Description of the Melba apple tree - planting and care, pruning, photo

Apple trees are loved, without exaggeration, by many gardeners. Several varieties of apple trees can live on one site at once. Among them, one of the favorite is the Melba variety. Let's take a closer look at this beauty, and start with history.

The century of breeding of this variety is the 19th. The Melba variety was first described by Canadian breeders in 1898. The name of the fruit crop was suggested by a famous opera singer at that time (this variety was named after her). In our country, this variety appeared much later, but immediately "Melba" fell in love with our summer residents, and began to spread quickly.

Variety Melba: description of the variety

variety Melba

Many gardeners know about Melba's capriciousness. There are several regions of our country (mostly there are severe winters) where it is not recommended to plant this apple variety. But subject to the conditions for the development of this plant, it gives a colossal harvest.

This is a medium-sized variety, the height of which cannot be higher than four meters. The hard bark of the Melba trunk has reddish or yellowish blotches.

Young seedlings (no more than 3 years old) have a columnar crown shape. In seedlings older than 3 years, the crown shape is rounded with medium spreading. The crown of mature trees can reach a radius of up to 3.5 meters. Melba's leaves are slightly elongated, light green.

To taste, Melba has a characteristic sourness against the background of sweet notes and an unusual candy aroma. Melba's apple is round in shape, slightly elongated downward. With a yellow-green skin with reddish stripes, it can weigh up to 150 g.

It is worth mentioning the price for Melba saplings. It all depends on the place of purchase and the age of the seedlings. For example, in the Moscow region you will have to pay 1,000 rubles for a three-year Melba. And for it, somewhere in the Krasnodar region, they will ask for only 250 rubles.

Melba-four will cost 450-3000 rubles.

Pollination of Melba

variety Melba

Despite the self-fertility of Melba, a more serious crop can be obtained with the help of pollinating apple trees, which are planted near Melba. These can be apple trees - Borovinki, Antonovka, Bellefleur-Chinese, Suislepskie and others.

About frost resistance of Melba

In very frosty winters, Melba will die. However, in some cases protection can help. Many gardeners know about Melba's capriciousness.

There are several regions of our country (mostly there are severe winters) where it is not recommended to plant this apple variety. These are the Arkhangelsk, Murmansk, Tyumen, Irkutsk regions. In Karelia, in the Komi Republic, in Yakutia, in the Khabarovsk and Krasnoyarsk Territories.

But in these parts you can try to grow one of the varieties of Melba, capable of frost resistance - Melbu-Red. Subject to the conditions for the development of this plant, it gives a colossal harvest.

How the Melba apple variety bears fruit

The first apples appear only on four-year-old trees. Further, the apple tree bears fruit almost every year for about ten years. Then the harvest becomes irregular: mainly after a year the tree bears fruit.

This problem can be solved by planting seedlings grafted with rootstock. That is, the stock is used for those varieties that are not able to take root on their own. Also, if you like some kind of apple tree, then it can be grafted onto a seedling, which is called a stock.

Of course, this procedure implies knowledge of a certain technique, taking into account the compatibility of varieties. The correct choice of rootstock determines the yield of the apple tree, of course, with proper care.

On the timing of ripening

August days are the time to pick apples. However, if you start eating them right away, you will not feel the fully developed taste. This should be done later. While Melba's apples are harsh and sour. If the weather is not cold in summer, then it is better to shift the harvest time to September.

Once the apples are harvested, store them in a cool, dark storage room until December. And if the harvest is moved to the beginning of August, that is, to pick slightly unripe fruits, then the apples will be stored until the very New Year holidays.

Melba tolerates long-distance transportation remarkably. Therefore, this variety is often grown for sale.

Pay particular attention to the storage location of the apples. It shouldn't be warm and humid. Otherwise, it will become impossible to preserve such apples for a long time. In addition to rotting, these apples change their taste. They become more acidic without the peculiar candy flavor.

Melba apple variety - about the pros and cons

Let's talk about the pros and cons of the variety.

Pros.

