Description of the Red Free apple variety, advantages and disadvantages, favorable regions for growing
There are many types of apple trees intended for cultivation in temperate continental climates. Most of them are able to endure the vagaries of the weather, resist parasites and produce a bountiful harvest of delicious fruits. But just not to compare with the Red Free apple tree, which enjoys the well-deserved love of gardeners in Russia, Europe and the United States. And such popularity is well deserved! The tree is unpretentious in care, attractive in appearance, and the Redfrey apples are not only tasty, but also very healthy.
Content
Description of the variety
Red Free is a relatively young apple variety, which, as a result of painstaking and long work, was created by the breeders of the United States. It is the result of multiple crosses between a domestic apple tree and a richly flowering crabapple, popular in Asian countries, especially in Japan.
On the territory of the countries of the former USSR, this culture spread after 2000. It was described as an apple tree from which you can harvest a large harvest of beautiful, tasty and healthy fruits.
These apples are really good! Their dense, shiny skin has a rich green color with reddishness. When ripe, it is colored with thick, wide, wine-red stripes.
At the same time, the apple pulp is pale white, with a creamy sheen. It is often used to prepare fruit wines, apple sparkling wines, compotes and juices. A little less often - for making jams, preserves and jellies.
Advantages and disadvantages
By crossing different types of apple trees, scientists have a single goal - to get a variety that surpasses the parental samples in all respects. In the case of the Red Free apple tree, they got what they wanted. Although some of the properties of the plant were not ideal.
Benefits of the Redfrey variety
- Sweet, slightly caramelized and uniquely memorable taste of the fruit.
- Recognized marketability that apples owe to their firm, smooth skin.
- Immunity to most parasites, including scab.
- High productivity and regularity of fruiting.
disadvantages
- The tree has no stable immunity to powdery mildew.
- Apple blossom pollen has a low viability. Without artificial pollination, fruits are formed only in 15% of cases.
Characteristics of the Red Free apple tree
The personality traits of Red Free apple trees quickly gained popularity among both ordinary gardeners and people involved in growing fruits for the digestive industry.
Dimensions
Trees do not differ in particular height and are classified as medium-sized. Mature plants grow up to 3-3.5 meters. In rare cases, their height reaches 4 meters.
The crown of an adult apple tree is spreading, irregularly rounded.
Yield
The apple tree begins to yield from the second or third year of life. At 5-7 years of age, it reaches a mature level. During these years, up to 50 kilograms of fruits are removed from it.
The frequency of fruiting
The Red Free variety bears fruit annually and under favorable weather conditions is characterized by stable apple ripening times.
Winter hardiness
The tree is not intended for northern areas. In the cold areas of the middle lane, it can suffer from late spring frosts or severe winter frosts. In such cases, it is recommended to wrap the base of the trunk with insulation and cover it with a film.
Disease resistance
The apple tree is not prone to diseases typical of its species, with the exception of powdery mildew. To protect it, it is necessary to regularly carry out preventive treatment, as well as monitor the appearance of the culture.
Fruiting and ripening
An important feature of the Red Free variety is its early maturity. The tree begins to bear fruit as early as 2-3 years after planting. Of course, it gives little fruit during this period.
Culture enters its mature stage only by the fifth year of life. Then its fruitfulness increases significantly. It is noteworthy that apples appear not only on branches, but also on spears and ringed shoots.
Flowers on Redfrey appear early and all over the tree at once. The fruits are also formed at the same time. This usually happens in mid or late August..
It is best to store fruits in a cool, dry place. Then they will retain their presentation and useful properties until winter.
The best regions to grow
According to the peculiarities of climatic conditions, the Red Free apple tree feels best in the middle zone of the European part of Russia. It includes the following regions:
- Moscow and Smolensky.
- Ryazan and Tverskoy.
- Vladimirsky and Yaroslavsky.
- Bryansk and Nizhny Novgorod.
This plant is comfortable in the southern parts of the central black earth economic region, as well as in Ukraine and Belarus.
