Characteristics of the Liberty apple tree
Apple Liberty is a variety bred by breeders from the American Horticultural Institute. The material for its creation in 1976 was the local varieties of Mekown and Uelsi. The fruit crop spread quickly in many countries. In the 1980s. the variety also ended up in the USSR. As a result of the tests carried out, the Liberty apple tree was brought into the State Register of Russia.
Characteristics of the Liberty apple tree
Description
The variety is early winter. In Russia, it is most often grown in the south and in the middle lane.
Although ripeness occurs in September, the fruit can be harsh immediately after harvest. Maturity stage - the period not earlier than the end of October.
The Liberty variety comes into fruiting quickly and is known for increasing yields with age. Experts point out that on a medium-sized rootstock, the apple tree shows the best performance potential. It also shows good resistance to rust and monilial burns.
The use of the fruit is universal. But most often they are eaten fresh. Also, delicious desserts, marmalade, jam, jam are obtained from the Liberty apple variety. They also show themselves well in various drinks - compotes and juices, ciders and wines. You can freeze fruits and make dried fruits out of them.
Advantages and disadvantages
There are many characteristics of the variety that make it popular. The benefits of the apple tree include:
- excellent frost resistance;
- rapid onset of fruiting;
- the possibility of commercial use;
- scab immunity;
- good transportability.
The main disadvantage of Liberty is its susceptibility to powdery mildew. With long-term storage, the pulp of the fruit begins to taste bitter - you need to remember the timing and have time to use the fruit on time.
Characteristics of the tree and fruit
The apple tree of this type is relatively low.
In youth, culture grows rapidly, then this ability decreases. The apple tree reaches 2.3-2.5 m, some trees - 3 m.
It has a rounded crown that is not very dense. The branches are medium, carmine red. The leaves have a smooth surface and rich color. Abundant flowering takes place in May. The calyx is small, the petals have a white tone with a pink tint.
Fruits are one-dimensional, conical in shape, reaching a weight of 140 g. Most often they have a yellow-green color. On the fruits, you can see a blurred blush of a burgundy shade with a bloom.
The peel of apples is not very thick, shiny. The light flesh is creamy or yellowish-green, crispy. It has a fine-grained consistency and a pleasant aroma.
Taste
Description of the taste of the variety - sweet and sour, refreshing. The tasters give him 4.2 points.
The reason for the low score is the low sugar content, slightly over 8%. Gardeners also note the refreshing aftertaste of Liberty apples.
Yield
If good pollinators have been chosen, a lot of fruit will be set, which will ensure very high yields.
Fruiting of the variety is stable, it improves with age. It bears the first fruits in the 2nd year of life.Every next year the tree will produce more fruit. From the age of 4, the apple tree brings 10-12 kg, and from the one that grows for 7-8 years, up to 40 kg are removed.
To get a consistently large harvest, apple trees are grown near pollinators, on nutrient soil, taking into account all care measures.
In a temperate climate, up to 24 tons of fruit are obtained from 1 hectare, which makes it possible to recoup all costs in 3-4 years. This fact, as well as the presentation of the fruit, as well as the duration of storage, made the variety popular in commercial use.
Pollinators
During flowering, many inflorescences are formed. The tree has enough pollen to pollinate half of the flowers with the formation of ovaries in 10% of them.
To increase the yield, varieties are planted near the Liberty apple tree:
- Mekfi;
- Frolin;
- Idared;
- Gloucester.
Subspecies
A variety of varieties - Sister Liberty apple tree. It is not so frost-resistant, suitable for southern regions. Cultivation takes place on a dwarf rootstock - the tree does not exceed 2.5 m. Fruiting after 2-3 years annually.
Winter hardiness
The indicator of this property of the apple tree is above average. It is only noted that this refers to the regions in which the variety can be grown.
These are places with a temperate climate, not characterized by too cold winters. Frosts in them should not fall below -40 ° C.
Disease resistance
The apple tree has the Vf gene, which has made it scab resistant. There is no immunity to powdery mildew in the variety. But timely preventive measures prevent the development of this disease, which is dangerous for trees.
Growing regions
Apples grow in all regions
The North Caucasus region is more suitable for growing these apples. But in Polesie, in the northeast, in the Donbass, this is an equally promising option. These trees are also found in the Moscow region.
The advantages of the variety and the ease of caring for it made it popular in Russia and Ukraine. Apple trees are grown for both private and commercial use.
Landing
When growing the variety on its own plot, at least 2 m is left between the trees. When using fruits for commercial purposes, apple trees are planted in denser rows.
Timing
Both spring and autumn months are suitable for planting. The optimal time is mid-April or May. It depends on weather conditions and soil conditions.
Trees are also planted in October, when the foliage has already fallen. The main thing is to have time to do this before the first frost, so that the seedling adapts to the cold.
Technology
First, choose a suitable place on the site - it should be well lit by the sun. The soil is fertile. Ideal options are loamy soils and sandy loam.
The seedling must be of high quality. To do this, check the roots for damage. A good option to buy is a 2-year-old tree that will begin bearing fruit earlier.
If some time passes between acquisition and planting, make sure that the roots do not dry out. They are wrapped with a damp cloth and placed in a plastic bag. Another option is to dig in the seedling or place it in wet sawdust.
A hole is dug in the fall, if the planting is in spring. Its size depends on the roots of the tree - they should be placed freely. Dimensions can vary from 80 to 100 cm in depth and from 90 to 110 cm in diameter.
Top dressing (ash, compost) is placed in the pit. If the soil is clayey, sand is also added to the planting site. If sandy - clay.
First, a mound of earth is made in the pit, where the seedling is placed. A stake for a garter is installed near it and attached to the future apple tree. Soil is poured on top and slightly compacted. At the end, the pit is watered with 2 buckets of water.
When the soil settles down, add another layer of earth. Then the trunk circle is covered with peat or covered with hay. During growth, the root collar is monitored - it should be 5-6 cm above the soil.
Care
An important point is watering. It is produced regularly and in sufficient volume. The amount of water and frequency depends on the weather.In most cases, 3 times is enough, but if it is dry outside, the number of irrigations is increased to 5.
Roots and foliage need periodic fertilization. If necessary, treat apple trees for diseases and pests. If the trees are healthy, they do it for prevention.
In the spring, the crop is pruned. Weak shoots, sick and growing branches inside the crown are removed.
Harvesting and storage
These apple trees are characterized by a mixed form of fruit formation. They grow on ringlets and spears. One of the most important factors in the timely ripening of fruits is proper care and protection of trees from pests.
Liberty apples are harvested no earlier than the second half of September. During this time, they mature to their best taste.
Store them, like other fruits, is advised in the dark and at a cool temperature. In this form, they are used for 2 months.
In the refrigerator, apples will not lose their taste and original appearance within six months. If the room is too humid or damp, the fruits will quickly deteriorate.
Gardeners reviews
This apple tree is often called the no problem variety. It rarely suffers from diseases, brings a good harvest, which is why gardeners are advised to use strong supports.
Apples taste better than the fruits of other winter species. It is better to eat or harvest them in the first few months of storage. Six months later, they are bitter and may turn black inside.