Pepin saffron, apple tree: description, cultivation, care

The article presents Saffron Pepin (apple tree): a description of the variety, a complete guide to growing, care, protection.

This unusual variety can be attributed to one of the most popular varieties of apple trees, moreover, the popularity of the Pepin Saffron variety goes far beyond the borders of Russia, capturing the increased attention of gardeners living in the CIS countries. The breeding of this apple variety took place at the beginning of the 20th century, under the supervision of the author himself, the famous breeder I.V. Michurin. The material for obtaining the novelty was two excellent representatives of this culture: Renette Orleans and a hybrid variety of the ordinary Chinese and Pepinka Lithuanian. The resulting variety very quickly began to win the hearts of not only ordinary amateur gardeners, but also many experienced test breeders.
The resulting novelty perfectly combines all the best quality and taste characteristics of apple crops, excellent adaptive features have brought the new variety a leading direction in application both in private summer cottages and in industrial cultivation areas.

Pepin saffron, apple tree: variety description

Pepin saffron, apple tree: description

The variety is very beautiful in all respects, even ideal. It is the base on which the breeding of varieties, new subspecies of the apple tree is currently taking place. Zoning of new seedlings, there are almost 20 varieties of them, is widespread in almost all regions of not only our country, but also neighboring countries use new planting material for their plots. Large-scale use has allowed the new varieties to become very popular. The most important thing is knowledge of all the basic rules of agricultural technology, as well as the varietal characteristics of Pepin Shaffranny, an apple variety can be grown in any territory and under any climatic conditions. At the same time, you will not have to make much effort, since improvements in the development of new products allow apple trees to root perfectly in the shortest possible time and bring excellent yields. In our article, we will briefly, but very easily tell you about all the intricacies of growing apple trees of the Pepin Saffron variety.

The variety is most widespread in private household farms. It has long established itself as a representative of winter varieties, rather late ripening.

Sufficiently extensive zoning confirms the enormous popularity of the variety. It is thanks to such fame that the process of zoning into a large territory began, since a huge number of amateur gardeners would like to have this wonderful variety in their garden, and the most delicious Pepin apples on the table. At the moment, the dream of so many people who wish has already come true, the variety is grown on the plots of every third gardener, it takes root well and perfectly retains all its varietal characteristics.

Pepin saffron, apple tree: a description of the pros and cons

Pepin saffron, apple tree: description

You can talk a lot about the advantages and disadvantages of the variety, we will emphasize the most basic points that affect the choice of seedlings for your site, each gardener:

- early maturity, allows you to get a crop in a short time;
-increased productivity indicators;
- excellent quality characteristics, excellent transportable features, predominant presentation of the fruit;
-good immunity to common parasitic pests.

The disadvantages of the popular variety include:

-important, weakened resistance to diseases such as scab;
- there are a number of requirements of the culture for the composition and quality of the soil mixture of growth;
-the ripening of the crop is not uniform, which creates a slight inconvenience in harvesting, especially on an industrial scale. Probably for this reason, the great popularity of the variety is observed among ordinary gardeners, and not at the level of plantation cultivation.

Pepin saffron: description of external and varietal characteristics

Pepin saffron: description

Apple trees of the Pepin Saffron variety in height belong to a number of medium-sized crops. Only up to 3 meters trees can grow, forming a crown in the form of a ball. The branches from which the crown is formed are rather thin and slightly drooping. Each branch is painted with a rich green color and is covered with a slight bloom of gray. The branches of this variety have a small feature - increased pubescence, which is very pronounced against the background of the entire tree. Leaf plates, which are painted in a very rich, quite pronounced emerald color, also look distinctive. There is also a slight bloom of grayish tint on the leaves. The leaves are formed in an elliptical form, the tips are very clearly pointed. The leaf surface is visibly wrinkled with abundant pubescence.

The flowering of trees occurs very cover-wise, almost 70% of the entire crown, creating a beautiful picture. The flowers are very small in size, painted in white, even bright snow color. Flowering activity occurs in June.

