Description and characteristics of Elena apple trees, planting and growing rules
Breeders have developed apple varieties with different ripening periods. Having planted them on the site, the gardener can use healthy fruits throughout the year. Elena is a summer apple tree. Its fruits can be harvested in mid-July. Juicy sweet apples received a high tasting rating. Further information about the origin of the crop, cultivation in the garden, care, ripening and harvesting of apples.
Origin of culture
The apple tree Elena was bred by Belarusian breeders at the end of the 20th century. They crossed the domestic variety Early Sweet and the English Discovery. Elena took the best qualities from her “parents”. The tree has good immunity, frost resistance, with good care it increases a bountiful harvest.
Description of the variety
The culture is characterized by a summer ripening period. After abundant flowering, flat-round fruits are formed. For their sweet taste and fragrant aroma, apples were highly appreciated by tasters.
External parameters
Elena belongs to the low varieties of apples. Due to this quality, the gardener can harvest the crop without special devices.
Tree height and crown dimensions
The apple tree Elena reaches a height of 2.5-3 meters. The crown is pyramidal, of medium density. The branches are located at an acute angle to the trunk. They are abundantly covered with foliage, the lower part of which is covered with a grayish bloom.
Root system
The underground part of the apple tree consists of skeletal and overgrown roots. The first ones go deep into the ground. The latter are formed on skeletal roots and are located almost horizontally to the surface of the earth.
Bloom
The buds bloom in late April or early May. They densely cover the shoots of the tree. The petals are painted with a white palette. During flowering, the apple tree exudes a delicate aroma.
Fruits and their taste
The skin of the fruit is light green. Most of the surface is covered with a bright blush. Elena's apple is flat-rounded, sweet in taste, juicy. Fruit weight - 120-150 grams. Tasting score - 4.8 points on a 5-point scale.
Characteristic features of a hybrid
Fruits begin to set in the second year after planting. They should be removed as the tree needs strength to form its root system and green mass. Elena bears abundant fruit since the 5th year.
Resistance to pests and diseases
The culture has good immunity. But under unfavorable conditions, it can be affected by fungal diseases. The apple tree has a weak resistance to powdery mildew. The variety is moderately resistant to scab.
Pollination
Since the flowers of the Elena apple tree are bisexual, she is able to self-pollinate. Insects help in this. For this reason, planting pollinators nearby is not necessary.
Note! The apple tree Elena can serve as a pollinator for other crop varieties.
Self-fertility and yield
The hybrid is self-fertile, insects carry pollen from flower to flower. Flowering occurs in April-May, fruiting in mid-July. Harvested from the apple tree gradually, over the course of a month. Fruiting is annual, stable.
Winter hardiness
The variety is winter hardy. It tolerates cold weather in southern regions and in areas with a temperate climate. Only young seedlings need shelter for the winter.
In which regions can you grow
Elena, bred in Belarus, is intended primarily for growing in areas with a temperate climate. It can be cultivated in Ukraine, in the Central and Northwestern regions of Russia. When growing trees in the southern regions, abundant watering will be required.
Growing an apple tree in the garden
The development and fruiting of the Elena apple tree depends on the correct and timely performed agrotechnical measures.
Landing
Trees are planted on the site in spring or autumn. 1-2-year-old seedlings are purchased in plant nurseries or garden centers. Seed propagation of an apple tree is not practiced, since it is laborious.
Seat selection
The culture does not tolerate a transplant, so the place for it is chosen carefully. The area should be well lit by the sun. In this case, the sides of the apples will be deep red, the taste will be sweet. Groundwater at the landing site should not come close to the ground surface.
Preparation of seedlings
In order for the root system of trees to be saturated with moisture, it is placed in a container of water for 1-2 hours. For disinfection, you can add a few crystals of potassium permanganate. Too long roots are shortened before planting.
Required soil composition
The apple tree will develop best in loamy black soil. For looseness, you can add peat, to increase fertility - compost or humus. To improve the soil, before planting trees, you can sow green manure.
Landing scheme
The distance between trees is 3-4 meters. The depth of the landing pit is 1 meter, the width is 60 centimeters. The apple tree is planted as follows:
- humus, potassium-phosphorus fertilizing are placed on the bottom;
- the roots of the seedling are well spread, covered with earth;
- the root circle is lightly tamped, watered abundantly with water.
To retain moisture, the soil is mulched with cut grass, sawdust, peat.
Care
Caring for seedlings consists in watering, feeding, loosening the soil, seasonal treatment from diseases and pests.
Regularity of watering
The apple tree is often watered immediately after planting. In the future, soil irrigation depends on the weather. Both overdrying and waterlogging of the soil are unacceptable. As a rule, in temperate latitudes, rainfall is sufficient to saturate the earth with moisture.
Foliar and root fertilization
In early spring, the trees are fed with nitrogen. When the plants have faded, foliar feeding can be done. After fruiting, potassium and phosphorus are added. The nutrients will help the apple tree form fruits for the next year, as well as winter safely.
Loosening the soil
The root circle is carefully loosened after watering. The procedure promotes air access to the root system. In addition, loosening removes weeds that promote the transfer of harmful insects and pathogenic microorganisms to trees.
Pruning and shaping the crown
Sanitary pruning is performed in the spring. Sick, dry, broken, frozen branches are removed. In addition, the shoots growing inward are cut off. Special shaping of the crown of the Elena apple tree is not required.
Seasonal treatment for infections and insects
In mid-autumn, the bark of trees is treated with a solution of lime. In the spring, before bud break, the plants are sprayed with copper-containing preparations. Against harmful insects, the apple tree is sprayed with insecticides.
Important! Chemicals should not be used during apple blossom.
When to wait for the first harvest
The first fruits can form as early as the next year after planting. But it is better to remove the ovaries, since they significantly weaken the plants. Strength during this period is needed for the growth of the vegetative mass.
Ripening and picking apples
Elena is a summer variety of apples. Flowers form in late April or early May. Fruits are harvested from mid-July to mid-August. The peculiarity of summer varieties of culture is that the fruits have poor keeping quality. Elena apples can be stored in cool conditions for no more than 3 weeks.
Where is the fruit of the tree used
Apples contain a lot of nutrients. They are consumed mainly fresh. They can also be used to prepare compote, juice, jam, and use them for filling in confectionery.
