All over the world, more than ten thousand varieties of apples are cultivated. Most of them are adapted to specific growing conditions. When observed, the trees yield the highest yield at the lowest cost in certain climatic zones. Variety "asterisk" is no exception, it is perfectly suited for central Russia. At the end of the twentieth century it was very popular in summer cottages and household plots.
History of creation
In 1927, the famous breeder Chernenko Semyon Fedorovich began work on the development of a new cultivar “asterisk”. The apple tree was created by pollinating the flowers of “Lithuanian pepelin” with “anise” pollen. From a large number of seedlings, the scientist chose number 857, it was he who became the ancestor of the future variety.
From the “Lithuanian ashes”, trees inherited thin branches and a tendency to weep. “Anis” ensured the quality of the fruits - their size and color.
In the sixties of the twentieth century, the variety passed state tests and was recommended for regionalization in the North-West, Central, Volga-Vyatka and Mid-Volga regions. They do not grow it north, because the “star” is an apple tree that does not have good winter hardiness. And in the southern regions, with appropriate watering, you can get a good harvest.
Description
The described trees are vigorous, by the age of 15-20 a gorgeous apple tree grows up to 5.5 meters high, its crown spreads out 6 meters and gives a good shadow. This must be taken into account when planning the garden, so that subsequently the beds are not darkened. The basis of the crown is thick skeletal branches. The shoots are thin, elongated, reddish-brown, have a copious margin.
Small leaves have an oval shape, jagged edges and a matte surface. "Asterisk" is an apple tree that provides a stable crop for many years.
Fruit:
- color - light green, blurred red over the entire surface, turning into a burgundy blush;
- wax coating is present;
- form - round, slightly flattened, pronounced ribbing on the side of the stalk (resembles a star, hence the name);
- weight on average 80-130 grams, a record of 185 g;
- taste - sweet and sour;
- flesh - fine-grained, juicy, the number of seeds is insignificant;
- the stalks are thin, short.
Agricultural technology
Trees bear fruit in the 6-7th year of planting seedlings, on rootstocks you can get fruits already in the 4th year. "Asterisk" is an unpretentious apple tree, very easy to care for:
- Landing. The deadline is spring (April-May), after the snow melts. The depth of the pit is up to 90 cm, a mixture of fertile soil, peat and sawdust is poured into it. Before planting, the roots are straightened, covered with earth, rammed and carefully watered. The root neck should be at a height of 6-7 cm from the ground. It is advisable to tie a seedling.
- Care. To maintain a stable crop, it is necessary to carry out spring pruning of the crown. Siderat is planted between the trees. The first few years, plants need fertilizing and watering. In autumn, fertilizers containing nitrogen are not used; they are applied in spring. If a cold winter is expected, the trunk is additionally insulated.
- Pest control. "Asterisk" has good immunity to various diseases, especially to such as scab. On the apple tree of this variety, it practically does not occur. To prevent fungal diseases, preventive treatment is carried out with special drugs - fungicides.
- Harvesting. By early October, the fruits, for the most part, are already ripening. Harvesting begins in September to prevent apples from falling.
The landing site must be selected taking into account the level of groundwater. Excess moisture leads to the death of the tree. Well protected areas from the south, southwest or southeast side, protected from the winds.
Features
This variety has a number of features that distinguish it from others:
- differs in crop stability, from 60 to 180 kg per tree, record - 211 kg;
- over time, yield decreases, the size of the fruit and their taste, too (tree age 15-20 years);
- after harvesting, the apples ripen perfectly when stored properly (0-2 ° C);
- can be stored without loss of presentation and taste for up to 7 months.
Fruits are used fresh and processed: jams, preserves, jams, pastries. In addition, the variety is used in breeding.