Apple variety Red Catty

In Russia, they started talking about this red meat variety relatively recently. There is very little information about him, and here's what is interesting - there is no information at all about the Red Katty apple tree on foreign sites. From scraps of information in Russian-language content, it is known that breeders have been working on the creation of this variety for almost 20 years. It was obtained not as a result of genetic modification, but by naturally crossing donors of scab resistance and apple trees with red pulp. True, whose selection the novelty belongs to, opinions differ somewhat. According to some sources, this is a North American (Canadian) selection, according to others - Swiss. There are also rumors that Red Catty is a club variety, which means that all rights to its implementation belong to the copyright holders. The novelty was not included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of Russia and an application for its admission to variety trials was not received. But, nevertheless, many nurseries, since 2013, have been distributing this variety and it is known not only in Russia, but also in Belarus and Ukraine. On the forums of gardeners, it has been suggested that Red Katty is not the real name of the crop, but suggested by one of the distributors in order to increase sales. By the way, this idea is also suggested by the fact that our heroine is often described in tandem with another variety - Red Passion, which has very similar characteristics.

Description

The tree is compact, 2.5 - 3.0 meters high. Branches and shoots of the apple tree are not very thick, covered with red-brown bark. The branches are attached to the trunk almost at right angles, the ends of the shoots are directed upwards. Lentils are very small, light, not numerous. The leaves are small, oblong-ovate, the apex is slightly pointed, the base is broadly rounded, the edges are serrate-crenate. The leaf blade is dense, green (at a young age it has a reddish tint), the venation is reticulate, the central vein has a pink tint, the wide-wavy edges are raised, which makes the leaf look like a boat. The underside of the leaves is pubescent. The petiole is long, of medium thickness, pubescent, colored. Stipules subulate, also colored. The variety blooms very beautifully. Large Red Catty flowers are collected in inflorescences of 3 - 5 pieces. The bud is rich crimson, but the blossoming flower becomes a little lighter - from deep pink to pink. Petals are oval, slightly elongated, free-standing. The stigma of the pistil is located below the anthers. The peduncle is long, of medium thickness, pubescent, colored.

The fruits of the apple tree are very bright, attractive, have a flat-round shape, traditional for the culture, leveled, large - weighing from 150 to 200 grams. The funnel is shallow and narrow. The saucer is small, the cup is open. The sub-cup tube is small, wide-cylindrical. The seeds are large. The skin is smooth, firm, shiny, completely colored in a deep red color. The subcutaneous points are light, not very large. The pulp of the variety is juicy, rather dense, pink-red in color, it becomes lighter closer to the seed nest. Many sources describe the wonderful aroma of wild berries, which intensifies during storage. According to the reviews of those who have tried apples, the taste is very good, sweet and sour, with a slight astringency. The pulp does not darken in air and does not change color during heat treatment. The juice has a bright red color, which also does not change after boiling, and slightly resembles cranberry in taste.

Characteristics

• The early maturity of the beautiful Red Catty will delight gardeners who are eager to taste unusual apples. Already 2 - 3 years after planting, the first, and a very generous harvest, will appear;
• the apple tree may bloom the next year after planting, but in order for the culture to grow stronger, the flowers should be cut off;

• flowering occurs at a later date, which allows you to safely avoid recurrent frosts;
• in terms of ripening, the variety belongs to the winter. The harvest period begins at the end of August - mid-September.However, it is not worth evaluating the taste of apples, as they say, from a branch, they will be rather sour. The consumer period will begin in 3 - 4 weeks, the fruits must be matured. Only then will it be possible to appreciate the taste at its true worth;
• yields are claimed by many sources as high. But there is no specific data, since no official variety trials have been carried out;
• according to reviews, even after ripening, the fruits are quite firmly attached to the branches;
• a feature of our heroine is her excellent frost resistance. It is stated that the trees are not afraid of frosts at -30 ° С and even at -33 ° С. Such indicators make it possible to significantly expand the geography of apple cultivation. But remember that you need to purchase only zoned seedlings, if they are brought from warm regions, they will not show the declared winter hardiness;
• besides, Red Catty has high adaptive qualities. For example, the plant grows well and bears fruit even in hot regions, while it can tolerate short-term periods of drought;
• immunity is quite high. The plant is resistant to major crop diseases, including most races of scab and powdery mildew. Resists pests well;
• transportability is good, but when harvesting, care should be taken so that the fruits do not receive mechanical damage;
• keeping quality is high. The harvest of this apple tree is perfectly stored for 4 months;
• the crop is suitable for universal use. In winter, apples with an unusual color are mainly used in their natural form - the variety is an excellent source of vitamins and antioxidants. The bright flesh is good as a dessert decoration or as an ingredient in fruit salad, as it does not darken. Fruits cut into slices can be dried. Having withstood any types of heat treatment, the fruits will not lose their bright color, so preservation with their use will look very appetizing and attractive.

Pollinators

Red Ketty is self-fertile; without additional pollination, the yield will be disappointing. But this does not mean that for pollination you need to plant another apple variety on the site. A suitable variety may well grow in a neighbor's garden, or within a radius of 300 meters. The main thing is that these pollinators bloom with our heroine in the same period.

Planting and leaving

Red Katty, despite its uniqueness, fits well into the agricultural technology of the culture as a whole. The plant, depending on the region, withstands spring and autumn planting. A sunny place will provide the fruit with more sugar content. The apple tree is unpretentious, it can be grown on any type of soil in the European part of Russia. But it develops better on light and fertile loams with good moisture and air permeability. Some sources add that the soil should be slightly acidic - pH 5.5 - 6.5. Despite the drought resistance, the soil in the near-trunk circle should be in a moderately moist state, then the size of apples and their number will tend to the maximum indicator. In spring, nitrogen fertilizers are preferred, in the second half of summer - phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. Preventive measures against diseases and pests should also be carried out in order to maintain the health of the crop. The crown is formed mainly in a sparse-tiered form, pruning is carried out in the spring.

Red Ketty perfectly combines decorativeness and productivity. In spring, the apple tree decorates the garden with wonderful bright flowering, and at the end of the season it pleases with beautiful fruits. Good winter hardiness allows you to grow the plant in central Russia, and due to its drought resistance, it is also suitable for warm regions. The high immunity of the variety will reduce the number of chemical treatments and grow an environmentally friendly crop, and the apples themselves contain a large amount of healthy substances.Good shelf life will surprise guests in winter with delicious apple desserts with red pulp. The variety did not show any obvious shortcomings. True, some gardeners were still dissatisfied with the taste of the fruit.