
Large cooking and dessert crab apple. Attractive, reddish bronze fruit. Crisp, juicy sweet flesh with a pleasing nut-like flavor. Ripens over a long period.
Also known as
- MN240
Chestnut Crab crab-apple identification images
All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.
USDA identification images for Chestnut Crab
The identification paintings in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection span the years 1886 to 1942.
Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705.
Visitor reviews
- 22 Sep 2020 VERMONT, United StatesRecently bought a peck at Champlain Orchards in Shoreham, Vermont. Small, very sweet apples. No acidity or tarteness. But not simply sugary, they have a nice complexity of flavors. I wouldn't want a whole orchard full of them, but I would want one or two trees, they're quite unique and good.
- 24 Aug 2018 PA, United StatesI planted a chestnut crab in my yard in Bozeman, MT in 2002. We had two bumper crops after about 2012 and several busts, mostly because of late spring frosts. In my opinion, this is the best-tasting apple in existence, like drinking a fine white wine. Leaving it behind when we moved to Bethlehem, PA this year was not easy, and I'm eagerly looking for a fruit stand or orchard in eastern PA that sells them.
- 01 Sep 2016 MONTANA/GALLATIN, United StatesWe have two of these in our yard in SW Montana. We get a good crop every 2-3 years. Mainly eat them fresh off the tree and in pies. This year, as usual, we shared our crop with the birds but still made 9 delicious pies.
- 15 Jan 2015 IA, AustraliaOne of my favorite little apples. Very sweet, but with a very unique and distinctive flavor, very aromatic. There's certainly no hint of crabbyness in this one.
Tree register
United States
- Aaron Millis in HELENA, MT
- Adam Dupps in Lawrenceburg, IN
- Arthur Pitt in Finlayson, MN/PINE
- Bcarp001@Yahoo.Com in PINE CITY, MN
- Bill & Maggie Hein in Faribault, MN MINNESOTA
- Brian Lance in Marion, ILLINOIS
- Busch83 in Port Republic, NEW JERSEY
- Chadwick Little in Marion, IA
- Charlie Holderman in BONNERS FERRY, IDAHO, IDAHO
- Chuck in Worthington, MINNESOTA
- Dale Kopman in Hayti, SD
- Dan Vorhis in FREELAND, WA
- fendwick in Bemidji, MN
- fendwick in Bemidji, MN
- Herdie Baisden in STOCKHOLM, WI
- Jeff Will in Elko, MN / SCOTT
- Jerry Hudgins in Point Reyes Station, CALIFORNIA
- Jon Shannon in Shaw Island, WA
- Karl Schmidt in Estelline, SD
- Kris And Bruce in Holden, MAINE
- Mark Douglass in Minneapolis, MN
- Max Perdiem in DE SMET, SD
- Michael Le Boulluec in Glen Rock, PA
- Mike Haller in SIOUX CITY, IOWA
- Paul Grochowski in Floyd, VIRGINIA
- Ron Davis in CHUCKEY, TN
- Ronald J. Knutson in Eau Claire, EAU CLAIRE, WI
- Rory Mcgregor in Mapleton,, MN
- Ryan in STERLING, NY
- Scott Atkins in PORTLAND, OR
- Stephen Sain in Los Lunas, NEW MEXICO
- Steve Kollodge in BROOK PARK, MN
- Steven Holman in Skandia, MI
- Steven Holman in Skandia, MI
- Steven Holman in Skandia, MI
- Thomas Griffith in Cottage Grove, WI
- Tim Cheney in Walpole, ME/LINCOLN
- Trevor in FERGUS FALLS, MN
- Trevor in FERGUS FALLS, MN
- Trevor Roth in Erhard, MINNESOTA
Canada
- Bill Cuell in Kaslo, BC
- Dan in Vittoria, ONTARIO
- Nancy Wilson in Peterborough, ONTARIO ,
Spring blossom records for this variety
2022 season
- 22nd April 2022 - tree owned by Busch83 in Port Republic, United States
2020 season
- 30th March 2020 - tree owned by Jerry in Point Reyes Station, United States
2017 season
- 31st May 2017 - tree owned by fendwick in Bemidji, United States
2016 season
- 20th May 2016 - tree owned by fendwick in Bemidji, United States
2012 season
- 18th April 2012 - tree owned by Chuck in Worthington, United States
2011 season
- 17th May 2011 - tree owned by Kris in Holden, United States
Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.
Harvest records for this variety
Origins
- Species: Malus species - Crab-apple
- Parentage: Wealthy x Keswick Codlin seedling
- Originates from: United States
- Introduced: 1949
- Developed by: University of Minnesota
Identification
- Country of origin: United States
- Period of origin: 1900 - 1949
- Fruit colour: Orange / Red
- Leaf colour: Green
- Flowering month: April
- Leaf colour - autumn: Green
- Flowering duration: Average (2-3 weeks)
- Flower form: Single flower (5-8 petals)
- Leaf colour - young: Green
- Flesh colour: Cream
- Fruit size: Large
- Developer: University of Minnesota
Using
- Picking season: Mid
- Keeping (of fruit): 2-3 weeks
- Flavour quality: Very good
- Flavour style (apples): Sweeter
- Juice style: Sharper
- Cropping: Good
- Fruit persistence: Ripens over a period
- Food uses: Eating fresh
- Food uses: Culinary
- Food uses: Juice
- Food uses: Hard cider
- Picking month: September
- Picking period: early September
- Wildlife: Attractive to birds
- Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators
Growing
- Gardening skill: Beginner
- Flowering group: 3
- Pollinating others: Average
- Ploidy: Diploid
- Vigour: Slightly small
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
Climate
- Cold hardiness (USDA): Zone 3 (-40C)
- Climate suitability: Temperate climates
- Cold-hardiness: Cold-hardy
- Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)
- Summer average maximum temperatures: Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)
- Summer average maximum temperatures: Cold (< 20C / 67F)
Other qualities
- Disease resistance: Good
- Cedar apple rust: Some resistance
Where to buy trees
The following tree nurseries offer Chestnut Crab crab-apple trees for sale:
- Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (USA) United States
Chestnut Crab crab-apple trees
Where to buy fresh fruit
The following orchards grow Chestnut Crab:
United States
Maine
- McDougal Orchards, Springvale
- Plowshares Community Farm, Gorham
- Tiny Orchards, Saco
Minnesota
- Fireside Orchard and Gardens, Northfield
- Fischer's Croix Farm Orchard, Hastings
- Irish Mountain Orchard, Elysian
- J.Q. Fruit Farm, Princeton
- Maple Hills Orchard, Frazee
- Maple Run Orchard, Finlayson
- Montgomery Orchards, Montgomery
- Nelson's Apple Farm, Webster
- Novak's Orchards, LLC, Woodbury
- Orchard on the Bluff, Franconia Township
- Red Barn Orchard, Pine River
- Sekapp Orchard, Rochester
- Straight River Farm, Faribault
- Sweetland Orchard, Webster
New York
- Black Diamond Farm, Trumansburg
- Whittier Fruit Farm, Rochester
South Dakota
- Krause Family Orchard & Nursery Inc., Glenham