Apple-tree Gornoaltaiskaya

This article will tell you about your favorite Siberian variety - the Gornoaltaiskaya apple tree. The harsh climate, short summers and strong winter frosts are the distinctive features of the Siberian climate. To grow fruit trees in such difficult conditions, a competent choice of a variety is required first. Of course, you cannot do without knowledge of agrotechnical techniques and plant care.

With strict adherence to the rules for planting and caring, your apple orchard will delight you not only with its beautiful appearance, but also with a gorgeous harvest of delicious apples.

From the history of breeding the variety

The Gorno-Altai apple tree belongs to one of more than two hundred varieties with winter hardiness, which makes it possible to grow this apple tree in the harsh conditions of the Siberian climate. Its ancestor is considered the wild Siberian apple tree, the most frost-resistant in the world, which, however, has small apples.

The Gornoaltaiskaya apple variety was bred in 1937 at the Siberian Horticulture Research Institute by breeders Lisavenko, Kukharsky, Sizemov, Sirotkin through the hybridization of the Ranetka purple and Pepin saffron varieties. The result is an apple tree with excellent properties, frost-resistant and strong immunity to many diseases.

For several decades, the Gorno-Altai apple tree has established itself as the standard of scab-resistant apple trees. This is an important property for Siberia.

Since 1959, the Gornoaltaiskaya apple variety has been cultivated in Primorye, the Urals and Karelia.

Apple-tree Gornoaltaiskaya: variety description and characteristics

Yabloyan Gornoaltaiskaya: photo of the variety

The Gornoaltaiskaya apple tree belongs to a semi-cultivated summer variety with early fruiting and an average ripening period. The undoubted advantage of this variety is its resistance to diseases such as scab, which are dangerous for fruit trees. Also, the Gorno-Altai apple tree is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and winter hardiness (it tolerates prolonged cold snaps with sharp temperature fluctuations), the ability to recover from damage. The disadvantages of the variety include the short shelf life of apples and the fact that the fruits crack at high humidity (for example, when the weather is rainy).

Since, on average, the fruit tree of this variety is low (no higher than 3.5 meters), the crown cannot be damaged due to the cold, sharp wind and prolonged Siberian frost.

• The Gorno-Altai apple tree bears fruit regularly, and begins - in the 4th-5th season.
• Fruits are harvested - from 15 to 30 August. Gorno-Altai apple is perfectly attached to the stalk, so the fruits will not crumble.
• The fruit storage period is short - from 20 to 35 days.
• One Gornoaltaiskaya apple tree gives on average - up to 36 kilograms. But there were times when they collected almost 130 kilograms from one tree.
• The fruits of the Gornoaltaiskaya apple variety have a high nutritional value (per 100 g): vit. C - 24.7 mg, vit. R - 288 mg, pectin - 0.66%.
• Despite the fact that it is a small-fruited variety, it has a good tasting score - 4 out of 5.
• Gorno-Altai apples are consumed raw, as well as in the form of juice, jam, and preserves.

Apple-tree Gornoaltaiskaya: features of the variety

Apple-tree Gornoaltaiskaya: photo of the variety

• Fast-growing, medium-sized trees of this variety, characterized by strong skeletal branches, have a round crown shape.
• The bark is brown, slightly fluffed. On the shoots, there are ringlets with fruit twigs, which over time become overgrown with flower buds.
• In shape, the leaves are rounded with elongated tips. Leaves are medium in size, grayish green.There is a puffiness on the rough leaves on the inside. Fruits are small, rounded, elongated towards the fruiting calyx, with a slightly ribbed surface.
• Fruits weighing from 30 to 45 grams are purple-red, the skin is slightly waxy. Gornoaltaiskie apples have a creamy pulp, sour-sweet pleasant taste. Apples - grainy texture, their skins can only crack when the apples are overripe.
• As pollinating varieties, those apple trees that bloom simultaneously with the Gornoaltayskaya apple tree are suitable.

Apple tree Gornoaltaiskaya: planting and care

Thanks to many years of experience and observation of this variety, recommendations for planting and care have been developed, the implementation of which will bring only joy to the owner of this beautiful apple tree.

How to plant seedlings

They are planted in the Siberian region, of course, in the spring, because at this time the soil has finally recovered from the winter frosty temperatures.

For planting, they choose warm garden plots, where snowdrifts accumulate in winter. For frosty winters, low seedlings (up to 45 cm) are better suited, all branches, and especially the lower ones, will be under snow protection. In any case, young plants need to be protected, it is more difficult for them than for adults to endure the frosty winter.

Having planted seedlings, do not forget about careful care, because they need to have time to gain strength and get stronger before the frost.

