Fruit tree comparisons
 Kingston Black |  GoldRush |  Wickson Crab | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston Black is one of the premier English cider varieties and produces a bittersharp juice. | GoldRush is a modern disease-resistant apple, like Golden Delicious but with a better tart/sweet balance. It is also one of the best new hard-cider varieties. | Wickson crab is a popular crab apple variety which is also useful in cider blends. | |
| remove | remove | remove |
Growing
| Cider apple trees Kingston Black | Apple trees GoldRush | Crab apple trees Wickson Crab | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardening skill | Experienced | Beginner | Average |
| Self-fertility | Not self-fertile | Not self-fertile | Not self-fertile |
| Pollination group | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Pollinating others | Average | Average | Good |
Using
| Cider apple trees Kingston Black | Apple trees GoldRush | Crab apple trees Wickson Crab | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Picking season | Very late | Very late | Late |
| Uses | Hard cider | Eating fresh Culinary Hard cider | Juice Hard cider |
| Keeping (of fruit) | 2-3 weeks | 3 months or more | 2-3 weeks |
Disease resistance
| Cider apple trees Kingston Black | Apple trees GoldRush | Crab apple trees Wickson Crab | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General resistance | Poor | Good | |
| Fireblight | Some resistance | ||
| Canker | Some susceptibility | ||
| Scab | Some susceptibility | Very resistant | Some susceptibility |
| Cedar apple rust | Some susceptibility | Some susceptibility | Some susceptibility |
| Mildew | Very resistant |
Climate
| Cider apple trees Kingston Black | Apple trees GoldRush | Crab apple trees Wickson Crab | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold hardiness (USDA) | Zone 5 (-29C) | Zone 5 (-29C) | Zone 3 (-40C) |
| Summer maximum temperatures | Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F) | Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F) Warm (25-30C / 76-85F) Hot (>30C / 86F) | Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F) Warm (25-30C / 76-85F) Hot (>30C / 86F) |
Identification
| Cider apple trees Kingston Black | Apple trees GoldRush | Crab apple trees Wickson Crab | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Country of origin | United Kingdom | United States | |
| Period of origin | 1850 - 1899 | 1950 - 1999 | |
| Fruit color | Crimson | Yellow / Orange | Orange / Red |