Not very popular yet, but promising variety of Lobo apple trees, suitable for connoisseurs of large and sweet fruits.
It was bred in Canada based on another variety of famous apples using free pollination. Also the variety actively bears fruit and is not whimsical to care, which contributed to its rapid spread in garden plots.
Breeding history
Lobo apple trees were bred in 1906, in the city of Ottawa - the capital of Canada. To create them, we used free pollination of the seeds of Macintosh apples.
Obtained apples began to gain popularity in 1920, when they began to grow famous masters in the field of selection and simple gardeners. In the same year, the variety spread to the Baltics and Belarus.
In 1979, when the plants endured a very cold winter, interest in them was renewed. Then the Lobo apple trees received the status of one of the most frost-resistant varieties, so they quickly spread in the northern regions.
It is promising to grow the variety on the territory of the Lower Volga region. Also, these apple trees are popular in Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and the Baltic republics.
Characteristics and description of the variety
The trees of this variety are of medium height., which actively grow at first after disembarkation. During this period, an oval elongated crown is formed at the Lobo apple tree. After the cessation of growth, they acquire a rounded shape and thin out.
For young shoots of the variety, a cherry tint is characteristic. Large, bright green leaves are usually ovoid. The surface of the sheet is dull and with slight roughness, and its end is sharp, sometimes it is dissected.
The apples themselves are large in size, weighing up to 180 g... They are usually round or slightly elongated conical in shape.
Initially, the fruits are yellow-green in color, and during ripening they turn red. But Lobo apples can take on a dark burgundy shade with a waxy coating during the harvest season.
The white flesh of the fruit has a grainy texture. The fruits are sweet in taste, with a slight sourness... Apples are juicy and can be used for juicing.
This apple variety is fast-growing, since the beginning of the growing season falls on 3-4 years. Fruiting is regular and abundant. One tree can yield up to 380 kg of harvest.
The harvest volumes from one apple tree are increasing annually. The most productive years are those in which the air contains a large amount of moisture.
The Lobo apple tree ripens in the last autumn months, before the first frost, therefore, this variety is called winter. Full ripening occurs in October.
This process takes place at the same time for all apples, therefore you need to collect them in a week.
Storing apples
The harvest is stored until January... It is worth remembering that Lobo fruits can be stored for a maximum of 3 months. In the fourth month, the apples are noticeable drying out and loosening of the pulp.
Lobo fruits are characterized by good keeping quality, excellent presentation, and also easy to transport.
If there are possible sudden changes in temperature in the storage room, then containers with fruits should be insulated. The optimum temperature for storing Lobo apples is from 2 to 7 degrees Celsius.
Advantages and disadvantages of Lobo apple trees
All varieties of apple trees have both advantages and disadvantages.
The main advantages of Lobo include:
- fruits of high marketability (large size, excellent taste);
- frost resistance;
- tolerance to dry conditions due to the average height of the trees;
- constant fruiting;
- significant productivity;
- excellent transportability.
But the apple trees of this variety there are also disadvantages:
- short shelf life of fruits - about 2-3 months;
- in humid conditions with rainy weather, trees and fruits are attacked by scab and powdery mildew.
Landing
To achieve the growth of a quality tree that will yield a bountiful harvest every year, a number of important factors must be taken into account when planting young apple trees.
To start you need to take into account the distance between landings, which depends on the size of an adult tree. With an average height, the gap should be 3.5 meters.
Soil requirements depend on the planting time of the Lobo seedlings. If you plan to plant them in the spring, then they prepare the soil in the fall, allowing it to weather and warm up well.
For autumn planting young trees, the soil is prepared several months before the start of work.
In the case of the initial digging of the earth, weeds must be removed, fertilized with top dressing, and after a while they are dug up again. 5 - 8 kg of manure or humus are introduced per 1 meter of area.
If the soil is cultivated in the fall, then large clods of earth are not loosened. Sod should be left until spring. When the pH value of the earth is above 5.5-6.5, lime is added to the soil.
When digging a hole under an apple tree, you need to remember that its volume should be enough for a seedling along with the root system and fertile soil, which is placed at the bottom of the depression. therefore it is desirable to make a pit 1 meter wide and 90 cm deep.
When burying a seedling, only the top fertile layer should be applied to give the tree a good growth. The bottom of the pit is covered with a mixture of dressings, occupying 2/3 of the volume from the recess for planting.
Usually for this take 1 kg of superphosphate, 1 kg of ash, 2-3 buckets of humus and 3-4 buckets of peat chips... All components are mixed and placed in a pit. Then a seedling is planted, dig in and tamp the soil near it.
Care
Lobo apple trees are unpretentious to care... It is enough to regularly monitor the condition of the trees and carry out prophylaxis against various diseases.
When planting an apple tree, the main root is turned at an angle of 90 ° so that the culture takes in nutrients better and develops actively.
A young seedling requires regular wateringbut in moderation. Excess moisture can cause the plant to rot.
The tree is tied to a wooden peg, it is advisable to do this as a figure of eight. When planting in the spring, it is important to carry out the formation of the crown, for which the ends of all branches are cut off.
Before transplanting the apple tree to the site, you need to inspect the condition of its root. All damaged parts are removed. If, after removal, the root system looks poorly developed, then the tree is placed in water for several days.
It is advisable to dig up the seedling so that soil remains on its roots. To keep it to the maximum on the root system, the tree is watered abundantly before transplanting.
Intensive care for the Lobo apple tree begins in the first spring, regardless of the time of planting.
To achieve fruiting apple trees for 4-5 years they are fertilized with nitrogen organic and mineral fertilizers, as well as urea.
In the summer, ash is added to the soil, and compost and potash fertilizers are used as fertilizer.
It is useful to mulch the near-trunk circle with manure humus, which must be sprinkled on top with straw or dry grass.
Lobo apple trees are poorly resistant to fungal infections, therefore, their prevention is mandatory. For this purpose, the following procedures are carried out:
- remove the affected parts;
- bring ash to the ground;
- form a crown;
- treated with colloidal sulfur and copper compounds;
- fertilized with phosphorus and potassium solutions;
- harvest on time.
Gardeners reviews
Many gardeners point out that Lobo apples are characterized by high and regular yields... Also, the variety tolerates dry weather well.
You can read some real reviews about this culture:
“We live in the north of the Moscow region. The fruits are very tasty, large and beautiful, fully ripen on September 1-10. Apple trees yield a high yield, but branches can break under the mass of fruits. I advise all gardeners. "
“Apple trees produce high quality fruit. But it is desirable to remove the fruits of this Canadian variety at the end of September, and you can use it after a short storage. The disadvantages include weak scab resistance and I would like to have higher winter hardiness. "
“Very juicy apples with firm pulp, which make delicious juice. With a simple care it is possible to collect a rich harvest of bulk and large apples! "
Lobo apple variety is appreciated among amateur gardeners, and in agriculture. The fruits are suitable for consumption raw and are often used for processing.
The tree also has decorative qualities, so it can beautify any landscape design.