Crabapples... how to keep them?

[Chalkyt]

I have a crabapple tree about 4 years old. It has a couple of hundred crabapples on it and they have been there for over a month now. My problem is that all the other apples won't be ready for at least another two months. I planted it specifically to get crabapples to add to cider.

So, what do I do with the crabapples? Leave them on the tree (birds are after them already) or pick them and hope they keep in the cold store? Are they immature and likely to develop further? etc, etc.

I want them for this year's cider in April and May but already they seem to be a bit dry and not likely to produce much juice (compared with "normal" apples).

Anyone had experience or advice to offer.

 

[Maylar]

How much juice do you anticipate pressing? I know that some people press each varietal as they ripen and blend them together later. Juice can be stored in a freezer for a long time.

 

[gregbathurst]

Most crabapples will stay on the tree without dropping, they will get more sugar and flavour if you leave them. If you want cider in Australia you will have to net the trees, birds learn the location of trees and the problem will be worse next year.

 

[Chalkyt]

Thanks, I wasn't sure if crabapples ripened earlier than the others. I have a good crop of Pomme de Neige, Cox's Orange Pippin and Red Delicious coming on but of course they are nowhere near ripe yet as we are just in mid-summer.

Yes, the birds (and deer too) are becoming a problem. I have netted the apples but the parrots and particularly the cockatoos are starting to hang around. At least they give the game away by screeching when they find something good to eat (usually before the fruit is properly ripe!)

We had one quite large tree of "mystery" pippins stripped by cockatoos last year. In the past it has been my "go to" tree but it seems to be having an off year with only about 50 apples on it.

The idea of juicing apples as they ripen, freezing, then blending is a good one.

 

[Kees]

You could ferment them and mix crab apple cider with that of the other apples.

 

[gratus fermentatio]

Wash & freeze those crab apples, makes them easier to crush too.
Regards, GF.

 

[GeneDaniels1963]

i freeze mine. they keep a long time, and are easier to process afterward.

 

[Yooper]

I freeze mine as well, in huge plastic bags, until the others ripen.

 

[OleBrewing]

if the animals are eating they are probably ripe. buddy and I conclude since crabapples do not hold much juice we press and mix them with the regular apples. wash and freeze is probably best bet.

but here in North Dakota most varieties are the last to ripen.

and once crabapples are in your mix the cider is most delicious. I have not come across a commercial brand that would even compare, but we also let natural fermentation take over and have never added any yeast.

 

[dmtaylor]

Juice the apples, then freeze the juice. No brainer.

 

[Chalkyt]

Thanks for the advice. Freezing then mixing with the other apples sounds like the trick... I can't believe the weather reports we are seeing from the USA, -50, really, we are whinging about +100!!!

 

[Blacksmith1]

Your summer, our winter. The other day the news where I live said there was a 119 degree F difference between us in Florida and the people in one of the northern states. We try not to participate in winter.

 

[dmtaylor]

Your summer, our winter. The other day the news where I live said there was a 119 degree F difference between us in Florida and the people in one of the northern states. We try not to participate in winter.

A friend of mine from Florida was up here in Wisconsin on business last week. He's got some stories to tell when he gets back, with -22 F (-30 C) temperatures, and wind chills as low as -50 F (or C).

 

[Blacksmith1]

ACK! No friggin way I'm visiting you.