Apple variety Florina

Florina (Florina) refers to the winter varieties of apple trees. The variety was bred by French breeders through multiple saturating crosses using varieties Jonathan (Jonathan), Rum Beauty (Rome Beauty), Starking (Starking), Golden Delicious (Golden Delicious) and Malus floribunda 821 seedlings. The climate suitable for growing this apple tree is warm and temperate. This variety has become widespread throughout the territory of Ukraine, where from the mid-70s it began to undergo primary and production tests in the plantings of all scientific centers of the country, and from the end of the 80s it has been cultivated in industrial gardens located in the steppe and forest-steppe zones.

Florina apple trees are medium-sized, grow up to 3 meters, but even on a dwarf rootstock and scarce soils they do not grow below 1.8 meters. The crown has a wide-round shape and is quite thickened, strong skeletal branches extending from the trunk at an angle of 45 - 80 degrees, the ends are directed upwards. Excitability of the kidneys is average. Shoot-forming ability of young apple trees is high. Fruiting is mixed, concentrated on the tops of annual growths and ringlets.

Flowering is long and occurs in medium terms. The pollen has a very high viability (78 to 82%). With free pollination, 16 - 26% of fruits are set, and from the best pollinators, setting can reach 32% (but not less than 23%). The best pollinators for the Florin apple tree will be the following varieties: Golden Delicious and some of its hybrids (Prima, Priam), Red, Ruby Duki, Melrose, Gloucester, Liberty, Granny Smith, Idared. Incompatibility with the Priscilla variety was noted.

Fruiting begins from 2 to 3 years on a weakly grown rootstock, from 4 to 5 years on a medium-sized rootstock. From a five-year-old apple tree, you can harvest up to 5 - 10 kg, from a 10-year-old tree - up to 60 - 70 kg.

Apples grow of medium and large size, they are often cut-cylindrical in shape, but can be round-conical, with wide, smoothed edges. The average weight of the fruit ranges from 110 to 150 grams. The main color of apples is light yellow, the integumentary color is expressed almost on the entire surface in the form of a thick or blurry striped, bright red blush with a bluish bloom. On the peel of the apple, subcutaneous specks are noticeable in a large number, medium in size, of a whitish shade. The skin itself is quite dense and elastic, of medium thickness, dry. The pulp of the fruit is tender and very juicy, with an amazing aroma, crisp, light yellowish color, medium density. In general, the taste of apples is quite interesting and pleasant: freshly sweet, sourness is very weak. By the end of storage, the fruits acquire a rich taste and aroma of ripe melon. On a 5-point tasting scale, the taste score is 4.1 - 4.4 points.

The period of removable ripeness of fruits falls on the end of September - the beginning of October, the period of consumer maturity begins in January. Florin's apples are intended to be consumed fresh. In a cool room, the fruits are excellently stored until early spring, in the refrigerator they can remain fresh until June. Apples tolerate transportation well, without damage, while maintaining an appetizing appearance.

The indicators of winter hardiness and drought resistance of the variety are average, quite sufficient for a temperate climate. Florina has strong immunity to scab (1 - 5 races) and is resistant to other dangerous diseases - powdery mildew, fire blight, moniliosis, aphids. The apple tree is susceptible to European cancer.

Young seedlings are planted in deep and spacious pits so that the roots are placed freely in them. The seedlings are covered with soil mixed with peat and organic fertilizers.When caring for young trees, thinning pruning is recommended. For abundant fruiting, frequent watering is desirable, especially in dry and hot summers. For the winter, in order to provide additional protection against freezing, the root system of apple trees should be covered with dry, fallen leaves.

The most suitable soils: black soil, clay. Intolerance to acidic soils has been noted.

The obvious advantages of the Florina variety are:

- fruits of very good quality, with a pleasant taste;
- the ability to keep apples fresh for up to 6 months;
- high level of fruit transportability;
- persistent immunity to scab, low disease susceptibility;
- high productivity.

The main disadvantage can be periodic fruiting. In addition, the trees need extra care.