Description and main characteristics of the autumn-winter apple variety Limonka
Apple fruits Lemons are among the delicious and mouth-watering ones. They have a rich lemon color and amazing aroma. What is the winter Lemon apple variety, what are its pros and cons, as well as other useful information about it further.
Description and features
In any gardening guide, Limonka refers to winter and autumn varieties. Its detailed description contains information that Limonka belongs to a well-known variety included in the state register of many Russian regions as the leading early summer variety.
It is of interest for horticultural enterprises located directly near cities or industrial areas, as well as for plots and garden associations. The variety was widely used in order to participate in the selection of apple trees. Thanks to him, more than 20 new types of apple trees were created.
Apple trees of this species belong to the autumn-winter trees, since the harvested crop can be preserved in winter, and it will not lose its taste, presentation and useful qualities. At the same time, with proper care, you can harvest a rich harvest.
Breeding history
The history of breeding this apple variety is not fully known. There is information that the origin of this species happened through the accidental crossing of two apple trees: Renet Semirenko and Granny Smith.
It was entered into the national register of Russia in the middle of the last century. Since these two apple trees contain citric acid, and the fruit looks like a lemon, the new variety was named lemon or Lemon. Sometimes the name Limonka is winter.
On the territory of Russia today, the variety is popular in the Krasnodar Territory, Adygea, North Ossetia and other regions.
What are the pros and cons of the variety?
Apples Limonka, like all types, has its own list of positive and negative qualities.
The advantages of the Limonka variety, thanks to which it became popular both in Russian regions and abroad, include the following:
- Long-term storage of the harvested crop.
- Unpretentiousness when growing a tree.
- Excellent heat and cold tolerance (withstands temperatures down to -35 degrees).
- Relatively early fruiting.
- Unique lemon flavor and color.
- Consumer demand due to low calorie content.
The main disadvantages include:
- Low resistance to diseases such as scab.
- The need for frequent pruning due to strong overgrowth.
Characteristics of the apple tree Limonka
Lemon is one of the best apple varieties for growing in central Russia. Such apple trees rarely get sick and bear fruit after the onset of three years. The fruits are large, truncated-conical and slightly ribbed.
The skin has a shiny yellowish color. Apples of this type contain a large amount of citric acid and beneficial trace elements that are necessary for the activity of the vascular system and digestion. They contain a lot of iron with potassium and calcium.
Tree size
If we talk about the size of the tree, then the Limonka apple tree has an average size and thickening. It has a spherical crown with a size of 30-40 cm, is characterized by late flowering and excellent winter hardiness.
On average, at the age of three years it reaches one and a half meters in height, and at the age of 5 years it grows by another 1.5 meters. In ten years it can reach 6 meters with normal development. In windy weather, a young tree needs support. The root system of the tree is compact.
Fruit assessment
Lemon fruits are of medium size, reaching one hundred grams. The color of unripe fruits is yellow-green. When ripe, they become golden yellow. The flesh of the fruit is creamy, firm, fine-grained and juicy. It has an excellent dessert taste and characteristic lemon acidity.
When overripe, the pulp becomes mealy. When pressed on the fruit, a pleasant aroma is felt. The skin has a smooth, thin, shiny texture, slightly covered with a waxy coating.
Apples Lemons ripen early, in the first decade of the last summer month. They are excellently stored in a cold place until spring, without losing their aroma and characteristic taste.
The fruit stem is of medium length, the funnel is of medium width and depth. The saucer is small and narrow, and the cup is closed. The seed nest is large, bulb-shaped. The seeds have an irregular short shape and a rich brown color. The sub-cup tube is short, tapered.
Winter hardiness
Apple trees tolerate winter cold relatively well. Flower buds are also characterized by high winter hardiness. Resistance to fruit and leaf scab is low. Lemons in the middle lane endure winter best around the country.
Disease and pest resistance
The variety is resistant to various diseases and pests. Severe frosts, as well as prolonged dryness, can reduce the immunity of the apple tree, but this will not affect its health in general. But in the vicinity of the affected tree, it can get sick.
How often it bears fruit
The tree begins to bear fruit at the age of 2-6 years... It bears fruits on ringlets and fruit twigs every year. Refers to early-growing fruit trees. Apple trees of this species are self-fertile, incapable of high-quality self-pollination. Therefore, for a high yield, it is required to plant them directly next to other apple trees.
Apple tree yield
The harvest is rich in the absence of disease and with proper care. A good tree yield, besides depending on the weather and general health, also depends on the load on the tree.
The greater the load on the branches of the tree, the less yield it brings. On average, at the age of two years, an apple tree of the Limonka variety can bring from 6 kg of harvest. The number increases every year of the tree's life. The peak of fruiting occurs at 6-40 years.
Distribution regions
Most often, Limonka apple trees take root in the steppe, forest-steppe zones and in woodland, on lands with fertile soil. Therefore, most often it can be found and grown in the south and in the middle of Russia.
