Content
Many of us are familiar with the taste of Strifel apples since childhood. And few people know that these, such native, juicy and aromatic apples were first bred in Holland, where they received the official name "Streifling". Over time, the variety was brought to the Baltic States, and then spread throughout the post-Soviet space. Today, many gardeners grow these apples on their plots and call them autumn striped apples. So, why are Shtrifel apples so popular, and why hasn't there been a worthy replacement for this variety over the years? The answers to these questions lie in the characteristics of the apples and the tree themselves. In our article we will try to offer a photo, a description of the Shtrifel apple tree and reviews about it.
Description of the variety
There are a huge number of different varieties of apple trees, but many domestic gardeners prefer the Shtrifel variety. These apples have excellent appearance and taste characteristics. Along with the high quality of the fruit, the tree itself is also unique. We will try to tell as much as possible about its features and characteristics further in the section.
Description of the fruit tree
If a huge, powerful apple tree with spreading strong branches flaunts in the garden, then we can say with confidence that this is "Shtrifel". Its height can reach 8-9 m. This giant with a lush crown can cover a huge territory, displacing other trees and shrubs.
Apple trees of the Shtrifel variety are unpretentious and resistant to various climatic conditions. They can be found in the southern regions and in the north of Siberia. Fruit trees withstand the coldest winter temperatures remarkably well. And even if in some cases the crown is damaged, then its complete regeneration is observed after 2-3 years.
Apple trees "Shtrifel" actively grow greens and young shoots throughout the growing season. They need to be thinned out as the fruit tree grows. Removing excess vegetation will increase the yield of the apple tree and will be an excellent preventive measure to prevent the development of various diseases.
The adult branches of the Shtrifel apple tree are strong, drooping at the ends. They reliably hold the apple harvest, which sometimes weighs up to 430 kg. The bark of the fruit tree is dark with pronounced lenticels, slightly glossy. The buds of the Shtrifel apple tree are gray, elongated. The apple stalk is long.
The leaves of the "Shtrifel" are rounded, wrinkled. Veins are clearly visible on them. The leaf blades are covered with a characteristic fluff and curl inward. They are most densely located at the top of the shoot.
Apple variety "Shtrifel" always blooms profusely with white or slightly pink, large flowers. The first fruiting occurs only in trees aged 7-8 years.
Characteristics of apples
Having planted "Shtrifel", it is necessary to properly form the crown and take care of the tree for several years before you can taste a delicious, ripe apple. The first harvest in the amount of a few apples can be obtained 4-5 years after planting. Apples ripen in September. The average weight of fruits varies from 80 to 100 g.
The Shtrifel apple itself has a regular rounded, sometimes slightly ribbed shape. Its color is predominantly green-yellow, but it is not for nothing that the common people call "Shtrifel" an autumn striped apple. Indeed, along its entire surface, one can see longitudinal, rather bright, scarlet and red stripes.They are the hallmark of the Shtrifel variety. You can see a photo of apples in the section.
The taste of apples is wonderful: the light yellow pulp is juicy and sweet. It contains about 10% sugar and only 1% acid. Apples "Shtrifel", due to their rich microelement composition, are extremely useful. They contain 12% pectin and a large amount of nutrients. So, in 100 g of apples of the "Shtrifel" variety, there are about 130 mg of vitamins and a lot of fiber.
It is not without reason that a huge Shtrifel tree will occupy the area on the site: apples ripen in large quantities on its huge branches, with a total yield of up to 300-400 kg. Of course, in the early stages of cultivation, such a yield cannot be expected, therefore, in the early years, the gardener should give the fruit tree care and attention in exchange for the harvest of future years.
Disease resistance
Shtrifel apples are highly resistant to freezing, but, unfortunately, are susceptible to various fungal and viral diseases. The scab is the worst enemy for "Shtrifel". This fungal disease can affect fruits and spoil their appearance with numerous brown spots. To combat scab and other fungal diseases, it is necessary to regularly carry out sanitary pruning of trees and their treatment with folk remedies or chemicals.
Transport and storage
Having collected 300-400 kg of apples, it is unlikely that they will be quickly eaten or processed. It will also not be possible to store Strifel apples for a long time without some preparation. This can result in rapid rotting of the fruit. Therefore, if you decide to keep apples fresh, then you need to remember some rules:
- Do not wait for the apples to fully ripen and fall off the tree. To lay on storage you need slightly unripe fruit. They should be harvested in early September by carefully pulling them off the branch.
- Store "Shtrifel" in a wooden box in a cool, dry place with good ventilation.
- Apples with signs of illness or mechanical damage must not be stored.
- During storage, it is necessary to regularly revise the fruit and remove rotting specimens.
Thus, having collected a good harvest of Shtrifel apples, you should take care of the prompt processing of fruits or their sale. For storage, it is worth laying only the highest quality, slightly unripe apples.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
"Shtrifel" is a rather old variety that has imperfect genetics. It is quite difficult for him to "compete" with modern apple varieties, since he does not have high resistance to diseases, and his fruits cannot be stored for a long time. But at the same time, the popularity of the variety is the best proof that "Shtrifel" is unique and in demand due to its many advantages, which include:
- record high productivity;
- excellent unique taste of apples;
- high resistance of fruit trees to freezing;
- good transportability of fruits;
- high taste of fruit after processing.
Having decided to grow "Shtrifel" on your plot, you need to clearly understand its advantages and disadvantages and think in advance about how to use the huge harvest of apples.
Important rules for growing
It is preferable to plant a fruit tree in the spring for better survival. Before planting "Shtrifel", it is necessary to provide a place where this large plant will not shade important objects on the site or interfere with other fruit trees.The soil for "Shtrifel" should preferably be loamy or black earth. For planting, you should make a large spacious hole and prepare a nutritious soil with the presence of minerals and organics.
After planting and in the future, throughout the entire cultivation, "Shtrifel" must be watered regularly and abundantly. In hot, dry seasons, for every 1 m2 the trunk circle should have about 80-100 liters. water. For feeding adult trees, 0.5 tbsp should be applied to the indicated area. urea. Copper sulfate and boric acid can also be used as fertilizer in June. At the end of the fruiting period, phosphorus and potassium dressings should be added to the soil, which will help prepare the apple tree for winter and improve the taste of the fruit.
Every year in late autumn or early spring, you need to thin out the young shoots on the apple tree. This will help heal the plant. After 20-30 years of growing "Shtrifel", as a rule, there is a decrease in fruiting. In this case, it is recommended to deep prune the trees to completely rejuvenate the apple tree. Information on how to do this correctly can be found in the video:
Conclusion
A good apple harvest is very easy to obtain by growing the Shtrifel variety. A lot of fruits in the season can be used for fresh consumption, and for processing, sale. A tree of this variety is able to feed any family with healthy and tasty fruits. A generous harvest of apples of the "Shtrifel" variety will be a good gratitude to the gardener for his care and attention.
