From seedling to rich harvest. All the secrets of the apple tree.
The apple tree has been known to man since ancient times. The first essay on fruit growing was written by the Greek scientist Theophrastus in the 3rd century BC. Wild apple species come from Central Asia, Transcaucasia, China and North America. The bulk of apple tree species originated from wild varieties. Now you can count more than 15 thousand varieties of apple trees. We invite you to find out the secrets of the apple tree further.
Apples contain a lot of useful substances that are involved in metabolism, have healing properties and help in the treatment of certain diseases. The fruits of the apple tree are low in calories and are shown to people as a dietary food. Due to the high content of iron, manganese, copper and folic acid, potassium, they are effective in treating anemia and various cardiovascular diseases. Apples contain a lot of fiber, so they are especially good for digestion. As a rule, they are eaten raw, but as compote, jam, mashed potatoes and jam, they are also very tasty.
The apple tree is an unpretentious plant and easily adapts to various weather conditions. Planting an apple tree is most favorable in spring, although it is also possible in autumn, however, at least a month must pass before the first frost, otherwise the tree will not have time to take root and may freeze. At the first sign of spring, when it gets warm, they begin to dig holes for the seedlings. The damaged areas of the root system are removed, the remaining parts are well straightened and covered with earth. After that, the planted young tree is fertilized and watered abundantly with water.
Then comes the formation of the crown of the apple tree. After all, it depends on the crown how soon the apple tree begins to bear fruit and how long this period will last. In Russia, the most popular is the tiered crown shape. There are about 5 or 6 main branches (skeletal). With a properly formed crown, the tree grows up to 4 meters high, which makes it easy to harvest and contributes to an even distribution of light, and therefore the plant's fertility.
Form the correct crown by pruning and tilting the branches. This stage lasts for 5 years. It is very important here to correctly cut the branches when shortening and thinning. The cut must be done above the bud, and when cutting branches, along the edge of the influx at the junction with the trunk. To make the cut even, you must first make a "gash" from below, and then lay the saw off the branch from above. Large cuts must be treated with garden varnish.
Any fruit trees need regular feeding with organo-mineral fertilizers, since this event has a direct impact on the quality and quantity of the crop. The older the apple tree, the more fertilizer should be applied. These are superphosphate, potassium salt and about 15 kg of organic matter. There is also foliar feeding. Here, nutrients are applied by spraying the leaves in the morning or evening.
Among other things, the quantity and quality of the crop can be controlled. This is called yield rationing. In a productive year, many more flower buds can be set on an apple tree than necessary. The apple tree spends a lot of nutrients on them and becomes weak, which can lead to crop failure the next year. The quality of the crop also remains low. The fruits are small and contain few nutrients. Therefore, an experienced gardener can control the number of ovaries by himself by removing flowers, ovaries or fruits. For a full harvest, it is necessary to leave 1 or 2 fruits out of 5 in the center of the inflorescence. Apples on such a tree will grow large, bulk and high in vitamins.We hope that all these secrets of the apple tree will help you enjoy a rich apple harvest very soon!