Description and characteristics of the Christmas apple tree, planting and care rules
Among the fruit variety, the Rozhdestvenskoye apple tree managed to gain popularity, despite its rather young age. Due to its unique resistance to scab, early maturity, compactness, it takes its rightful place in small private gardens and intensive industrial gardening. Acquaintance with the variety will reveal its best qualities and cultivation features.
Breeding history
The work of a group of Russian breeders to create new, scab-resistant apple varieties led to the advent of the triploid variety Rozhdestvenskoye in 2001. Absolute resistance to the disease was obtained using the Vf gene by crossing the common cultivar Welsey and the hybrid form BM41497. The variety is adapted to the weather conditions of the Central regions of Russia and is registered in the State Register.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Apple tree Rozhdestvenskoye met the expectations of breeders and has a number of positive qualities:
- almost complete immunity to scab;
- early maturity;
- regularity of fruiting;
- dessert taste;
- attractive presentation;
- good yield.
But the variety has some minor disadvantages:
- extended ripening periods;
- shedding of fruits;
- some deterioration in the taste of apples during prolonged storage.
Description of the tree
Apple trees have a compact, neat appearance and strong, powerful main branches.
External characteristics
Weakly genital, strong shoots are located at an angle of 45-80 degrees to the trunk and form a wide-pyramidal, medium-leafed crown. The leaves are ovoid, with a curled, pointed tip and a wavy, serrated edge. The leaf blade is slightly pubescent, matte, green. White-pink buds are collected in 4-6 pieces in umbrella-shaped inflorescences.
Tree height and crown width
Depending on the stock, mature trees reach a height of 3-4 m and a width of 2-3 m.
Annual growth
Trees grow rapidly and intensively. Young seedlings, under favorable conditions, grow by 40-70 cm annually.
Root system
The root system of the apple tree is located close to the surface.
Frost and drought resistant
An adult Christmas apple tree tolerates frosts down to -40 ° C. It is better to insulate the trunks of young plants for the winter, and to mulch the trunk circle. During the dry season, the plants need watering.
What diseases is prone to
Scab resistance does not protect against the risk of powdery mildew in extended periods of wet, cold weather. Among the dangerous pests are aphids, ticks and leaf rollers.
All about the harvest
The appearance of apples is rated at 4.4 points on a 5-point scale. Fruits are medium in size, slightly flattened. The rind is dense, but not thick, has a glossy sheen. The greenish-yellow surface of the fruit is almost completely covered with red, with cherry blotches, blush. The weight of apples is from 130 to 180 g. The average yield of an adult orchard is about 180 centners per hectare.
Pollinating varieties
The possibility of cross-pollination arises when other varieties bloom at the same time at a distance not exceeding 50 m.
Start of offering
The variety begins to bear fruit in the 4th year after planting on the rootstock.
Ripening dates for apples
Rozhdestvenskoe belongs to the group of early winter varieties. Apple does not ripen at the same time and ends by the end of September. Some of the fruits by this time may crumble, so harvesting is carried out in several stages. The fruits are ready to eat immediately after picking.
Taste and nutritional value of apples
The flesh of apples is white, with a slight creamy shade, dense, but very juicy structure. Dessert taste, sour-sweet, estimated at 4.3 points out of 5. Nutrient content depends on weather conditions and region. Average indicators:
- sugars - 10.4%;
- pectin substances - 14.0%;
- titratable acids - less than 0.5%.
Periodicity
With proper agricultural technology, Rozhdestvenskoye, having reached the fruiting age, gives a stable harvest annually, without frequency.
Where is the fruit used
Rozhdestvensky apples are suitable for fresh consumption, for baby and diet food. They retain their consumer qualities for 3 months or more. When processed, good jams, mousses, and jam are obtained.
Features of planting Christmas apple trees and subsequent care
The plant does not require special agronomic measures. The cultivation rules are traditional for fruit trees, and their implementation will allow you to get a good harvest of high-quality fruits annually.
In which areas is landing possible
Rozhdestvensky does not respond well to sudden temperature changes and is more suitable for growing in regions with a mild climate. Provided regular watering, it feels ideal in the Volga region. The variety is zoned in the Central and Central Chernozem regions.
Attention! In the Urals and Siberia, the surface root system can die in severe winters.
Seedling preparation rules
Seedlings are carefully examined, damaged vegetative organs are removed. The dried roots are kept in water for 1-2 days. To improve the development of the root system, Kornevin or other growth stimulants are used in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
Planting terms and schemes
Planting of plants is carried out in the fall, after dropping the foliage, at the end of September, the first half of October. In regions with a cold climate, work is best done in the spring, before the buds awaken. Seedlings with a closed root system in mild climates can be planted all year round.
The optimal distance between apple trees of the Rozhdestvenskoye variety is at least 3.0-3.5 m, between rows - 4.0-5.0 m.
Fertilizer
When planting, 5-8 kg of compost and 100-150 g of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are applied, which provide nutrition for the plant in the first year of life. Subsequently, feeding is carried out twice a year:
- in the spring - nitrogen fertilizers;
- in the fall, organic matter and phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are introduced for digging the soil.
Watering
The sequence of watering directly depends on the weather conditions. Moistening is carried out as the soil dries.Most often, seedlings planted in spring and in the first year of life are watered.
Attention! Excess moisture harms the apple tree, so watering should be moderate, and after heavy rains, the soil in the trunk circle must be loosened.
Pruning
Formation begins in the second year after planting, the trunk of the seedling is cut at a height of 80-90 cm, directing the power of the plant to the growth of lateral shoots. Pruning is carried out annually, in the spring, removing damaged, dried, excess annual shoots directed into the crown.
Mulching
In order to preserve moisture and successful engraftment of the seedling, the trunk circle is mulched with a layer of 5-8 cm. Wood sawdust, peat, humus or rotted manure are used as mulch. In winter, this layer protects the root system from freezing.
Different types of rootstocks
The correct choice of apple tree seedlings allows rational use of the garden area.
Dwarf and semi-dwarf
Rozhdestvenskoye is grown on dwarf and semi-dwarf rootstocks, which ensures low tree growth and compactness.
Columnar
Columnar varieties of Rozhdestvenskoye apple trees do not exist.
