Apple-tree Belarusian sweet
Content:
Experienced gardeners say that it is very difficult to find apple trees in the gardens that are located in the northern regions, which will give abundant and sweet fruiting. Sweet taste is generally characteristic of many southern varieties, and on the whole this is a true fact. But, one way or another, there are some varieties of apples that can break this prejudice, all stereotypes and prove that even in the north you can get delicious apples. One of these varieties is the Belarusian apple.
These are winter apples that can be stored for several months, right up to February, while at the same time reaching their consumer maturity in the winter period as well. At the same time, acid is not felt at all in these fruits, which is also a huge advantage, so in this article we will give a more complete description of this apple variety and demonstrate how such a variety can be grown in different regions of our country. Also in the article we will touch on the subtleties of landing apple trees and the subsequent care of it, the agrotechnical features of the variety, its main characteristics, additional features and features that are very important for the gardener to know about.
Description, main and additional characteristics of the variety Belorusskoe
The apple tree of the Belorusskoe variety is a fairly common and well-known variety that is gaining popularity not only among experienced gardeners, but also among those who are just starting their way in gardening, and are constantly looking for new varieties and opportunities for their cultivation. In order for the harvest to be stable and abundant, it is, of course, necessary to keep in mind some of the subtleties of planting and subsequent care for this variety. In this case, the gardener will be pleasantly surprised that such a seemingly uncomplicated variety will be so fertile and abundant.
The Belorusskoe variety belongs to the group of early-growing winter varieties, was bred by Belarusian breeders about twenty years ago, since then it has enjoyed immense popularity. The variety was brought to Russia in 2005, and since then it has been very actively spread throughout the territory of our country, even in those regions where, it would seem, the climate is not particularly stable. Mostly, the Belorusskoe variety is recommended to be cultivated in the Central part of Russia, and at the same time it is worth considering several main characteristics of this apple variety:
- This is a medium-sized tree, which at the same time demonstrates very active and continuous growth, especially when compared with some other trees from a similar group of classic apple varieties. The maximum height of a tree is three meters, and it reaches it when it is about eight or nine years old after planting a seedling in open ground in an open area
- the crown is distinguished by its cut, it can be either rounded or round-canonical. The shape can change over time, as fruits are placed on the crown, which can pull it down, the branches become more spreading. You can form the crown by trimming the tree.
- fruits on the tree are formed at the same time rather large. The average weight of one apple varies from 160 to 180 grams, much depends solely on the area where the tree is planted, as well as on what care measures the gardener used when caring for the tree and growing it. The peel on the fruit is slightly yellowish; when the fruit ripens, it can turn bright yellow
- sometimes a slight blush may appear on the fruit, especially on those parts that have been turned towards the sun
- the pulp is juicy, light shade, coarse-grained, crunches when bitten. At the same time, it is very sweet, a little oily, tender, very much like an adult, and even a little lover of these fruits.
The technical maturity of apples of the Belorusskoye variety occurs approximately in September. If the tree is grown in warm regions, then in this case, their maturity occurs around October, while the fruits do not crumble, which is their huge advantage over apple trees of some other varieties. It is also worth noting that there is consumer ripeness of the fruit. For this variety, consumer maturity can last from October to February. But the gardener should organize the most favorable conditions so that the fruits ripen well, more sugar accumulates in them, since it is for its taste that this variety has gained such popularity. It is recommended to plant trees of the Belorusskoe variety both in private gardens and in private plots, and on a more extensive industrial scale. Apples are well stored, the harvest is very plentiful. In addition, apples can also be used for long distance transportation and are therefore generally great for growing in even larger quantities and then selling them.
It is necessary to pay attention to some additional characteristics of the Belorusskoe apple variety. Despite the fact that the apple tree of the Belorusskaya variety was bred by breeders not so long ago, it cannot be said that some of the characteristics are one hundred percent and objective. Gardeners can also give subjective assessments of the tree and fruiting, based solely on their own vision and experience. One way or another, a general picture about these apples has already formed, and it was also possible to identify some of the advantages and disadvantages of this variety.
