Apple variety Gift to Grafsky
The number of amateur gardeners is increasing every year. Many of them want to have a beautiful apple orchard on their site. At the moment of flowering, a divine aroma spreads around it, and the garden itself, strewn with flowers, looks great. By the fall, beautiful and very tasty fruits ripen.
In the middle lane, before creating an apple orchard, you should think about the choice of suitable varieties. Often, already in September, night frosts occur, which adversely affects the planted apple trees. One of the varieties most suitable for a temperate climate is the apple tree with the unusual name Gift to Grafsky.
This late winter variety was bred by scientists of the Institute of Selection and Technology and was first grown on the 17 MYUD state farm near the city of Vladimir in 1979. Comrade Grafsky was at that time the director of this state farm. Authors Kichin, Tulinova, Morozova and Yagunov, who created this new variety, gave it the original name "Gift to Grafsky".
Apple trees are very frost resistant. After the cold winter of 1978-1979, when the temperature dropped to 42 degrees below zero, the apple trees of this variety not only did not freeze, but also gave a bountiful harvest. The same behavior of trees was noted by scientists after a harsh winter from 2009 to 2010. It is worth noting that in winter hardiness this apple tree is inferior even to Antonovka ordinary.
Apple tree characteristics
The tree is standard, tall. Every year, in spring and summer, it gives a big increase. Young shoots are not thick and straight enough, have a dark gray tint. Leaves are oblong, wavy, bright dark green. The crown itself is shaped like an inverted pyramid. It is spreading and not very thick. There are a lot of leaves on the tree, which reliably protects the trunk from the scorching sun. At the time of flowering, the apple tree becomes white-pink. It is all covered with beautiful flowers, and the leaves on it are practically invisible.
The apple tree begins to bear fruit abundantly at the age of 5 - 6, but on the MM106 rootstock fruiting begins already in the second year of life. The fruits of the Gift to Grafsky variety are large. The largest of them weigh about 350 grams. The apples are round in shape, have a rich red color interspersed with a large number of stripes. As a rule, apples are even and smooth. The skin is neither thick nor tough. The pulp is yellowish, fragrant and tender. The fruit is characterized by medium juiciness and a memorable sweet and sour taste. Full ripening of the fruit occurs at the end of October. Apples correctly harvested and stored in storage do not lose their qualities and excellent presentation until April.
Trees bring a good harvest almost every year. This variety does not have so-called dormant periods. This factor can be decisive for a large selection of different varieties of apple trees. A gift to Grafsky has good immune protection, therefore it is resistant to various diseases and pests. The significant disadvantages of this variety include the crumbling of apples, but it is very insignificant.
This excellent winter-hardy variety, with large tasty apples, abundant fruiting, a beautiful crown and delicate beautiful flowers, will undoubtedly appeal to many lovers of apple orchards.
I want such an apple tree and where can I buy seedlings?
Seedlings of this variety are sold at the Biryulevo Institute of Horticulture (Yagodnaya st.). Moreover, you can try them. There is a Ryba store on Yagodnaya, and there is a department with products of the Institute of Horticulture in it. Today (11/12/2014) I bought apples (50 rubles. Kg) "Gift to Grafsky" - really gorgeous taste, soft, juicy, sweet. I will definitely plant it in the spring.
Yes, a great variety. We, in the Rasskazovsky fruit nursery, Tambov region, also have such trees and seedlings - from 100 rubles to 300 rubles, on undersized and high rootstocks.
Today I bought this variety, which is very happy. I will wait for the harvest.
You can't wait. I bought this apple tree 9 years ago at the Institute of Horticulture in Biryulyovo. In the second year there were some lovely apples. In the third year - not a single one. On the fourth, there were apples, but not so large. In general, today, in the 9th year, the apple year in our area, it is huge, well-fed, but absolutely empty. Several inflorescences were blooming, but she threw them off. Perhaps this is the marriage of the horticultural institute. Gardener with forty years of experience, Elena.
And at our dacha in Barybino, she bore ten apples for 14 years, and this 2016 year we collected 4 buckets of large fruits, a lot went to insects and blackbirds. True, we are not skilled gardeners.
This apple tree needs a pollinator. Check it out on the internet.
All apples fall already in August. Never tasted a single ripe apple. Do not buy!
It would be nice to correct the suggestion about why this variety is considered winter.
Corrected.
Yes, this is true, if there is no pollinator the fruit will not be. We also had something similar with an apple tree. At the age of 10, we cut it down and did not taste a single apple. So now the cherry has been standing for the second year, all strewn with flowers and, as a result, 10 berries.