Apple variety Antonovka
Antonovka is the main apple variety in Russia. An unpretentious and highly fertile tree has existed in the zone of risky farming for a long time. Its history was invested not so much by qualified breeders as by tireless and restless amateurs - gardeners.
Now this apple variety is surviving our erratic cold winters and sultry summer days. They bear fruit on the modest lands of the Non-Black Earth Region, and give excellent harvests in such northern regions as the Tula and St. Petersburg regions.
Ivan Bunin reports about the mesmerizing aroma of apples, describing the house of Anna Gerasimovna in his famous story "Antonov Apples".
Choosing between an imported handsome man, covered with harmless wax during transportation, and a modest green apple, a health-conscious person chooses Antonovka. It contains less sugars (about 9%), but there is enough vitamin C. And also pectin and other bioactive substances necessary for humans.
Early winter varieties of Antonovka are stored for a long time, while becoming only tastier and sweeter. On the Russian market, they account for up to half of all apple products. Antonovka soaked, dried, baked is allowed even for diabetics. It is useful for gastritis with low acidity, atherosclerosis, high cholesterol. Everyone else will like marmalade, jelly, marshmallow and other products, one of which is Antonov apples.
If this wonderful Russian plant is not yet in your garden, do not regret some space, plant this fall or spring. If you are going to plant apple tree seedlings in the spring, already now, in October, prepare a planting hole (80 × 100 cm) so that the soil looses over the winter, which will happen when freezing and thawing, while killing weed seeds.
If you decide to plant this fall, it is advisable that such a hole last at least 2 weeks, creating better opportunities for plant rooting and earlier future fruiting.
Despite the unpretentiousness of the Antonovka apple variety, it is better to plant according to all the rules. Fold the dug out fertile layer (this is about 10-15 cm) separately, and remove the deeper infertile layers from the garden (dispose of). Lay the sod and part of the fertile layer (10-20 cm) at the bottom of the pit, tamp and water. Take the middle of the pit with good soil mixed with compost, rotted manure, humus, peat and a small amount (mini handful) of mineral fertilizers.
Drive in 1 or 2 pegs before filling the last 20 cm. Spread out the roots of the seedling, paying special attention to the small roots - they absorb water and beneficial compounds. They must be moist. The seller had to keep them in a damp cloth or wet sand.
Place the seedling so that the root collar (the connection between the wild and the cultivated branch) is at the level of the soil in your garden. Cover with fertile soil so that each root is in full contact with it. Press with your hands or tap lightly with your foot, you will get a small dimple. Supplement it with an earthen roller and spill the hole well with water (preferably not ice cold).
Remove all the leaves from the apple tree sapling, otherwise they will keep the roots on a starvation diet, tie the seedling to the pegs.
If you hesitate with the purchase of Antonovka seedlings (purchase after October 12-15), it is better to dig them in until spring. Choose a place on the south side of a wall, make a groove 50-60 m deep, evenly lay the seedlings in an inclined position, bury the roots or sprinkle with sand. Water. When the frosts become permanent, cover the boles of the seedlings (trunks) with earth.
In Siberia, it freezes only in the most severe winters. Moderate yield, late autumn, sour apples. They are not stored for a long time - they become lethargic.
Antonovka does not have "sour" apples at all. You, apparently, confuse it with something ... Taste is the best of all varieties existing on earth (and there are already about 20 thousand of them, by the way).
As Doctor of Sciences Rylov rightly wrote, under the guise of Antonovka, traders now sell all kinds of rubbish. Apparently, you were "lucky" to buy it instead of a varietal seedling.
Actually, the varieties of Antonovka are known at the present moment - 38. For example, I like the golden Antonovka more, although it is of a summer ripening period.
All these so-called varieties of Antonovka are not. They are called so by traders in their price lists. For what? And it is profitable for them - it seems like the assortment is wider,i.e. they seem to be trying, sincere, but in reality - nothing but laziness. And they have such variants of Antonovka - ... yes, as many as you like!
