Apple lovers sometimes find it difficult to choose a variety for planting on their site. Among the incredible variety of varieties of this fruit, today we decided to choose the Melba apple tree variety. The feedback of experienced gardeners allows us to talk about him as one of the most delicious and unpretentious in the process of growing and care.
In this article, we will share with you the most important information about planting and caring for this fruiting tree. And also give a detailed description of the varieties of apple "melba", reviews about it and varieties. And we will start with the history of the variety.
History
This apple variety is one of the oldest in the world. It was received almost a hundred and twenty years ago. The story of the creation of the Melba apple tree dates back to 1898. The first apples were given by young seedlings obtained by free pollination of the Macintosh apple variety . The merit in this discovery belongs to Canadian breeders from Ottawa. They liked the taste of the fruit so much that it was decided to create a new variety, named after the Australian opera singer Nelly Melba, which was very popular in those days.
After several years, the apple tree also entered the territory of our country, where it successfully took root and established itself as an unpretentious late-summer variety. During the years of the Soviet Union, the Melba apple tree, a photo of which is so familiar to all current lovers of this fruit, was included in the State Register.
To date, this variety is distributed throughout the world, but is especially popular among residents of the southern regions of our country and countries of the former Soviet Union.
Description of the Melba apple tree
When it comes to the apple tree, it is necessary to add a description of its fruits. In the case of this variety, these are rather large, rounded apples, each weighing about 150 grams. The shape of the fruit is round, it expands slightly to the base, and the surface has a simultaneous combination of ribbing and gloss. The main color of the ripe fruit is pale green with white dots under the skin and a red striped barrel. Juicy snow-white pulp has a sweet taste with a light and pleasant acidity.
A distinctive feature of this variety is the unique aroma of ripe apples - the smell of sweets. Due to this quality, these fruits often become the basis of jams, preserves and many fruit desserts.
In the description of the Melba apple tree, it is worth noting the high content of ascorbic acid in its fruits. Vitamin C is one of the most powerful stimulants of the immune system, and therefore the use of these apples is an excellent prevention of colds. A large number of pectins involved in the metabolic processes of the body makes apples indispensable in the diet of each of us.
In general, trees of this apple variety are of medium height, have a columnar shape in the first few years. Every year, the trunk and crown of the apple tree expand, the tree takes on a spherical shape. The bark of a young trunk has a cherry hue, which darkens over time and becomes almost brown in color.
The leaves are slightly elongated and curved, oval, juicy green. During flowering, the apple tree is abundantly covered with flowers of a white-pink hue with a purple bud, a delicate aroma of which spreads far around.
General characteristics
The speed of harvest depends on climatic conditions. On average, apples can begin to be harvested as early as mid-August. In cooler climates, the timing of the harvest is shifted by almost a month. If you are planning a long-term storage of fruits, then you need to collect them slightly immature - when stored in a refrigerator or cellar, they will ripen on their own and acquire unusual taste.
One of the positive aspects when growing the Melba apple tree is considered to be high productivity. From the third or fourth year of cultivation, the tree gives at least 80 kilograms of the crop. However, the older the tree, the less it gives apples, more often it shows a state of rest.
Varieties
About twenty different varieties of these fruit trees were developed on the basis of the Melba apple tree variety. A description of the most popular of them we will provide in this section.
- Prima is the brainchild of American breeders who, on the basis of Melba, derived the VF gene from an apple tree, which is responsible for almost complete scab resistance.
- "Caravel" - one of the Canadian varieties of apple trees, characterized by higher resistance to cold and early ripening.
- "Melba red" is an apple tree, which is a direct clone of the main variety. Its main difference is considered to be increased frost resistance, which allows this variety to be grown not only in the southern, but also in the middle lane. Another advantage over the original is scab resistance.
- "Cherished" is a legendary variety, bred in 1958 on the basis of apple trees Melba, Saffron Pepin, Purple Ranetka and Autumn Joy. A distinctive feature of this variety is its high resistance to pests and diseases, as well as the ability to tolerate cold climate conditions.
