Often too sour and astringent for eating, crab apples are great for adding depth to insipid juice destined for cider making. They also make a mean wine but again, try before fermenting.
Grow Your Own Cider Orchard
An orchard is classified as a collection of four or more fruit trees. Got the space… then what are you waiting for?
1. Select your trees: Your trees will require comparable pollinators, so check before buying. For an excellent mix from the same pollination group, try Yarlington Mill, Sweet Coppin, Black Dabinett and Fair Maid of Devon.
2. Choose your rootstock: A ‘half-standard’ tree will grow to around 4 metres/13 feet, while a shorter ‘bush’ will be more suitable for smaller gardens.
3. Time it right: Plant out between late autumn and early spring in a sunny, sheltered site that has moderately fertile, well-drained soil. Don’t add compost to the planting site as this will lead to weak, lazy roots.
4. Dig for victory: For each tree, dig a hole no deeper than the root system, but three times as wide.
5. Aftercare: Mulch around the base to keep weeds at bay, then water thoroughly. Water again the day after planting, then once a week during the summer months. Your apple trees should bear fruit after 3 years.
