Jonathan is an apple variety that has been bred in the United States from a variety called Aesop Spitsenburg, which is currently not popular. Jonathan apples appeared at the end of the XIX century and immediately received worldwide recognition. This is a variety that ripens late, so it is widespread in the southern regions, where winters are quite mild. It is very popular and occupies a leading position among fruit producers. Since 1954, Jonathan apple trees appeared in Ukraine. The State Register of the Russian Federation recommends growing apples of this variety in the North Caucasus.
Why do people prefer these apples
Many people like the Jonathan variety, whose apples taste great, as they are moderately sweet and juicy. The fruits are strong, and taste a bit like a pastry cream. Apples have a wonderful aroma, although they have a little acid in them. In freshly picked apples, the flesh has a greenish-white color. If the fruit is fully ripe, then the flesh is light yellow and has a dense structure. This variety is great for making jam, jam or compote.
Eating fruits such as Jonathan apples, photos of which can be seen below, you get a lot of different trace elements, organic acids, vitamins. So, for example, ascorbic acid in 100 grams of apples contains about 6 mg.
Apples of such varieties as Pamyat Pavlov, Aidored, Prime, Makfi, and others were bred from apples of the Jonathan variety. In total, there are about forty. And all this thanks to the excellent qualities of Jonathan apples.
Plant description
Jonathan varieties usually reach medium size. They have a round and wide crown, also of medium density. Tree branches often lean down due to the severity of ripe fruit.
The shoots of apple trees have a greenish-brown color, in thickness they can be medium or thin. Leaves are small or medium, have an elongated ovoid shape, the edges are slightly wavy. The surface of the sheet is matte, slightly wrinkled. A distinctive feature of the Jonathan apple tree was the color of the leaves. It is green, but has a bluish-silver coating.
The apple tree blooms profusely. 16-32% of fruits are tied with free pollination. With artificial self-pollination, 5-7% of the fruits are tied, under natural conditions - 2.5-3%.
The variety is named after the handsome masculine name Jonathan. Apples are also very attractive. They are bright, juicy and beautiful. Usually the fruits are not very large, although they can grow to a decent size. One apple usually has a weight of 105-150 grams. Has a round or slightly conical shape. The skin is smooth, thin enough, but elastic and dense. Jonathan - apples are bright red in color, but if they are grown in a cooler climate, they have green stripes. There are bright spots under the skin, but they are not very noticeable. Rarely on the fruit can there be a light mesh.
Features of care and storage
Jonathan apples can ripen from mid-September to mid-October, and the crop can be harvested until about April. Fruits must be stored in a cool room at a temperature of 0 to 4 degrees Celsius. Sharp temperature fluctuations must not be allowed; this leads to weight loss and rotting.
Humidity in the room should reach 90-95%. Also, if stored improperly, fruits can become bitter, stained, wilted. But on the other hand, apple trees give a rich harvest, and young trees begin to bear fruit already for 4-5 years. But for a large crop you need to create the necessary conditions. The soil must be well fertilized, otherwise the fruits will become small and will not hold well on the branches. If there is enough fertilizer, then from one tree you can harvest 85 kg. The maximum yield was recorded - 490 kg of fruit from one tree.
In addition, apples perfectly tolerate transportation - this is another plus to all the advantages of the variety, which was evaluated by producers.
Variety disadvantages
Apple trees are afraid of the cold, they may freeze old wood. And this, in turn, can lead to various diseases (mold, rust, scabs) and a decrease in yield. Jonathan - apples that can be affected by powdery mildew, so in areas where humidity is high, they did not gain much fame. During fruit storage around April, spots characteristic of this variety appear that spoil the appearance of apples.