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Apple Blossoms in February

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | February 9, 2011 7 Comments

Last updated on December 25th, 2011

IF YOU CAN’T BEAR ANOTHER DAY OF WINTER — and who can blame you — then I suggest you run out and clip an armful of dormant crabapple branches. I did just that three weeks ago. As you can see from the photos I took this morning, the twigs have flowered without a hitch.

It’s great fun to watch the blossoms emerge. They start out as little rose-colored bumps along a branch, and then open pink, before finally fading to white. And the blooms last for weeks in a cool (65F max) room. What a dazzling May picture they make against a background of snow.

Not sure how to treat the branches once you cut them? Have a look at my easy forcing program for forsythia and other spring-flowering shrubs and trees.

If you don’t have any spring-flowering trees or shrubs on your property, try forcing the well-budded branches of maple, beech, and other deciduous trees. These, if placed in water and set before a bright window, will unfurl their red, copper or green foliage in no time at all.

Got branches? You’ve got a fabulous bouquet. I promise.

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Related Posts:
Forcing Forsythia & Other Spring-Flowering Branches
Winter-Sowing 101
A Winter-Fling with Primroses
The Fragrant, Fruiting Meyer Lemon
Blooming Bulbs for February

Twinkie vs. Carrot
The Window Garden in February

Comments

  1. 1

    Brigid OB says

    February 9, 2011 at 5:37 am

    Kevin, I am going to put on my boots and cut some crab apple branches tomorrow. I hope I'm not too late. I just read your easy forcing program and I have one question. When you say to soak the branches in a bucket of warm water, do you mean the entire branch or like just 10 inches or what? Thanks!

  2. 2

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    February 9, 2011 at 12:51 pm

    Brigid OB – Nice to “see” you here again! I'm so glad you're going to cut yourself a “May” bouquet in February.

    For the hour-long soak, cover as much of the branch as you can. You can even lay branches in a bathtub if you don't have a deep pail.

  3. 3

    Sheila says

    February 9, 2011 at 2:20 pm

    Lovely, Kevin! I'm going to cut both crabapple and forsythia branches TODAY.

  4. 4

    Yolanda says

    February 9, 2011 at 2:43 pm

    What if the branches are frozen when you cut them? Will they still bloom indoors?

  5. 5

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    February 9, 2011 at 2:53 pm

    Sheila – good for you!

    Yolanda – My crabapple branches were most definitely frozen when I cut them.

  6. 6

    Katreader says

    February 9, 2011 at 4:24 pm

    I've been putting it off-but this week I shall cut my apple branches and try to force them. I need to prune the tree anyway, why not try and get a bonus!

  7. 7

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    February 9, 2011 at 8:03 pm

    Katreader – I know what you mean about “putting it off.” I refuse to set up a ladder in my little orchard just now. The orchard is covered with one foot of snow, and there is solid ice underneath!

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