Apple variety Aprelskoe

Hearing the name of this apple variety - April, naive simpletons will probably think that it is associated with the ripening period. But most, of course, will immediately guess what it indicates the duration of the shelf life. And how could it be otherwise, because our hero represents the winter varieties, the main distinguishing feature of which is precisely the keeping quality. This is not to say that the variety is very popular, its name is rarely found among the listed species in certain categories. But, nevertheless, many consider it to be the hallmark of the Rossoshan apple trees. The place of creation of the novelty is the Rossoshanskaya fruit and berry experimental gardening station. The author of our hero is the famous breeder M.M. Ulyanishchev, who in 1938 crossed the American Mequintosh and Rossosh striped. Aprelskoye was added to the State Register of Breeding Achievements of Russia only in 2019. The applicant and originator is Agronom-Sad LLC. Variety tests took place in the south of the Central region and in the north of the Rostov region. According to their results, the apple tree was allowed for cultivation in the Central Black Earth District, which includes 6 regions: Voronezh, Belgorod, Lipetsk, Kursk, Oryol and Tambov. The new variety turned out to be very interesting and beloved by many gardeners, despite the fact that sometimes it turns out to be unpredictable.

Description

The tree is tall. A young plant grows annually by about 60 cm. Depending on the rootstock, the height is regulated at the level of 4 - 6 m. At a young age, its crown has a narrow pyramidal shape. During the fruiting period, the crown acquires a rounded shape, becomes slightly spreading. The thickening is moderate. The main branches are powerful, light brown, attached to the trunk at an acute angle. Shoots are thick, geniculate, with dark cherry, slightly pubescent bark. Lentils are light. The leaves are large, light green, oblong-elliptical in shape, the apex is slightly pointed, the base is rounded, the edge of the leaf is blunt-serrate. The leaf blade bends slightly downward along the central vein, its surface is matt, smooth, the underside is slightly pubescent. The petiole is thick, long, the stipules are subulate. The buds are large, pubescent, cone-shaped with a blunt apex. Mixed fruiting. The share of fruit twigs accounts for about 7% of the total number of fruit formations, on annual wood, the setting is from 20 to 40%.

Fruits are outwardly attractive, rather large, weighing up to 200 g, even, rounded-conical in shape. The funnel is narrow, shallow. The stalk is medium. The saucer is of medium depth, not wide. The calyx is half-open, the subasculum tube has the form of a wide cone. The heart is in the shape of an onion, located at the top of the fruit. The seed chambers are small, closed or slightly opened into the axial cavity. The skin is not thick, smooth. The main color is greenish-yellow, the integumentary color in the form of a blurred burgundy-red blush is located on the illuminated side. True, those apples that are in the depths of the crown have a paler color. The pulp with a greenish tint, tender, juicy, fine-grained structure, buttery, the aroma is very pleasant. The taste is excellent, dessert, sweet and sour. Those who have tasted this apple at least once will definitely become fans of the variety. No wonder our hero in 1969 was awarded a gold medal at the International Erfurt Exhibition for his qualities, including taste. True, according to gardeners, in cool regions, the taste may decrease slightly.

Characteristics

• Apple-tree April comes into fruiting at different times, depending on the rootstock. Usually, the first crop is formed 6-7 years after planting. But the studies carried out have proved that on a rootstock of the type BP, fruiting occurs 1 - 2 years earlier;
• removable maturity occurs approximately in the second decade of September, which refers our hero to the winter varieties.But you should not rely on these terms, since the variety can surprise you in the form of ripening at an earlier period, and due to overripening, long-term storage will be impossible. Experienced gardeners generally recommend harvesting without waiting for full ripening, but focusing on the not yet completely darkened bone;
• productivity is generally high, the tree increases yield every year. According to observations for 3 years (from 13 to 15 years), the average yield was 165 c / ha;
• despite the fact that the yield is declared as annual, gardeners express conflicting opinions on this matter. In fruiting, periodicity is often observed, and for reasons independent of the quality of care. And such a picture can also be observed - on one tree, a bountiful harvest was formed on 30% of the branches, while the remaining 70% is absolutely fruitless;
• winter hardiness is above average. According to the results of the tests carried out in the Voronezh region, it was revealed that after the harsh winter of 1968 - 1969, the degree of freezing did not exceed 1.5 points;
• the variety has immunity to major crop diseases. April is resistant to scab, the lesion is estimated at 0.5 points (reference to T.M. Mamaev). But with regard to immunity, the various sources again cannot agree. Many indicate that the species is moderately resistant and can suffer greatly from scab. The maximum damage to fruits is 3 points, the leaves are damaged more - by 3.9 points. True, there is a caveat that this happens during unfavorable, humid and cool summers;
• transportability is good, but during harvesting the fruits should be removed with a stalk and carefully placed in a low container;
• keeping rates are quite high. The consumer period lasts until April or even May. But the crop should be stored in specially equipped chambers. Apples will stay in a regular refrigerator until February;
• the crop is intended for universal consumption. First of all, the fruits are used in their natural form. But they are also intended for any kind of processing: jam, jam, juice, compote, preserves, cider, dried fruits.

Pollinators

April belongs to self-fertile varieties, therefore it needs suitable pollinators that bloom with it in the same period. Most suitable for this role: Rossosh striped, North synap and Cherry.

Planting and leaving

The most preferred period for planting this apple tree is spring, late May or early April. Since a perennial crop grows in one place for a very long time, it is worth approaching the choice of a site responsibly. The place requires a spacious, well-lit by the sun, the distance to the nearest neighbors is about 4 m. Subsoil waters should run no closer than 1.5, or even 2.0 m to the surface. Loose and fertile loams are the most suitable soils. On sandy loam, you will have to water and feed more often. And if the soil on the site is heavy clay, you will have to specially prepare a planting pit, the dimensions of which should be larger than usual. Drainage is laid at the bottom, and the remaining volume is filled with a suitable soil mixture. Watering is carried out as needed and taking into account natural precipitation. Top dressing is applied according to the standard scheme. The most common form of the crown is sparse-tiered. In the spring, thinning pruning is carried out, sanitary - as needed. Since there is evidence that the crop is suffering from scab, preventative treatments should not be neglected. It is carried out in the spring, before the buds swell - the tree is treated with a 3% solution of Bordeaux liquid or other means (Skor, Abiga-Peak, Fitosporin-M). In the fall, fallen leaves must be removed from the trunk circle.

The apple variety Aprelskoe is valued by gardeners for the high commercial and consumer qualities of the fruit, the universal use of the crop and, of course, for the high taste, marked with a high award. The culture is well suited for growing in private gardens in the Central Black Earth Region due to its fairly high frost resistance. But for industrial cultivation it is not very suitable because of the occasional frequency in fruiting, possible problems with scab. But, as gardeners say, if the year is a success and the harvest is disfiguring, the apple tree can be forgiven for its whims.