Varietal features of the Slavyanka apple tree
The Slavyanka apple tree is known for its high yield. Thanks to this characteristic, the culture is popular all over the world. The garden view needs proper care: for this, watering and fertilizing the soil is organized. The winter variety grows quickly and decorates the land with its fruits.
Varietal features of the Slavyanka apple tree
Characteristic
The winter species owes its appearance to Michurin.
It is the result of a cross-crossing of Antonovka and Renet varieties. The first fruits of the hybrid were obtained only in the sixth year after the experiment. To this day, Slavyanka is one of the most demanded varieties.
Good yields in adult crops. Fruits can be formed both on perennial branches and on young shoots. Flowers that appear in early spring are characterized by increased frost resistance. The tree tolerates cold well - even young shoots can withstand temperatures down to -10 ° C.
The variety is resistant to strong wind gusts.
Disease resistance ensures the rapid growth of the tree and fruit. The apples of the variety can be eaten raw or cooked. The culture bears fruit every year. Up to 200 kg of apples can be harvested from one tree.
The first fruits will be obtained no earlier than the 6th year of the development of culture. The yield of the apple tree is high, but it does not change. The percentage of carrion is small due to the structure of the stalk.
Pollinators
The apple variety Slavyanka belongs to self-fertile. Ovaries are formed in isolation or in a garden with similar crops. Pollination is necessary to improve the quality of the crop. The correct neighborhood ensures quick ovary formation and fruit growth. The best pollinating varieties for apple trees:
- ordinary Antonovka;
- Bellefleur;
- Pippin.
Fruit and tree appearance
According to the description of the Slavyanka apple tree, a tree of medium height. It reaches 4 m.
Annual growth is 0.5-1 m. Rarely located branches create a round crown. Plastic shoots. The bark darkens over the years.
The fruits are medium-sized and densely located on the branches. The average weight of one apple is up to 110 g. If the tree is improperly grafted or it is in unfavorable conditions, the weight of one fruit is no more than 70 g.
Description of apples:
- light - green-yellow peel;
- wide ribbed fruits;
- the peel is dense, shiny, smooth;
- the fruits are distinguished by good keeping quality - they are stored until the end of winter - early spring.
The inside of the fruit is white flesh. It is juicy and moderately dense. The pulp is finely grained. Closer to spring, if the fruits are stored for a long period in a dark, damp room, the structure of the pulp changes. It becomes softer and less juicy.
Taste qualities
The fruits are excellent in taste
The variety is distinguished by its high taste. The average apple score is 4.5. An unusual taste is noted.
Describe the taste of the pulp as sweet with a slight sourness.Thanks to this, the Slavyanka variety is used to create desserts, preparations for the winter and various jams. Apples stored in the home for a long period have a rich aroma.
Disease resistance
The variety has good resistance to various ailments. Fungal diseases rarely affect trees. Good resistance of the species to scab and various rot. Bacterial diseases are rare.
Timely prevention allows you to minimize the influence of pathogenic microflora on a seedling or an adult tree.
Landing scheme
Planting a winter culture is carried out in the fall or spring. If you plan to plant a tree in early spring, it is better to choose a period when the upper layers of the soil will warm up. It is impossible to delay: if buds have already formed on neighboring crops, it is impossible to plant the Slavyanka apple tree.
In autumn, planting is carried out a month before the arrival of frost. In thirty days, the seedling will have time to adapt to new conditions. If vaccinated later, it may not survive the harsh winter.
How to plant a variety correctly:
- two weeks before the expected date of disembarkation, a landing pit is formed;
- the hole is fertilized;
- before planting, the pit is watered abundantly;
- the seedling is immersed in it, and a peg is attached next to it;
- the rhizome is covered with soil and tamped from above;
- watering the tree.
The planting sequence determines the growth rate of the seedling. Sowing time may vary depending on the region in which the land is located. The warmer it is, the earlier gardening starts.
In the north, it is better to organize the planting of apple trees in early spring: as soon as the upper snow layer comes down, you can form a hole. For the southern regions, the preferred landing time is autumn. In central Russia, varieties are sown both in autumn and spring.
Seat selection
Shaded areas are not suitable for trees
In order for the seedling to take root quickly, choose the right conditions. To do this, clean an area with good lighting. You cannot plant a tree in the shade, because it will grow for a long time, and apples formed on young branches will be deformed.
You cannot constantly flood the seedling with water, so the lowlands are not suitable. It is better to choose a site near the shelter in order to additionally protect the culture from strong winds in winter.
The pits are formed according to a simple scheme: there should be a distance of at least 4 m between adult trees, and at least 6 m between rows in the garden.In this case, the location of groundwater should not exceed 3 m.
When the hole is ready, it is fertilized. The simplest organic matter is used - humus. It can be mixed with manure, compost, decayed leaves. The soil is added to the mixture and this composition is placed in a thick layer inside the pit.
After planting, the tree is watered with water - at least 3 buckets. The next hydration is carried out no earlier than a week later.
Care
When planting an apple tree Slavyanka, you need to take into account the peculiarities of caring for such a crop. Strongly fruits and their quality do not depend on the soil.
The tree grows in any soil composition, but some studies have shown the relationship between moisture level and fruit size. Apples grow larger if the soil is moist. These fruits have a brighter color and thicker rind.