- "Early scarlet", "red scarlet" - two varieties derived from the "melba", which were obtained by Russian breeders. "Early scarlet" was obtained by combining "melba" and "papierka"; the spring variety was involved in the creation of "red scarlet".
Landing and soil preparation
Due to the rather high susceptibility of the Melba apple tree to frost, it is very important to weigh the pros and cons before planting it on your site. You must take into account all the features of the climate of your region. If you live in one of the southern regions, then you have nothing to fear. In this case, it is very easy to choose the best landing place. The only requirement is the presence of a small hill on the site, where excess moisture can not accumulate, leading to decay of the root system of the tree, especially this applies to groundwater in spring. If there are no hills on your site, then organize an artificial outflow of water, pulling out a channel.
The apple-tree cultivar Melba prefers a high content of clay and sand in the soil, since the latter provides oxygen access to the root system.
If the soil on your site does not meet these requirements, pre-prepare the pits for planting trees. To do this, pour a layer of sand on the bottom of each pit, then a layer of grated peat and a large layer of compost. Soil with such components will provide your trees with better survival, protection against diseases and a higher and higher quality crop in the future.
Landing process
You can plant an apple tree both in autumn and in spring. The first option is considered the most preferable, since during the winter the tree is quenched and the roots damaged during planting are restored. But autumn planting is permissible only in winter frosts not exceeding the -20 ° C mark.
If you have already chosen a good place for trees and prepared the soil, then you can safely proceed to the description of the planting of the Melba apple tree.
One of the important aspects of planting is maintaining the distance between future trees - it should vary from 3 to 8 meters. Such a large distance is due to the need for sufficient space for the normal development of the root system and the crown of the tree. The landing pit should have a diameter of not less than a meter and a depth of about 80 centimeters. Drainage must be present at the bottom of the pit. To do this, you can use old tin cans and walnut shells.
The earth dug from the pit is divided into two parts, one of which must be saturated with peat and humus. The unfertilized part of the soil is poured with the lower layer, on which the seedling is placed and sprinkled with the enriched part of the earth, slightly trampling it at the end of the planting. With a small height of the seedling, you can place a stick next to it, which will serve as a support in strong winds. After planting, the seedling spills abundantly with water.
Care Features
To obtain a healthy and strong harvest from the Melba apple tree (photo later in the article), simple, but correct and timely care is required.
It includes the treatment of wood with drugs that protect it from the effects of harmful insects and diseases. This treatment begins the next year after planting the seedlings and is carried out twice: during the period of swelling of the buds and as close to the time of bud blooming.
An effective way to protect against pests is the whitewashing of trunks in the middle of the fruitful season.
Top dressing begins with the third year of growing apple trees. The best fertilizers for this tree are compost and humus. Feeding with wood ash, fallen leaves and dried grass is also good. In autumn and spring, dig around the trees to saturate the roots with oxygen. The apple tree requires regular and plentiful watering, especially in the year of planting - every 2-3 days it is necessary to add about one and a half liters of water. In dry summers, the frequency and abundance of watering increases. To preserve moisture in the ground for a longer time, it is better to water in the evening.
Pruning rules
Proper pruning and crown formation is the key to tree health and a guarantee of a rich harvest. Not only old but also young trees are pruned. In early spring, the apple tree undergoes a thorough inspection for the removal of old shoots. Young shoots are shortened, which stimulates the further growth of trees and the development of the crown. Do not be afraid to cut the young shoots too short, because they give the best harvest. It should be understood that excessively thick greens, as well as a high number of fruits, have a detrimental effect on the quality of the crop as a whole.
