If you want to plant a fruit shrub, exotic rose or apple tree on your plot, not all amateur gardeners pay attention to the climatic zone in which their land is located. Meanwhile, this is of great importance for the normal growth, development, flowering and fruiting of a plant or tree.
If you are planting an apple tree in the fall in the suburbs, you should carefully prepare. You already know what you want to plant on the site, but you need to thoroughly prepare the soil and choose the right time for planting.
Climate of Moscow Region
In the Moscow region and Moscow itself, bitter frosts and summer heat rarely occur. Even if they do, they do not last long. Of decisive importance for the climate is the location of the Moscow region. And it was located in the very center of the East European Plain.
This allows free movement of cold or warm air. Due to the absence of large reservoirs, a large amplitude of temperature fluctuations is observed. The Gulf Stream, cyclones from the Atlantic and the Mediterranean provide a fairly mild winter.
So what autumn varieties of apple trees are best planted in the suburbs? Experts advise those that are designed for zone 4 B. It is also called the frost resistance zone.
In terms of area, the Moscow Region can argue with some European states, the climatic conditions of the south and north of the region are very different. Northern gardeners need to take this into account and purchase popular apple varieties for planting in the Moscow Region, paying attention to their frost resistance.
Season for planting an apple tree
You can plant young trees in spring and autumn. Each season has its own characteristics. More often, garden work on planting apple trees is carried out in the fall. During this period, the tree manages to restore the root system, strengthen for future growth.
If your choice fell in the spring, then the seedlings are placed in the ground when the ground has not yet thawed. Such a tree needs regular watering. A lack of moisture can adversely affect the development of the root system and the violation of its proportional development. In any case, planting apple trees in spring and autumn will require prepared soil.
Soil preparation
Planting apple trees in the fall in the suburbs is made in the pit, which digging out well in advance. This is done at least 2 weeks before the start of gardening. A good breeding ground is needed for rooting and developing the apple tree for the next few years. The average pit size for an ordinary apple tree is 80 x 80 cm. For a long-growing tree, a plot of 5 x 5 m is required, for dwarf varieties - 3 x 3 m.
It must be filled with the removed upper layer of fertile soil, compost, peat and humus. It is necessary to introduce rotten manure and about 7 handfuls of mineral fertilizer. Dig everything carefully and create a hill at the landing site, which will rise about 20 cm above the surface. This is done so that over time, the soil, compacting, does not sag much. Otherwise, the roots of the apple tree will be prone to freezing.
In the hole, it is necessary to lower the apple tree onto the mound, spreading the roots on its surface. Pour in water, drip and compact the ground. In order for the future tree to take root and grow evenly, it is necessary to tie it to three columns.
Selection of planting material
So, you have a young apple tree available, soil preparation and planting is planned for the near future. Did you choose the right seedling?
The bark should not be dry and wrinkled, if so, immediately put the tree in the water. Scrape the root with your fingernail, look at the color under the bark. It should be white and wet. The root system should be designed, well developed, at least 30 cm long. Remove dried, decayed processes.
You need to buy seedlings in nurseries closest to the tree planting site. Visit them, you will find a huge wealth of apple varieties for the Moscow region. This will guarantee the purchase of quality material, and not brought "southerner".
Varieties of apple trees for planting in the suburbs
When choosing a variety, it is necessary to pay attention that all varieties ripen at different times. If you want aromatic fruits to be constantly on the table, then you need to plant summer varieties that bear fruit in July – early September. Autumn brings crops from September to November. Winter apple varieties are removed in November, and they are stored until the first summer month.
So, summer varieties: Melba, Yubilyar, White filling, Orlinka, Medunitsa, Antonovka golden, Dessert Isaeva, Chudnoye, Cypress.
And what autumn varieties of apple trees to plant in the suburbs? These are: Bessemyanka, Antonovka, Korean, Oryol striped, Zhigulevskoye, Cinnamon striped, Uslada, Anis scarlet, Chosen one, Autumn joy, Lingonberry.
Well, for the sake of clarity, we will call winter varieties: Northern Sinap, Aport Red, Babushkino, Bogatyr, Borovinka, Moscow Winter, Russian, Smuglyanka, Mirnoye, Beauty Moscow, Winter Beauty, Belarusian Raspberry.
