Content
The compact, high-yielding, undemanding variety has won the hearts of many gardeners. Let's see what he is good at and whether he has any drawbacks.
Breeding history
The variety was developed back in 1974, but for a long time it was known in a small circle. Obtained from crossing the varieties Vozhak, compact columnar, and Abundant, by the domestic breeder I.I.Kichina.
Description of the variety and characteristics
Variety President is recommended for cultivation in Samara, Moscow and other regions.
Adult tree height
The variety belongs to semi-dwarf trees, the height of a five-year-old plant does not exceed 2 meters. With an average level of agricultural technology, it grows to 1.70 - 1.80 cm.
Fruit
Fruits are large, rarely medium. The weight of one President apple is from 120 to 250 grams. The peel is thin, of medium density. Keeping quality is low. At temperatures above 15 degrees, signs of wilting appear in a month. When stored at a stable temperature of 5-6 degrees, the shelf life increases to 3 months.
The apple color is yellow-green with a characteristic blush. The fruits are elliptical in shape.
Yield
Average yield - 10 kg per tree. Fruiting columnar apple tree varieties President is very dependent on the level of plant care. When using intensive agricultural technology, you can get up to 16 kg of selected fruits.
Winter hardiness
The stability of the columnar apple of the President variety to subzero temperatures is low. Freezing of shoots, including the apical one, is possible. If the soil freezes at a depth of more than 20 cm, the root system may die.
Frost holes pose a particular danger to the President's columnar apple tree. If the bark is damaged, the tree may become infected with fungal diseases. It is necessary to treat the cracks as quickly as possible, it is advisable to add a systemic fungicide to the mixture.
Disease resistance
Subject to all the requirements of agricultural technology, trees of this variety easily resist diseases. With any errors in care, immunity is significantly reduced.
Crown width
The crown of an apple-tree of the President variety is not wide, up to 30 cm. The foliage is high.
Self-fertility
For the formation of the fruits of the apple variety President, special pollinators are not required. However, trees surrounded by related crops are believed to yield more yields.
The frequency of fruiting
Weakly expressed. As a rule, the columnar apple of the President variety bears fruit annually.
Tasting assessment
The apple pulp is fine-grained, juicy. The taste is sweet and sour, pronounced. The aroma is strong, characteristic of the variety. Tasters rate this apple quite high, up to 4.7 points.
Landing
Before planting, you need to know the characteristics of the soil and the level of groundwater. Neutral, well-drained soil is suitable for growing a columnar apple tree President. Acidic soil is necessarily deoxidized with dolomite flour. In places with a high level of groundwater, apple trees are not planted. Elevated sunny areas, well protected from the wind, are suitable for planting. The tree easily tolerates slight shading.
The root system of the columnar apple tree President is small, therefore, when planting, the planting pit is carefully prepared. The depth is enough 60 cm, it is advisable to dig at least 70 cm in width. The pulled out soil is crushed, compost, rotted manure, and if necessary, sand are added. The amount of additives depends on the soil. In heavy clay - pour a bucket of sand, such an additive is not required for sandy soil.
A sapling of a columnar apple tree President is placed in a pit, holding it in weight, and carefully falling asleep. The place of the root collar should be at least 10 cm above the ground level, it cannot be buried. After planting, pour abundantly, at least 2 buckets in each pit.
In autumn
Autumn planting begins, focusing on the beginning of leaf fall. Minor frosts will not prevent the President's apple tree from recovering in a new place; a dry autumn may pose a danger. If there is no rain, the apple tree is poured abundantly every 3 days.
In the spring
Spring planting of apple trees begins after the soil has completely thawed. If necessary, you can speed up the process - cover the pit with black material, for example, agrofibre.
Care
A lot depends on the correct agricultural technology - the health of the tree and the future harvest. You should not neglect these requirements, you can lose valuable garden culture.
Watering and feeding
Apple tree President requires regular watering, in spring and autumn at least once a week. Particular attention should be paid during flowering and the formation of ovaries, the number of waterings is increased up to 2 times a week. Summer watering depends on the amount of precipitation; additional moisture will be needed for the apple tree 5 days after heavy rain. It is not worth watering more often, excess water reduces the supply of oxygen to the root system.
Very good results are obtained when using drip irrigation systems in combination with soil mulching. Stable moisture stimulates plant development and promotes good yields.
Fertilization begins in the second year of the life of the apple tree, from the beginning of the growing season. Immediately after the snow melts, saltpeter, dry or diluted, is added to the root circle. Usually, a tablespoon of fertilizer is used per tree; for some manufacturers, the recommended dose may differ slightly.
The second application is carried out, if necessary, after the start of the green mass build-up. Too light, especially with yellowness, leaves, may indicate a lack of phosphorus. You can use any complex fertilizer containing this trace element.
Before the flowering of the columnar apple, the President must apply potash fertilizers. Potassium improves the general condition of the plant, increases the number of ovaries. The second time this fertilizer is added during the ripening of the fruit. It has been proven that an increased amount of potassium stimulates the formation of sugars in fruits.
In the autumn, when preparing a tree for wintering, a complex of fertilizers is applied, which does not contain nitrogen.
Preventive spraying
A healthy tree needs 3 sprays during the growing season. If the tree itself or neighboring plants show signs of disease, the number of treatments increases.
The first processing of the columnar apple by the President is carried out in the spring, before the appearance of green buds. It is necessary to destroy the spores of the fungus that could hibernate on the bark. To do this, you can use Bordeaux mixture or other fungicides.
After the appearance of the first leaves, a second treatment is carried out, systemic fungicides and insecticides are used.
The last processing of the columnar apple of the President variety is carried out in the fall, after the end of the leaf fall.The tree is sprayed with contact fungicides.
Pruning
Formative pruning of the President variety apple is not needed, it is quite sanitary. In the spring, dry or damaged branches are removed, thin and poorly developed ones are also removed. If several branches grow in the same direction and can compete, leave one strongest, the rest are removed.
Shelter for the winter
The winter hardiness of the columnar President apple tree is relatively high, but even in the southern regions it is advisable to make a shelter in order to avoid the appearance of frost cracks. Under normal conditions, it is enough to tie the trunk with agrofibre and fill the root section with 2 - 3 buckets of humus.
In colder regions, spruce branches or other insulating material are fixed on top of agrofibre. Snow around trees must be trampled several times to avoid damage by rodents. Also, to protect against pests, it is advisable to leave the pickled grain in the access zone of rodents.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The undoubted advantages of the President's columnar apple are yield, excellent taste characteristics, and sustainable fruiting. The disadvantages include poor drought resistance and low keeping quality of fruits.
Pests and diseases
With regular preventive spraying, diseases and pests annoy the columnar apple rarely, but it is still necessary to know the signs of the most common problems.
Scab
Fungal disease, attacks young shoots. It is characterized by the appearance of green spots of various shades, which gradually darken.
Powdery mildew
Fungal disease. Whitish spots appear on the leaves and bark.
Bacterial burn
The disease is caused by bacteria that develop intensively in the warm, humid season. The branches of the trees darken, gradually acquiring a black color.
Aphid
Small, translucent insect, sucks sap and nutrients from young parts of the tree.
Mite
A very small insect. The appearance can be seen by the raised areas on the leaves and fruits of the apple tree. The affected parts turn black over time.
Conclusion
Of course, the President's columnar apple tree is a promising inhabitant of the garden plot, but in order to enjoy the fruits for a longer time, it is still worth planting several other varieties.
