Harvest Time for Crabapples

Fruit

• The majority of edible crabapple varieties produce fruit that is very small. This is usually not harvested and is left on the tree for wildlife. Other trees produce fruit that is harvested when ripe. Apples with a diameter of 2 inches or less are classified as crabapples. Very small fruit are less than ¼ inch, smaller varieties range between ¼ and ½ inch, the medium sizes are ½ to 1 inch in diameter and the large have a diameter of 1 to 2 inches.

Harvest Time

• The harvest time for crabapples, like other apples, differs by climate conditions and cultivar. There is no specific date at which the fruit may be harvested, notes the North Carolina State University Extension. Generally, crabapples are ready to be harvested in early fall, according to Lewis Hill in "Fruits and Berries For the Home Garden" (1991). The ripe fruit stays on tree well into winter.

Ripeness Test

• The color of the mature fruit is a good indicator of crabapple fruit ripeness. The red varieties, such as Dolgo and Rescue, should be fully red while the green varieties like Trailman should be fully green-red. Fruit flesh should be soft but crisp with a sweet-tart flavor. Crabapples generally have a more tart flavor than apples. Unripe fruit is very hard. Ripe fruit stores well in the refrigerator for up to a month.

Cultural Requirements

• Plant the trees in full sun and a well-drained slightly acidic moist soil with a pH of 4.0 to 7.5. The trees are intolerant of wet ground and grow best in fertile soil. Recommended time to plant crabapples is spring or early fall when plants are still dormant. If soil amendments are required, incorporate material over a wider planting site. Plant tree at the same depth it is growing in the container and keep the plant well irrigated through the first season of growth.