A gentle blush appears only on fruits that ripen under the sun. If there is shade on the plot, the fruit remains green. A seedling needs three conditions - timely watering, periodic feeding and mandatory pruning of branches.
Fertilization
Apple trees are fertilized in early spring. For this, urea is used. 300 g of a nutritious product is mixed with 5 kg of humus. The mixture is applied to the soil around the trunk. When the apple tree blooms, it is fertilized with chicken droppings. The concentrated substance must be diluted with water. In total, you will need 1 part of litter and 10 parts of water.
To enrich the mixture, superphosphate is used - no more than 100 g is added. Immediately after flowering, the apple tree of the variety is fertilized with wood ash.
Spraying, as a form of top dressing, is used in the spring. Two feedings are carried out with a break per month. The best means for such irrigation is Effekton. He is bred according to the instructions. After such a procedure, root feeding with sodium humate is carried out, but not earlier than a month later.
After adding nutrients, the apple tree must be watered abundantly.
Irrigation works
Slavyanka variety is not watered too often. No more than 6 irrigations are carried out per year. The apple tree that has suffered a fungal disease is watered less. Until the tree is restored, it cannot be moistened.
In order for the apples to be saturated with moisture, irrigation work is stopped a month before the harvest. In drought conditions, crop spraying is carried out.
Pruning branches
Pruning is carried out twice a year.
The apple variety Slavyanka has a rounded crown. The growth force of the branches is average, therefore, during pruning, problems with crown formation do not arise. Pruning is carried out twice a year. This must-have adult tree care regimen includes:
- autumn pruning. It is also called formative. During this period, the growth of the main lashes is set. The work carried out in the fall makes it possible to thin out the thickened shoots. Remove branches growing in the inside of the crown or those that have grown along the trunk;
- spring pruning. It is called sanitary. The main task of such an event is to free the tree from diseased or dry branches. Work is carried out before the formation of buds so that the bad twigs do not have time to draw out all the moisture from the rhizome.
Places of cuts on an apple tree are treated with a disinfectant solution. Extra pruning is carried out in cases where the culture is sick. It is necessary to stop the disease and separate diseased branches from healthy ones.
You can not carry out more than 3 pruning per year without urgent need. Such measures will disrupt the natural growth of a seedling or an adult tree.
Pest control
Pests rarely attack this apple variety. But in some regions this species can be threatened by:
- aphid;
- leaf flies;
- penny.
To reduce the risk of infection, the crown of the apple tree must be treated with Nitrofen. Proportions - 200 g of substance per 10-12 liters of liquid. Spraying is carried out before bud break.
Ripening and fruiting
The developmental stages of the variety are characterized as follows:
- bloom. For the first time, the hybrid blooms in the second or third decade of May. At the beginning of the month, ovaries appear only if it is early spring. The exact date is determined by the microclimate of the garden. Natural conditions also affect the timing of fruiting;
- ripening of fruits. The ripening time depends on the temperature regime. The sun's rays accelerate this process. On average, the formation of Slavyanka apples is completed at the end of September;
- fruiting. From October, you can start harvesting. The fruits are formed at the same time, so the gardener does not have to wait. The fruits finally ripen in January. This takes place at the storage sites of the crop.
The grower is able to regulate these processes by introducing additional nutrients. The organization of the shelter for the winter affects the speed of the appearance of ovaries. The decisive factor is the climate and moisture content of the tree.
Harvest storage
Apples can be kept fresh for a long time
The variety is distinguished by good keeping quality. Harvested in the fall, the harvest easily survives the winter. Apples lie in ordinary wooden boxes. They should be stored in a cold room protected from excessive moisture.
It is best not to mix fruits of different varieties. Sick and healthy apples cannot be stored in a common box. The longer the fruits lie, the richer their taste will be.
Growing regions
Michurin himself determined the optimal conditions for the tree. It is unpretentious in maintenance, but if you correctly combine the level of humidity and ambient temperature, you will be able to get the best result.
The tree bears good fruit in the middle zone of the country and in the north. Seedlings quickly take root on the territory of Belarus and Ukraine.Trees can grow in any region if the gardener creates artificial conditions for the Slavyanka apple tree: it regulates the moisture level and additionally saturates the soil with nutrients.
Testimonials
The reviews of experienced gardeners about the variety are positive. The bred hybrid combines high taste and unpretentiousness. Gardeners who have been growing crops for several years note the following:
- more important for the tree is not soil, but watering. By moisturizing the soil, the gardener promotes the appearance of large fruits with juicy pulp. They bring moisture to the root part and to the branches. By spraying the apple tree, the gardener improves the metabolic processes of the tree. Do not irrigate branches in extreme heat. All irrigation works are carried out in the evening. For this, the liquid is preheated or left under the sun all day;
- you cannot grow a hybrid in cramped conditions. If the site is small, you cannot save space at the expense of the Slavyanka variety. Otherwise, thin branches quickly break, and the fruits rot;
- it is better to harvest the entire crop at once. The fruits will be able to "reach" the desired state at one time. Then the crop will not be spoiled.
This variety is chosen by experienced gardeners and beginners. The apple tree quickly takes root in new conditions, and if problems arise, they immediately affect the appearance of the culture. Correct planting, watering, pruning guarantees a stable harvest of sweet apples every year.