Synonyms: Chestnut Crab

Summary: A hardy, vigorous crabapple with many uses that range from a tasty fresh treat to delicious apple jelly. A good source of pollen. But, if you just want an ornamental crab, this one makes a mess with its abundance of ping pong size fruit come fall.

Identification: Small, about the size of a ping pong ball. Round-flattened. Bronze coloured with red stripes, often russetted. The stem is very long and slender, set in a deep and narrow cavity. The calyx is small, set in a wider and deep, ribbed basin.

Characteristics: The flesh is pale yellowish, firm, fine-grained, crunchy. Juicy, sweet, slightly tart. Pear- and honey-flavoured, often nutty, sometimes with a hint of vanilla. Browns slowly when exposed to air. Brix 12.8.

Uses: Fresh eating, good for jellies and often used for cider. Also used for ornamental landscaping. Excellent source of pollen for other apple trees.

Origins: A cross of Malinda with pollen from Siberian Crabapple . Developed at the University of Minnesota (U.S.A.) under the name MN 240. Released in 1946.

Cultivation: Moderately vigorous, compact tree with somewhat weeping branches. Slight tendency to bear best every other year. Likes full sun. Tolerates Hardiness Zones 2 to 7.

Ploidism: Diploid. Self sterile.

Cold storage: Keeps one month.

Vulnerabilities: Resistant to rust and mildew. Somewhat prone to scab and blight.

Harvest: Over several weeks, starting early in the fourth period. Fruit continues to cling to the trees long after reaching ripeness.

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