I planted 100 crabapple trees 20 years ago and they are the 1/4" apples and for some reason the deer don't eat them. I planted 10 Southern crab apples a year ago which are larger but they didn't survive the summer. I suggest you plant several varieties so you can see which one is the best for your area. Crab apple trees produce within a year or two - once the tree is 6' tall or so. Tenn. Div. of Forestry has the Southern trees but they have probably sold out by this time. https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/publicat ... atalog.pdf
Best price would be tn dept of forestry for crabapple. I like to buy mine and pot and plant the following year to allow them to get a good root system established. You do have to spray for cedar rust though in April and early May.
