Chestnut Applecrab Seedling (Bundle of 2)

Chestnut is a sweet, early-ripening applecrab from the University of Minnesota, offering smooth, nutty, bubblegum-tinged flavor and exceptional hardiness to around –50°F. It ripens in early September in Missoula. Truly one of our favorites for fresh eating, it also stores well for months on end.

All that said, the above info is for Chestnut Applecrab, and not for these seedlings. The Chestnut parent will certainly comprise 50% of the genetics, whereas the other 50% depends on the pollen parent.

Genetics of These Seedlings

Chestnut’s parentage comes from a 50/50 cross between Malinda apple (50%) and Siberian Crab (50%), making it a true applecrab with equal (or at least approximately equal) genetic contribution from both sides. Because these seedlings are open-pollinated, the pollen parent is unknown, but in an orchard dominated by apples, the odds strongly favor an apple as the pollenizer—meaning these seedlings may lean genetically toward ~75% apple and ~25% crabapple, which would likely result in larger fruit, sweeter flavor, and a more apple-like character overall.

There is still a possibility that a crabapple was the pollen parent, which would shift the proportions in the opposite direction—potentially 50–75% crabapple genetics—and produce seedlings with smaller but intensely flavored fruit, higher sugars, strong color, and exceptional cold-hardiness. Each seedling represents a unique genetic blend shaped by Chestnut’s balanced applecrab heritage and the unknown pollen source.