Description and characteristics of the ornamental apple variety Rudolph, pros and cons, cultivation
The Rudolph apple tree is perfect for decorating a landscape in a city or countryside. The very first flowering of this tree becomes a colorful spot, and the fruits complement the composition with yellow inserts.
Breeding history
Apple tree Rudolph is an ornamental tree imported from Canada. Poland was considered the original homeland. The apple tree has bright red flowers, in some cases the leaves are of a similar color. Fruits are small, sometimes edible.
Apple tree Rudolph: pros and cons
The tree has its advantages:
- Retains an attractive blooming appearance for a long time.
- Unpretentious care.
- Sufficiently resistant to bad weather conditions.
And disadvantages:
- The quality of the fruit is poor.
- In the shade, the decorative beauty of the seedling disappears.
Varieties of varieties
This tree does not have many varietal varieties. There are two varieties of apple trees in total.
Decorative
This variety has a dense crown. Bright leaves and flowers. Fruits are bright honey color. It blooms for a very long time, retaining its decorative appearance for a long period of time.
Stamper
This variety is bred on the basis of decorative. Ornamental apple tree Rudolph is grafted onto smooth straight trunks. The result is a tall, bare leg with a dense, beautiful crown.
Main characteristics
The main characteristics fully reflect the necessary conditions for keeping this apple variety.
External data
The external data of each tree is strictly qualified in terms of size, growth and branching of roots.
Dimensions of the tree
The apple tree grows up to 6 meters high. The crown is dense, in a girth of no more than 4 meters.
Annual growth
This variety grows rapidly. At the 6th year of life, the tree reaches its maximum height. Lateral branches slow down in growth by the 7th year.
Development of the root system
The root shaft, like most fruit trees, is quite developed. The root system goes deeper and branches out on the sides of the trunk by 1-2 meters.
Technical description
The Rudolph apple tree reaches a height of 6 meters. In some cases, it is formed as a multi-stemmed shrub in outline. The branches rush upward, have some deviation from the trunk.In a mature tree, branch ends are deflected downward.
For more than half a year, the plant has a decorative appearance. The leaves are dark green. The tree blooms profusely, the fruits are bright yellow. The flowers are pink, with a small diameter of 3-4 cm. The apple tree is unpretentious in care. It can grow in any climatic zone. Any soil is suitable, except for marshy.
Disease resistance
High resistance to powdery mildew and scab. But in the damp cold season, it is necessary to spray for prevention.
Winter hardiness
The apple tree has a 3rd zone of resistance to cold. Which means it's easy to grow in harsh winter conditions. Young shoots freeze, after which they must be cut off. Fruits fall at temperatures below -2 FROM.
Pollination
The variety is self-pollinated. But to improve the yield, it is recommended to plant it close to pollinating trees.
Productivity and taste of fruits
During the season, about 5 kg of fruits are harvested from one tree. The apples are small, not juicy. The taste is tart, astringent.
Growing recommendations
For a tree to grow healthy and beautiful, you must follow the growing guidelines.
How to choose seedlings when buying
The seedlings must be strong and fresh. For the tree to take root better, you need to take a 2-year-old plant.
Landing dates
This type of tree is traditionally planted in spring (March-April) or autumn (September-October).
Choosing a suitable location and soil composition
The apple tree must be planted in a sunny location. It is important that there are no other trees or buildings at a distance of 4 meters from the apple tree that will prevent the crown from opening.
The soil must be fertile and well-drained.
Disembarkation scheme and technology
In order for the seedling to take root well, it is recommended to prepare a pit for planting in advance:
- 3-4 days before planting the seedling, dig a hole and fill it with a mixture of black soil, humus, manure and peat. You should also add fertilizers in the form of phosphorus and potassium in the amount of 3 tablespoons, 100-150 grams of ash or dolomite flour.
- It is important to compact the mixture so that it only takes up 2/3 of the total volume.
- After that, the roots of the seedling are carefully placed in the hole. They should be branched freely, without resting on the walls of the pit. The neck of the root should be on the surface after being covered with earth.
- After planting, the tree is tied to a support until it gets stronger.
Apple tree care rules
The apple tree, like any other plant, needs proper care for good growth.
Watering
For normal growth, this ornamental apple variety needs frequent and abundant watering. Water as often as possible in the first year. At least 2 times a week.
Soil care
The soil needs to be loosened about 1 time per month. After watering, add hay, peat, grass and sawdust. This will attract earthworms and the soil will always be loose.
Top dressing
In the first year after planting, the seedling is not fed. During this period, it is recommended only to observe the mode of adding moisture and loosening the soil.
It is recommended to feed the plant in spring. At this time of the year, manure, compost, urea are introduced. In the summer, the seedling needs fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus. In the fall, it is undesirable to make any top dressing. At this time of the year, the tree is actively preparing for the winter.Top dressing is applied only after thorough loosening of the soil, watering, as well as removing weeds.
Pruning and shaping the crown
The tree needs to be pruned periodically to improve its growth. In the first year, pruning only focuses on creating a beautiful crown shape. When the fruiting period begins, it will be possible to remove a lot more excess branches. The plant will not suffer from this, and the fruits will become slightly larger. Pruning should be started in the spring, even before the foliage appears.
Preparing for winter
A young tree, which has not yet reached 5 years old, is rubbed with chalk before winter.The older plant is ground with lime. The land is loosened and covered with manure. To protect against rodents, the seedling can be tied with branches of spruce trees.
