Apple variety Red Chief
Apples contain a large amount of vitamins, so gardeners are trying to develop new varieties. Red Chief apples are favorites among lovers of juicy fruit.
Apple variety Red Chief
Breeding history
The country that produces the Red Chief apple tree is the USA. Bred in Clay County, which is located in West Virginia.
The variety is a hybrid of Red Delicious (resulting from the crossing of Golden Reinet and Grims Golden). It was first presented on the market back in 1914.
Now it can be called one of the most popular. He is known both in America and abroad. In Russia, he gained popularity incredibly quickly.
Characteristics of the variety
The crown of trees is rounded and grows compactly, so they are planted in a row close to each other.
Red Chief is a hardy apple tree, not afraid of drought. Medium resistant to bacterial and fungal diseases.
The variety is famous for its high yield of large fruits.
The apples themselves are of medium juiciness, with dense pulp, and the taste is sweet. They give off an incredible aroma.
They are red, covered with a waxy coating, large (1 apple weighs more than 200 g). The shape is slightly elongated, resembling a truncated cone.
Calorie content is low: in 100 g, only 47 kcal.
Dignity
- The apple taste is intense, with a high score from the experts (4.8).
- The fruits are stored until the end of winter.
- The external presentation is attractive.
- The fruit can be transported and is resistant to damage.
- The tree resists well with bacterial dew.
- High resistance to powdery mildew disease.
disadvantages
- during cultivation, the variety does not adapt well;
- poor resistance to scab disease;
- bitter spotting and rot are very common;
- the fruit pulp sometimes becomes glassy.
If the prevention of these diseases is carried out in time, then all these shortcomings will disappear.
Pollination
In order for these fruit trees to have high productivity, it is necessary that suitable pollinating varieties be planted nearby: Gloucester, El Star, Golden Delicious.
Suitable region and climate
The variety cannot be precisely called winter-hardy. It grows best in temperate regions. The southern and central regions of the country are suitable.
If there are frequent frosts in the region in the spring, which are also replaced by thaws, or very low temperatures in winter, then the apple tree may experience freezing.
In order to prevent this, it is necessary to prepare the trees with high quality in the fall, i.e. trim them and create additional cover.
Delicious and juicy apples
Disease and pest resistance
Powdery mildew on the Red Chief apple tree is practically not scary, which cannot be said about scab and spotting. She has a weak immunity to them.
Periodically, you need to spray with special solutions that will help protect the fruit tree. For immunity to be high, it is imperative to observe the technology of cultivation and care.
Landing features
Saplings can be planted in autumn and spring, but it is best to do this at the end of April.
If planted in the fall, then be sure to 1 month before the first frost.
Landing technology
In order for the apple tree to take root on the site and bring a good harvest, you must follow some rules.
- The place where the seedling will be planted must be carefully selected. It should not be close to the occurrence of underwater waters. When the water rises, the roots will be in moisture for a long time. This will lead to the death of the root system and the tree.
- You need to choose a suitable place for planting so that the sun's rays illuminate it well. On the north side, there must be protection from cold winds.
- The soil at the planting site should be loamy. It will help the tree to improve its winter hardiness.
Apple tree care
Irrigation
If the tree is young, it needs to be watered regularly so that the water reaches the roots of the seedlings, to their tips, which is about 35-45 cm.
After planting, watering should be carried out 2 times a week (a bucket of water per tree).
If there is a drought in the region or a very hot summer, then the volume of water should be increased to 1.5-2 buckets per tree and watered about 3 times a week. After irrigation, the soil must be loosened and weeds removed.
Mulching
This procedure is carried out in the fall. They do it in order to prevent the freezing of the root system.
To carry out mulching, humus is ideal. You can use other materials that will improve the structure of the soil and nourish it.
It is important that these materials are protected from washing out, drying out and freezing.
When choosing mulch, you should pay attention to the ability of the material to pass air into the soil. In addition to humus, it is recommended to use sawdust, hay or fallen leaves.
