Description of the Eliza apple variety and its advantages, yield and growing regions
Everything new that appears in gardening invariably arouses interest. So it happened with the Eliza apple tree. Its intriguing characteristics make gardeners experiment. The Dutch apple tree Eliza conquered the European market more than 40 years ago and even received the title of elite. Its fruits are distinguished by their incomparable taste.
Description of the variety
This is an old variety, at the end of the 19th century bred by A. Dühring in Elbing, Germany, then sold to the owner of the nursery Franz Ratke, and the latter gave it the name Eliza and let it go around the world.
It was obtained by crossing the varieties of apple trees Cox Orange Pepin and Septer, it is considered a club in Europe.
Eliza is characterized by a medium-sized tree, with an open, wide crown. It is also winter-hardy and begins to bear fruit early. Differs in very high yields, even overloading the crop. Therefore, he needs normalizing pruning - so the apples will remain firm.
Judging by the description of the fruits, their shape is rounded-conical, the size is rather large, and the color is brownish-brown. By the beginning of October, they are fully ripe and ready to eat. And they will retain all their taste even after 7-8 months of storage in the refrigerator.
Advantages and disadvantages
The popularity of the apple tree with the female name Eliza was facilitated by the undoubted advantages of this variety:
- early maturity;
- winter hardiness (only in regions recommended for cultivation);
- consistently high yield;
- beautiful and large apples;
- resistance to scab, powdery mildew and fire blight.
Eliza has practically no shortcomings, except that for some, rare cases of scab and powdery mildew may seem like such.
Specifications
Eliza apple trees have excellent characteristics, although for some this type may seem typical.
Mature tree size and annual growth
The apple tree is considered a medium layer. In adulthood, it rarely grows above 4 meters. Shoots reach a length of 40 centimeters. And its not too dense crown with its drooping branches makes it similar to mulberry or weeping Japanese sophora.
The frequency of fruiting
Apple trees of this variety are found even in industrial gardens. And in such farms, varieties are planted with constant fruiting so that they bring in a lot of apples every year.
Yield
Eliza apple trees have a naturally high yield.All gardeners who plant them on their plots speak about this. But you will have to adjust it by performing normalized pruning. This will improve the marketability and attractiveness of apples.
If the trees are properly looked after, then, on average, more than five buckets can be removed from one apple tree.
This apple tree will not keep you waiting for the first harvest for 6-8 years. Only 3-4 years old, and the trees begin to bear fruit. At 6-7 years old they give up to 30 kilograms of fruits (12 tons per hectare), and at 10-13 years old - already up to 90 kilograms (20-33 tons per hectare).
In the South, on average, 300-400 centners per hectare are harvested, sometimes up to 500.
Tasting assessment
You can safely put 4.8 points, even 5. Out of five!
Frost resistance
In the areas that are recommended for the cultivation of Eliza, the winter hardiness of the apple tree is quite high.
Disease and pest resistance
The fact that the tree is resistant to the most serious diseases of apple trees, such as scab, powdery mildew and bacterial cancer, is recognized as one of the most important advantages of this variety. And by treating apple trees for prophylaxis, the gardener will help protect them from other diseases characteristic of these fruit crops.
The timing of flowering and ripening of fruits
You will easily remember the period when the Eliza apple tree blooms - the second half of May. And they ripen from the end of September. The first half of October is suitable for harvesting. Then they are laid for storage. Some gardeners note that apples can hold out on the tree until the New Year holidays. But don't wait that long. Better to take them off on time.
In which regions can you grow?
Eliza is a great apple tree not only for European gardeners and farmers. She can grow and bear fruit well in our strip.
- Moscow region and the Volga region.
The climatic conditions of the regions must be borne in mind. Frosts here can reach -30 ℃, even lower, and remain so for a long time. It is not uncommon for temperatures to change from minuses to pluses and vice versa. We'll have to provide reliable and constant frost protection. That is why you do not often hear about the success in growing this variety.
- Ukraine.
There was a time when the Eliza variety of apple trees became widespread in the Vydubitsky monastery in Kiev. And after that, many literary sources call him "Vedubetskaya weeping".
Today Ukrainian farmers are showing considerable interest in this crop.
