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Crab Apple John Downie in the GardenTags plant encyclopedia

Malus 'John Downie'

 

Crab Apple 'John Downie'

One of the ancestors of the cultivated apple tree, the crab apple tree can be found growing wild in hedgerows. Some varieties have been cultivated for garden use, both for their flowers and for the fruit. Similar in cultivation to the domestic apple tree, it has many similarities, but the fruit are smaller and more irregular in shape. The tree is one of few hosts of the parasitic mistletoe. 'John Downie' has a profusion of white flowers from pink buds, followed by red and orange-yellow fruit

Contributed by @oldgreyheron

 
plant Features
  • Crab Apple John Downie likes full sun to partial shade

    Full sun to partial shade

  • Crab Apple John Downie likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

  • Crab Apple John Downie is full frost hardy: 5f (-15°c)

    Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)

  • Crab Apple John Downie likes rich and free draining

    Rich and free draining

 
plant information

Common name

Crab Apple 'John Downie'

Latin name

Malus 'John Downie'

type

Fruiting tree

family

Rosaceae

ph

5.0 - 6.8 Acid - Neutral

  • Light

    Crab Apple John Downie likes full sun to partial shade

    Full sun to partial shade

  • Frost

    Crab Apple John Downie is full frost hardy: 5f (-15°c)

    Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)

  • Soil

    Crab Apple John Downie likes rich and free draining

    Rich and free draining

  • Water

    Crab Apple John Downie likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

Plant & bloom calendar

  •  
    Best time to plant
  •  
    When the plant will bloom
  •  
    When to harvest

full grown dimensions

The size of a fully grown Crab Apple John Downie is 3.50meters x 4.00meters 3.50 M 4.00 M

Malus 'John Downie'

One of the ancestors of the cultivated apple tree, the crab apple tree can be found growing wild in hedgerows. Some varieties have been cultivated for garden use, both for their flowers and for the fruit. Similar in cultivation to the domestic apple tree, it has many similarities, but the fruit are smaller and more irregular in shape. The tree is one of few hosts of the parasitic mistletoe. 'John Downie' has a profusion of white flowers from pink buds, followed by red and orange-yellow fruit


Planting outdoors

From Mid Autumn TO Early Spring

When planting remove the weeds from surrounding areas and make sure the hole you dig is at least twice the size of the roots. It is advised not to add fertiliser at this time due to the possibility of damaging the tree, however well rotted compost or manure should be forked into the bottom, the tree placed in the hole and back filled, firmed then watered in thoroughly. Keep well-watered until the tree is well established.

 

Apple Tree Blooms

From Mid Spring TO Late Spring

Once the weather has warmed up the tree will produce the first green leaves which will then prompt the first blossom. This is a very vulnerable stage - if a frost occurs the blossom is usually killed, and then there will be no fruit. .

 
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