The fruits of the Pepin Saffron apple variety are of non-uniform size, there are medium sizes, part of the harvest is quite small in size. In grams, the fluctuation in weight is expressed in the following indicators, from 90 grams to 130 grams. Formation of fruits in a round shape, slight flattening in the center of the apple. Thin skin structure, but very good firmness. The surface of the apple is smooth, yellow, slightly greenish. On some parts of the fruit, about 3/4 of the entire surface of the apple, there is a slight blush of raspberry tint. The stalk is slightly elongated and thin, but it holds the fruits quite tightly on the fruit twig.

The apple pulp has a creamy shade and is quite pleasant to the taste. The consistency of the pulp is dense, sweet, with a clear sour taste prevails, the aftertaste is expressed by a light spicy aroma. During the tasting, the apple fruits of this variety received high marks. An important point! The fruits of the variety are distinguished by a high content of sugars and ascorbic acid.

Suitable varieties for pollination

This variety can be classified as self-fertile, in other words, Pepin Saffron does not need additional pollination in order to get a good harvest. However, additional cross-pollination will significantly increase the yield of fruit trees of this variety. The following varieties are recommended as additional pollinators planted in the vicinity of Pepin: Slavyanka, Antonovka, Calvil snow, Welsey.

Briefly about one of the varieties recommended for pollination - Calvil snow. The variety is quite resistant to cold temperatures, and immunity to diseases is also well developed. One of the Pepins, which has proven to be excellent qualities for easy adaptation to any seat.
1.4 Resistance to cold weather and various diseases.

One feature is noted, a small minus of the variety is a weak resistance to the influence of a causative agent of the disease, such as scab. This feature must be taken into account when choosing a variety for your plantings, especially for choosing as a pollinator. Such a disadvantage will not bring particular danger if preventive measures are taken in a timely manner, for example, spraying, in order to avoid the occurrence of scab. For spraying, you can use drugs of biological origin. It is very important to know that with a regular examination of each tree, it is possible to detect the first signs of the manifestation of the disease in time and, having instantly responded, save your seedling from inevitable death. Do not neglect such an action, this is an important process in horticulture - a visual assessment of the quality of health of fruit trees is able to maintain the healthy state of your tree!

Pepin saffron, apple tree: description of the timing and methods of disembarkation

Planting young seedlings of Pepin Saffronny is possible in the autumn, more specifically in September, in the case when the frost has not yet come. The seedling needs time to adapt and adapt well to a new place. If planting is carried out in the spring, then it is recommended to start it in mid-April, however, it must be taken into account that the spring frosts are already behind and the threat of freezing of the immature plant has completely passed. The landing site should be well lit, warming up by the sun's rays should be at a level, and the groundwater should be at a sufficient depth.

Planting Pepin Saffron is carried out in a sunny area. Just before the moment of planting, they begin to prepare the root system of the young shoot. To do this, place the roots in water, the temperature of which should be room temperature, and at this time, while the roots are in the water, we begin to prepare the planting pit. We make the depth up to 60 centimeters, with a diameter of 1 meter. Be sure to prepare the correct soil composition. Mix the upper part of the soil with manure, you can replace it with humus, the soil will be enriched with organic composition. A small peg is installed in the center in the pit to create support, very carefully place the seedling next to the peg and fill the root system of the seedling with a prepared soil composition, while the roots must be corrected to avoid breaking the fragile system. Further, the planted shoot is well spilled with water. Around the tree, along the near-trunk circle, build a semblance of a roller from the same soil, contributes to the preservation of moisture around the tree.

A little advice! Planting a young seedling should not take place for overexposure, but immediately to a permanent growing place. A stronger plant has a very negative attitude towards any transplant, so once again you should not expose your young trees to additional stress.

Technological process

Consider the option of landing Pepin creeping forms. In this case, it should be borne in mind right away that this option implies a number of features in care, applied immediately after the moment of disembarkation. First, each seedling must be placed in a planting pit at an angle of 45 degrees, the root collar must be deepened to 5 centimeters, and the soil must be filled in in the form of a cone. This is followed by the mandatory formation by attaching skeletal branches with special hook devices, sticking them into the ground. At the time of autumn planting, such a mount is installed immediately after disembarkation. When apple seedlings are planted in the spring, the hooks are set only in July. For the winter period, the grown young seedlings must be spilled, while the trunk is covered with soil by 9-10 centimeters.

