Crabb apple question

[noviceveggrower]

Hi,
My Crabb apple tree is loaded with apples so much so its started to really lean. I have checked the apples and they are very hard but the do come off from the tree with a good tug and with the stick bit still attached to them.
I was wondering if I picked some of the apples now to take the pressure off the tree is there any way I can ripen them up anymore.
My mom is going to use them in jam and jellies.
Thanks

[WendyC]

My crab apple is loaded too this year. You may need to tie up or put stakes under branches to support them. Mine are a long way off being ripe, I'd say another month at least. I don't know whether they'll ripen off the tree like tomatoes.

[4390evans]

Ive just snapped some branches of another tree to prop up my apples. I removed one apple of each branch if there was more than two on it so the concentration can go into a few apples.

[fishpond]

You need to Maypole the tree as I am sure they will not ripen off the tree.
If they do, I will go and pick all of my Apples tomorrow

[Losos]

Crabb apple question

My crab apple tree is absolutely loaded this year also. I have begun 'thinning' them but will have to do it again several times in the next week.

The apples are very small at the moment (About 15mm) and very hard, I think they will not be ripe until at least October.

For what it's worth (Not a lot) I don't think they will ripen off the tree at this stage, when they are nearly ripe then picking early it may be possible to finish ripening off the tree.

[Scarlet]

My crab apples don't ripen till Oct. I've never thinned them out. Just prop up the branches and wait. I'm with Wendy, I don't think they will ripen off the tree.

[noviceveggrower]

Thanks for the advice think I will just have to support the branches with props. Think I have some wood down the allotment to do the job

[mothhawk]

What you can do with unripe crab apples is simmer them gently in water until they are really soft, then strain off the resulting liquid. That liquid will be bursting with pectin, so freeze it in ice cube trays, then when you make jam or jellies that need added pectin or lemon juice, like strawberry or raspberry jams, just add some of the apple juice ice cubes instead, and you'll get a perfect set.

[noviceveggrower]

What you can do with unripe crab apples is simmer them gently in water until they are really soft, then strain off the resulting liquid. That liquid will be bursting with pectin, so freeze it in ice cube trays, then when you make jam or jellies that need added pectin or lemon juice, like strawberry or raspberry jams, just add some of the apple juice ice cubes instead, and you'll get a perfect set.

Thanks for that advice mothhawk. Didn't know that. I'll pick some to take the strain off the tree and tell my mom what to do with them for her jam