Characteristics and description of the variety of apple trees Memory of Kovalenko, pros and cons
If you want to enjoy apples of decent taste until the onset of spring, it is recommended to look at the apple tree named Memory of Kovalenko. Today, garden culture is successfully grown by Russian gardeners of the middle lane, so it is worth familiarizing yourself with the advantages and studying information about the features of garden culture, which will help novice and experienced gardeners in obtaining a decent harvest.
Description of the variety
The apple tree of the Pamyat Kovalenko variety appeared thanks to the efforts of a team of Belarusian scientists. A distinctive quality of the new species is a low tree trunk and a compact crown shape. Such features allow today not to use dwarf rootstocks and form dense plantings.
The description refers the variety to late winter, which indicates the possibility of long-term storage of fruits. Initially, the hybrid was bred as resistant to cold and frost, but the cultivation practice of the last 10 years indicates that the trees are not resistant to too low temperatures.
Specifications
The Pamyati Kovalenko variety gives fruits of an attractive presentation, which allows it to be grown on an industrial scale. Apples have a regular round shape or a bit like a cone. Their average weight reaches 160 g.
The peel of the apple tree is dense, the surface is smooth, seemingly shiny and looks like a wiped with oil. At the moment of final ripening, the apples acquire a dark red color with a characteristic blush, which occupies most of the fruit.
Fruits are able to stay on branches for a long time, so the problem of massive crumbling is not typical for trees.
Pros and cons of the variety
The advantages of the variety include its compactness and good ability to form a crown of the correct shape. The advantages of a garden plant include:
- regular fruiting;
- high rate of fruiting of commercial quality of fruits;
- scab resistance;
- short terms in terms of the speedy return of fruits.
The taste and market advantages of apples are maintained over a long period. The disadvantages include the insufficient ability of trees to withstand prolonged low-temperature environmental conditions.
Size of an adult tree, annual growth
The trees of this variety are not very large, and the branches that form at almost right angles and the rarity of their location allow to increase the planting density. Shoots are of medium thickness and moderately growing. The height of the tree can reach 4 m, the diameter of the crown can be up to 3 m. On average, the annual growth is no more than 18 mm.
The frequency of fruiting
Gardeners note the regularity and sufficient abundance of apple-bearing fruit. During the cultivation process, data on the periodicity of the yield was not noted. The first fruits are obtained in the 4th year. When using a semi-dwarf rootstock, the fruiting period is 2 to 3 years, but the size and weight of apples is reduced.
Yield
The hybrid is characterized by stability and regularity of the yield. When grown on personal plots, the yield indicator is from 40 to 50 kg. On an industrial scale, the value can reach 30 t / ha.
Tasting assessment
The apple pulp has a yellowish cream color. The structure of the fruit is dense, juicy, fine-grained. The fruits have a sweet-sour dessert flavor and a pronounced apple aroma. On a tasting 5-point scale, the species received a rating of 4.5, and taste was recognized as the standard.
Frost resistance
There are different assessments regarding the winter hardiness of the variety. Most experts classify the plant as winter-hardy, and assess the ability to tolerate cold as good. Trees overwinter well in middle Russian regions and are able to withstand a temporary drop in temperature down to -45 ° C.
Disease resistance
The advantage of horticultural culture is the resistance of apple trees to scab. The weak point of horticultural culture is the wood and bark of the tree, which may not withstand the invasion of pests and diseases.
The timing of flowering and ripening of fruits
Hybrid Kovalenko Memory begins to bloom in May, but the timing can be adjusted by weather conditions. The late winter ripening period makes it possible to harvest in the last days of September. The fruits can be eaten immediately or harvested for long-term storage. Fresh apples retain their taste and appearance until February.
Favorable growing areas
A good indicator of the yield and survival rate of trees are recorded in central Russia and Belarus. Such territories are considered the most suitable for growing apple trees of the Pamyat Kovalenko variety.
