Modern breeders are constantly developing new varieties of apple trees, in addition to those that already exist and have been tested more than once in the field. In this article we will tell you about the Anise apple tree and how to get the best harvest from them.
Description of apple varieties Scarlet, striped and Sverdlovsky
It should be noted right away that the variety and the species are not the same. Several different species are distinguished in the variety, and there are certain differences between them, which we will talk about a little further. The original variety, bred for the first time, is called Anis Scarlet, and it was he who was given the first social characteristics at one time. In addition to this species, we will consider Anis Sverdlovsky and Anis striped (or gray, as it is also popularly called).
Anise Scarlet is considered the most common type of apples among anise, and among apple varieties, in principle, it is well recognized by its dark red fruits.
The variety perfectly withstands long-distance transportation and can grow even at fairly low temperatures. But the fruits themselves are stored for no more than two months - and this is under good conditions. So, experienced gardeners recommend that you immediately let them go to workpieces or eat them until the apples finally lose their taste and useful properties.
Harvesting takes place at different times for each variety. Scarlet Anise ripens at the very end of summer, Sverdlovsk - only by mid-September, and it is better to leave Polosaty to ripen until late September-early October. For transportation, the last two varieties are much better than Scarlet Anise - they can be kept in boxes for several months, the main thing is to maintain an optimal temperature of about zero degrees Celsius. Changes in humidity and lack of ventilation are highly discouraged.
Features of growing an apple tree
The first thing you should do before planting is to choose an area that is bright enough. In the shade, the seedling, at best, will become somewhat frail and will develop much more slowly than expected, and at worst, it will wither and not bear fruit.
The seedling must stand warm for at least a month in order to take root and take root, therefore, it must be planted no later than a month before the first cold weather. Consider the characteristics of the region so that early frosts do not destroy the seedlings.
The first few years will not bear fruit, so the gardener can only look after him, removing too long roots, shoots and forming a crown.
The branches are not cut off until the leaves are completely shed, so as not to damage the tree.
Despite the rather serious unpretentiousness to the soil as a whole, gardeners note that the best harvest is obtained in areas with the following types of soil:
- sandy loam;
- loamy.
The ideal soil for planting any kind of anise should be airtight, moisture-absorbing and fertile.
Planting rules for seedlings
There is no need to prepare a pit for planting in advance: the tree takes root perfectly in the soil without special preparation. Many gardeners pull it out directly during planting. The only thing: before leaving the seedling, it is necessary to drive a strong peg into the ground and tie the trunk to it.
Care
The tree does not tolerate drought well, so if the summer is completely free of rain, it is better to water the tree abundantly several times per season so that it will bear good fruits. After watering, the soil around the tree must be loosened. Every time a gardener sees a defect on a trunk or branch, he must remove it, and at the first opportunity to process the cut with garden pitch.
Before the onset of severe frosts, special preparation for wintering is carried out. Fallen leaves are taken away from the tree, the trunk is whitewashed to disinfect the bark (reduces the likelihood of being damaged by diseases and pests), if there was such a problem, the trunks are tied, protecting from rodents.
If possible, it is worth treating the tree with special preparations that reduce the possibility of damage by diseases and pests listed in the following paragraphs.
In the spring, when the snow is just beginning to melt, a small snowdrift is folded around the tree, and then they trample it down to retain enough moisture for the awakening tree.
Spring whitewashing is not carried out immediately, waiting for all the moisture from the trampled snowdrift to be absorbed into the soil, and it dries out completely. During the spring whitewashing, they try to inspect the branches: if they are damaged by wind and frost, they must be cut off. The harness, applied in the fall, is removed completely, the soil is slightly loosened around the trunk and fertilizers are applied there.
Diseases and pests
The apple tree is susceptible to most standard diseases, but breeders have learned to fight with some. At the moment, scab and powdery mildew are the most dangerous for the crop. If we talk about pests, then the most destructive consequences from the raid of the common aphid, moth and leafworm.
Scab
Externally, the scab appears very quickly: the leaves are covered with olive-green spots, which over time begin to blacken and crack, and then completely break. Spots cover almost the entire tree, and in the final stages, the bark swells and bursts. The disease can begin if the area has high humidity for a long time - or if the grower has started the crowns and they become too thick.
Fungicides are used for treatment (having previously familiarized yourself with several manufacturers and deciding what is right for you), and before that, preventive measures are taken to improve the condition of the tree (burning dry fruits and leaves, cutting the crown, processing with a five percent solution of copper sulfate).
Powdery mildew
The appearance corresponds to the name - the leaves of the apple tree seem to be covered with a thin bloom. For treatment, it is necessary to get rid of foci of the spread of infection (it is enough to cut off the affected leaves, if there are not too many of them), replace part of the soil around the plant and water and spray with special preparations.
Aphids are removed by the same fungicides and nitrafen, an infusion of ordinary tobacco without flavors is prepared in advance for the leafworm, and the moth cannot stand the smell of wormwood.
Gardeners' reviews about apples
Eugene: The taste is quite average, so it is worth thinking a few times before buying seedlings. It goes well into jam and other preparations, but my family personally did not like the taste. Friends from Siberia, on the contrary, praise: with their frosts, apple trees do not always survive, but here the winter-hardy version, in which the fruits lie well, are happy. You can try, but if the area is wet and there is no frost, I don't see much sense.
Catherine: A very tenacious tree, no matter what anyone says. I had to look after him for a long time, some hooligans cut down the central guide, after the winter he never recovered, but instead of him four branches grew. I chose one, the strongest, it quite successfully replaced the central conductor. The vertical branches, which grew due to the lost central conductor, were tied up a little so that they would grow horizontally. Now a great apple tree, practically indistinguishable from other trees in the garden.
Michael: In many descriptions, Anis Aly is a summer variety, but I would say that it is closer to the autumn one, since I always pick apples at the very end of August - early September. The fruits are smaller than those of the Striped (there are both apple trees, I could compare). It is believed that you can eat straight from the tree, but I would recommend lying in the shade for a bit to get to condition. They will lie free in the refrigerator or basement for a couple of months, kept both there and there, in the end, only the pulp has softened a little, but otherwise nothing has changed.
Nikolay: I needed apples exclusively for cider, so I did not pay attention to the original taste. I went through several varieties from friends, in the end I planted only three trees on the site, one of which is just striped anise. The cider turns out to be good; in principle, it is not so difficult to care for. The only drawback is that there is really little juice, if it does, it must be with mashed potatoes, you have to additionally filter to get the result.
Conclusion
The apples are pretty good, with a strong flavor and not too long shelf life. Moderately whimsical, with proper care they recover quickly from diseases.
Reviews are getting mixed, more biased towards positive. They are good for preparing preparations for the winter (jam, compotes, etc.) and food. An option for gardeners who have an idea of how to care for average plants and trees.