And, to be precise, in Soviet times, it was written not about 38, but about more than 220 varieties of it, moreover, it was directly stated that all this was only slightly changed under the influence of local conditions (and it is Antonovka who can very flexible to adapt to the most different soil and climatic conditions, for which we appreciate it!) Antonovka Ordinary ...
And about Zolotistaya, scientists seem to have determined everything for a long time - she has nothing to do with Antonovka at all. What are we now going to consider all these 220 slight local deviations as varieties ?! What kind of carte blanche will we give the merchants for legal swindle, especially for not particularly knowledgeable buyers ?!
In our country house, two large, already middle-aged apple trees of the Antonovka variety are growing. And two neighbors in the country also have these apple trees. All these trees were planted by my grandfather. The cuttings for the scion were taken from the same tree, but the rootstocks were different - who planted which one for themselves. All these trees differ slightly from each other - in the size of the fruits, their color (one of the neighbors' apples are more yellow than the others), ripening periods (within 2 - 3 weeks), taste.
Apples of this variety are not very juicy. It is not possible to squeeze a lot of juice out of them, you should not even try. But precisely because of this, and also thanks to their inherent sourness, Antonovkas are ideal for cooking. I always take only them for pies, for baking, for jam, jam, jam. I make them dry for the winter. When I make compotes from sweet pears, I add 1 - 2 Antonovka to each jar for sourness.
As a rule, we do not try to store apples of this variety for a long time. After all, there are many new varieties that lie perfectly until spring and do not lose their qualities. Antonovka becomes loose. Therefore, we enjoy them during the ripening period, and all winter we eat delicious preparations from them.
I believe that in every garden it will be useful to have at least one or two trees of this old but reliable apple tree.
The main distinguishing feature of Antonovka is its aroma. Not to be confused with anything. He's just stunning. Whatever the pollen, whatever growing conditions it has, the aroma should be characteristic, strong and not confused with anything.
You can read so many things, both sour and not very juicy ... This is not so, to put it mildly. And, yes, it all depends on the conditions. Where tree care is left on its own, there will probably be both sour and not juicy. Where care is sane - they did not even hear about it.
And to put this apple on juice is a waste. By the way, for juice to be available (even where there is little of it), you need a juicer, not a juicer.
The main risk is flowering. Due to the changeable weather in May, flowering can be interrupted very early. Antonovka needs to bloom for a long time.
The correct place of growth, regular watering (even if it seems that it does not seem dry), root and foliar feeding.And not anyhow, but just in time, regularly and with analysis of what is needed and what should not be overdosed, the obligatory deoxidation of the soil.
You cannot start a tree, otherwise they will throw the apple tree - it will become rotten with them, all in algae and lichen, or even in moss - there you don't expect normal apples.
With proper storage, apples lie as long as needed. And they certainly do not fade.
Very productive.
The biggest disadvantage of Antonovka, where its plus (it happens) is its tallness, which makes it very difficult to leave. If you do not start it, it is not painful, it is resistant to all kinds of scab / cytosporosis / moniliosis, and pests (on average) do not annoy her.
Also, it's a very long time to wait for the first harvest, but it's worth it. It is not just big, but very big. Cases are described - from one tree (!) - up to 1 ton of apples.
And, what is very important - the fruits are marketable and transportable, which is not always found in a private courtyard.
I'm growing Antonovka one and a half pounds. It is much tastier than the classic Antonovka, much juicier, more sugar, a slight blush appears on the sunny side and the weight of apples can reach 700 grams. The scent is the same. This is an old Michurinsky variety. I recommend.
Antonovka is very tasty. It is sweet and sour, with a very pleasant aroma and smell characteristic of it - therefore it cannot be confused with other apples. Therefore, it is correct - those who say that she allegedly has "sour" apples, simply fell for a deception.
Yes, everything is correct, apples are sour, it is impossible to eat, only to process, not stored for a long time, fragrant. But for many, these apples are a childhood memory, which is why they protect them so zealously.
You didn't eat ripe Antonovka. When it is ripe in a warm summer to full ripeness (the apple turns bright yellow, amber in the suni.e. translucent from pouring into the light in places), there is almost no acid in the taste of classic Antonovka ordinary.