For example, among the merits, the following features should be identified:
- this variety belongs to the category of early-growing, which, of course, is its huge advantage
- regular fruiting, no periodicity. If a tree has given a very bountiful harvest, this does not mean at all that the next season the fruiting will be less or less quality.
- the variety has a high level of frost resistance to unstable temperature and weather conditions
- the variety has a high level of scab resistance, as well as a very high immunity to cancers, which quite often affect apple crops, because of which they can suffer enough, and trees often die altogether
- the variety is distinguished not only by excellent taste characteristics, but also by the fact that it has a very attractive marketable appearance, commercial and economic qualities, which, of course, attract gardeners
- the fruits can very firmly adhere to the branches, they are not prone to falling off the trees, so that even when they are relatively fully ripe, in general, they can still hold on to the branches for a long time
- fruits can be perfectly stored, can withstand long-distance transportation, which is also an undoubted advantage.
There are also several relative disadvantages of the Belorusskoe variety. They are generally relative because they were identified on the basis of subjective assessments of the gardeners themselves, who already have experience in growing the Belarusian apple variety. The shelf life of fruits can be reduced if suddenly they were grown in the most unfavorable conditions. It is also worth noting that not all gardeners may like the sweet taste - nevertheless, some say that apples with sourness are more likely to fall in love with gardeners and consumers, since apples with a too sweet taste cannot be eaten in large quantities.and they can irritate the intestines. Also, sometimes from apples in large quantities, allergic reactions can begin, which also does not carry any benefit to the life and health of a person at any age.
In the first seven, and sometimes in nine years of its life, a tree can reach a height of three meters, then it no longer shows any growth, since three meters for this variety is the maximum maximum. At the same time, the crown turns out to be very neat and compact, its diameter barely reaches three meters, especially if the gardener monitors it and carries out regular pruning. Therefore, the tree on the site looks incredibly neat, decorative, it is very easy to care for it, and it is also quite simple to harvest the resulting crop.
Now it is worth mentioning a little about the yield of trees of the Belorusskoe variety. Experienced gardeners say that the yield is stable, at a high level, there is no yield frequency. The yield grows very quickly - by the age of five, up to 35 kilograms of fruit can be harvested from the tree. The potential on an industrial scale is incredibly high: for example, if all agricultural technical features and characteristics are observed, more than 300 centners of fruits can be harvested from one hectare. This variety is self-fertile, it does not need pollinating varieties, and at the same time itself can become a successful and suitable pollinator for some other varieties.
Apples are distinguished by the fact that they are incredibly sweet, there is no sourness in them at all, while the aroma from them is very delicate and fresh. Experts rate the qualities from 4.1 to 5 points, depending on the set of criteria they use. Gardeners tend to believe that these are incredibly sweet apples, and they deserve five points out of five. But there are those who say that the lack of sourness is more likely a big drawback of the variety than its advantage, since without acid it is impossible to eat many apples, satiety sets in very quickly, and this is a big minus. But still, those who like to eat only sweet apples say that the Belarusian apple is the best variety of all such varieties that have already been bred by breeders and are cultivated by gardeners today. It is impossible to find equal to him in any care in combination with the fertility and qualities of fruits.
The variety has a high level of frost resistance, while it can be planted even in areas that are not the most favorable from a climatic point of view - fruiting will still be at a high level and, as experience shows, due to the quality of fruits in the North, their sweetness is not lost at all. which is rare. Apple trees can safely withstand a drop in temperature to -35 degrees, without freezing at all, without getting sick, although gardeners say that you should still pay attention to care measures in order to improve the general condition of the tree, to maintain the level of its fruiting. Since there has not yet been a case of freezing of apple trees, it is difficult to say whether the tree will be able to recover on its own if it freezes too much, or if it will need additional support in this regard. This may be one of the disadvantages of the new varieties - all possible risks have not yet been fully explored, so it is very difficult to reflect or assess them.
