I just wanted to give gratitude/shout out to Fedco for the release of this great little apple. I would rate it an excellent apple for my area (west central MN) with a delicious taste and crisp, juicy texture. The size is very similar to Chestnut Crab and a slightly earlier ripening time, with a mostly red russeted skin and the flavor that is reminiscent of a warm cider. The growth is vigorous but leggy, comparable to my Trailman Crab so not the best looking IMO, but the production and flavor far makes up for this small negative. These apples took top honors alongside my Chestnut Crab so far this season. Can’t wait til next season for even more of them.
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Thanks for the review! I planted this one this year (from Pipsqueak Nursery - I assume they’re a fan if they named their orchard after it) and am looking forward to trying it some day. Little flavorful crabapples are my favorite.
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@roth2000 @Mer Hey! Would either of you have scion you could share this winter? I am very interested in this apple but do not prefer to grow it on B118 that fed offers. Also, I’m wondering what rootstock you have it on and how your overall growing experience has gone? I do not spray my trees and live in VA so hopefully this crab could do well here, thanks!
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I would have scions available in spring. I grafted it onto my Sweet Sixteen apple tree of unknown rootstock in spring of 2022 and had a great crop this year. Its growth is very vigorous which can cause it to droop a bit when it begins bearing fruit which it seems to do heavily.
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@roth2000 I went ahead and ordered scion from Fedco, thanks again for being willing to share though. I have ordered from fedco in the past and got some puny scions though so…i may hit you up in spring! I had one more question - how does Pipsqueak do for you with disease resistance? I am in VA and do not spray my trees so I’m hoping i can get away with that
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No issues as far as diseases but I haven’t had much problems with diseases in general so I’m probably not a good reference. On the same frankentree that Pipsqueak’s grafted to, my Newtown Pippin shows consistent signs of scab but nothing on Pipsqueak.
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My first Pipsqueak and the only fruit on the tree. Can anyone help me gauge the ripeness? Fedco says first week of October but it seems like some on here have had it ripen middle of August. It has so much russet it’s hard to judge the base color. It doesn’t lift right off the tree yet.
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What’s your location/growing zone? I wonder if the lift test works well with Pipsqueak. My graft is brand new so I’ll find out eventually. …hopefully.
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Southern Iowa zone 5b/6a. I was figuring maybe early to mid September, split the difference between what Fedco says and what some other folks have reported.
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It lifted off easily today and a lot more red was showing through the russet. The seeds were dark brown as well. It seems end of August is probably the right harvest windows for my area.
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How did it taste?
It definitely lived up to the hype. I’m not good at describing flavors but it was excellent. I’ve never tasted an apple like it. My wife said it was the best apple she’s ever eaten. I wish I had a lot more of them.
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Just when I told myself I had enough apples. I’ll add it to the list with Jonathan to get as scionwood from Fedco this winter
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Ha, I’m in the same boat. Too many apples but… there are never too many apples.
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