If the winter is very cold, then the tree needs additional cover for this period.
Top dressing
The tree needs to be fed periodically. It is recommended to carry out the procedure in April, when all the snow has melted and the ground becomes soft.
Around the root system, a groove with a depth of 15-20 cm should be made. A special fertilizer should be poured into it, it, as a rule, has a complex action in the form of granules.
When choosing a top dressing, pay attention to the fact that the effect of the fertilizer is long-lasting.
After the procedure, the groove should be repaired with soil. Top dressing of this type is done every 2-3 years.
According to the description, it is advisable to feed the tree with organic fertilizers in the form of humus. Especially when the soil is sandy, it requires about 4-5 buckets for a good harvest.
Pruning
As soon as you plant a seedling, you need to prune it right away.
Process characteristic: the central trunk should be shortened by 15 cm. It should have a maximum of 5 buds.
In the second year, the branches of the tree should be opposite each other, so you need to do another pruning.
In the future, the procedure should be carried out as needed. As soon as you notice damaged branches or very weak ones, you need to prune, and then treat the wound with garden pitch.
Graft
Correct vaccination will give a positive result
This is one breeding method. For beginners, it is quite difficult.
Grafting increases the yield of the tree, rejuvenates it, and develops new varieties. It can be done at any time of the year, but the most favorable period is spring. As soon as the frost subsides and the juice goes through the tree, you can start working.
Use cuttings without swollen buds for spring grafting. If you have missed the time, it is better to postpone the procedure for the summer.
First, the tree must be watered abundantly and the soil next to it must be loosened. A sharp knife and a hacksaw should be at hand. Tools must be sharpened and treated with antiseptics.
It is imperative at the end to treat the grafting site with garden varnish, and tie and fix the stalk with electrical tape or polyethylene.
For grafting, trees that are similar in appearance are usually used. The best option is to go wild. it is frost-resistant and durable. Pear, plum, cherry, hawthorn, mountain ash are also suitable.
There are also ways of reproduction: cuttings and layering. If a tree is grafted in any of the ways, it will retain all its original varietal characteristics.
Pest control
This procedure is carried out in the spring, until the buds have blossomed. Trees are treated with special solutions. Install glue belts directly on the tree trunk. This protects it from crawling insects.
The second treatment with insecticides is carried out when the flowering ends. The main thing is not to be late, because most of the apples will be damaged by the moth.
Important! You can not process the apple tree during the flowering period. This will damage most of what is already tied to the tree, killing the pollinating insects.
The final stage of processing falls on the period of fruit filling. It must be carried out no later than a month before harvest.
Features of ripening and fruiting
The variety in question can be called a fast-growing crop, because in a few years the tree will bring its first harvest.
Do not allow the soil to dry out or freezing of the apple tree, otherwise the yield will significantly decrease.
The first few years, the volume from one tree will be approximately 30 kg, and in subsequent years, with proper care, they will bring about 150 kg from one tree.
Fruit ripening occurs in late September - early October. Sometimes the crop is harvested before the frost.
Harvest storage
According to the description, Red Chief is stored for a long time, retaining all its consumer qualities.
It is best to harvest in dry weather, damaged or crumpled apples are best discarded immediately - they should not be with good fruits. It is better to eat them right away.
The storage area should be dark with a temperature of 5-7 ° C. It is best to put apples in a wooden box, wrapping each with paper, or sprinkle wood chips between the rows.
Gardeners reviews
The most important positive feedback about the Red Chief variety is that it is resistant to powdery mildew and can be grown in any region of the country.
Gardeners emphasize certain characteristics: the quality of the fruit, its taste and beauty, as well as ease of maintenance and good yield. Even a middle-aged tree gives a lot of fruits, which are enough for the whole family.
Apples remain sweet all winter, and transportability and excellent presentation make it possible to sell the goods well.
If it is not possible to grow an apple tree, you can buy ready-made fruits. Average price - about 20-40 rubles per 1 kg, depending on the region.