Apple lovers are sometimes hard to pick.one or another variety for planting in their area. Among the incredible variety of varieties of this fruit today we decided to choose a variety of apple "Melba". Reviews of experienced gardeners allow us to speak of him as one of the most delicious and unpretentious in the process of growing and care.
In this article we will share with you the most importantinformation about planting and caring for this fruiting tree. And also we give a detailed description of the variety of apple "Melba", reviews about him and varieties. And we begin with the history of the creation of the variety.
History
This apple variety is one of the oldest in the world.It was received almost a hundred and twenty years ago. The history of the apple tree "Melba" begins in 1898. The first apples were given by young seedlings obtained by free pollination of the apple variety “mac”. The credit for this discovery belongs to Canadian breeders from the state of Ottawa. They liked the taste of the fruit so much that it was decided to create a new variety named after the Australian opera singer Nelly Melba, which was very popular at that time.
After a few years the apple tree fell onthe territory of our country, where it successfully settled down and established itself as an unpretentious late-summer variety. In the years of the Soviet Union, the apple tree "Melba", the photo of which is so familiar to all current lovers of this fruit, was entered in the State Register.
Today, this variety is spread all over the world, but it is especially popular among the residents of the southern regions of our country and the countries of the former Soviet Union.
Description of the apple tree "Melba"
When it comes to apple, you need to addand a description of its fruits. In the case of this variety - it is quite large, rounded apples, each weighing about 150 grams. The shape of the fruit is round, slightly expands towards the base, and the surface has a simultaneous combination of ribbing and gloss. The main color of the mature fruit is pale green with white specks under the skin and a striped red side. Juicy snow-white flesh has a sweetish taste with a light and pleasant sourness.
A distinctive feature of this variety is the unique aroma of ripe apples - the smell of candy. Due to this quality, these fruits often become the basis of jams, preserves and many fruit desserts.
In the description of the apple tree "Melba" it is worth noting the highcontent of ascorbic acid in its fruits. Vitamin C is one of the most powerful stimulants of immunity, and therefore the use of these apples is an excellent prevention of colds. A large number of pectins involved in the metabolic processes of the body, makes apples indispensable in the diet of each of us.
In general, the trees of this variety of apple - mediumheights are columnar in the first few years. Every year the trunk and crown of the apple tree expand, the tree acquires a spherical shape. The bark of a young trunk has a cherry hue, which eventually darkens and becomes almost brown.
The leaves are slightly elongated and curved, ovalshape, juicy green. During the flowering period, the apple tree is abundantly covered with white-pink flowers with a purple bud, the delicate fragrance of which spreads far around.
General characteristics
Скорость получения урожая напрямую зависит от climatic conditions. On average, apples can begin to collect from mid-August. In colder climates, the time of harvest is shifted by almost a month. If you are planning a long-term storage of fruits, then you need to pick them slightly unripe - when stored in the refrigerator or cellar, they ripen independently and acquire extraordinary taste qualities.
One of the good things about growingApple trees "Melba" is considered a high yield. Already from the third or fourth year of cultivation, the tree gives at least 80 kilograms of crop. However, the older the tree, the less it gives less apples, more often shows a state of rest.
Varieties
About twenty different varieties of these fruit trees were bred on the basis of the Melba apple variety. The description of the most popular of them will be given in this section.
- "Prima" is the brainchild of American breeders who, on the basis of "melba," brought out the apple tree VF gene, which is responsible for the almost complete resistance to scab.
- "Caravel" - one of the Canadian varieties of apple, characterized by a higher resistance to cold and early ripening of fruits.
- "Melba Red" - an apple tree, which is a direct clonemain variety. Its main difference is increased frost resistance, which allows to grow this variety not only in the south, but also in the middle lane. Another advantage over the original is scab resistance.
- "Cherished" - the legendary variety, bred in 1958year on the basis of apple trees "Melba", "Saffron Pepin", "Purple ranet" and "Autumn joy". A distinctive feature of this species is considered to be high resistance to pests and diseases, as well as the ability to tolerate cold climate conditions.
