Content:
Apple Dream is a worthy choice not only for private gardeners, but also for professional farmers. An unpretentious variety that provides a good harvest of useful fruits, it is zoned for almost all regions. It was bred as a result of crossing the two best varieties that gardeners have loved since the early 1900s. Of course, the Dream also has some disadvantages, but they are offset by the numerous advantages of the variety.
General information
Apples contain a lot of useful vitamins and minerals. These fruits have been known to mankind since ancient times, they are described in fairy tales and epics, they are mentioned in books on folk medicine. This fruit is eaten not only fresh. Canned food, dishes and pastries are prepared from it. The plant has the ability to bear fruit periodically, and for regular harvesting, it needs to be properly cared for.
The Dream apple variety is the fruit of the labors of the Michurin Institute breeders. They strove to develop a tree capable of not only enduring cold weather, but also showing increased resistance to major diseases. The fruits, according to the idea of the authors, should have had excellent taste. They decided to make the basis of time-tested varieties.
Apple variety Dream
Pepin Shaffranny is the best work of the famous breeder Michurin. This variety of apples became known to gardeners back in 1907. The variety has a lot of positive qualities, namely:
- excellent taste;
- excellent transportability;
- aesthetic appearance;
- ability to regenerate;
- self-fertility.
This variety became the basis for the development of more than twenty new varieties, zoned for different climatic zones.
The second maternal variety for Dreams was White Naliv. Its characteristics indicate that the tree is not only winter-hardy, but also requires minimal maintenance. True, its fruits are not suitable for long-distance transportation, and also do not have a pronounced color. As a result of crossing these two varieties, the dream apple tree was obtained, which incorporated not only the best aspects, but also certain disadvantages.
Description of the variety
The dream is zoned for central Russia, but it is successfully grown in other regions. When grown in the Moscow region and in the Urals, it is necessary to insulate the roots for the winter, as well as observe the irrigation schemes. The semi-dwarf species is more suitable for the northwestern regions, and the creeping species is more suitable for Siberia.
Semi-dwarf view
An apple-tree of the Mechta variety, the description of which promises a maximum tree height of 2.5 m, in some cases grows up to 4 m. The bark of an adult tree is colored red-gray, and in young shoots it is brown-green. The trunk is very strong and straight, the crown is rounded, branches strongly. At the same time, the crown is prone to strong overgrowth, therefore it needs constant molding and pruning. Otherwise, the crop will be significantly shallower.
The apples are the same size. The shape of the fruit is correct, round. The color at the stage of technical maturity is greenish-yellow, on the sunny side there is a pink-red blush. The pulp is very sugary, loose, but juicy. It is painted in a snow-white color with a barely noticeable pink tint. The aroma is weak, but the taste characteristics are highly commendable.The taste is pleasant, sweet and sour, quite refreshing.
The apple variety Dream belongs to the summer species. Harvesting takes place at the beginning of August. Flowering lasts from April to May. The flowers are pure white, without blotches. If the watering is uneven, then apples may fall or crack. A dream is not a self-fertile variety, therefore, to obtain a bountiful harvest, you need to plant a pollinator nearby, which is used as Melba or Cinnamon striped. With severe soil depletion, frost or severe drought, the Dream can fall into a dormant period of one year. The yield per adult tree ranges from 100 to 120 kg. One fruit can weigh up to 200 grams. Moreover, the largest apples grow on dwarf rootstocks.
The chemical composition of the fruit is strongly influenced by the fertilizers and care used. In any case, Dream apples are widely used in dietary nutrition. The variety adapts to the harsh climatic conditions of different regions. He is not afraid of sudden changes in temperature or cold winters, thanks to which he was ranked among the most frost-resistant. The dream shows increased resistance to various diseases, including scab and powdery mildew. The fruits of this variety are stored very poorly, a maximum of a couple of months.
Features of agricultural technology
In order to collect a bountiful harvest with excellent taste, you need to plant a tree in a suitable place. To grow the Dream apple tree, you need to select a well-lit area with sandy loam or loamy soil. If black soil predominates on the site, then it must certainly be loose and with a neutral acidity level. The dream does not tolerate stagnant moisture, therefore, you cannot plant it in the lowlands.
Stagnant moisture
Apple trees are planted mainly in spring. Basically, this period falls on the end of April or the beginning of May, however, the dates may shift, depending on weather conditions. Before planting a seedling, preparatory work must be done. Since autumn, the soil is dug up and the necessary fertilizers are applied. A week before it is planned to plant a varietal shoot, a hole is dug, about 70 cm deep and one meter in diameter. When several plants are planted, a distance of about 4 meters is left between them. The same distance recedes between the apple tree and other trees or shrubs.
The bottom of the planting pit is made loose to the depth of the bayonet, then eggshells, complex mineral fertilizer and humus are thrown there. They also pour in a little water and wait until it is absorbed into the soil. After that, you can lay the seedling and straighten its roots. The root collar is located 5 cm above the ground. The tree is tied to a support and watered.
Even the most unpretentious category of apple trees needs some care and attention. The dream is no exception in this regard. After buying a seedling, you need to cut off all the leaves in such a way that only 2-3 pieces remain on each branch. Due to this, the plant will not waste energy on the green mass, but will begin to actively form the root system. At first, after landing on the site, the apple tree needs regular watering.
A mature tree requires watering once a week. It is enough to add a bucket of water under each apple tree. This should be especially carefully monitored during the formation of ovaries and the pouring of fruits, since due to a lack of moisture, taste deteriorates. So that nutrients are not wasted, weeds should be regularly removed around the apple tree. Loosening the soil regularly will provide the plant with the necessary amount of air.
An experienced gardener knows that the seedling needs nitrogen in the first year after planting. In the spring it is fed with urea or nitroammophos. During the autumn feeding period, nitrogen is completely excluded. An adult plant is fed three times a year.Also, in the first year after planting, the soil around the young seedling should be mulched with manure.
Crown of Dreams
The crown of Dreams is overgrown, as a result of which viral diseases and pathogenic microorganisms can develop there. To avoid such troubles, it is necessary to regularly prune and shape the crown.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The main advantage of the Dream variety is frost resistance and undemanding care. In addition to this, the apple tree has other positive qualities:
- resistance to major diseases and pests;
- immunity to scab;
- excellent productivity;
- accelerated fruiting;
- excellent taste;
- universal use of the crop;
- the possibility of use in dietary food;
- aesthetic appearance of the fruit.
The most significant drawback of the variety is the unsuitability of the fruit for long-term storage. They can also deform due to bad weather conditions, drought. The dream does not take root well with clonal rootstocks.
The apple tree of the Dream variety is excellent for growing in all regions of Russia and the near abroad. It does not require special care and a lot of attention, so even a beginner can cultivate it on your site. In order for fruiting to be regular and abundant, you must follow simple rules of agricultural technology and prune in time. The tree is highly resistant to many common diseases, which eliminates the need for numerous chemical treatments.
