Hello All---I've just registered and very happy to have found the forum.
I've just planted a Jonagold Apple tree and suddenly realize that being a triploid it needs a pollinator. I'm planting a Melrose apple next to it, but I would like to ensure strong pollination by planting a Crabapple next to the Jonagold.
Questions: Can all Crabapples pollinate Jonagold? Is it true that white flowering Crabs will pollinate the Jonagold? I would prefer pink or red flowers and I like those little red crabapple fruits that linger into the fall for the birds.
Many thanks for any hints and advice. Tim----Port Angeles, WA
Hello there.
" Can all Crabapples pollinate Jonagold? "
I usually don't step in on apples but in my case am very familiar with the crabapples from interior Alaska from groups there. The answer is YES. Planners have long used the Russian native crabs as ornamentals. Producers have found the Russian hardy crabs flower extensively, usually before the main fruiting apples. So an extra extended crab tree with extra flowering was found to work very well, was selected as the 'wein' crab.
Much of what you find in decorative crabs (ie. Mt. Vernon trials) result with some form of hybridization with these northern crabs. All of the hybrids listed in Mt. Vernon's EB 1809 would work too, but problems can arise if the timing is too early or late. Watch flower timing but flower color is no concern. It comes from yet another cross compatible species of crab which are easily crossed.
There are issues with some other aspects of your problem of " triploid ".
It comes down to getting advice from somebody that can list crab varieties for you which are (a) known diploids, and (b) the already fully explained issue concerning data on flower timing.
PS. I have 'sargent tina' from Medina nursery in Bellevue WA. Very horizontal and it pushes red flower buds in the spring and red fruit loved by birds even today. The flowers open white. The species is sargents crab. Ploidy unknown.
In general, crabapples pollinate better than large apples. Less bred, more wild. Small apples, more flowers per tree. I would check out the pollination chart at Orangepippin.com. Set your timing right.
I believe that I have read that Melrose is a shy producer. It might not pollinate well. I would check that out too.
John S
PDX OR
What John said especially applies to pollen of stone fruits and more so in cool springs than warmer conditions for almost everything.
Good luck finding a crab. Most pictures of crabs (mistakes by nurseries) are fake so if you're looking for an accurate account on my 'sargent tina' (deep red unopened flowers etc) look here:
EB 1890
https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/.....ternWA.pdf
EB 1890 is just what I needed---great descriptions of Crabapples--- for the NW especially.
Re. the Jonagold pollinators. Apparently it all comes down to the S alleles of the pollinating trees. Jonagold is a triploid with 3 s-alleles. S-2, S3 and S9.... My beautiful Jonagold is aching for a mate with at least one different allele.
Does anybody know of reference material--books, on-line, etc--that shows the alleles of various trees?
There must be something out there.... Many thanks, Tim S.
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