Description

Yates Apple Crab

Yates is a heavy, annual-producing grafted apple tree. More accurately, Yates is an apple crab with what I would call strong Southern roots. Because of its Southern origin, you might think Yates would not perform well in the North. However, this tree has handled temperatures as low as -25°F and has proven itself as a dependable choice for colder climates.

Yates is suitable for USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 4-8. It produces a heavy crop of great-tasting, 2-inch apple crabs year after year. The fruit has enough disease resistance to produce good crops without spraying in my experience.

Yates has shown resistance to several common apple diseases, including apple scab, fire blight, powdery mildew, and cedar apple rust. The leaves may not always look perfect, but that is not what I am growing this tree for. I want the apples to produce a dependable food source for deer and wildlife.

Yates Apple Crab Fruit Drop

One of the best features of Yates is its late fruit drop. Depending on where you plant the tree, Yates can provide fruit from October to November and well into December.

In southern growing areas, such as southern Kentucky, Northern Tennessee, southern Illinois, southern Indiana, southern Missouri, Northern Arkansas all the way into Kansas and Northern Oklahoma Yates can begin dropping fruit in October and continue into mid-November. As you move the tree farther north, the fruit tends to hang later.

Here in Pennsylvania, Yates begins dropping fruit in late November and continues through December. That makes it the best apple crab to plant for apples falling during Pennsylvania’s rifle season

Yates Apple Crab Production

Yates is about as dependable as they come. The tree can produce a strong crop even after difficult spring weather.

The picture you’re looking at shows a Yates tree producing fruit after a 26°F mid-May freeze. That kind of performance is one reason I continue to value this tree for wildlife plantings.

The Yates Apple Crab will reach a mature height of 20 feet or more. Its combination of heavy annual production, good fruit quality, disease resistance, cold tolerance, and late fruit drop makes it an excellent choice for wildlife orchards and hunting. Plant Hardiness zones 4-8

Yates Apple Crab for Wildlife

Yates Apple Crab is an excellent choice for creating a long-term food source for deer and other wildlife. Its heavy annual production gives wildlife a dependable supply of fruit when the apples begin dropping.

Here in Pennsylvania, Yates starts dropping fruit in late November and continues through December. That late drop makes it especially valuable when many other fruit trees have already finished feeding wildlife. This also makes Yates one of the best apples to have dropping during Pennsylvania’s rifle season.

Yates grafted onto a full-size rootstock such as MastMaker™ also gives you a major advantage on a wildlife property. Instead of using a large amount of ground space for a small tree, a full-size Yates can produce fruit high above the ground while using a relatively small footprint below. This lets you grow more fruit in a given area.

The fruit does more than attract deer. Yates is an apple crab that you can also enjoy, from fresh eating to making cider. By planting several compatible varieties with different drop times, you can create a food source that keeps wildlife returning to the same area throughout the fall and winter.

For hunting properties, tree placement can make this food source even more useful. Plant Yates near bedding areas, travel routes, staging areas, or secluded food sources. The goal is to give deer a reason to visit a specific location at a specific time while providing a natural food source they can return to year after year.

Yates Apple Crab Tree Size

2-Year Tree — 4-6′ (1/2″-5/8″ Diameter)

Our 2-year Yates Apple Crab trees develop extensive root systems before they reach you. Many trees will have multiple branches with a trunk diameter of 1/2″ or greater.

We prune each tree to a shipping height of approximately 66″. This allows us to safely ship the tree with its root system intact.

• 6’+ before pruning
• 1/2″-5/8″ trunk diameter
• Extensive root system
• Multiple branches
• Pruned to approximately 66″ for shipping
• Up to 15 trees per shipping box
• Free local pickup available

2-Year Select Tree — 4-6′(5/8″-3/4” Diameter)

Our Select Yates Apple Crab trees are the largest trees we offer. These trees typically have better feathering and trunk diameters approaching 3/4″.

We prune the trees to approximately 66″ for shipping. Our largest shipping box measures 66″ x 14″ x 15″ and holds up to 14 Select trees.