Agrotechnical moments

Any planting work, if you want to get a high-quality and healthy harvest in the future, requires compliance with all the recommended agrotechnical rules, which include the process in several important stages:

-mandatory, timely and correct watering of the plant;
-necessary, correct feeding at the right time;
- loosening is one of the important processes necessary for the proper development and health of the tree;
- removal of weeds along the near-trunk circle.

Watering

Each adult apple tree needs at least 12-15 liters of water, watering is carried out from spring days to mid-autumn. The beginning of watering is the stage of budding of a fruit tree, of course it is necessary to take into account the climatic conditions at the time of the beginning of flowering. If there are heavy rains, the amount of watering should be reduced. Under normal weather conditions, watering is necessary 1-2 times every seven days.

Top dressing

Pepin Saffron needs both organic matter, which must be introduced in the autumn, and regular spring supplements of mineral origin. While the soil is still not completely thawed, nitrogen supplements can be added. At the beginning of budding and until the apples are full, it is necessary to feed the fruit trees with fertilizers, which include potassium and phosphorus. The frequency of application of potassium-phosphorus-1 time in 14 days.

An important point! Top dressing containing microelements has proven to be very effective, to carry out replenishment strictly by spraying the leaf cover of the apple tree. Prepare the solution strictly following the instructions, each nutrient has its own characteristics and must be observed, since violation of the instructions may not feed the tree, but significantly harm both the plant and the crop.

Weed removal and obligatory loosening - these are very important processes for the growing season of the fruit tree. Such an event should not be left to chance, it is very important to loosen a circle around the trunk in the area, but this should be done only the next day after watering the trees. All weeds are removed as needed.

Autumn tree care

What is the care for the autumn period. Of course, the obligatory sanitary pruning. It is carried out very carefully, only obsolete, diseased and excess shoots are removed. All cut sites must be treated with a special agent, for example, garden varnish, which helps to create protection against the penetration of a harmful organism into the wounds obtained during pruning or during the spring-summer period. Next, the whitewash. The tree needs such an event, at the end of autumn various parasitic insects that can harm the next season do not settle on the whitewashed trunk. Also, rodents-lovers are not afraid to feast on the bark of a tree. Be sure to whitewash the apple trees in the fall. Today, in addition to the usual lime used for whitewashing, there are many special compositions that do not allow whitewashing to evaporate in the shortest possible time.

Rules for pruning and forming the crown of a tree

The formation of the crowns of apple trees of the Pepin Saffron variety, and the corresponding pruning can be carried out both in spring and in autumn. At the time of autumn, pruning is carried out to remove the most weakened shoots and diseased branches, which during the winter are able to create a focus for the formation of a viral and bacterial disease. Spring pruning is more formative, during the summer and autumn periods, the shoots, with their active growth, violate the shape of the crown, therefore, all these violations are corrected in the spring. The pruning process itself must be started only when the fruit tree reaches the age of at least 4 years after the moment of planting:

- it is necessary to remove all old branches that are no longer able to form an ovary;
-the shoots damaged during the winter period, for example, by a snow drift, are also removed;
- it is necessary to eliminate those shoots that directed their growth into the crowns, they are able to significantly shade the forming fruits from the sun at the time of the summer period.

Very important! Always remember that in the process of pruning it is strongly not recommended to cut off more than 1/4 of the mass of the entire crown, otherwise the trees may simply die.

Quality and quantity of the crop, storage conditions

The apple variety Pepin Saffron is endowed with increased yields of excellent quality. According to statistics, the average harvesting rates are as follows - up to 250 kilograms can be harvested from each tree. At the time of the maximum flowering of the fruiting function, the indicative figures rise slightly, up to 280 kilograms. The fruit has a distinctive, amazing taste. And the aroma is so fresh, there is even a slight wine note in the aftertaste that it is simply impossible to pass by and not taste such an apple. Apples are rather small, medium-sized, the weight of each individual fruit can reach no more than 140 grams.

