Apple variety Bashkir handsome

The Bashkir handsome is an old early winter variety of apple trees of national selection, obtained in a natural way. The original name of the variety is unknown, it was lost at the beginning of the last century. The Bashkir handsome man received its current name in 1928 when the variety was described by an employee of the experimental pomological station V.P. Strelyaev. The industrial plantings of apple trees discovered at that time belonged to 1886 and were located in the village. Topornino on the territory of the garden, which belonged to the merchant Gribushin until 1917. Moreover, the share of the Bashkir handsome in the total apple plantings then amounted to 34%. Currently, the village has been renamed Kushnarenkovo, and the Bashkir Research Institute of Agriculture is located on its territory.

Photo by: Sergey Khodotov

The variety is included in the State Register. The Bashkir handsome man was most widespread in the republics of Bashkortostan, Mari El, Tatarstan, as well as in the Vologda, Kirov, Moscow, Samara and Orenburg regions. In Bashkortostan, its plantings currently occupy about of the total area of ​​apple tree plantations.

Trees are characterized by medium vigor. The crown of young apple trees has a rounded shape, at a fruiting age it is wide-pyramidal, slightly spreading, foliage thickening is average. The branches firmly grow together with the trunk, the angle of departure is close to a straight line. The bark on the trunk and main branches is greenish-brown in color and has a smooth surface. Fruiting of the variety belongs to the mixed type, fruit setting occurs mainly on simple and complex ringlets, short and long fruit twigs.

Shoots of medium size, straight, rounded, fleecy, brownish brown. By the tips on the growing shoots, this variety can be easily distinguished among young plantings and in the nursery: they are almost white and heavily pubescent. Lentils are small in size, light gray in color, convex in shape, clearly visible, few in number. The buds are of medium size, adpressed, conical, hairy. The leaves are large, green, wide, round-ovoid, with short-pointed tops. The edges of the leaves have serrate-crenate serration. The surface of the leaf blade is flat, slightly wrinkled, with delicate venation, strong hairiness on the underside. Petioles are medium in thickness and length, with pubescence. Stipules are of medium size and elongated.

In the climatic conditions of Bashkiria, apple trees bloom in medium terms (in the second half of May). The flowers are large in size, with a pinkish tinge, chalky-shaped, rather fragrant. The column of pistils is long, with weak pubescence, the stigmas are located above the level of the anthers. Inflorescences of medium size.

The fruits of the Bashkir handsome apple tree are usually of medium size, the weight of one apple averages 90 - 100 grams, but with good feeding of trees it can reach up to 140 grams. In size and shape, apples are one-dimensional, regular, broadly conical. The peel on the fruit is rather thick and rough, its surface is smooth, oily, with a strong waxy coating, without rusting. The main color of apples is greenish at the time of ripening, the integumentary color is expressed on an insignificant part of the apple in the form of a striped red blush. By the beginning of the consumer period, the cover color changes slightly, the apples acquire a lighter, whitish shade with a striped red blush. The subcutaneous dots are small in size, gray in color, there are few of them on the skin and they are hardly noticeable.The stalks are short, medium in thickness, set at right angles. The funnel is of medium depth and conical in shape. The saucer is rather small, narrow in shape, with smooth walls. Closed cup, non-falling. The sub-cup tube is average in size, there is no axial cavity. The heart is rather large, bulbous in shape. Seed chambers are closed. The seeds are large in size, broadly ovate, reddish-brown in color.

The pulp has a white color, medium density, fine-grained structure. The apples taste sweet and sour, very juicy, medium aromatic, often with a pleasant bitterness. The external attractiveness of the fruit on a 5-point tasting scale is estimated at 5 points. The taste score is 4.4 points. According to the chemical composition, the fruits of the Bashkir handsome man contain: the sum of sugars (12.4%), dry matter (16.3%), ascorbic acid (11.3 mg / 100 g), organic acids (0.57%). According to its purpose, the variety is universal: apples are suitable for fresh consumption, processing, conservation, drying.

The period of removable ripeness of fruits is somewhat unusual for early winter varieties (but typical for autumn ones) and falls on the end of August - beginning of September (depending on the heat). It should be noted that at the time of ripening, apples tend to shedding, especially when the trees lack moisture. Consumer ripeness of fruits occurs 7 days after harvest. When fully ripe and in good storage conditions, apples can be stored for up to 130 days. Transportability and commercial quality of the fruit are at a high level.

The Bashkir handsome is a self-fertile variety. The best pollinators for him can be: Antonovka ordinary, Buzovyazovskoe, Seedling Titovka.

Fruiting is annual and begins from the 6th year after planting. The yield is high (140 - 257 c / ha), up to 80 kg of fruits can be harvested from one apple tree.

Winter hardiness is at a high level, trees adapt well to harsh conditions and easily move away after damage and freezing. The variety's resistance to various diseases is relatively good. However, defeat by the moth is allowed.

The main advantages of the Bashkir handsome apple are high winter hardiness, durability and adaptability to various conditions in trees, as well as their ability to quickly recover and increase the yield after harsh winters; high assessment of the commercial and consumer qualities of the fruit; good yield.

Speaking of the shortcomings, it is worth noting only the average resistance of the variety to diseases.