Content
The columnar apple tree Scarlet Sails (Alie Parusa) is one of the promising varieties of fruit trees. The main advantage of the variety is its early maturity and abundant fruiting, despite its small growth. During the ripening period, the tree is strewn with fruits like garlands. Therefore, the variety is often grown not only for obtaining apples and decorating the site.
Breeding history
The columnar apple tree "Scarlet Sails" was bred in the Crimea by the candidate of agricultural sciences, breeder Kachalkin Mikhail Vitalievich. Recorded under number 1-190. In addition to the "Scarlet Sails" type, he is the author of 13 more columnar varieties. In the State Register of Ukraine since 1994.
Description of the columnar apple variety Scarlet Sails with a photo
The columnar apple tree "Scarlet Sails", as a rule, grows with one trunk up to 2-2.5 m. The growth force is average. Flowering lasts 1 week, fruit shedding is low.
Suitable for growing on personal subsidiary plots and on an industrial scale.
The tree is medium-sized. The internodes are short, the lateral branches are small or none at all. The leaves are large, light green. Shoot with a thick, dense skin.
The first columnar varieties of apple trees appeared in the sixties of the last century.
Fruit and tree appearance
The apples are bright red. The variety is considered large-fruited, one specimen can reach from 0.16 to 0.25 kg. The shape is round. The peel of the fruit is dense, inside the apples are white, juicy and grainy. With a pleasant aroma. There are few seeds.
Life span
On average, columnar apple varieties live and bear fruit for no more than 15 years. Therefore, the planting must be renewed every few years.
Taste
The palatability of columnar apple trees depends on weather conditions and the moment of consumption. They are called sweet and sour by their taste. Dessert apples. On average, the fruits are estimated at 4-4.5 points.
Growing regions
The columnar apple tree "Scarlet Sails" has recommended itself best of all in the southern regions of Ukraine and in the Crimea. Suitable for planting in the gardens of the Central part of Russia.
Yield
On average, one young columnar tree of the Alye Parusa variety gives 3 kg of fruit. With age, the yield of the apple tree increases. By 5-6 years it is 7-8 kg.
In landscape design, columnar varieties of apple trees are used to create a hedge
Frost resistant
According to the producers, the Alye Parusa columnar apple tree is suitable for cultivation in the central part of Russia. It tolerates cold temperatures down to -45 ° C. But sometimes subzero temperatures after a thaw turn out to be fatal for a plant. With recurrent frosts, a columnar apple tree can freeze under -24 ° C.
Disease and pest resistance
The "Scarlet Sails" variety is noted to be resistant to scab. Also, gardeners have noticed immunity to powdery mildew.
Flowering period and ripening period
A distinctive feature of all columnar apple trees is their early maturity.Most varieties begin to bear fruit in 2-3 years of planting. In the future, the fruits are formed annually. The first ripe apples appear at the end of the calendar summer or early fall.
Fruit trees with a columnar crown are afraid of frost
Pollinators
Such varieties as Melba, Prime Gold, Vista Bella can serve as pollinators for apples of the Alye Parusa variety. And also varieties "Mantet" and "Gala Mast".
Transportation and keeping quality
The fruits of the columnar apple trees "Scarlet Sails" can be transported over long distances. They are stored in the cellar until the onset of cold weather. In the refrigerator until mid-winter. When stored for a long time, the pulp may turn pinkish.
Advantages and disadvantages
Like any other culture, the "Scarlet Sails" columnar apple tree has its advantages and disadvantages.
Pros of the variety | Cons of the variety |
Long shelf life - up to three months
| Expensive planting material per unit of space
|
Decorative and compact
| Increased exactingness |
Easy picking of fruits
| Freezing |
Small landing area |
|
Early maturity |
|
Good taste |
|
How to plant a columnar apple tree Scarlet Sails
In the central part of Russia, the spring planting of columnar apple varieties begins after the soil freezes and continues until the first days of May. More preferable is the autumn planting, which is carried out from 1 to 20 October.
The color of the "Scarlet Sails" variety can vary from pinkish to bright red
Selection of seedlings
Agronomists recommend buying columnar seedlings only in specially designated places. When buying an apple tree "Scarlet Sails", you need to be very careful. According to breeders, 90% of the seedlings of the columnar variety were obtained by unscrupulous producers, and do not have varietal qualities characteristic of it.
Scarlet Sails should be grown on dwarf and super-dwarf rootstocks. But producers do not want to grow trees on dwarf rootstocks, as the seedlings turn out to be inconspicuous. They have a low height and an unbranched root system. Therefore, on sale more often trees are found growing on a medium-sized and seedling stock. Such an apple tree is distinguished by poor fruiting and in most cases does not meet the hopes of gardeners.
Contrary to popular belief, it is recommended to buy young plants with an open root system and plant them immediately in a permanent place.
During transportation, the roots are covered with a wet cloth and placed in a plastic bag. Before planting, they are soaked for 12 hours in water or for 3-6 hours in a solution of a root formation stimulator.
It is recommended to purchase planting material for the garden in nurseries.
Landing rules
For planting a columnar apple "Scarlet Sails" choose the lightest area in the garden. Otherwise, the flower bud will not be laid. Groundwater should be no higher than 1 m above ground level.
The planting hole is dug according to the size of the roots of the seedling. Excessively long - shorten. For better survival, before planting, they are recommended to be dipped in a clay talker.
The pit for planting the variety must be well drained and contain a large amount of nutrients. Crushed stone or any other small stone can be used as drainage. It is best to fill the pit with a mixture of peat, garden soil and humus in a 1: 1: 1 ratio when planting seedlings. Add 100 g of superphosphate and wood ash. After planting, compact the earth well.
The same variety is planted in a row, since the seedlings may have different growth rates. A taller variety will overtake a shorter one, and as a result, some columnar apple trees will remain in the shade.
The small height and compactness of their crown makes it possible to plant columnar varieties of apple trees very densely. Even when plants are close together, they do not shade each other. Breeders working on breeding this variety of fruit crops recommend leaving a distance of 30-50 cm between the bushes, up to 1 m in rows.
Columnar apple varieties can be planted close to each other
Growing and care
The "Scarlet Sails" variety requires special attention. The root system of columnar varieties is less branched, so they need more frequent watering and feeding. Moisten the soil as it dries. Apply fertilizers at least 4 times per season. The year of planting is also no exception.
Top dressing begins at the end of July. Superphosphate 40 g / 10 l of water and 0.5 l of wood ash are introduced. Subsequently, the procedure is repeated once a month until mid-October. In the autumn, nitrogen fertilizers are excluded.
Due to its compactness, pruning of a columnar apple tree is practically not required. The need to remove lateral shoots usually appears when the upper bud dies. If it did not have time to ripen, and the plant is frozen, the tree begins to sprout side branches and loses its columnar shape. Therefore, in early spring, these new shoots must be pruned.
To avoid freezing, a columnar tree for the winter can be wrapped with covering material in several layers.
To get a good harvest, apple trees need to be fed periodically
Collection and storage
The first red fruits of the columnar apple “Scarlet Sails” can be removed in the second half of August. Full ripening of apples usually occurs in September or October. The plucked fruits are stored in a cool dark place.
Conclusion
The columnar apple tree Scarlet Sails is a small tree that bears fruit already for 2-3 years of planting. Unlike other varieties, the crown is compact and allows you to plant many plants even in a small area. Trees are used in landscaping for planting along paths and fences, demanding maintenance.
Testimonials
