Pink Lady's apples are popular all over the world. This late variety has large fruits, sweetness and a pleasant aroma. In our country, it can be grown only in the southern regions and the European part with a long and warm autumn. How to do this will be discussed in our material.
Grade description
Pink Lady's apples were bred by Australian breeders in 1979 by crossbreeding Lady Villeme and Gorden Delishes. The resulting variety has gained popularity among gardeners around the world, and now it is massively grown in France, Spain and Italy. The variety is medium late and is intended for regions with a warm climate. In our country, it takes root in the south, in the Crimea and some central regions, where in winter the temperature does not drop below -22 ° C.
A tree with a wide oval and thickened crown reaches 3 meters in height and 2 meters in diameter. She begins to bear fruit early, and the first crop can be harvested already in the third year after planting. But, unfortunately, culture does not live long - no more than 15 years. As a rule, the variety is grown on dwarf rootstocks. In this case, the seedlings are planted half a meter apart. Pink Lady apples reach technical ripeness in late October - mid November.
Fruit characterization
Pink Lady apples, the description of which is given in the material, is round-cone-shaped. They have a dense, glossy peel of a greenish yellow hue. It is covered with a light pink or red blush, which occupies up to 60% of the surface.
The pulp is dense, juicy, creamy. It has a sweet and sour taste and pleasant aroma. On a 5-point quality scale, they are rated at 4.9 points. When properly stored, Pink Lady's apples retain their freshness and taste for up to 10 months after harvest. In addition, the fruits have an attractive presentation, and they tolerate transportation well. Therefore, they are often grown for commercial purposes.
Composition, benefits and calories
Pink Lady apples are not in vain popular, because they are not only tasty, but also healthy. They include the following substances:
- potassium;
- calcium;
- phosphorus;
- iron;
- iodine;
- vitamins A, B, C.
In addition, apples contain pectin, fiber, organic acids and ash. Due to this rich composition, regular consumption of fruits enhances immunity, prevents diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory system. They are useful for obesity, diabetes, and metabolic disorders. The calorie variety of the Pink Lady variety is 55 kcal per 100 grams.
Household cultivation
Pink Lady apples, the photo of which is given in the article, belong to unpretentious cultures. And an inexperienced gardener can grow them. But for this you will have to choose a suitable site, as well as provide seedlings with proper care the first 1-2 years after planting. In the future, caring for the tree consists in regular pruning and top dressing.
Seat selection
For this variety, it is important to choose the right site. Where do Pink Lady apples grow faster and richer crops? In a sunny and open area. It is advisable that groundwater run no closer than 2.5 meters to the surface of the soil. If this is not so, then it is better to grow trees on dwarf rootstocks or to pre-drain the site.
The culture does not have any special requirements for soil. The main thing is that the soil is slightly acidic or neutral. In case of an acid reaction of the soil, add dolomite flour in advance at the rate of 500 g per 1 sq. m
Site preparation
Planting a seedling is best done in the spring. But it is advisable to prepare a pit for a tree since autumn. Then the soil will be well compacted and after planting the root neck will not go underground. For a culture, dig a hole with a size of 1 * 1 meter.
Mix 2 buckets of peat with humus and dug up soil and pour the mixture into the bottom of the recesses with a 10-centimeter layer. Leave the remaining soil until spring and immediately before planting, mix 1-2 handfuls of mineral fertilizers into it. If you plan to grow several trees nearby, then observe a distance of 3 meters between them.
Planting a seedling
Plant apple trees as follows:
- Hammer the peg into the bottom of the recess, to which you will then attach the seedling.
- Set the tree in the pit and spread its roots.
- Fill the voids with prepared soil so that the root collar is at ground level.
- Around the trunk circle, sprinkle a 10-centimeter mound. It will retain moisture when watering.
- Pour 4 buckets of water onto the tree.
- Tie a seedling to a peg.
When the moisture is completely absorbed, mulch the trunk circle with a 7-centimeter layer of sawdust, compost, peat or straw.
Tree care
Water the apple trees regularly the first year after planting. The quantity and volume depend on weather conditions. If the summer is not dry, then moisten the soil once a week. Starting from the second year, water the seedling only with a prolonged absence of rain, as well as during the laying of buds and during the ripening period.
To reduce watering, sprinkle mulch regularly. It will retain moisture, and also protect the plant from weeds. And you do not have to constantly loosen and weed the site. Stop adding mulch only after the seedling begins to bear fruit.
If there was a dry autumn, then arrange a water-charging irrigation for a tree at the rate of 10 buckets of water per 1 sq. Km. m. Thanks to this, you will increase the frost resistance of the seedling. In late autumn, dig a near-stem circle and add 2 buckets of humus and 1 liter of wood ash under each tree. So you protect the seedling from pests, improve air access to the roots. From the age of three, it is not necessary to take care of the plant.
Top dressing
Fertilizers that you planted during planting are enough for two years. Therefore, at the age of three, it is advisable to feed the seedlings, especially if your site has depleted soil. To do this, make a crowbar with 20-cm holes around the perimeter of the circle and pour granular fertilizers into them. Then top dressing will reach the roots. Next time, fertilize after 4 years.
Pruning
Apple trees of this variety quickly thicken, so form their crown immediately after planting. To do this, cut the center conductor into 3 buds and match the side shoots to it. In subsequent years, prune in late autumn or early spring, before the swelling of the kidneys.
During the event, remove all shoots growing inside the crown, as well as dry, damaged and broken branches. And do not forget to cut the tops - branches growing vertically. When the tree grows to 3.5 meters, transfer the conductor to the side branch. If you grow a medium-sized undergrowth, then perform this action with a seedling growth of 2 meters.
Pests
Pink Lady apple trees are often attacked by parasitic insects. And most often when growing this variety, gardeners are faced with such pests:
- Apple Weevil. These bugs are activated in early spring. To protect the culture from them, hang glue fishing belts on the trunk. When the temperature rises above +15 ° C, treat the seedling with insecticides.
- Moth This insect is very dangerous, especially during the formation of the fruit. Therefore, during this period, treat the seedling with insecticides.
- Green aphid. The insect appears during the formation of the fruit. It is introduced into the culture by ants. To protect yourself from pests, tie glue belts around the trunk.
If you do not like to use chemical agents against insects, then use the biological method of protecting plants from pests - the trichograms are populated. These beneficial insects find clutches of parasites and destroy them. You can buy a trichogram in a special laboratory. Unfortunately, beneficial insects do not tolerate frost, so they will have to be populated again every spring.
Disease
The species is resistant to powdery mildew. But sometimes affected by scab, cytosporosis and black cancer. To protect the seedlings from fungal diseases, treat the trees in early spring with a 3% solution of copper sulfate. For fungal infections, use fungicides such as Phytosporin, Scor, or HOM.
If you find a black cancer, which manifests itself as red-brown spots on the trunk and shoots, then immediately cut out all the damaged branches and burn them away from other trees. Treat the culture with a 3% solution of copper sulfate. If the disease hit the trunk, then save the plant will fail. And so that the disease does not spread to healthy trees, cut out the infected seedling.
It is not difficult to grow Pink Lady apples in a personal plot. The main thing is to provide seedlings with proper care the first time after planting, and in the future, the trees will annually bring a bountiful harvest of tasty and healthy fruits.