Apple tree Veteran

Every gardener dreams of having fruit trees on his backyard. Apple trees rank first in popularity and ease of cultivation in Russian regions.

The Veteran apple tree was bred as a result of the selection work of scientists of the All-Russian Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences: Sedova E.N., Krasova N.G., Mikheeva M.V. The first mention of the Veteran variety dates back to 1961. The hybrid appeared as a result of experiments on free pollination of King apple trees. In 1989, the Veteran variety was zoned for the Central Black Earth region of Russia and Belarus.

Features of the variety

The veteran belongs to the category of winter apple varieties, has medium frost resistance and does not like dry weather. The trees are quite compact, no more than 3 m in height. The crown is of medium density and forms a ball. The variety is characterized by mixed fruiting, which means that the ovaries are formed both on skeletal branches and on a young growth.

The apple blossom is abundant with a delicate aroma spreading throughout the garden. The inflorescences have a delicate pink tint. The petals are slightly raised.

Apple tree Veteran

The fruits are round and slightly flattened at the top and bottom. The skin is firm and smooth with a wax coating. During harvest, the fruits are yellow-green in color, after ripening during storage, the color becomes golden. Inside, the apples are juicy, dark yellow. The fruits have a rich vitamin composition: pectin - more than 10%, vitamin C - about 18 mg per 100 g, sugars, acids and active substances. In addition, taste is highly appreciated. The universal sweet and sour taste is suitable for any kind of processing, and the possibility of storing apples until March allows you to enjoy fresh fruits throughout the winter.

Fruit ripening begins en masse in mid-September, as evidenced by the appearance of a red speck on the side.

Description of apple tree Veteran

Agricultural technology of cultivation

The optimal place for planting an apple tree Veteran is a well-lit area in an open area. Lowlands are categorically unsuitable, as this is a poorly ventilated place with stagnant water. For low apple trees, the groundwater level should be 3 m and deeper. Of the soil varieties, loam, chernozem or sandy loam soils are most preferred.

Landing

The best time for planting a seedling is spring (until the buds begin to bloom) and autumn (2-3 weeks before the expected frost). Regardless of the planting time, seedling holes must be prepared in the fall. The size of the pit is 0.8 m * 0.8 m * 0.8 m, the distance between the rows for mass planting is 4 m.

A drainage layer of expanded clay or broken brick is laid on the bottom of the pit. Then the seat is fertilized with ash, humus and potassium-phosphorus components.

Planting a seedling

Next, the pit is covered with soil. If clay soils prevail on the site, then they can be lightened with sand. The pit must be left for a while so that the soil settles.

At the time of planting, a recess is made in the soil, corresponding in size to the diameter of the root system. A seedling is placed in this hole, carefully straightening the roots. A support is stuck nearby and the plant is tied.Then the roots are covered with earth, so that the root collar remains on the surface by 5 cm. The soil is carefully tamped and watered with 20-30 liters of water. On top of the trunk circle, sprinkle with mulch from peat or humus (layer thickness - 5 cm). This is to prevent moisture from evaporating from the surface and to keep weeds out.

Care

Watering

The nature of watering directly affects the yield and taste of the fruit. It is important not only to water the apple trees in a timely manner, but also to do it in sufficient volume. With a lack of moisture, the Veteran apple tree throws off most of the leaves, and the yield drops sharply. For the first 3 years, seedlings are watered all season every 1.5-2 weeks, the rate of water consumption is 30 liters per tree. Starting at 4 years old, apple trees are watered at certain stages of development:

1. At the moment of blooming foliage;
2. During flowering;
3. 15 days before ripening apples;
4. In October, before the start of frost.

Care

Adult apple trees require 50-60 liters of water. After each watering, the soil must be mulched so that moisture remains in the soil for a long time.

Loosening and weeding

These procedures must be carried out on an ongoing basis after each watering. Having loosened the earth, you need to remove all weeds, roots, fallen branches and leaves and mulch the soil. This will give free air access to the roots and improve water penetration into the deep layers.

Top dressing

For the first 3 years, the plant has enough fertilizers applied at the time of planting. In subsequent years, it is necessary to organize annual feeding in the fall and spring. In autumn, apple trees need a complete mineral complex (nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus). If the soil is not very nutritious, then organic matter (rotted manure, compost) can be added. In the spring, apple trees respond well to nitrogen fertilization, as they help build up green mass. At the beginning of flowering, trees can be sprayed with boric acid. It not only improves the palatability of the fruit, but is also a prophylactic agent against fungal infections.

Pruning

Removing unnecessary branches is not only giving an aesthetic appearance to the crown, but also an important measure to stimulate fruiting, as well as a preventive measure against diseases and pests.

The first pruning is done on the day of planting. The main trunk is pinched, and 3-5 buds are left on the lateral shoots. This is necessary for the development of the crown. In subsequent years, the branches are pruned by a third.

In the spring, it is imperative to do sanitary pruning, removing dry, broken, diseased branches. Then they need to be collected and burned.

Diseases and pests

Among the pests, the greatest damage to the Veteran apple tree is caused by the moth, aphid, honeydew and many others. These insects not only destroy leaves and fruits, but also transmit diseases and reduce the resistance of trees to frost.

Aphids - damage to the apple tree

Pest prevention:

• Processing of bark with lime or chalk solution;
• Autumn cleaning of the territory from leaves and branches;
• Spraying in the spring with Bordeaux liquid, copper sulfate, nitrafen and other means.

If insects do appear, then one cannot do without chemical treatments of trees. However, spraying should be stopped a month before harvesting apples. The most effective insect repellents are Fitoverm, Actellik, Fufanon. It is necessary to strictly observe the dosages indicated on the package, since these drugs are harmful, including to humans.

In cold, rainy summers, apple trees often get scab. The disease manifests itself in the form of darkening and drying of the leaves, as well as the appearance of gray-brown spots on the fruits. In addition, the apples begin to fall off prematurely. Prevention against scab is cleaning the trunk circle in the fall, as well as planning tree planting. Scab forms in damp conditions, so trees should be planted so that the branches have free space for air movement.The development of the disease occurs when the dosage of fertilizers is not observed, and both the excess and the lack of fertilizing negatively affect.

When infected with scab, it is necessary to spray with chemicals. It is worth noting that the fungus quickly develops immunity to any means, so for a good effect they need to be alternated. Suitable for these purposes: Strobi, Fitolavin, Zircon, Horus, Skor and others. These means treat the ground part of the plants. As you know, fungal spores are in the soil and begin to multiply when conditions are favorable for them. Therefore, in the fall, the trunk circle should be watered with a solution of urea or ammonium nitrate.

Shelter for the winter

The Veteran variety is not very hardy, so it will not be superfluous to make insulation for the winter. To do this, the trunk circle is mulched with peat, compost, manure, and the trunk is wrapped with a covering material. To protect against pests (fungus, insects and hares), the trunk is whitewashed and tied with spruce branches.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Apple-tree Veteran belongs to high-yielding varieties. Compliance with the rules of care allows you to get a harvest from 40 to 60 years while maintaining the taste and size of the fruits. During its long history, the Veteran variety has not lost its position in the market and is still in great demand among gardeners: professionals and amateurs.