The Gorno-Altai apple tree requires fertile land. With its help, a planting mixture is made: earth, sand and fertilizers. The soil for planting must be free of acid. In the case of increased acidity of the soil, it is necessary to add saltpeter.

The landing pattern is as follows:

• dig a hole 80 × 90 cm in size;
• mix humus (1 bucket), wood ash (1 tbsp.), superphosphate (1 tbsp.) with the top layer of soil, mix and put in a hole;
• carefully place a young plant, cover the root system with soil and water it well;
• mulch with dry soil sprinkling so that the soil does not dry out and crack;
• the root collar of the seedling should be 20-30 mm above the soil surface.

How to trim

• Pruning is done in the spring when the trees are actively growing. Young apple trees need formative pruning, while old ones need supportive pruning. The pruning should be complete and there should be no stumps. It should be remembered that the first pruning of young seedlings by a third is carried out in the first season (spring planting season).
• To form the crown correctly, formative pruning is done. To do this, the main branch is selected and pruned, along with all the competing branches.
• With a large seedling growth, it is cut by about 0.4 meters (first pruning) or 0.15-0.2 meters (subsequent pruning).
• It happens that during the winter rodents damage the bark. In this case, the crown should be trimmed even more.
• If the apple tree does not bloom in the spring (when freezing during severe frosts), then pruning the frozen branches is done, not including a strong bud. Next, the plant must be watered and fertilized.
• Of course, you don't have to wait for the harvest this year, but the tree will be saved.

 About dressings

Top dressing includes: cow dung (1 shovel / 2 buckets of water), wood ash (1 tbsp.), Superphosphate (2 tbsp.). The mixture should ferment. From the resulting infusion, take one liter and dilute it with 10 liters of water and water the apple tree. Before such feeding, the apple tree is well watered with plain water (about three buckets per tree). The consumption of such a top dressing for 1 adult apple tree is from 3 to 4 buckets.

A couple of years after planting, the seedlings of the Gorno-Altai apple tree need nitrogen fertilizers. They are diluted with water and watered.

If the soil in the root zone is dry, then up to 50 liters of water are consumed per apple tree. For high-quality irrigation, grooves are made (depth - 0.3 m) along the diameter of the root circle of 1 meter.

How to prepare an apple tree for the winter cold

Gornoaltaiskiye apples: variety photo

Sufficient oxygen is vital for the root system of the Gornoaltaiskaya apple tree.That is why, in the fall, it is very important to dig up the soil in the root zone.

To protect against freezing, it is good to cover the apple tree with humus or peat (layer thickness - from 10 to 20 cm). The layer is thickened gradually, since when the fertilizer decays, the temperature rises, from which the tree can begin to grow during the dormant period.

About diseases of the Gorno-Altai apple tree

The Gornoaltaiskaya apple tree has a high resistance to most diseases and harmful insects. Some fungi are an exception. But this danger can be dealt with by feeding the plant with fertilizer in time.

Gorno-Altai apple tree has become widespread in the Siberian region, this variety is loved by many of our gardeners.

Apple-tree Gornoaltaiskaya: reviews

Maria: “I love this variety very much! In our harsh West Siberian climate, not every apple tree can take root. After getting acquainted with the description, I decided to buy the Gornoaltaiskaya apple tree and did not regret it a bit. The apples may not be large, but the taste is simply wonderful (sweet and sour taste) and very juicy. We eat both raw and in the form of jam. Winter temperatures are very low, sometimes you have to cut the branches as much as possible, sometimes they freeze slightly. This springtime my apple trees have bloomed beautifully, so we are waiting for the harvest! I can guide you on the price of seedlings of the Gornoaltaiskaya apple tree - 600 rubles in Novosibirsk and the region. "

Igor: “Our climate is continental with severe winters. I have been growing the Gorno-Altai apple tree for a long time, along with other frost-resistant varieties, and I am very pleased with it. She gives annual generous harvests and does not bother with diseases. These apples taste very much. A recommendation of this variety from me to everyone living in the northern regions. Gornoaltaiskaya also serves as a stock for me, I am engaged in grafting varieties with larger apples on it. I'm happy with the result!

Olga NikiforovnaA: My site has seen many apple trees, my experience with growing them was unsuccessful. Most likely, this is due to the harsh climate, all apple trees died. The Gorno-Altai apple variety suited me, the apple tree grows well. Of course, I try to follow all the care recommendations. And my apple trees pay me with excellent harvests and do not torment me with sores. My household is delighted with the apples of the Altai mountains, they are our favorite! Place of purchase of seedlings - Altai Territory, Pavlovsky fruit nursery "Zarya".