Little Green Apple Question

[cookiesforthree]

I have this small tree in my yard and it has little green apples on it.  They never get big.  They stay really small and tart.  Can anyone give me an idea what these might be and when is the season to pick them?

[The Boys Dad]

Sounds like Crab Apples.  These are a very old line of wild apples and do exist throughout the village.  Check out this site.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-crabapples.htm

[lagomorphmom]

That could very well be, TBD, are there green crabapples? I dunno.

An alternative thought. We inherited a full size apple tree our house (TBD, it's the one left of the garage looking from your place) and it only had tiny green apples with a red blush. TART! But my neighbor came over and said he didn't think they were and don't take it out (what am I going to use crabapples for, a sling shot???). Instead, give it a good hair cut, regular water and some fertilizer (the previous owners did none of that). Well, sure enough, they became twice the size or more if I thin them. Brittany at the nursery that closed thought they might be Braeburn and I think she's right. In two years, I had a bumper crop and plenty to freeze or can. You live 'around the corner' from me as I recall, I can come over and take a look. I'm also available for trimming guidance this winter, if you should need it either way.

[cookiesforthree]

I think they are too green to be crab apples.  My neighbor has some too and doesn't know what they are.  I think it might just be a type of green apple but the sun moves on them and they just don't get the sun that they need to grow big.

I have a gala apple tree that does really well and a bartlett pear tree that does ok.  It fruits, but the pears don't get very large as it doesn't get enough sun.  A huge oak tree grows over it and the sun shifts.

[lagomorphmom]

That would make a difference, and they may indeed not get enough. However, half a day should be enough because, a) my Braeburn gets that much and b) at our altitude the energy if you will provided by the sun is greater than at sea level.

The latter, I've been impressed upon strongly by a rosarian and 'consulting gardener' friend as I've asked him about placement of new roses for the garden I'm planning....