- "Early scarlet", "red scarlet" - two varieties,bred on the basis of "Melba", which were obtained by Russian breeders. "Early scarlet" was obtained with the combination of "melba" and "papiroki", while creating the "red scarlet", the variety "spring" participated.
Place for planting and soil preparation
Because of the rather high susceptibility of the apple tree"Melba" to frost is very important to weigh all the "pros" and "against" before its landing on its site. It is necessary to consider all the features of the climate of your region. If you live in one of the southern regions, then you have nothing to fear. In this case, it is very easy to choose the best place for landing. The only requirement is the presence on the site of a small hill, where excess moisture cannot accumulate, leading to decay of the root system of the tree, especially groundwater in springtime. If there are no elevations on your site, then organize an artificial outflow of water, tearing a canal.
The variety of apple trees "melba" in the soil prefers a high content of clay and sand, since the latter provides oxygen access to the root system.
Если грунт на вашем участке не соответствует этим requirements, conduct a preliminary preparation of pits for planting trees. To do this, pour a layer of sand at the bottom of each pit, then a layer of ground peat and a large layer of compost. Soil with such components will provide your trees with a better survival rate, protection from diseases and a higher and higher quality crop in the future.
Landing process
It is possible to plant an apple-tree both in the fall, and in the spring.The first option is considered the most preferable, since during the winter the hardening of the tree and the restoration of the roots damaged during planting occur. But the autumn planting is permissible only when winter frosts do not exceed the mark of -20 ° C.
If you have already chosen a good place for the trees and prepared the ground, then you can safely proceed to the description of planting the Melba apple tree.
One important aspect of landing iskeeping the distance between the future trees - it should vary from 3 to 8 meters. Such a long distance is due to the need for sufficient space for the normal development of the root system and the crown of the tree. The pit for planting should have a diameter of not less than a meter and a depth of about 80 centimeters. At the bottom of the pit must be a drainage. You can use old tin cans and walnut shells for this.
The ground dug out of the pit is divided into two parts,one of which must be saturated with peat and humus. The unprofitable part of the soil is poured in the lower layer, on which the sapling is placed and sprinkled with the enriched part of the earth, slightly trampling it at the end of planting. With a small height of the seedling you can put a stick next to it, which will support with strong winds. After planting is completed, the seedling is plentifully shed by water.
Features of care
To obtain a healthy and strong harvest from the Melba apple tree (photo later in the article), simple but proper and timely care is required.
This includes wood treatment with drugs,protecting it from the effects of harmful insects and diseases. This treatment begins the next year after planting the seedlings and is carried out twice: during the period of bud swelling and as close as possible to the time of budding.
An effective method of protection against pests is whitewashing trunks in the middle of the fruitful season.
Top dressing start from the third year of cultivation.apple trees. The best fertilizers for this tree are compost and humus. Also good feeding wood ash, fallen leaves and dried grass. In the autumn and spring, dig up the soil around the trees to saturate the roots with oxygen. Apple tree requires regular and abundant watering, especially in the year of planting - every 2-3 days you need to pour about one and a half liters of water. In dry summer, the frequency and abundance of irrigation increases. To preserve moisture in the ground for a longer time, it is better to water in the evening.
Trim rules
Correct pruning and crown formation - keytree health and the guarantee of a rich harvest. Pruned not only old but also young trees. In early spring, the apple tree undergoes a thorough inspection to remove old shoots. Young shoots are shortened, which stimulates the further growth of trees and crown development. Do not be afraid to cut the young shoots too short, because they give the best yield. It should be understood that excessively thick greens, as well as a high number of fruits, are detrimental to the quality of the crop as a whole.
