Apples

[tamsin]

We have a coxs orange pippin in our garden that we decided last year probably had canker (deformed leaves not a lot of blossom etc.) we can't treat it with chemicals as it's right next to our pond. It's actually looking a bit better this year though.

We've got a space about 12' away and are thinking of a crab apple or dwarf cherry. Will they catch it? I'm guessing a crab apple being a type of apple can. Are there any (smallish) varieties less susceptible?

Thanks

[FB.]

Canker affects branches (until it kills them, at which point the leaves die).
Scab and mildew affect leaves.
Here is a link to some pictures of apple diseases, to perhaps give you a diagnosis.
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Here is a link to my observations of disease resistance in various apples:
> Clicky <

Hope that helps.

[tamsin]

Sorry, I'm getting muddled up, it's scab, I posted some pictures last year you helped with

[FB.]

Lots of apples are prone to scab. If you plan to plant another apple, choose one with good resistance.
If you plant a cherry/pear/plum it won't catch the scab, but it will be prone to other diseases. Plums and cherries often succumb to bacterial canker. Cherries often get leaf-curling aphids that make the tree look really messy. Pears can get scab, but pear scab is not the same species of scab that attacks apples.

Whatever you choose to plant, make sure that you've thoroughly researched its disease resistance. Bear in mind that some sellers will "talk-up" the latest "must have" varieties to generate extra sales. Some of these "modern" "must have" varieties leave a lot to be desired when grown without chemical treatments.
For example; the apple "Scrumptious" has fantastic reviews:
Great flavour, skin not too tough, very disease resistant, self fertile, reliable-heavy cropping. Sounds great!
Until you find out that it is the number 1 favourite apple of all time for maggot attacks. My Scrumptious literally crawls with maggots inside the apples - yuck. Last year, not one apple didnt have maggots in it.

[tamsin]

Ewww, definitely don't want maggots!

It's so hard going through catalogues as everything is apparently absolutely wonderful. I'll do some digging first though - thanks for the warning!

[FB.]

As you're only in a neighbouring county, you may have success with some of the varieties that I grow.
I find that the apples "Spartan" and "Crawley Beauty" give some of the best performance when it comes to good and regular yields of unblemished fruits - and the leaves and branches are mostly free from diseases.

Many of the russet-type apples produce clean and healthy fruits, but the leaves can suffer from scab blotches and not everyone likes the irregular shaped, rough-skinned, brownish appearance of a russet apple.