1. The first fruits are harvested in the fourth year from the moment the seedlings are planted in open soil.

2. In addition to high productivity, the fruits have a very attractive appearance.

3. Apples are safely stored with strict implementation of storage recommendations.

Minuses

1. Does not tolerate low temperatures.

2. Often gets sick with scab and powdery mildew.

3. Over time, the harvest becomes not so rich, and in some years it is completely absent.

4. Requires companion pollinators.

About varietal varieties

Melba (a classic version of the variety) acted as a basis for breeders for the development of twenty new additional varietal varieties. These are the varieties: Cherished, Early Aloe, Karavella, Red Melba, Prima, Melba's Daughter.

For example, crossing four species - Melba, Purple Ranetka, Saffron Pepin and Chinese Bellefleur - we got the Cherished Apple tree. And Melba and Papirovka gave a new variety of the Early Aloe variety.

Crossing the classic Melba and the Spring variety gave a new variety, Red Early. And from the classic Melba and Crimson Beauty Caravel turned out.

It is interesting that in taste and properties, many varieties do not stand out from the classic Melba, but they are resistant to harmful insects and diseases.

About proper care of Melba

The most important contribution to Melba's harvest is proper planting and maintenance. Apple trees will grow, develop and produce crops when conditions are favorable.

There are no difficulties in this. Since there is only one care secret - timely cutting and feeding the plant with ammonium nitrate.

Melba is planted in open soil in autumn. No later than 30 days before the first frost! 14 days before planting, prepare a hole 0.5-0.6 m deep and 0.5 m wide.Add peat and humus to the excavated soil, as well as mineral fertilizer with sand.

Spread out the seedling before digging into the ground. Carefully place it in the hole and cover it with soil with fertilizers, leaving the root collars uncovered. Also tie the seedlings neatly.

The large distance between seedlings (at least 6-7 meters, between rows - at least 8 meters) is due to the rapid development of the root system. Melba has a highly developed root system.

Thanks to a properly formed crown, the yield of apple trees increases, the quality of taste and color of the fruits improves. Crown formation is carried out using pruning (formative pruning, removal of dried, crooked and unhealthy branches). Cut off Melba, remove branches in the spring, before buds appear.

In the fall, it is worth carrying out sanitary pruning, removing all dried and unhealthy branches. In addition, autumn is the time to warm apple trees and prepare them for winter.

About Diseases Dangerous for Melba

As mentioned above, Melba should be wary of scab and powdery mildew. These are the most dangerous diseases for her. Since the fight against them is not easy. During the growing season, it is worthwhile to carry out several preventive procedures.

When exposed to the fungus Podosphaera leucotricha, powdery mildew disease appears. The first signs of the disease are visible shortly before the plant opens its first flowers. It manifests itself in the form of a white powdery coating covering the entire plant (leaves, shoots, flowers, fruits).

In addition, plant growth stops, leaves fall, buds die off. The causative agents of the disease hibernate in the buds of the infected shoot.

How to deal with powdery mildew? Water regularly, remove affected shoots. In the autumn and spring months, prophylactically spray the plant (before the buds bloom) with iron or copper sulfate.

Treatments with sulfur preparations and fungicides (Topas 100EC, Nimrod250 EC, TopsinM500 EC) will also help.

How to deal with scab? Apple scab is caused by the fungus Venturia inaequalis. Its spores begin to appear a couple of weeks after the flowers appear. It manifests itself in the form of rounded spots or stripes near the veins on leaves with a velvety surface.

Gradually, the whole plant will be covered: leaves, flowers, petioles, stalks, fruits, shoots, buds. The fruits turn brown and the buds become deformed.

The fight against scab should begin with the destruction of falling leaves, since this is a hotbed of infection. Next - spray the soil in spring and autumn with urea. And fungicidal treatments should be performed twice in 5 days, starting with the phase of pink flowers.

Preventive measures include treatment with Bordeaux liquid.

About the peculiarities of growing Melba in different time zones of Russia

For Central Russia and the South Urals, the cultivation of this variety is quite favorable. For Melba, growing in Siberia, in the Moscow or Leningrad regions is not comfortable because of the unfavorable climate and the high probability of being damaged by scab or powdery mildew fungi.

Here you cannot do without additional care for the apple trees. This is protection against frost, low temperatures and excess moisture, preventive measures against diseases.