Planting a tree such as the Antonovka apple tree has always been considered one of the most significant events in its life, along with building a house and raising children. However, without special knowledge about the characteristics of these plants and the rules for their cultivation, it is quite difficult to get a good result.
Apple tree Antonovka: features of the variety
Probably, any resident of our country knows the sweetish aroma of Antonov apples. It is very fresh, refined, clean and invigorating. When in autumn a person enters the garden where the Antonovka dessert apple tree grows, he understands why all the
poets of the golden age of literature describe this season with such love. It was Antonovka who has long been considered an original Russian apple. There is still no data on exactly when this variety appeared. At the moment, only one thing can be said with confidence: the apple tree Antonovka has existed on Russian soil for many centuries, but in each locality it had its own unique name.
There is an incredibly beautiful story about how the name for this
variety of apples appeared. She talks about how in Tula in 1896 he was called "Antonovka the Wind". This name was given in honor of a certain gardener Anton, allegedly received this look by hard work, and in honor of its strong aroma. However, one of the first references to such a plant as the golden apple tree Antonovka can be found in the work "Rules of fruit growing in open ground", dated 1848. In it, the famous scientist N.I. Krasnoglazov described this variety in great detail. It is believed that initially it appeared in the Kursk and Tula provinces, from where it subsequently spread throughout the territory of central Russia. This variety was incredibly popular in the pre-revolutionary period. It could be found in almost every garden. This is due to the fact that apple trees survive very well in severe Russian frosts. In addition, the fruits of this tree always made excellent preserves and jams, which allowed them to be used in industrial production.
Apple Tree Antonovka: planting and care
A pit suitable for the size of the seedling is prepared in advance. This is done so that the soil has time to settle and naturally compacted. Apple tree Antonovka takes places on a plot of about 1 m 2 . The earth extracted from the pit is abundantly flavored with organic fertilizers, nutritious compost and humus. You can plant plants in spring or late autumn, but before frost. The root neck should be at least 6-7 cm above the ground. The roots are carefully placed in the pit and covered with soil, carefully trampling the surface after planting. Some gardeners prefer to create liquid soil in the pit, carefully fertilizing it and diluting it with water, and then gradually sprinkle the seedling. This technology is only suitable for areas with low groundwater levels, otherwise the roots may rot. In winter, a young tree is tied with spruce paws, and the trunk circle is mulched with manure.
Further care for Antonovka consists in regular pruning of weak and dead branches, as well as the formation of a crown. A properly trimmed tree gives more abundant crops, lives longer and freezes less in winter. Pruning should be carried out in the spring, starting from the second year of life: shorten the main trunk and remove a third of all new branches. Such simple care will provide your family with apples for many years.