Crab Apples?

[trouble4hire.livejournal.com]

My girlfriend wants to try pickling crab apples, but I'm having a hard time finding them for sale. Does anyone know of any crab apple trees in the area?

Comments

[ron_newman]

I don't have an answer, but someone at the Garden Club might if you go to their plant sale tomorrow in Davis Square.

[ifotismeni]

most larger apple orchards have a few to help with pollination. unfortunately i trek all the way up to mack's in londonderry for my apples (where i know they also have crabapples) but that's far for most people.

[rufinia.livejournal.com]

I've seen some for sale at the Government Center farmers market on Mondays and Wednesdays.

[vonelftinhaus.livejournal.com]

Can you eat crab apples-never even considered them

[lindalee.livejournal.com]

You can make jelly with them, or add them to hard cider or other wines.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

You can make chutney and relish with them. I also saw a recipe for pickled crab apples.

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

some varieties are for eating, most are for cooking or other odd ball things :>

i know most of the larger orchards usually have some.

there's one up by warner, nh that has the eating kind.

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[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

I have crab apple trees behind my company building here in Bedford, never tried eating them though.

[hissilliness.livejournal.com]

Kimball Farms sells lovely little sweet crabapples at the Farmer's Market on Wednesdays. They're my favorite apple variety.

[janusirsasana.livejournal.com]

I was at Russo's in Watertown the other day and saw crab apples for sale there.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mattt/]

We have a tree in our yard. We just let the rodents and skunks eat them, but if you want them, I don't see why you couldn't have them instead. I have no idea if they're edible, so take them at your own risk.

[moonshadow.livejournal.com]

Hi, I'm the girlfriend in question! I would love to try your crabapples and would be happy to give you some finished pickles (of those or something else) in exchange. Could you email me at ladyanemone at gmail dot com so we can work out the details?

Many thanks!

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

I'm not the person you replied to, but I also have an apple tree in my backyard that I assume is crabapple, and you're welcome to come take a look. I'll email you too.

[purpless77.livejournal.com]

I think your best bet are the Orchards up in NH. I wouldn't trust anything grown in this area. Somerville was once the largest industrial city in the country and we just aren't aware of what exactly is in the dirt/soil. I have a friend who had oil tanks removed from her yard some years ago that they knew nothing about. Years ago it was somewhat common to threw chemicals in the rivers, oceans, lakes, often. I'm sure they dumped some onto the ground as well. I once saw people coming out of one of the factories when I was a kid and dumping stuff. It could have been just water but one may never know.

[genevra-mcneil.livejournal.com]

Some crab apples are ornamental and not recommended for eating, others are entirely edible. Alas, I can't tell you which trees are which. But there are some lining the bike path near Cedar St. I don't know if they are the edible types but I'm guessing a good tree field guide book/website could help you out there. (Here's my favorite: http://www.oplin.lib.oh.us/tree/)

Kimball does carry great crab apples and they also have a tent at the farmer's market in Harvard at Charles Hotel on Sunday mornings.

Another great resource -- if your g.f. can wait -- is Cider Day on Nov. 1 & 2 out in the Berkshires. Those people know from apples and there's a guy there who has about 200 types. He's sure to know something about crabapples. (http://www.ciderday.org/)

On a totally random culinary note, crabapples are also a fantastic source of pectin if you want to make homemade pectin. See "Putting Food By" for the recipe.

[tt02144.livejournal.com]

If the city hasn't uprooted them, there used to be several crab apple trees on the bike path between Willow and Cedar. Check out it out!