One of the advantages of the variety is that it has an absolute, one hundred percent immunity to scab, as well as to lesions that usually occur either with bark or with wood. Therefore, the tree has such a high level of stress resistance and can withstand even the most unfavorable conditions in which it sometimes grows. If the apple tree is still in the most favorable conditions, then fruiting takes place for almost thirty years. At the same time, the rootstocks can be low-growing, and in this case this period is reduced by as much as two times.Reviews about this tree are quite positive, even despite the fact that in general this tree is relatively young, and, perhaps, there is still not as much information about it as it could be. One way or another, gardeners really praise this strain and say that it is good for universal use. It is very convenient to care for a tree, shape it, the harvest is very tasty and, most importantly, stable. At the same time, harvesting also does not turn into torture, since the tree as a whole is quite miniature, and you can even reach the very last apple, which, of course, is an incredible advantage of this variety.
In the next part of this article, we will dwell in more detail on the conditions for planting a Belarusian apple, as well as on what care measures must be taken in order for the tree to grow absolutely calmly, to give a bountiful and stable harvest. We will also touch upon some agrotechnical conditions that must also be observed in order for the tree to feel comfortable. Agrotechnology, in principle, is a set of rules, observing which even a beginner can get an excellent and tasty harvest, while not carrying out any supernatural activity at all and not spending a large amount of his personal time on it.
Features of planting a tree and its subsequent care
Information on how to properly plant a tree of the Belorusskoe variety will be useful not only for novice gardeners, but also for those who already have some experience in growing apple trees, but at the same time are in constant search of new varietal trees in order to get impressive and annual yields.
It is recommended to plant seedlings in open ground with the onset of autumn, about four weeks before the first frost begins. You can also plan planting at the beginning of spring - at this time, precipitation and snow will already melt, and sap flow in the seedling itself has not yet begun. And the kidneys will not have time to swell. Also, by this time, the ground begins to gradually warm up, which will also have a positive effect on the general condition of the seedling and on its development after planting.
For planting, the gardener prepares a 1x1 meter pit. It is recommended to prepare the pit 10-14 days before the direct planting of the seedling itself in open ground. The depth of the pit should be about eighty centimeters in order to place the seedling there, to spread its root system, and so that the seedling is not very crowded inside this hole. It is recommended to place a drain on the bottom. To do this, you can use gravel or pebbles, expanded clay, and you can also take ordinary broken brick for this. further into the hole, a certain amount of manure is placed, which has already managed to peel, and then a little mineral mixture, which was purchased in a specialized store for gardeners. In addition, it is best to add a little wood ash, and then mix it all thoroughly to make a nutritious mixture. A part of fertile soil is poured inside the pit and a mound is formed into which the seedling will then be placed. A peg is placed in the center, to which the seedling will then be tied, since in the first few months after planting it simply needs support.
Around the trees, the soil is well compacted. In general, it is recommended that two people take part in the planting - the first gardener will hold the seedling, and the second gardener will gently straighten the root system. It is better to ram the ground with crayfish, slightly slamming. This avoids the formation of air pockets around the spines and makes them feel much more comfortable. The near-trunk circle is slightly framed with a roller, and also poured with several buckets of settled water. It is also recommended that the water is not cold, but at the usual comfortable temperature, since too cold water can shock the tree itself.If dwarf rootstocks have been planted, then they are planted at a distance of three meters from each other; on semi-dwarf rootstocks, more space is required - about four meters. This will maintain a comfortable distance between trees, and they will feel more comfortable. In addition, when the trees grow, they will not shade each other, the crowns will also not tangle, and the root systems will have enough nutrients.
It is also worth considering several significant conditions when planting. These conditions include the following:
- the landing area should be open and well lit. At the same time, it is recommended to protect it from strong gusts of wind and from drafts, since in general they may not have a very positive effect on the general condition of the seedlings.
- as for the composition of the soil, it must be fertile. Ideally, apple crops adapt perfectly in sandy and loamy soils, as well as in well-drained and light soils, which will be ventilated and saturated with oxygen. Sometimes the gardener can make the soil himself, while saturating it, adding some components to it that will make it lighter and more suitable for planting.
- the scion should not root on its own - this is one of the basic rules. It is for this reason that the graft site should be located at some distance from the ground, and the gardener should periodically look after it.
