Wickson apple
Wickson Crab is an unusually sweet / sharp crab apple, becoming popular for cider production.
Wickson Crab was developed by Albert Etter, an apple enthusiast best-known for his work on pink-fleshed and red-fleshed apples. Wickson was the result of crossing two other crab apple varieties. Confusingly Etter refers to them as Spitzenberg crab and Newtown crab in his patent papers, but it is not thought they are related to the mainstream apples of the same names but were crabs developed by Etter himself. In this respect Etter pre-dated the modern trend for using crab-apples in breeding programmes.
Like most crab-apples Wickson is very small, and is also a hardy and problem-free tree. However that is where the resemblance to other crab-apples ends. Wickson is unusually sweet, but at the same time has a strong acid component. The result is an apple which has a very strong flavor, making it an excellent component for cider blends. (This flavor of course tends to encourage the view that Spiztzenburg and Newtown Pippin might be involved somewhere in the parentage, as these apples both have pronounced flavors).
Etter named his apple after his friend Edward J. Wickson, a leading Californian pomologist who was one of the few experts who took his work seriously at the time.
Summary
- Species: Malus domestica
- Parentage: Probably other unknown crab apples developed by Etter
- Origin: Humboldt County, northern California, United States
- Introduced: Early 20th century
- Developed by: Albert Etter
- Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 159300
Identification
- Fruit size: Very small
Using
- Good for juice
- Good for hard cider
- Flavour quality: Very good
- Flavour style: Sweet/Sharp
Growing
- Cropping: Heavy
- Flowering period: Early-Mid season
- Flowering group: 2
- Fertility: Self-sterile
- Triploid: No
- Good pollinator: Yes
- Vigour: Slightly large
- Gardening skill: Very easy
- General disease resistance: Good
Climate
- Suitable for warm climates
- Suitable for temperate climates
- Tolerates cold winters
Disease resistance
- Scab - Some susceptibility
Wickson identification photos from official fruit collections
ARS GRIN
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Wickson identification photos from website visitors
Fruit tree register
Do you have a tree of this variety in your garden or orchard? If so please register the details here and contribute to our international register of fruit trees.
The following Wickson trees have been registered - click the name to view more details of each tree.
You can also view these trees on a map.
United States
- Axel Kratel in Santa Cruz, California
- Dan Spratlen in CAMANO ISLAND, WASHINGTON
- Martin in LAKEPORT, CA
- Ryan in POWAY, CALIFORNIA
Latest Spring blossom records for this variety
2011 season
- May 2011 - tree owned by Dan in CAMANO ISLAND, United States
Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.
Mature heights for Wickson trees
This table shows the likely mature height for a Wickson tree taking into account the vigor of the variety, the rootstock, and soil conditions.
| Rootstock | Soil quality | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poor | Below average | Average | Above average | Very good | |
| P22 | 2.8 ft 0.9 m |
3.5 ft 1.1 m |
4.2 ft 1.3 m |
5.3 ft 1.6 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
| M27 | 3.2 ft 1.0 m |
4.0 ft 1.2 m |
4.8 ft 1.5 m |
6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
| M9 | 4.8 ft 1.5 m |
6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
| Bud.9 | 4.8 ft 1.5 m |
6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
| Geneva 11 | 4.8 ft 1.5 m |
6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
| Geneva 16 | 5.6 ft 1.7 m |
7.0 ft 2.1 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
10.5 ft 3.2 m |
12.6 ft 3.9 m |
| M26 | 6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.5 ft 2.3 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
11.3 ft 3.5 m |
13.5 ft 4.1 m |
| Geneva 30 | 6.4 ft 2.0 m |
8.0 ft 2.5 m |
9.6 ft 2.9 m |
12.0 ft 3.7 m |
14.4 ft 4.4 m |
| MM102 | 6.4 ft 2.0 m |
8.0 ft 2.5 m |
9.6 ft 2.9 m |
12.0 ft 3.7 m |
14.4 ft 4.4 m |
| M7 | 7.2 ft 2.2 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
13.5 ft 4.1 m |
16.2 ft 5.0 m |
| M116 | 7.2 ft 2.2 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
13.5 ft 4.1 m |
16.2 ft 5.0 m |
| MM106 | 8.0 ft 2.5 m |
10.0 ft 3.1 m |
12.0 ft 3.7 m |
15.0 ft 4.6 m |
18.0 ft 5.5 m |
| MM111 | 9.2 ft 2.8 m |
11.5 ft 3.5 m |
13.8 ft 4.2 m |
17.3 ft 5.3 m |
20.7 ft 6.3 m |
| Bud.118 | 10.4 ft 3.2 m |
13.0 ft 4.0 m |
15.6 ft 4.8 m |
19.5 ft 6.0 m |
23.4 ft 7.2 m |
| M25 | 11.6 ft 3.6 m |
14.5 ft 4.4 m |
17.4 ft 5.3 m |
21.8 ft 6.7 m |
26.1 ft 8.0 m |
From an idea by N. Buck - more details.
Where to buy apple trees
The following fruit tree nurseries offer Wickson apple trees for sale:
-
Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (USA)
United States Supplier's website >>
Where to buy apples
United Statesmap >
-
Californiamap >
-
Mainemap >
- Lamb Abbey Orchards, Union
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