If the young seedling does not yet have lateral shoots, then the main one is shortened - until it reaches a meter height. In the presence of lateral shoots, they are cut to a height of about half a meter. When pruning, it is important to remove branches that grow at too acute angles to the trunk - such shoots will not withstand the weight of ripe apples. In older trees, the pruning principle is preserved: old branches are removed, young ones are shortened, and a common skeleton is formed due to strong branches growing at an obtuse angle. The lowest branches are cut to a length of about 3 centimeters, and the upper ones are even shorter. The length of the trunk should be 20 centimeters longer than its side shoots. The pruning intensity decreases only by the fifth or sixth year of the apple tree, as this can adversely affect the growth rate of the tree.
Diseases and Pests
When growing certain garden crops, you must be prepared for some difficulties, such as exposure to pests and the appearance of diseases. Three main diseases that can significantly undermine the health of your apple tree are:
- Scab. First appears in the form of small brown spots on the leaves, which gradually increase in size and affect the fruits. The growth of apples ceases, their surface cracks, becomes covered with gray spots. To prevent this disease, it is necessary to spray the tree with the preparations “Chorus” or “Oksikhom” in the spring.
- Powdery Mildew A common disease that affects almost all the plants on the site. They recognize it by a white coating, which blocks the access of oxygen and moisture to the leaves. Affected leaves dry quickly, turn yellow, curl and crumble. Powdery mildew also affects inflorescences, which leads to the absence of an ovary and, accordingly, future fruits. For the prevention and control of the disease, a tree is sprayed with a solution of the Topaz preparation during the blooming period, as well as treatment with copper chloride after flowering.
- Fruit rot. Another common disease among fruit trees. It appears in the form of white growths and brown spots on the fruits, soft to the touch. Infected fruits spontaneously fall and cannot be eaten - they must be destroyed. Three times spraying the apple tree with the preparations "Fundazol" or "Chorus" helps to get rid of this disease.
In addition to the above diseases, the Melba apple tree, like any other variety, is exposed to certain pests that affect the fruits. The most popular of them:
- Codling moth apple. Sticky belts and Zimbush, Fastak preparations can save a tree from these insects. Their solutions must be processed ovaries.
- Apple Scale. A rather dangerous insect that sucks juice from a tree, which leads to its drying out and death. To prevent its occurrence, treat the soil around the Aktara tree before flowering, wash the apple tree trunk with a brush with a solution of ash and tar soap.
- Apple Blossom. It affects the buds, laying off their larvae in them, which leads to drying and dying of flowers. The treatment of chlorophos helps to cope with this pest.
- Leafworms. With the advent of spring, green caterpillars begin to appear from the bark of trees, which hit the buds, and enfold the leaves with cobwebs. In mid-summer, the process of pupation of insects in twisted leaves begins. Treatment of a tree from this insect consists in treatment with nitrofen or chlorophos. For prevention purposes, the tree is processed in March.
Apple tree "Melba": reviews of experienced gardeners
They appreciate the fruits of this tree not only for their excellent taste, but also for the high content of a large number of trace elements and vitamins. Apples of this variety perfectly retain their presentation and taste during long-term storage and transportation.
But, despite the fact that in many reviews and descriptions of the Melba apple tree there are a number of advantages over others, it also has its drawbacks. For example, its average frost resistance. That is why it becomes almost impossible to grow this variety in the northern regions, in Siberia and even in the Far East. If proper care is not taken, the tree may suffer from scab and bear fruit not annually, but intermittently. Pollinators are obligatory for the Melba apple tree, since its self-pollination ability is rather low.
Winter preparations
As mentioned above, high sensitivity to frost is not the most pleasant feature of this variety. Therefore, there are special rules aimed at preserving the Melba apple tree in the winter. To shelter a tree from frost and pests (rodents, hares) use agrofibre or burlap. The material for wrapping the trunk should be a light shade. Otherwise, during the thaw period, the dark fabric will take on more sunlight and cause a tree to debate.
If the winter turned out to be especially snowy, then use snowdrifts from snow as an additional insulation. And in the spring meltwater will serve as an excellent watering. It is important to prevent the formation of an ice crust on the trunk and at the foot of the apple tree - it blocks the access of oxygen, which leads to death.