Apples, including unripe apples, have a strong characteristic aroma (if they are in an open container). It spreads and is heard at a great distance.
When ripe, the pulp is sweet with a slight sourness, dense, white-yellowish tint, crumbles in the mouth, has notes of honey and sweet fruits in the taste.
I don't know any other similar taste.
My great-grandfather (!) Had an apple orchard (They took it, but didn’t start studying. So it disappeared). There were different varieties. In the 80s, my relatives ended up in the garden: I have never seen such beautiful, fragrant and tasty apples anywhere. "This is from your grandfather's garden!" So, Antonovka in our family was called the Royal Apple and ... they were almost worshiped. Once I brought my father from Leningrad - he had tears. But I was POSITIVE with apples as a child! So it’s not true that people didn’t see apples in childhood. The present ones do not see this and do not know what to compare with.
I inherited two already elderly Antonovka apple trees. At first we decided to cut them down because of their age, but then we changed our minds and did not regret it at all.
The advantages of this variety:
Excellent taste of the fruits, you just have to wait for their full ripeness (in our region it comes in October - November, or even after the first frost). The best pickled apples are obtained from this variety. The fruits are relatively well kept. Of course, in terms of shelf life, they cannot compete with more stable winter varieties (for example, Semerenko), but they can be stored in a cool, dry room until mid-January. The main thing is that they should be collected at the stage of incomplete maturity. A harvest from one mature tree can provide apples for a family of four.
Disadvantages:
The tree is usually very tall, making it difficult to handle pests and harvest. If the apple tree is old, then it bears fruit every two years.
Despite these disadvantages, Antonovka is considered one of the best varieties and is suitable for growing in different climatic zones.
I have one tree of this sort in my garden. And, perhaps, it is the most valuable, because I can cook jam, and I expel the juice with the help of a juicer, but, most importantly, it lies perfectly. I have a good cellar, I put it on the shelves so that the apples do not touch each other. From time to time I check, and if any apple is rotten, I delete it. We finish eating at the end of January, the taste, of course, changes, the fruits are no longer as juicy and firm as those just picked, but still tasty. It bears fruit in a year. But there were years, which turned out after two, because there were cold springs, and when the tree blossomed, frosts hit. Our climate is still not very favorable for fruit. But if the flowering went well, the harvest is excellent! I harvest at the end of October, I check if the seeds have turned brown - you can take them off. In my experience, if you remove it earlier, the apples will shrink faster. Yes, the tree is really very tall, you have to cut it, otherwise it shades others. We try to cut off the top and those branches that grow into the crown or upward, leaving horizontal branches.
I read almost all the comments. You know, from birth I lived surrounded by Antonovka, Cinnamon and White filling apple trees. In my childhood, it was a large apple orchard; at the moment, only two apple trees from Brown and Antonovka have survived. Three years ago my husband bought a seedling of Antonovka ordinary. This year she decided to please us with an abundance of harvest. Here I go from old apple trees to a new one and compare the fruits. In my opinion, they say correctly, the old Antonovka is no longer there. I will say for sure only in the fall, having tasted the fruits. About the taste. I don’t know how anyone, but I have an association - a duck or a goose with apples, charlotte is only with apples of this variety. And also childhood memories - frozen apples. They were collected, laid in hay in a barn. And then in the winter you bring this frozen apple into the house, thaw and eat. By the way, after freezing, the apple of this variety becomes sweet.
Antonovka is known, perhaps, to everyone. The apple tree is tall, strong, unpretentious. Winters well in the middle lane. Stores well.
And I want to tell you about the variety of varieties - Antonovka gold. In principle, gold from ordinary differs slightly. The most noticeable difference is the ripening period. The fruits begin to ripen from the end of August and by the beginning of October there are practically no apples left. Nevertheless, if you manage to take them off, they will lie down for a while. The apple tree usually bears fruit in a year, the yield is high.
In taste and appearance, gold is similar to ordinary. But, in my opinion, a ripe apple will be more fragrant. Ripe fruits are brighter than those of a regular Antonovka and very often the barrel from the sunny side is as if translucent to the very seeds. Apples are great for juicing, fresh consumption, drying, soaking, and storage.