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All about apples, pears, plums, and cherries - and orchards where they are grown

Pixie CrunchTM apple

Pixie Crunch

Pixie Crunchis a trademark of Purdue University.

 

Pixie Crunch apple identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

  • Pixie Crunch

USDA identification images for Pixie Crunch

The identification paintings in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection span the years 1886 to 1942.

    Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705.

    Parents and other ancestors of this variety


    Visitor reviews

    • 17 Aug 2021  CA, United States
      Breaking, crisp, very juicy, with remarkably yellow flesh. Delightful to have a few bites of such a nice apple. Heavy fruiting every year. Here in Walnut Creek, CA, it suffers quite a bit from fire blight, but most branches stayed healthy this spring. My tree is growing on M27 rootstock. Despite thinning, a couple of branches have broken from the weight of the fruit.
    • 02 Feb 2020  ID, United States
      Pixie Crunch is one of my new favorites. It has a unique crisp breaking, crunchy texture unlike any other apple I have tried, and the flavor is very good and sweet. This was the first year my tree produced and it set a heavy crop despite a late frost that reduced the production of many other varieties I grow. I will look forward to this apple year after year.
    • 12 Oct 2019  WISCONSIN, United States
      Just discovered the Pixie Crunch at an orchard in Illinois. It's just what I've been looking for - the juice and crunch of a Honeycrisp with the sweetness and smaller size of Jonathon's or McIntosh. I don't know about growing them, but I will continue to eat these for a long time. Good job, Purdue, for hybridizing this fruit.
    • 09 Jul 2018  CALIFORNIA, United States
      I've grown 8 of these trees over the years, 3 on M7 and 5 on G30... all in North Carolina. While fireblight and cedar-apple rust can be severe, they can be grown in the Southeast with a good fungicide/insecticide program. They have a great flavor and the crispness is exceptional. Of the over 50 kinds of apples I have grown, this was the most popular with folks. It is among my top 10 favorite apples for fresh eating.
    • 25 Jun 2018  KY, United States
      I planted 5 varieties at the same time - 2 disease resistant, 2 heirloom and the Pixie Crunch. Cedar apple rust and fireblight are problems here and the Pixie Crunch needed more attention than the others put together. Since my goal was as low maintenance as possible, the tree had to go. It already had half the limbs removed due to fireblight and the rest of the leaves all showed cedar apple rust even after being on a spray schedule.
    • 22 Feb 2018  WV, United States
      I purchased a dwarf Pixie Crunch a few years back. The first year it produced one Apple, which was very crisp and sweet. The following winter was harsh and a heavy snowfall broke the tree off at the ground. I have since purchased another one which is growing very well and hopefully will produce some fruit this year. I love the crispness and the sweet, juicy flavor of this apple.
    • 30 Jul 2017  OH, United States
      2nd year. Let 4 apples grow. Waiting to mature
    • 14 Sep 2016  PA, United States
      Small fruit with a great hard, crisp, breaking texture. A bit more dense and a bit sweeter than Honeycrisp. An average amount of juice, not great complex flavor but very good. Classic apple flavor with a bit grassy smell.
    • 28 Oct 2015  IL, United States
      What nice little apple. Crisp, with a nicely balanced sweetness and a lovely perfume. Perfect size for a linch box or for after dinner with wanuts and cheese.
    • 27 Jan 2012  PA, United States
      These apples are crisp, juicy, sweet, slightly tart. A great lunch box apple: small, and delicious.

    Tree register

    United States

    France

    Australia

    • Hayden in Winslow, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

    Spring blossom records for this variety

    2017 season

    • June  2017  - tree owned by Jason in San Diego, United States
    • 3rd April  2017  - tree owned by Anton in Pittsboro, United States

    2016 season

    • 15th May  2016  - tree owned by Jason in San Diego, United States

    2014 season

    • 15th May  2014  - tree owned by Francis in Wilkes Barre, United States
    • 13th May  2014  - tree owned by Don in Twisp, United States

    2013 season

    • May  2013  - tree owned by Tom in Perryville, United States
    • May  2013  - tree owned by Cheri in Plover, United States
    • 10th April  2013  - tree owned by Gil in Snohomish, United States

    2012 season

    • May  2012  - tree owned by Tom in Perryville, United States
    • April  2012  - tree owned by Cheri in Plover, United States

    Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.


    Harvest records for this variety

    2018 season

    • 3rd week September  2018  - tree owned by David in Rural Ridge, United States

    2017 season

    • 1st week September  2017  - tree owned by Anton in Pittsboro, United States

    2016 season

    • 2nd week September  2016  - tree owned by David in Rural Ridge, United States

    2015 season

    • 3rd week September  2015  - tree owned by Jeff in Alger, United States

    2013 season

    • 2nd week October  2013  - tree owned by Cheri in Plover, United States
    • 2nd week October  2013  - tree owned by Gil in Snohomish, United States

    2012 season

    • September  2012  - tree owned by Tom in Perryville, United States

    Origins

    • Species: Malus domestica - Apple
    • Parentage: PRI 669-205 x PCF 2-134
    • Originates from: United States
    • Introduced: 1993
    • Developed by: PRI (Purdue, Rutgers, Illinois Co Op)

    Identification

    • Country of origin: United States
    • Period of origin: 1950 - 1999
    • Fruit colour: Red
    • Flower colour: White
    • Leaf colour: Green
    • Popularity: Best sellers
    • Annual cycle: Deciduous

    Using

    • Picking season: Mid
    • Keeping (of fruit): 1-2 months
    • Flavour quality: Very good
    • Flavour style (apples): Sweet/Sharp
    • Cropping: Good
    • Fruit persistence: Ripens over a period
    • Food uses: Eating fresh
    • Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators

    Growing

    • Gardening skill: Beginner
    • Flowering group: 4
    • Pollinating others: Average
    • Ploidy: Diploid
    • Vigour: Average vigour
    • Bearing regularity: Biennial tendency
    • Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer
    • Organic culture: Suitable
    • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
    • Feathers on maiden: Often has feathers

    Climate

    • Climate suitability: Temperate climates
    • Climate suitability: Warm climates
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)

    Other qualities

    • Disease resistance: Good
    • Scab (Apple and Pear): Very resistant
    • Powdery mildew: Some susceptibility
    • Fire blight: Some susceptibility
    • Cedar apple rust: Very susceptible

    Where to buy trees

    The following tree nurseries offer Pixie Crunch apple trees for sale:


    Where to buy fresh fruit

    The following orchards grow Pixie Crunch:

    United States




    References

    • PRI Coop 33 variety description  1993
      Author: PRI

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