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Back in 1936, at the Samara Experimental Station, breeder Sergei Kedrin bred a new variety of apples. Apple tree Zhigulevskoe was obtained by hybridization. The parents of the new fruit tree were the "American" Wagner and the Russian Borovinka variety.
The plant was included in the State Register. Despite its considerable age, the Zhigulevskoe variety is still held in high esteem by gardeners today. Apple tree Zhigulevskoe belongs to the autumn varieties and is widespread in many regions of Russia.
Description
To understand the characteristics of a plant, you need to know the description apple varieties Zhigulevskoe, gardeners' reviews, as well as see photos of the plant in different periods of the growing season.
The apple trees of this Russian variety have a well-developed root system capable of producing water and food. But the plant does not tolerate excessive moisture, so the fruit tree is not planted in low and swampy places.
Crown
The height of the Zhigulevsky apple tree is about three meters. If grafted on a dwarf rootstock, then the variety does not grow above two meters.
The shape of the crown can be high-round or wide-pyramidal, depending on the pruning. Experienced gardeners prefer the pyramidal version, since the crown of the apple tree is not very thickened, light and air penetrate to each branch.
Apple trees of the Zhigulevkoye variety are distinguished by dark brown straight, slightly raised shoots. In the spring, the kidneys awaken at the same time.
In the description given by the author of the variety, the apple tree has bright green large leaves of an oblong ovoid shape. The leaf blade resembles a boat. There are small notches along the edges, and the top of the sheet is slightly bent inward.
Flowers
The fruit tree blooms early, when there is still a threat of spring frosts. Therefore, gardeners have to resort to plant protection so that the flowers do not freeze.
During flowering, the Zhigulevskoye apple tree (see photo) is covered with whitish-pink flowers and becomes like a bride.
The flowers are large, open like saucers. The self-fertility of the apple tree is average, therefore, experienced gardeners are advised to plant pollinators in the garden, the flowering of which coincides with the Zhigulevskoye variety. For instance:
- Kuibyshevskoe;
- Anise gray;
- Antonovka ordinary;
- Spartacus;
- Kutuzovets.
If there are hives in the garden, then additional pollination is not required.
Fruit
According to the description, reviews, as well as photos, large-sized Zhigulevskoye apples. Their weight is from 120 to 200 grams. There are also champions gaining weight within 350 grams. The shape is round or with wide ribs.
The Zhigulevskoye apple is half colored dark red. The rest of the surface is rich yellow with slight tuberosity, sometimes warty. If you look at the photo of apples, then stripes and dots are clearly visible on them. Apples of this variety have a shiny, firm, oily skin. The seeds are kept in a closed, bulbous chamber.
The apple of the Zhigulevskoye variety, according to the description and reviews of consumers, is tasty, sour-sweet, slightly juicy. Although the tasters' score is only 3.8 out of 5 points, the fruits are popular for their delicate, coarse-grained, creamy flesh. The apples contain pectin (13.2%), ascorbic acid (10.1-15.0 mg / 100 g).
Apple tree characteristics
When choosing fruit trees for their site, gardeners try to find out the characteristic features of the plant, its positive and negative sides.
Benefits
- Apple tree Zhigulevskoe, according to gardeners, is a high-yielding and fast-growing tree. One plant at the age of 5-6 years gives up to 240 kilograms of apples.
- Ripening period is extended. Novice gardeners are interested in when to pick Zhigulevsky apples. Harvesting begins in late August or early September, depending on the region.
- Harvested apples ripen for two weeks. After that, they become sweeter.
- The keeping quality of dense fruits is high. Apples are stored almost until the New Year, taste and usefulness do not disappear.
- Excellent transportability. When transported over long distances, the fruits do not lose their presentation.
- The Zhigulevskoe apple variety is highly regarded by nutritionists. Fruits contain 87% water, so they belong to dietary products.
- The use of apples is universal.
- Fruit trees of this variety are suitable for summer cottages and growing on an industrial scale.
- Apple tree Zhigulevskoe is resistant to some diseases of culture, in particular, scab.
disadvantages
No matter how good the Zhigulevskoye apple tree is, it still has some disadvantages:
- The plant's winter hardiness is low, early flowering occurs at a time when spring frosts can return.
- The scab apple tree Zhigulevskaya is rarely affected, but it is not always possible to get rid of the moth. You have to devote a lot of time and effort to the processing of fruit trees.
- Mature plants rest from time to time, which reduces yields.
Planting apple trees
Planting and caring for the Zhigulevskaya apple tree is not much different from other related crops. According to the rules, work is carried out in the fall. Let's dwell on this question:
- They dig a hole 30 days before planting. Its depth is not less than 70 cm, with a diameter of about 100 cm. When digging, the top fertile layer is folded on one side, the remaining soil on the other. Drainage is laid at the bottom of the pit.
