Spartan is an apple tree that was bred in Canada, Columbia in 1926. Specialists of the Summerland station got this variety by crossing Yellow Newtown and Mekintosh. In Russia, this apple tree is considered quite popular. Many characteristics make it an excellent choice for growing in a summer cottage.
Too tall this tree does not grow. His crown is neat, rounded flat, not particularly thick. Picking fruits from it is very convenient. A feature of this variety is late ripening. The fruits ripen in November. This variety is also good because apples do not crumble from the tree when ripe. A fruit with a sufficiently long stalk is very firmly held on a branch.
Spartan is an apple tree characterized by early maturity. In the event that a vegetative stock was used, the tree will begin to bear fruit in the third or second year after grafting. With the seed method of apples, it will be possible to wait only for the fifth year. The variety belongs to the dessert variety dining room and is distinguished by excellent taste. Fruits have a rounded, slightly flattened shape. The pulp is very delicate, white, slightly chipping, interesting sour-sweet taste.
The fruits are not too large in size. However, Spartan is an apple tree that produces fairly high yields. This explains its popularity with our summer residents.
The weight of an apple is usually around 90 grams. And only in very rare cases can a large fruit be seen on a branch up to 120 g. Apples, in addition to being slightly flat, can in some cases also have a round-conical shape. Their color is very pleasant and appetizing. The main color is light yellow. However, it is almost imperceptible. The fact is that the crimson integument in fruits of this variety occupies almost their entire area. The appearance of the apple is also affected by the presence of intense wax coating of a bluish color. Therefore, the fruit looks bright and attractive.
Another undoubted advantage of these garden trees is that their apples are stored for a very long time compared to other varieties. The fruits plucked in the fall in the refrigerator can lie completely without harm to themselves until April. Under ordinary conditions, they will not rot within three to four months. Fruits a tree annually, which can be considered another of its advantages.
Anyone who wants to see the Spartan apple variety in his garden should take into account the fact that his winter hardiness is not too high. Therefore, it is best to use winter-hardy varieties as the skeleton-forming agent. Great for this purpose, for example, Antonovka vulgaris, Sharopay, as well as Cinnamon striped.
As for disease resistance, for those who do not want to spend time fighting pests and infections, one of the desirable varieties will be the Spartan apple tree. A description of it in authoritative sources is usually supplemented by information that this tree is notable for its good resistance to scab, bacterial cancer, and powdery mildew.
The disadvantages of Spartan include, first of all, the fact that its fruits do not differ in too large sizes. Relatively low winter hardiness can often also cause a gardener to choose another variety. However, the excellent taste of apples and their excellent keeping quality make this tree very popular. In the end, grafting the stalk to some winter-hardy variety already available in the country is not difficult for many. So Spartan is an apple tree that is well suited even for cultivation in the middle lane, not to mention the southern regions.