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Crab Apple 'John Downie'

One of the most popular crab apples for jelly making

Pink buds open to reveal pretty white cup shaped blossom in April and May

Large orange and red fruits in autumn

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Description How to Grow More Info Delivery Reviews

One of the most popular crab apples for jelly making! Pink buds open to reveal pretty white cup shaped blossom in April and May, followed by large orange and red fruits in autumn. Crab Apple ‘John Downie’ makes an attractive and productive specimen tree for smaller gardens, with a long season of interest. Crab apple fruits can be harvested to make delicious crab apple jelly. Any unpicked fruits will soften after a few frosts to create a sumptuous food source for wild birds. Crab apples are self fertile and if planted near orchard apple trees they make excellent pollinators. Rootstock: MM106. Height and spread: 4m (13’).

Estimated time to cropping once planted: 1 year.
Estimated time to best yields: 3 years.

Culinary note: Some parts of these flowers are edible. For more details about edible flowers click here.

Generally crab apples are too tart to eat raw, but their apple flavour becomes intense when cooked. Cab apples have high pectin content great for jam and jellies, and are a perfect ingredient for chutneys.


2 x 12 Litre Potted Trees (KC2516)
1 Bare Root Tree (14331)
1 x 12 Litre Potted Tree (KA2087)

Plant crab apple trees in a sheltered, sunny position in any fertile, well drained soil. Prior to planting, incorporate plenty of well rotted manure or garden compost into the planting hole and drive the stake into the ground to support the tree. Staking after planting may result in damage to the root ball. Plant fruit trees at their original soil level and firm them into the ground. Fasten the tree to the stake using a tree tie, and water well.

These plants are lifted from the nursery field when dormant, and sent to you in late autumn or spring for planting. They often look dead on arrival, but they are just resting in the dormant period and will establish quickly for a strong start in the garden come spring. Set out in prepared soil in holes wide enough and deep enough to lay out the roots. Tread down the planting soil to knock out air pockets. Water well to settle. Apply a mulch to protect roots from cold temperatures. If conditions prevent immediate planting, set roughly into loose soil or a pot of compost (‘heeling in’) to protect the roots. Set these at the same level as they were in the nursery field – you should see a soil line at the base of the stem. Stake trees, taller shrubs and roses to prevent root disturbance.

Fruit trees do not suffer weed competition well. Keep weeds and grass clear from within a 30cm radius of base of the tree. In spring, while the ground is moist, apply a mulch of well rotted manure or garden compost around the base of the tree, taking care not to mound it up against the stem. This will help to retain moisture throughout the summer. Feed and water crab apple trees during particularly dry periods. Crab apples require only minimal pruning in late winter or spring, to remove damaged, diseased or misplaced growth. Culinaty note: Crab apple fruits can be harvested from autumn onwards to make delicious crab apple jelly.

Seeds and garden supplies will normally be delivered within the time period stated against each product as detailed above. Plants, bulbs, corms, tubers, shrubs, trees, potatoes, etc. are delivered at the appropriate time for planting or potting on. Delivery times will be stated on the product page above, or in your order acknowledgement page and email.

Orders for packets of seed incur a delivery charge of £2.99.

Orders which include any other products will incur a delivery charge of £6.99.

Where an order includes both packets of seeds and other products, a maximum delivery charge of £7.99 will apply - regardless of the number of items ordered.

Large items may incur a higher delivery charge - this will be displayed in your shopping basket.

Please see our Delivery page for further details, and more information on different charges that may apply to certain destinations.

For more information on how we send your plants please visit our Helpful Guide on plant sizes.

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