- Then a wooden stake is fired and driven into the center of the planting pit. There should be 50 cm of support above the surface. After planting, an apple tree seedling is tied to it.
- The removed topsoil is mixed with a bucket of manure, 800 grams of wood ash and 1 kg of nitroammofoska. This nutrition for the Zhigulevskaya apple variety, according to experts and gardeners' reviews, is enough for three years. Pour part of the soil mixture onto the bottom of the pit with a tubercle.
- The seedling is placed on a tubercle. The peg should be in the south. Spread the root system and lightly sprinkle it with earth. The root collar should rise 5 cm above the ground.
- An apple tree seedling Zhigulevskoye is wrapped with a gasket and tied to a support with a figure eight, the soil is poured and watered. You will need about four buckets of water.
Tree care
Feeding rules
To obtain a rich harvest of apples, the plants must be fed. The first three years after planting, if the soil was well filled with fertilizers, fertilizing, if carried out, then in minimal quantities. In other cases, apple trees are fed three times per season.
Mineral or organic fertilizers are used, depending on the preferences of the gardeners.
Spring
In the spring, after the leaves appear, the apple tree needs to be fed with fertilizers containing nitrogen.
You can use any of the options below (per plant). The main thing is to take only one of the fertilizers and lay them out in the trunk circle:
- Nitroammofosk - 30-40 grams;
- Ammonium nitrate - 30-40 grams;
- Urea - 0.5 kg;
- Humus - 4 buckets.
Then the soil is loosened to mix the fertilizer with the soil, and the apple trees are watered.
Bloom
When the buds bloom on the apple trees of the Zhigulevskoye variety, the plant has an urgent need for potassium and phosphorus. At this time, liquid fertilizing with one of the fertilizers is needed:
- Potassium sulfate - 60 grams;
- Superphosphate - 100 grams;
- Urea - 300 grams;
- mullein - ½ bucket;
- chicken droppings - 2 liters.
Any top dressing is diluted with one bucket of water. Under each apple tree of the Zhigulevskoye variety, 4 buckets of fertilizer are poured.
Pouring fruit
While the apples are being poured, the plants also need to be fed. Any option can be used:
- 10 buckets of water are poured into a large barrel, potassium humate (10 grams), nitrophoska (500 grams) are poured. Mix everything well. For one apple tree, 2-3 buckets of liquid top dressing are needed.
- Fill a large container with chopped green grass without seeds and add 1:10 water. Cover the barrel with foil, leaving a small hole. The green fertilizer will be ready in 25 days.
Apple trees are not bad for foliar feeding:
- in the month of July, fruit trees of any varieties are sprayed with a solution of potassium and phosphorus;
- in the fall, a solution is prepared from potassium and double superphosphate.
Watering features
Plants feel comfortable if the ground gets wet to a depth of 80 cm.
Fruit trees are watered abundantly three times:
- before flowering;
- while pouring fruits;
- in the fall, before wintering, water-charging irrigation is carried out.
Up to 20 buckets of water are poured under one adult apple tree. Watering is carried out in furrows along the perimeter of the apple tree.
Young trees are watered more often, up to 5 times per growing season. One apple tree will require about 4 buckets of water. They are also watered into the furrow in the trunk circle.
They loosen the soil under the Zhigulevskoye apple trees three days after watering, then lay the mulch. To do this, you can use peat, humus, sand or rotted sawdust.
Crown formation
According to the description, apple trees of the Zhigulevskaya variety do not form a large root growth. It is cut out as it grows. And in the spring, until the leaves have blossomed, they carry out the formative pruning of the crown. In the fall, broken, dried branches and shoots that did not bear fruit are removed.
Stlantsy
If Zhigulevsky apple trees are grown in the northern regions, then they are formed in a horizontal position. The height of the slant for the convenience of the shelter should not be higher than three meters.
To form such a crown, in July, the shoots are distributed horizontally along the ground and fixed with metal hooks. In the spring, the hooks are removed to direct the branches upward. Otherwise, tops grow.
In the second half of June, young twigs are pinched. 3 or 4 leaves are left on them so that new shoots grow from the buds.
Tree processing
- From scab and various pests, fruit trees are treated with a safe and effective remedy "Healthy Garden". Use the drug strictly according to the instructions.
- In winter, apple trees can be harmed by mice. These small pests are very afraid of the smell of diesel fuel. Therefore, rags soaked in this substance are placed under the trees.
- To prevent the plants from getting burned, they must be whitewashed in spring and autumn with chalk, lime or special paint.
It is not difficult to grow a Zhigulevskoye apple tree, the main thing is to know agricultural techniques and follow the rules.
