Apple tree "Beauty of Sverdlovsk": description of the variety and features of cultivation
The Urals is associated with metallurgy and mining, with the defense industry. But first-class breeders also work here, there are also gardeners who seek to enjoy delicious apples. The first, to the delight of the second, do their work in good faith.
Characteristic
Apple tree "Beauty of Sverdlovsk" fully justifies its name, and this is not a simple variety or hybrid. It is known for sure that it was obtained without crossing, but how exactly - no one can say for sure. Even active long-term searches on the part of experts did not allow adding details to this section of the variety description. The main part of agronomists is of the opinion that the apple tree was bred from the southern variety "Jonathan" or others close to it.
This assumption is supported by a clear external similarity. The variety is distinguished by fruiting on the shoots of each year. The branches inevitably become ankle-shaped, which brings the plant closer to "Cinnamon Striped". The main area of culture is the Urals and the northern part of the Volga region. Gardeners who have tried to grow the Beauty of Sverdlovsk in the center of the European part of Russia are talking about positive results.
This winter variety, when choosing a slate technique, is also attractive to Siberian farmers. The crown is dense, close to a ball in shape. The branches are covered with a dense bark of a dark brown hue. You can wait for the appearance of fruits both on twigs of various lengths, and on ringlets. The lenticels of the shoots are covered with a brownish bark, the leaves are relatively large, have a short sharp top.
The flowers are painted in white with a pink tint. They are large and have cups of great width. Stamen elongation and dark pink buds are characteristic. Apples are medium in size, only occasionally heavier than 0.25 kg. The fruit of high quality has a flat surface and a geometrically correct configuration, closer to the top it acquires signs of a cone.
The ribs on the apples of "Krasa Sverdlovsk" are present. However, they can only be noticed upon close inspection. The peel is dry and smooth, the severity of the wax coating is small. Harvesting is done when it reaches an intermediate greenish to yellow tone. Cream color with a strong crimson blush indicates fruit storage.
The concentration of all types of sugars is limited to 15%. The share of dry components of an apple accounts for a maximum of 10% of its mass. Vitamin C is also present in the fruits, the content of which can be 18-30 mg per 100 g of the soft part. In the same mass of an apple, chemical analysis reveals 300-400 mg of catechins.
"Beauty of Sverdlovsk" is therefore quite widely used as an aid in the complex fight against beriberi; consumption of fresh and processed fruits is allowed.
Pollinators
For all its merits, the Beauty of Sverdlovsk does not pollinate on its own, and needs special pollinating varieties. It is important to select only them, because many unsuitable varieties will only take up space in vain, absorb the strength of gardeners. It is natural, as for other apple trees (and even for plants in general), the requirement to meet the deadlines:
- fruit formation;
- vegetation in general;
- flower formation.
Landing
"Beauty of Sverdlovsk" is a plant with minimal pickiness, but you still need to follow the basic points.It is impossible to achieve a positive result if the landing site is chosen incorrectly. It should have completely free space without the slightest clutter or objects. Landing in areas actively ventilated by drafts is categorically unacceptable. Ideally, there should be no buildings and other trees nearby, especially old ones - they harm the formation of shade and the absorption of soil nutrition.
Land for "Beauty of Sverdlovsk" is selected with low acidity, it should be as fertile as possible. If the soil is suitable for growing potatoes, you can safely plant this apple tree there. A prerequisite for success is checking the root complex of seedlings, which must be purchased immediately before moving to free land. An important criterion: the sleep of the kidneys, if they are swollen, this is very bad.
A pit for planting planned in the spring is prepared in the fall, and if it is planned to plant an apple tree at the end of the growing season, a month before the start of work. The length and width of the recess is 50 cm, but its depth is determined by the length of the roots. The stake driven into the middle part is chosen so that it rises 150 cm above the surface. The root system is thoroughly straightened and only then lowered into the pit. Powdering with earth is made up to the neck of the root.
As soon as a full-fledged winter comes with severe cold weather, the tree is sprinkled around with mineral compounds.
