Description and characteristics of apple trees of the Augusta variety, growing, planting and care
In winter, fresh fruit is very necessary for man. But buying them in a store, you cannot be sure of their benefits. Therefore, it is better to grow your apples on the site, which are stored for a long time, and their taste becomes better at the same time. It is worth trying to grow one of the popular varieties of the August apple tree, obtained by biologists by crossing Papirovka and Orlik.
Description of the apple tree of August
The apple tree belongs to the late summer triploid fruit crop species. Such plants are obtained by crossing different chromosomes. Thanks to the work of breeders, the August apple tree was bred in a similar way. Therefore, she has many positive qualities. The tree is different:
- large rounded crown;
- shoots are thick, slightly pubescent;
- bark on the trunk and main branches is gray;
- fruits of medium size, weighing 160 grams.
In addition to its beautiful appearance and tasty fruits, the August apple tree is appreciated for being unpretentious in care and easily surviving climatic anomalies.
Variety characteristics
To choose a suitable apple variety for growing, you need to know its main characteristics. They are associated with yield, crop stability and apple palatability.
Dimensions of the tree
The hybrid is tall. The apple tree grows up to 4 meters. In a rounded crown, the branches are located at right angles to the trunk. The sparseness of the crown gives good illumination and airflow to the tree, which is important for fruiting.
Leaf size and color
On grayish branches and shoots from the buds, leaves of a light green color appear, slightly wrinkled. The leaf plate is large, wide, with a narrow toe at the top, helical. There are leaves on the branches that look like a spoon, since they have edges bent upward.
Annual growth
The apple variety grows every year from 7 to 10 centimeters. Therefore, the tree is classified as fast-growing.
Yield
The apples of the August hybrid reach technical maturity in the last decade of summer. Appreciate the apple tree for the fact that it can collect up to 20-25 kilograms of apples from a tree for 5-8 years. Subsequently, when collecting fruits, about 100 kilograms are obtained.
Periodicity in fruiting
The first fruits appear on an apple tree in the 4th-5th year of life.If the first harvests are small, then every year they increase.
Tasting assessment
Medium-sized fruits differ:
- oblong with ribbing;
- yellowish-green cover with a diffuse blush;
- whitish subcutaneous dots;
- fine-grained pulp;
- underdeveloped seeds, light brown.
The taste tasters give the apples 4.4 points. They contain from 10% sugar, and acid 20.6 milligrams per 1 apple in 160 grams.
Winter hardiness
The variety belongs to those types of fruit crops that firmly endure frosts at minus 30 degrees. Shoots and buds are rarely damaged by recurrent spring frosts.
Disease resistance
Breeders claim that the apple variety is completely free from scab. But other fungal diseases can arise from improper cultivation and tree care.
Advantages and disadvantages of the apple tree
For gardeners, the pluses in choosing the August apple variety are important. There are several of them, among which it can be noted:
- high marketability and keeping quality of fruits;
- dessert taste of apples;
- frost resistance and unpretentiousness of culture;
- the ability to grow a tree in many regions, not only with warm, but also temperate climates.
The disadvantages include susceptibility to certain fungal diseases. And ripe fruits of the variety are stored only for 1-2 months.
How to choose the right seedlings for planting
For planting, it is better to purchase hybrid seedlings in the nursery. There they will offer annual apple trees that do not yet have branches. Biennial specimens with 2-3 branches growing in different directions are also suitable. When buying, be sure to carefully examine the bark of the seedling, its roots. All parts of the plant should not have any damage, rotten areas.
Landing specifics
The late summer species of apple must be provided with such a plot in the garden so that it is comfortable to grow and bear fruit. It is required to correctly plant, as this procedure will allow the tree to develop correctly in the future.
Place and timing of boarding
Like any variety, Augusta needs a sunny spot in the garden. The northwestern or northeastern slopes are best suited. In this case, the soil should be nutritious, loose, neutral in acidity. The occurrence of groundwater at the landing site is at a depth of 2.5 meters.
The best time to plant an apple tree is spring or autumn. In April, planting is suitable in areas with cold winters, and in October, where winter comes on the calendar.
Pit preparation
After laying out the site, they begin to dig the planting holes. They are prepared in advance, 3-4 weeks in advance. Their depth should be from 40-50 centimeters with a width of 75-100 centimeters.
The required distance between seedlings
For a tall apple tree, it is necessary to dig holes with a distance of 5-6 meters between them. The same gap is left between the rows.
Landing technology
Before planting, a nutrient mixture is prepared from humus, superphosphate and potassium salt. Organics need 2-3 buckets, and 200-300 grams of mineral components are enough. All this is mixed with the fertile layer removed from the pit during digging. Fill the pit by a third. The seedling is kept in a chatterbox of clay for an hour, with roots in it.
On a mound, which is made in the middle of the hole, they put a tree, straightening the roots. A garter peg is stuck nearby. They begin to sprinkle the seedling with earth, leaving the root collar at ground level or higher by 1-2 centimeters.
After planting, the soil is tamped around the trunk with the soles of the feet and a roller is made. It is imperative to water the seedling by taking 3-5 buckets of water. Then a layer of humus or manure mulch is laid.
Features of tree care
For the quick adaptation of the apple tree and its development, proper care is needed. This includes crown formation and soil maintenance in the garden.
Pruning and shaping the crown
For young trees, it is necessary to shorten part of annual shoots by 1/3 or 1/5 of the length of the annual growth in spring or autumn. This creates a neat round crown with the correct arrangement of branches. Particular emphasis is placed on second order limb thinning. But if the growth is small, within 30 centimeters, then the shoots do not touch. It is necessary to complete the formation of the crown by the period of fruiting, that is, in the 4-5th year after planting.
In an adult tree, you need to remove those branches that are weak, damaged or grow inside the crown.
Pollinating varieties
To increase the yield of the August apple tree, varieties of fruit crops are planted nearby, which bear fruit at the same time as the hybrid. The August apple tree is partly self-fertile, so pollinators will make it more productive.
Watering
Irrigation of apple trees is carried out 2-3 times per season, using 50-60 liters of water per tree. In dry summers, the frequency of watering is increased.
Loosening and mulching
The apple tree trunk circle must be kept clean and loosened periodically. In spring and autumn, soil is dug up to a depth of 5-8 centimeters. Mulch is applied annually, changing the layer. Mulching is optional in wet summers.
Fertilizers
From the 2nd year of life, the tree needs organic and mineral fertilizers. In the spring, spill the trunk circle or grooves next to the apple trees with a solution of mullein in a ratio of 1: 5 or bird droppings - 1:12. After flowering, fertilizing is applied containing phosphorus and potassium. In August, after harvesting, it is also necessary to feed the apple tree with superphosphate and potassium salt, as well as wood ash.
Preparing for winter
Young seedlings of the Augusta variety are covered with spruce branches for the winter or wrapped in non-woven material. Mature trees need shelter only in areas where winter is famous for severe frosts and winds.
Diseases and pests of the Augusta variety
Scab-resistant apple tree is often affected by cytosporosis... This disease manifests itself in both young trees and adults. Symptoms can be found on the bark, which looks like goose bumps. Then the swelling grows. When the fungus spreads, flowers suffer, which dry and fall off. If you cut off diseased branches in time, then the tree can be saved. Prevention of disease is proper care of the apple tree.
Of the pests, aphids and moths most often attack the culture. It is necessary to fight parasites by treating with insecticides or solutions of laundry soap.
Harvesting and storage
Harvest fruits from trees in the second half of August during the month. They do not store for long, but apples can be processed into jam, jam. Use the fruit to make juice.