Seedlings need special attention and care in the very first year after they are in the open field. During the growing season, the tree must be regularly moistened and watered. If the weather is too dry, then watering should be not only plentiful, not also frequent - about three times a week. It is also worth paying attention to the fact that first-year children react very negatively to strong gusts of wind, and therefore it is recommended to protect them, especially if it is a harsh and cold wind. Under its influence, the plant experiences severe stress, and in the future, because of this, the growth time may be lost, and fruiting will have to wait for a very long time. Also, with the onset of the first winter, the lower part of the tree should be protected from pests, especially from rodents. Therefore, the trunk is wrapped with a netting, or agrofibre. All of these can be purchased at gardening or hardware stores. The trunk circle should be mulched; for this, peat, sawdust, straw, compost are used. Mulching allows moisture to evaporate more slowly, the trunk circle warms up more thanks to mulch, and mulch also helps protect the plant from attacks from pests and from some diseases that can sometimes have a negative, deadly effect on the plant in the first years of its life.
Agrotechnics - this is something that must be observed by the gardener. Agrotechnical measures include the following:
- watering should be done very abundantly. If this is a favorable and successful season, then four waterings are enough
- feeding should also be comprehensive - both organic and mineral components are used in it. Moreover, it should be carried out two to three times per season.
- weeding and loosening should be carried out regularly, since weeds can provoke the development of various diseases and infections that negatively affect the general condition of the planted trees
- mulching the soil with peat, humus, sawdust, straw
- pruning, which is both formative and sanitary
- support for planting immunity, preventive measures in the fight against bacteria, viruses, fungi and concomitant diseases. Also, prevention is carried out in the fight against insects and some pests.The Belarusian apple is a high-yielding variety, therefore, in order to maintain its vital activity and, accordingly, a high level of fruiting, it is necessary to timely feed the plant with both mineral and organic components. They can also be combined with each other or alternated - the tree will receive exceptional benefits from this.
In the spring, it is recommended to feed with nitrogen-containing mineral complexes, as well as some liquid organic fertilizers. After the flowering period of apples has ended, you can also feed the tree with a mineral mixture, and then make sure that nitrogen and potassium, calcium components are always present in the mixture, which have an excellent effect on the formation of fruits and their future filling. In autumn, in preparation for frost, the tree needs phosphorus and potassium components, because it is thanks to them that the immune system is strengthened, and the ability to winter hardiness only increases.
As soon as the first buds wake up, formative pruning of the tree should be carried out. To do this, the weakest, non-viable, wilted or dried branches are cut off, it is also recommended to remove those shoots that contribute to excessive thickening of the crown. Given that the tree is growing at a very accelerated rate, it is necessary to trim the annual growth by about a third. So it is highly likely that the next harvest will be as plentiful as possible, and its volumes will not be inferior to last year's. This is the stability of the yield, for which the Belarusian apple variety is so valued. After the first wintering, the crown also begins to form, in particular from the first year of the seedling's life in the open field. In this case, the tree will then get used to what the crown should be, and will gradually form it on its own. There is also another significant condition - thanks to the formation, the vital activity and health of the tree are preserved, its appearance also has great attractiveness.
The Belorusskoe variety is self-fertile, so it does not need pollinating varieties in order to produce a crop. The first harvest of apples can be obtained already in the second or third year after the seedling has been placed on the site. In general, at first there are not so many fruits, but already in the fifth or sixth year, the harvest becomes almost as plentiful as possible, if the gardener complies with all agrotechnical requirements. The tree blooms in May, but more accurate dates always depend on what territory and in what climatic zone this variety grows. In the South, flowering will begin much earlier, but for the middle and northern bands it may shift for a while. As for the standard ripening dates, they usually come around September, but again, they can sometimes shift. Then the apples are harvested and can be stored under favorable conditions. Then they can be stored until spring. At the same time, they do not lose their gustatory, useful and external characteristics at all, accumulate sugar in themselves and become even sweeter and tastier.
It is recommended to purchase seedlings from nurseries or from special breeders, since there is a high probability that you can stumble upon a fake and not get the desired result. In general, the Belorussian variety tree takes root well on the territory of some states, it turns out to be very neat, compact, but gives incredibly high yield rates, which, of course, may surprise many beginners and not very experienced gardeners.