• Largest trees available
• 6-8′ before pruning
• Trunk diameter approaching 3/4″
• Better feathering and branching
• Pruned to approximately 66″ for shipping
• Up to 14 trees per shipping box
• Free local pickup available

Yates Apple Crab Rootstock

Yates Apple Crab is grafted onto a standard, cold-hardy, vigorous rootstock called MastMaker™. This rootstock produces a full-size tree that can reach approximately 20-30 feet.

A full-size rootstock is an excellent choice for wildlife trees. A larger tree can produce much more fruit than a small, restricted tree. This allows you to have much more fruit falling from above and taking up a smaller foot print on your ground below. It also allows the tree to develop a large root system that can support the tree for many years.

This rootstock develops deep roots that anchor the tree well. Those deep roots also help the tree handle dry conditions.

The roots can reach deeper into the soil and access nutrients that are not available near the surface. Because of this, the rootstock works well for wildlife orchards, food plots, and other wildlife plantings.

Yates Apple Crab is also very precocious. Many trees begin producing fruit at a young age, even when grafted onto standard rootstock.

Yates Apple Crab Pollination

Yates Apple Crab needs another compatible apple, apple crab, or crabapple variety for good pollination.

We recommend planting at least two different named varieties near each other. Trees with the same name are genetically identical and generally will not provide the cross-pollination you need.

Good Pollination Partners

Grams Gift Crabapple makes an excellent pollinator because it has a long bloom period and overlaps well with many apple and crabapple varieties.

Yates Apple Crab blooms mid to late season. This gives it an opportunity to receive pollen from earlier blooming trees while also providing pollen for later varieties. 90% of apple blossoms  happen over a 10-14 day period, so don’t overthink it to much.

Think of a bee moving from one tree to the next. You want that bee to visit blossoms from different named varieties. This cross-pollination helps produce a good crop of fruit.

Planting Instructions for Yates Apple Crab

Plant Yates Apple Crab in moist, well-drained soil with a pH between 5.8 and 7.0. Choose a location with at least six hours of direct sunlight each day.

A soil test is one of the best things you can do before planting. It will show you what your soil needs for healthy tree growth and fruit production.

Phosphorus and potassium are important nutrients for young trees. However, these nutrients do not move easily through the soil. For this reason, make needed amendments before or during planting.

If your soil test shows a low pH, you can add pelletized lime according to the soil test recommendations.

Protect Your Yates Apple Crab

We strongly recommend protecting young trees from deer and other wildlife.

• Space trees approximately 20 feet apart.
• Give each tree at least 6 hours of sunlight.
• Use a minimum 5-foot tree cage.
• Install a 2′ x 2′ breathable weed mat.
• Add approximately 10 gallons of stone over the weed mat.
• Wrap the base of the tree with aluminum window screen to help prevent rodent damage.

A good tree cage is especially important on a wildlife property. You want the deer eating the apples in a few years, not eating the tree this year.

Yates Apple Crab Shipping

We ship dormant, bare-root trees to USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 2-8. Shipping begins in early March and continues through the first week in May.

You need to select your preferred shipping date from the calendar during checkout. Plant bare-root trees while trees are still dormant in your are or Just as green up is happening for you.

If you need very late fall to winter shipping, select March 1st from the calendar, contact us at ryan@bluehillwildlifenursery.com and we can set up a ship date when conditions are right to send the trees down to you.

Yates Apple Crab Local Pickup

The last week of March through the first week of April is usually an excellent planting window here in Pennsylvania.

Free local pickup is also available for customers in Pennsylvania and the surrounding states. You can select your pickup date during checkout.

If you cannot make your selected date, contact us and we can arrange another pickup time.

We are open for tree pickup Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For More Information click below:

Learn More

Continue your research with these helpful resources:

• Crabapple Trees for Deer
• Tree Planting Guide
• Apple Pollination Guide
• Rootstock Information
• Shipping and Pickup Info