It is probably hard to find a person who does not like apples. Fragrant juicy fruits can have a variety of tastes: rich sweet, sour, tart. They are good fresh, and cooked jams, marmalades, jellies and juices perfectly complement our diet in the winter.
Currently, hundreds of varieties of these wonderful fruits are known, and despite this, breeders are constantly developing new, more advanced species that are distinguished by high productivity, original taste, frost resistance, etc. In this article we will not tell you about the novelty of selection. Heroine will be the apple tree Freshness. Description, reviews of experienced gardeners will help you evaluate the merits of the variety, find out its features.
Freshness was bred in 1976 at the Research Institute for Selection of Fruit Crops. The variety appeared as a result of a rather complicated crossing of the famous Antonovka-red-barrel with a hybrid Welcy x F2 M. Floribunda. This variety has a natural immunity to scab, because it contains the Vf gene. Already in 1985, the first experimental trees yielded fruit, and in 1994 the variety was selected as elite. The authors of this work were Z. M. Serova, V. V. Zhdanov, and E. N. Sedov.
Grade Adaptation
In 1995, the variety was tested in the Central and Central Black Earth regions, and six years later it was zoned. Then, in the popular publications on gardening, this apple tree was presented. Freshness variety (reviews confirm this) is suitable for planting in intensive type gardens . What kind of culture is this?
Freshness is an apple tree that is perfectly adapted to a temperate climate. Along with this, it has a fairly high frost resistance. Over time, the Freshness apple tree became widespread. The description of the variety presented by the authors made it possible to adapt it in arid regions, subject to abundant watering. Otherwise, the tree will be exhausted. This is because the apple trees receive the necessary nutrients in dissolved form through the root system. Therefore, in a hot climate, only a large amount of moisture can help him adapt.
Freshness is an apple tree that can be grown even in a moderately cold climate. To adapt the variety does not require special measures, since it has high frost resistance. The only thing that needs to be done to help the tree get out of stress as quickly as possible is to feed it with organic fertilizers.
Freshness (apple tree): description
The tree of this variety belongs to the medium-sized and is characterized by rather rapid growth. It has a rounded, medium thickened crown. The main branches are located compactly, slightly curved. The bark on the main branches and the stem is brown in color and has a smooth surface. Shoots of a cranked shape, medium thickness, rounded in cross section, pubescent in the upper part, brown, medium lentils, are quite common. The kidneys are pressed, smooth, have a conical shape.
The leaves are ovoid wide, large, painted dark green. The plates are slightly pubescent, have small-banded edges and slightly twisted apex. Glossy surface with deep venation. Petioles of medium thickness, long, characterized by weak hairiness.
Flowers
Inflorescences of a dense structure, corymbose type. They can include four to six flowers. The buds are painted in a delicate white-pink hue. The flowers are medium sized, with rounded petals, unclosed. Stigmas are on a par with anthers, and sometimes slightly higher.
Fruit
Freshness is an apple tree (you can see the photo in the article), which produces fruits of medium and larger size: one apple weighs from one hundred thirty to one hundred and forty grams. There are larger specimens, but they do not exceed two hundred grams.
The shape of the fruit is barrel-shaped (slightly flattened on the sides), with wide ribs. The peel has a smooth surface with a glossy sheen. Color during the period of removable ripeness is greenish-yellow, has strokes and stripes of red color expressed on most of the apple. Pedicels of medium length and thickness, are inclined, straight. Seed chambers of the closed type. Seeds are large, dark brown. Their shape is conical, narrowed. The pulp has a greenish tint, fine-grained and dense structure. It easily splits upon impact.
The fruits are very juicy, with a weak delicate aroma. The taste of apples is sweet and sour. On a five-point tasting scale, experts evaluate their external attractiveness by 4.3 points, palatability - by 4.2 points. If you compare with the famous Antonovka, then its attractiveness was rated at 4.1 points, and the taste characteristics deserved 4.0 points.