Care
"Beauty of Sverdlovsk" can hardly be called a whimsical plant. But still, its growth is relatively slow, like that of other apple trees. The main concerns of gardeners begin from the first spring. As soon as the trunk is planted, it is shortened by three buds to force the development of lateral greenery. The branches of the skeleton are necessarily made shorter than the shoot in the center.Watering is done with 10 liters of water 1 time in 7 days. This mode should be maintained for about 2 months. When this period passes, the interval is increased to 14-20 days, but each time they pour up to 30 liters of water. You can wait for the regular formation of fruits for 6-7 years after budding. If everything is done correctly, the harvest reaches 20 tons of fruit per 1 ha.
Throughout the Urals, even in its southern part, it is strongly recommended to tie the trunk and lower buds of first-order shoots. This technique reliably prevents the freezing of plantings in almost any winter. Crown trimming accuracy is critical in:
- around Perm;
- Sverdlovsk region;
- Siberian farms.
In all three places, most summer residents prefer to form stlantsy. Then the snow cover is the most reliable natural protection for the apple tree. We must not forget that the awakening of the kidneys on growths is extremely inhibited, and that is why last year's shoots are cut intensively in spring. With the onset of the warm season, pinch out the side branches, located optionally above the third or fifth leaf. This approach is practiced in many gardens and everywhere in 2-3 years it allows you to make the crown very small, moreover, giving a lot of fruits.
"Krasa Sverdlovsk" gives almost all the apples in September. If you plan to save the removed fruits for as long as possible, you need to remove them from the branches in an unripe form. It is not difficult to recognize such apples, they are painted in a greenish tone with a yellow tint. The flesh is still tough and more sour than sweet, and the presence of starch is invariably felt when tasting. The stored fruits will ripen themselves, the fiber will lose its original coarseness. Ripening fruits systematically increase the concentration of sugar.Completely ready-to-eat specimens are distinguished by a subtlety of elegant smell. The best temperature indicators during storage are from 0 to +4 degrees. The recommended relative humidity is approximately 80%. Observing these parameters, you can enjoy the autumn harvest even far after the New Year.
The top layer of earth during planting should be mixed with a fertilizer composition. The most common recipe includes 10 kg of humus, 0.8 kg of ash and 1 kg of any mineral mixture for 1 planting pit.
The prepared combination should be poured not just in the form of a monolithic layer, but with the formation of a tubercle. Above it should be placed 50-60 mm of good soil without fertilizer. The distance from the root to the nutrients can provoke root burns.
When, after the introduction of the seedling, the pit is filled up, they do it in portions. The tree is shaken a little so that all the voids between the roots are captured by the ground. Backfilling the neck of the root is not recommended because it threatens to rot. After each watering, the soil is fertilized with loose soil material or humus. Final watering is done 30 days before flowering and 30 days before picking apples.
Annual feeding with manure and a variety of composts alternates with top dressing with minerals. How exactly to produce alternation, the intuition of farmers and their experience suggests.
Scab can overshadow the successful development of the Beauty of Sverdlovsk. The fungus that causes it becomes dangerous with excessive moisture. It survives the cold on the abandoned leaves, the characteristic symptoms are green and brown spots on the inner sides of the foliage.
It is also easy to recognize fruits affected by scab, they have separate brown spots.Each such apple, even in the compost, should be sent with the greatest care. It is better to burn it altogether or throw it in the trash. Therapy against scab involves the autumn and spring use of urea in the form of a 5% solution. Its consumption is about 5 liters per tree.
In the spring (as early as possible) treatment with copper oxychloride is performed, it is repeated even after the formation of the fruit. It is allowed to use copper sulfate and Bordeaux liquid.
Powdery mildew "beats" the entire apple tree as a whole, forming a dusty coating. Diseased leaves dry up and fall off. When treatment is not carried out, black dots are found. The fight is carried out using colloidal sulfur in the amount of 8 g per 1 liter of water, the reagent is applied in the spring.
The worst thing is the cancer of the apple tree. Its danger is associated with significant temperature fluctuations. External manifestations are either ulcers or dark growths. Sick branches can only be removed (along with the affected bark). Be sure to cut and 20-30 mm of healthy wood, the cut is treated with garden pitch, and the whole tree as a whole is disinfected.
Reviews of gardeners
A study of farmers' experience shows that:
- mastering the formation of the crown is difficult, but quite possible;
- the plant pleases with stable yields for many years;
- fruits differ in taste and juiciness;
- storage in dry cellars is allowed;
- Careful fertilization and the use of mulch help ensure winter hardiness.
See below for details.