Characteristics of the formation of apple fruits Pepin Saffron: optimal fruiting occurs only 4-5 years from the moment of planting in a permanent place of growth. In the case of growing using a dwarf rootstock, trees can bear fruit as early as 3 years of age. The fruiting process is seasonal, quite plentiful in terms of the amount of harvest, apples ripen very amicably, which greatly facilitates the harvesting process. The main collection starts at the beginning of September. Fruits are able to achieve especially full ripening after harvest, at the time of determination for storage, this is approximately 1.5-2.0 months after harvest. The harvested crop can be stored for up to 220 days, fully preserving all its taste and presentation. This is a very attractive feature of the fruits of this variety, since there are very few varieties and subspecies that can endow their fruits with such an increased keeping quality. It is for this reason that the variety acquired such value when choosing summer residents.

Pepin saffron, apple tree: description of the main subspecies of the variety

Winter Cultural

A subspecies of the Pepin Shaffranny-Kulturnaya Zimnyaya variety, is subject to the zoning process over a large territory: this is the Middle and Central strip of Russia, the areas of the Volga region, districts of the Moscow region. This subspecies has a number of requirements for the composition of the growing soil, more specifically, the chemical composition of the soil. She categorically does not perceive especially acidified areas, which is why you need to make sure that the soil in your area is sufficiently neutral in terms of acidity, if this is not the case, carry out liming before planting apple seedlings on this area.

Creeping

The type of creeping apple trees will perfectly survive the winter period, since this type has an increased immunity to frost. But to grow this type of apple on your site, you must comply with a number of conditions, special care rules. It is necessary to especially focus on the formation of the crown of a fruit tree; this must be done so that the skeletal shoots necessarily develop parallel to the ground.

Regional cultivation, especially in the process

Territory of Moscow region

Growing the same variety in different areas can lead to slight differences in the care and growing process. For example, the Moscow region is a rather attractive area for the Pepinka apple tree. Growing here does not entail the use of any special conditions and measures of an agronomic nature. This is all from the fact that the climatic conditions, the soil composition are perfectly suited to this subspecies and sufficiently meet all the needs of this variety. There is only a small point to focus on - the acidity state of the soil. As a tip, take - with elevated rates of acid in the soil, carry out a simple liming process with plain lime or special compounds, and everything is in order.

Features of cultivation in the Urals and Siberia

The Ural and Siberian climates are especially harsh during the winter, therefore, to obtain a harvest from the Pepin Saffron variety, a special subspecies was bred, adapted to similar climatic conditions. The zoning was carried out with excellent results. The subspecies was endowed with special varietal qualities: increased resistance to severe frost, excellent adaptation to sudden changes in temperature regime, harsh winter dormancy conditions for fruit trees.

Where can I buy planting material of this variety

The question always arises, where can you buy the planting material of the variety you like. It is always recommended to purchase seedlings only in specialized stores, you can take advantage of the offers of experimental stations and nurseries. It is in such places that they can offer you the highest quality planting material and give a guarantee for the compliance of all varietal qualities of a young seedling. They will also give a little advice on the peculiarities of growing and caring for trees of your chosen variety.

Ukrainian nurseries

On the territory of Ukraine there are a large number of nurseries where you can easily purchase high-quality young seedlings of the Pepin Saffron apple variety, as well as its subspecies. For example, Green Market; also an actively functioning nursery created by the Matsenko family; gardening center "Country World".

Outcome

At the end of our article, we will summarize a little. The apple variety Pepin Saffron itself is not particularly demanding, there are of course a couple of points that need to be paid special attention to, but this is like all crops grown in territories with different climatic conditions. If you follow all agrotechnical rules and be attentive and caring with your pets, you will not feel much trouble in growing. The variety is distinguished by its special taste characteristics, excellent keeping quality during long-term storage with complete preservation of the entire palette of taste and quality of the presentation. Versatility in application. It is all these parameters that attract increased attention from gardeners.

Pepin saffron, apple tree: description