[northfifeduckling]

a tree we planted 2  years ago has quite a few lovely looking apples - trouble is the don't appear to be growing. I've got no idea what the variety is. They've been the size of cherry plums for weeks, it seems!  Bramleys, the other eater and the new pears are growing happily...

[little blue]

Ours are tiny too, and there's v few fruit on any tree. Maybe a 'bad year' or maybe they don't thrive on neglect like I hoped!
                                                                                                                                        

[northfifeduckling]

I agree with the bad year for fruit looking at what my large Bramley tree produced last year, but for this one it's the first crop, maybe it's like first eggs 

[Rosemary]

Our Russet is poor but the Dumelow's Seedling and Sunset are groaning.

[northfifeduckling]

OH thinks it is a crab apple...I definitely bought the tree as something else (either eating apple, pear or cherry). I hope they do grow a wee bit more, so I can use them at least for jelly 

[doganjo]

What size are they?  I had two crab apple trees up the road and the fruit were about the size of a cherry.  I think the old man that bought the house chopped them down too.

[Norfolk Newby]

Crab apples are OK for pollinating so they can fill a gap in your orchard and you should get more fruit on the other trees as a result.

I guess the trees are still small. It is worth taking out any damaged fruit or the small ones where you have a bunch of 2 or 3. The others will grow bigger then.

Here, it has been a dry summer and my little trees are struggling to stay alive as they establish their roots. I got a couple of tiny apricots and a few apples are growing but I shouldn't expect much this year with new trees.

[hexhammeasure]

crabapples can be small, we have one tree that produces oval apples which are barely 2ins long and 1 inch wide but it makes the sweetest crabapple jelly around and sets much better than some of the other varieties.

[northfifeduckling]

The ones in question are quite red and a bit bigger than cherries now. We do have another crab apple, which is yellow, has a large core but they are already the size of small eating apples. Those a great for jellies and chutneys, sweeter than Bramleys. I'll leave it in, but I do feel a bit cheated , though...

[sheila]

oh crab apple jelly is just the best jam!

[doganjo]

I WAS going to pick my rosehips today - but then the rain started again! Oh dear!  I knew the Central Belt was wetter but I didn't think  was going to get flooded out   

[little blue]

What do you do with the Rosehips? jelly?
Ours are fed to the goats, but I'm sure I could do more with them!!

[doganjo]

Rosehip syrup, and also jelly - but tbh have never tried it before.  They won't get picked tonight, that's for sure, another deluge just came down - I know because I just saw my chickens swimming past the window   You gotta laugh  if you didn't you'd 

[little blue]

Had thunder and lightening today (dont like it!) and got soaked @ work. Told colleagues it is no longer summer, cos its September, but they said I was miserable which I thought a bit harsh!

[northfifeduckling]

Annie, How are you planning to process the rosehips? I've heard a few versions how to do it best...