

Regards,

Matt

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