Useful material
Fruits are rich in vitamins and beneficial substances. They contain:
- 0.77% titratable acids;
- 9.2% sugars;
- 12.4 mg / 100 g ascorbic acid;
- 436 mg / 100 g of P-active substances;
- 17.8% of pectin substances.
Fruits are suitable for processing (jam, juices, jams, etc.) and conservation. The period of removable ripeness begins in late September. Apples are stored without losing their taste until the end of May. Freshness is an apple tree, which gives an average yield of 187 centner / ha.
Landing and care
An apple tree can be planted both in autumn and spring. Gardeners recommend buying seedlings before planting, and it is better when their roots are open - you immediately see the state of the root system at the moment. The purchased seedling must be prepared for planting: cut off sick or broken roots, treat sections or wounds with powdered charcoal, and spread the roots well. The buds on the seedling should not be swollen.
Where to plant an apple tree?
This variety is unpretentious in care, but it is very important to choose the right place for planting in the garden. Apple-tree Freshness will quickly grow and develop correctly in a well-lit area, close to a tree of another variety. This is due to cross-pollinated.
Priming
You should not dig a very large pit: no more than one meter wide and sixty centimeters deep. The soil in it should be well loosened and fertilized. It should be borne in mind that with a glut of planting soil, Freshness (apple tree) quickly adds to growth, but at the same time sparsely fructifies. When planting a seedling, pay attention to how the root neck is located. Its correct position is on the level with the soil.
Seedling care
After planting, the seedling should be abundantly watered. Proper care of the apple tree is a set of measures that consists in carrying out simple measures:
- timely and regular inspections of the plant;
- healing of wound surfaces and damage;
- removal of damaged or dry shoots; loosening of soil around a tree;
- stem whitewash (in spring);
- pest treatment.
Winter preparations
In autumn, a young tree is spudded to a height of up to twenty centimeters, the trunk circle is mulched with humus, compost or peat, and the trunk is whitened with a chalk solution. If rodents that do not mind eating the apple bark rage in winter, tie tree trunks with reeds or lapniks. In the first year of life, the apple tree does not need autumn dressing - it is quite enough for the organics located in the mulch.
Fruit storage
If you want to keep fresh apples, then for this you should use a wooden container. Crates with fruits are placed in a cool room (basement, cellar).
Diseases and Pests
Freshness is an apple tree that rarely gets sick. Due to the presence of the Vf gene, it is not susceptible to fungal diseases, moreover, its level of resistance to scab is quite high. However, these trees can also be affected by diseases such as a bacterial burn, black cancer. How to deal with them? We will deal with this in more detail.
Bacterial burn
May occur due to improper care. The main means of dealing with it is disinfection and the destruction of foci of infection.
Black cancer
As a rule, it develops on a young tree. It is important to prevent this disease from entering the area. A good prevention of the disease is the introduction of potash fertilizers.
No less disturbing symptom is the appearance of pests on the apple tree.
- If the plant was hit by green aphids , it is necessary to treat the tree with dandelion infusion.
- When an apple moth appears, a solution of chlorophos is used - this is the only tool that can destroy this pest on an apple tree.
- The Nitrofen solution will help you get rid of the leaflet.
Grade Advantages
According to breeders and experienced gardeners, the indisputable advantages of the apple tree Freshness is resistance to the five races of the scab of leaves and fruits. In addition, the late ripening period, high productivity, the possibility of long-term storage of fruits (until the end of spring) and high commodity characteristics should be considered pluses.
Apple Tree Freshness: reviews
Despite the recent emergence of a huge number of new varieties and hybrids, experienced gardeners are happy to continue to grow these time-tested trees. They explain their choice by the simplicity of plant care, high productivity. The fruits have a pleasant taste, very juicy and fragrant. In addition, they make incredibly tasty jams and jams. The only advice for beginner gardeners from professionals is to plant Freshness next to other varieties of apple trees for better pollination.