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It is almost unrealistic to find a garden without apple trees today. Every summer resident has his favorite varieties. And this is not surprising, because despite the variety of varieties, any apple tree has its own characteristics.
Apple tree Cherished - the result of crossing the varieties Melba and Autumn Joy. The Zavetnoye variety is valued by gardeners for its excellent frost resistance and resistance to pests and diseases. The apple tree belongs to the semi-cultivated early winter varieties. It bears fruit successfully in Siberia, in the Urals.
Description of the variety
The apple tree looks like a low tree with a spreading wide crown. The height of 3-3.5 meters is considered the maximum for this apple tree.
Throughout the summer, the sun evenly illuminates the entire crown, thanks to which it is well ventilated, and the apples ripen at the same time. A feature of the tree is the color of the bark of the trunk - dark brown.
The special affection of summer residents to this variety is also explained by the regular yield. Ripe fruits can be harvested from the second half of September, and up to 70 kg of bright apples are easily removed from one tree.
As a rule, the average weight of one fruit is 45-65 grams, and in the first years of growth - 75-80 grams. The decrease in fruit weight is explained only by the increase in the number of apples and does not affect the taste of the fruit in any way. The rounded apple has a pale yellow color with a deep red "blush" (as in the photo).
The fruit has a tender and juicy pulp, which is distinguished by good density. Some gardeners distinguish light notes of strawberries in the taste of the Treasured apple.
Apples acquire a special sweetness in the case of a cold autumn, when the harvest falls in late September-early October. In the case of a hot summer period, the time for picking apples also shifts - the fruits ripen at the end of August.
Advantages of the Zavetnoye variety:
- frost resistance;
- the beginning of fruiting from the age of four;
- good resistance to pests and diseases (especially scab);
- retains high productivity apple varieties Treasured of any age;
- simultaneous ripening of fruits;
- excellent keeping quality (up to 5 months) and decent transportability.
The ability to freeze in very severe frosts is considered a disadvantage of the variety.
Growing an apple tree
The planting procedure of the Zavetnoye variety does not cause difficulties even for novice gardeners. There is no clearly defined period for planting apple seedlings. Some summer residents prefer to plant in the spring - after the 20th of April, when the earth warms up better, but does not lose moisture from melted snow.
But in the regions of Siberia, it is not recommended to plant a tree at the end of summer, since the chances are high that the Cherished apple tree will not take root and die.
Planting stages:
- Prepare a pit for a seedling in advance. A suitable size is approximately 50-60 cm deep, 45-55 cm in diameter.
- The dug soil is mixed with manure, mineral fertilizers.
- The pit is 2/3 filled with a fertile mixture.
- For a seedling of the Zavetnoye variety, the roots are carefully straightened and placed in a pit. Cover with soil from above. At this stage, it is important to ensure that the root collar of the apple tree is not covered with earth. The root collar should be about 6-8 cm above the ground level.
So that the tree takes root reliably and does not break in case of bad weather, it is recommended to drive several stakes near the pit, between which to fix the treasured apple tree trunk (as in the photo).
Watering and feeding trees
One of the components of proper apple tree care is watering. In Siberia, it is recommended to water the Zavetnoye variety at least twice during the season. It should be borne in mind that in spring, an adult tree needs approximately 100 liters of water. In the autumn period after the foliage has fallen, it is also advisable to water the apple tree.
In the case of a dry summer period, the Zavetnoye variety is recommended to be watered twice: during the formation of the ovary and during the ripening of the apples. To prevent watering from being useless, it is recommended to make a round ditch around the trunk, approximately 10-15 cm deep. It is into the ditch that the water should be carefully poured.
Fertilization is also an important part of proper care for the Cherished apple tree. This variety has no special soil requirements. Liquid mullein is a great fertilizer option. In springtime, you can also sprinkle urea around the trunk circle.
Apple tree pruning
For the Zavetnoye variety, crown thickening is uncharacteristic. However, pruning branches is an important and necessary part of apple tree care.
Thanks to pruning, excess branches are removed (which interfere with each other or grow incorrectly), a crown is formed, and the tree is cleaned of old branches. It is recommended to carry out work in the spring with a pruner or a hacksaw. Pruning should be done before the buds begin to grow.
After the end of the work, it is recommended to treat the cut surface with garden varnish. Thanks to these actions, the slices are protected from infections and precipitation, do not dry out and heal more easily.
On old apple trees, pruning is carried out not only to remove excess branches, but also for the purpose of rejuvenation.
Protection against diseases and pests
The Zavetnoye apple variety is highly resistant to diseases and pests. In terms of prevention, it is recommended to spray the apple tree with a special solution: 700 g of urea, 50 g of copper sulfate are added to 10 liters of water. The procedure must be carried out before the beginning of the flowering of the Zavetnoye variety.
Particular attention should be paid to protecting the tree from moths, which can cause significant damage to the future harvest.
The fruit-mongrel is a butterfly that infects Zavetnoye apples. There are many ways to combat the pest. The most effective is the use of special chemicals - insecticides. The first processing of trees is recommended in late May-early June. For spraying, the following preparations are most suitable: Inta-vir, Kinmiks, Decis, Fury. The optimal processing time is a quiet evening without rain, when pest butterflies begin to fly.
The following treatments cannot be carried out with chemicals, so it is advisable to use folk remedies. As an option - infusions of pine needles, tansy, burdock. Apple trees are pollinated at the end of flowering and with an interval of about 2-2.5 weeks. As a preventive measure, you can advise planting dill, mustard between the cherished apple trees.
Many summer residents notice the fact that apple tree wood attracts small rodents. Therefore, it is necessary to apply measures to protect tree trunks, especially in the winter. It is advisable to carry out the following activities:
- clean the area around the apple tree trunk and burn the debris;
- dig up the soil near the tree;
- wrap the apple tree trunk with a protective cloth and secure it. If there is no suitable material, you can use spruce branches. Moreover, it is necessary to arrange them in such a way that exactly the needles are at the bottom. In addition, the protective layer can be sprayed with a rodent-repellent agent.
The Zavetnoye apple variety is undoubtedly very fruitful and unassuming, and therefore very popular. Many summer residents and gardeners were able to appreciate the advantages of the apple tree. Therefore, we recommend that beginners, lovers of apples, plant the Zavetnoye variety on the site.
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