What are the features of varieties for the Moscow region
An apple tree is a universal tree that can grow in parks as an ornamental one. In the gardens, this tree gives magnificent, juicy, fragrant fruits. Proper planting of apple trees in the fall in the suburbs will provide long life to the seedling and fruiting. It develops well and grows. If the apple tree is stunted, then it lets out a lot of new young shoots and branches.
The root is well strengthened if there is a lot of free space. It grows over a large area. The roots that feed the tree develop in a one and a half meter surface layer, while others, on the contrary, grow inland.
Features of the varieties:
- Short ripening time.
- The climatic zone of the Moscow Region allows the apple tree to bear fruit once every two years.
- Summer varieties mature in late summer. Autumn fruits are removed from the tree in September, and winter fruits at the end of October and in November.
General characteristics of varieties
All varieties have different ripening dates, and in addition:
- The weight of the fruit can vary significantly. The smallest - 60 g, the largest - more than 200 g.
- Some apple trees yield stably every year, the other only after a year.
- The taste of apples: sour, sweet and sour, sweet.
- Different color of the fruit.
- The size of the tree is from dwarf to powerful and sprawling.
- Disease susceptibility: high, medium, weak.
- Ripening period and shelf life: summer - the middle and end of summer, fruits are stored for 1 week; Autumn - September – early October, stored 1-2 months; winter is removed from the tree in November, and stored until mid-summer.
Dwarf apple trees
Seedlings of dwarf apple varieties do not exist. The fact is that for this, an ordinary varietal seedling of an apple tree is taken and grafted onto a dwarf stock. The process is complex and long, it is unlikely to be able to produce independently on your site. Therefore, dwarf apple trees can be purchased only in the nursery.
Features of dwarf apple trees
- The stock restrains the growth of the tree. An adult plant can reach 2.5 m in height.
- The tree begins to yield early. Already in the second year you can get the fruits. They are large and juicy, bright in color.
- Small-sized trees can be cultivated in small garden plots.
- Productivity per unit area is higher compared to a conventional apple tree.
- Caring for a bonsai is the same as caring for a regular tree.
- The combination of winter hardiness, early maturity, productivity and ease of care.
So what are suitable for planting dwarf apple trees? For the suburbs, varieties are determined by the following list:
- Apple tree dwarfish Bratchud. The height of the tree reaches 2.7 m. Fruits weighing 110–150 g. They are slightly elongated in shape, with a slight ribbing. The skin is smooth, greenish yellow with a reddish blush. It is stored up to 4 months. Any fruit treatment is suitable . The tree bears fruit regularly. Harvest from a tree up to 120 kg.
- Apple-tree dwarfish Carpet. The crown of the tree is flat. Fruits are larger than average size. The peel of the apple is a little oily, smooth. The color is greenish with a red dense blush. Harvest from a tree tall.
- Apple tree Snowdrop. A tree with a flat crown. The fruits are medium in size, round. The color of the fruit is green with a pinkish blush, sweet and sour taste. Productivity is high.
- Dwarf apple tree Landing. Low, flat crown. The fruits are medium-sized, round. Color is green with a red blush. The taste of apple is sweet and sour. High productivity and winter hardiness.
- Apple-tree dwarfish Sokolovskoe. Crohn is flat. Fruits are larger than average, rounded. The taste is sweet and sour.
- Apple tree dwarf Wonderful. Fruits from 110 to 140 g rounded with intense red blush. The taste is sweet and sour. It is stored for a short time, not more than 1 month. The variety is resistant to winter frost.
Features of planting this type of tree
If your choice is dwarf apple trees for the Moscow region, select varieties taking into account the requirements for the duration of storage of the crop. Of course, do not ignore the taste of the fruit.
Planting an apple tree in the fall in the Moscow region on a dwarf stock should be made in a prepared hole. Its depth is 60 cm, diameter - 80 cm. In size it is not much different from the pit for an ordinary apple tree. This is due to the weak root system of the dwarf seedling. Landing is best done no later than the end of September, in the spring - in mid-April. The roots should be deepened, but the root neck should be left at least 5 cm above the surface.
For a small tree, which gives a rich harvest, additional support is needed. It can be pillars to which a tree is tied, or a lattice. Choose a place where there is enough sunlight - at least 6 hours of open sun in the summer.