If the young seedling does not have side shoots,This is shortened by the main one - until it reaches a meter height. In the presence of lateral shoots, they are cut to a height of about half a meter. When pruning, it is important to remove the branches that grow at too sharp an angle to the trunk - such shoots will not bear the weight of ripe apples. In older trees, the pruning principle is preserved: old branches are removed, young ones are shortened, and a common skeleton is formed due to strong branches growing at an obtuse angle. The lowermost branches are cut to a length of about 3 centimeters, and the upper ones are even shorter. The length of the trunk should be 20 centimeters longer than its lateral shoots. The intensity of pruning is reduced only by the fifth or sixth year of the apple tree life, since this may adversely affect the growth rate of the tree.
Diseases and pests
When growing one or other garden cropsBe sure to be prepared for some difficulties, such as the effects of pests and the appearance of diseases. The three main diseases that can significantly undermine the health of your apple are:
- Scab.First appears in the form of small brown spots on the leaves, which gradually increase in size and affect the fruit. The growth of apples stops, their surface cracks, becomes covered with gray spots. For the prevention of this disease, it is necessary to spray the tree with drugs "Horus" or "Oxyh" in the springtime.
- Mealy dew.A common disease that affects almost all plants in the area. They recognize it by white bloom, which blocks the leaves of oxygen and moisture. Affected leaves dry quickly, become yellow, curl and crumble. Mealy dew affects the inflorescences, which leads to the absence of the ovary and, consequently, future fruits. For the prevention and control of the disease, the tree is sprayed with a solution of the Topaz drug during the leaf blooming period, and copper oxychloride is processed after flowering.
- Fruit rot.Another common disease among fruit trees. Manifested in the form of white growths and brown spots on the fruit, soft to the touch. Infected fruits fall down spontaneously and are not to be eaten - they must be destroyed. Three-spraying the apple with the "Fundazol" or "Horus" preparations helps to get rid of this disease.
In addition to the above diseases, the apple tree Melba, like any other variety, is exposed to some pests that affect the fruit. The most popular ones are:
- Apple moth. From these insects, sticky belts and Zimbush and Fastak preparations can save the tree. Their solutions must be processed ovaries.
- Яблонная щитовка.A rather dangerous insect sucking sap from a tree, causing it to dry out and die. To prevent it from occurring, treat the soil around the tree with Aktaroy before flowering; wash the apple trunk with a solution of ash and tar soap.
- Apple flower eater. It affects the buds, laying their larvae in them, which leads to drying and dying of flowers. Chlorophos treatment helps to cope with this pest.
- Leafworms.With the arrival of spring, green caterpillars begin to appear from the bark of the trees, which strike the buds and entangle the leaves with cobwebs. In the middle of summer, the process of pupation of insects in twisted leaves begins. Treating a tree from this insect is treatment with nitrophene or chlorophos. In order to prevent wood is processed in March.
Apple "Melba": reviews of experienced gardeners
Appreciate the fruits of this tree, not only for excellenttaste, but also for the high content of a large number of trace elements and vitamins. Apples of this variety perfectly retain their presentation and taste during long-term storage and transportation.
But despite the fact that in many reviews andThe description of the apple tree Melba has a number of advantages over others, it also has its drawbacks. For example, its average frost resistance. That is why it is almost impossible to grow this variety in the northern regions, in Siberia and even in the Far East. If proper care is not observed, the tree may suffer from scab and bear fruit not annually, but intermittently. Pollinators are obligatory for apple trees "Melba" - since its ability to self-pollination is rather low.
Preparation for winter
As mentioned above, high sensitivity tofrost is not the most pleasant feature of this variety. Therefore, there are special rules aimed at preserving the Melba apple during the winter period. To cover the tree from frost and pests (rodents, hares), use agrofibre or burlap. The material for the winding of the barrel should be a light shade. Otherwise, during the thaw period, the dark fabric will take on more sunlight and cause a debate of the tree.
If the winter was particularly snowy, thenuse snow drifts as an additional insulation. In the spring of melt water will serve as an excellent irrigation. It is important to prevent the formation of ice crust on the trunk and at the foot of the apple tree - it blocks the access of oxygen, which leads to death.
