Apple-tree "Zhigulevskoe"

Now we will consider the Zhigulevskoye apple tree. Autumn varieties of apple trees are actively used among gardeners, since they have a good taste and a long shelf life of the crop. Meanwhile, it is believed that autumn apple trees are richer in vitamins and nutrients than summer ones. When choosing a variety of apple trees for planting, you should take into account the various characteristics of the plant.

Apple tree "Zhigulevskoe": characteristics

The plant was bred in 1936 by S.P. Kedrin. The hybrid was obtained by crossing two varieties: this is Borovinka and the Wagner variety, whose homeland is America. The plant belongs to high-yielding varieties, and the fruits ripen here in late autumn.

The apple tree is actively grown both in personal plots and in industrial gardens. The tree is of medium height and has a high yield.

Among the shortcomings, there is an average resistance to scab, as well as insufficient resistance to frost, therefore it is grown most often in those regions that are characterized by a mild climate.

Areas where winters are particularly cold will be unsuitable for growing as flower buds can freeze. When growing this variety, special attention should be paid to preventive measures against insect pests, especially the apple moth.

Features of the fruit

The tree is distinguished by fairly strong strong branches. The leaves are very large here, as are the flowers and fruits. The fruits of this plant are round in shape, each has a fairly wide and pronounced saucer. Apples are attached with a strong long stalk. The weight of each fruit can reach 200 grams, the skin color is light green. However, a bright blush covers almost the entire surface of the apples. Especially attractive is the oil bloom.

Since the tree is fast-growing and brings a large amount of harvest, Zhigulevskoye has been a favorite among gardeners for several years in a row. This plant is chosen among competitors, due to the large number of advantages.

Speaking about the taste of the fruit, a very pronounced pleasant aroma of the pulp is noted here. The pulp is light, creamy, quite dense. The fruits are very large, with a lot of sweet juice and sourness characteristic of all apples. The fruits are consumed both fresh and used for harvesting. In addition, apples are included in the diet of a healthy diet, since they are low in calories.

Apple-tree "Zhigulevskoe": planting

The plant is not self-fertile, therefore, in order for the tree to bear fruit, other varieties of apple trees should be grown on the site, which bloom in the same period as the Zhigulevskoe apple tree. The best option would be such varieties as they are Anise gray, Antonovka ordinary, Kuibyshevskoe and others.

The distance between plantings should not be more than 50 m in order for cross-pollination to occur. The tree grows quite large, and the trunk can reach 3 m. Moreover, it has a very large diameter. It is necessary to choose such a place on the site where the groundwater lies below 2 m from the earth's surface. The lifespan of this tree is about 40 years. Moreover, if a larger number of specimens are planted, then the yield will be greater than that of tall trees. The crown of a tree can be formed with a wide pyramidal - while it will be quite spreading, but stable. There is an option of forming a highly round crown, which will look perfect in small areas.

The crown density is average, the branches grow quite rarely, so air and sun rays circulate freely here and have a beneficial effect on flowers and fruits. Thanks to this size and shape of the crown, it is much easier to care for it. The root system of this tree is very powerful and branched. At the same time, it is worth monitoring so that there is no excess moisture and choosing those areas where water does not accumulate.

When choosing planting material, you should carefully examine the root system for its fragility, since elastic roots are the main sign of the health of a young plant.

• Frost resistance

The tree has an average resistance to winter, so it can be damaged due to sudden changes in temperature. Especially during spring return frosts. It is worth paying attention to two points, that is, not only the plant's resistance to frost, but also the ability to recover in spring. If proper care is followed for the apple tree, then the regeneration process occurs quickly enough.

• Fruiting

The tree begins to bear its first fruits 3-4 years after planting. The climate of the area where the apple tree grows and proper care, as well as the type of rootstock, will influence here. However, do not rejoice at too early fruiting, as this will entail a reduction in the fruiting period.

The plant begins to bloom at the end of May, while the flowers are very large, white in color. Since May is characterized by recurrent frosts, this may be a disadvantage of the variety, since the flowers can freeze on cold nights.

• Harvesting

Since the Zhigulevskoye apple tree is an autumn variety, the harvest is usually harvested from August to mid-autumn, depending on the climate. Harvesting here takes place in two stages: first, at the end of summer, the fruits are removed, but they still ripen harvested for about 3 weeks, after which the moment of their consumer maturity comes. All terms are conditional and will depend on climatic conditions.

The advantage of this variety is the fact that ripe fruits do not fall off and hang on a branch for a long time. If the storage conditions of the crop are observed, then this period is approximately 3 months. In this case, it is necessary to collect the fruits only in clear, dry weather. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the stalk and not wash off the natural oily layer. It is also best to keep apples in separate boxes. The storage temperature should be between 0 and 4 degrees. The palatability of the fruit improves within 3 weeks.

One of the advantages is the high yield of plants, namely, 250 kg of apples can only be produced by a tree, and the apple tree bears fruit annually. But with age, there may be periods of rest.

• Landing rules

The optimal time for planting will be spring or autumn. If you plant a tree in the spring, then the seedling will have time to adapt and take root before the onset of winter. The middle of spring is suitable here, but after planting it is necessary to water the seedling very abundantly and regularly.

Autumn planting is usually done in early October, while the tree has time to adapt before winter. With the arrival of spring, the plant begins to actively grow, so such a plant will bear fruit earlier. It should be noted that in the fall it is possible to plant only apple trees in the southern territory of Russia.

It is necessary to pre-prepare the planting pit, which will be approximately 80 cm in all directions. A thick layer of drainage should be laid on the bottom, and it is imperative to add organic and mineral complex fertilizers, which are mixed with the soil. Further, a small hill is formed, on which the seedling is installed, carefully straightening the entire root system. Before planting, you should wait about half a month for the earth to settle. It is best to choose the southern sides of the site. The ideal option would be a slope.

It is not recommended to plant apple trees in lowlands, as well as in places where melt water accumulates.When planting several crops, it is necessary to maintain a distance of about 4 m between them.

• Crown formation

Like any tree, this apple tree needs regular pruning, so immediately after planting, all branches should be shortened by a third. Next, you need to remove excess branches that grow inside the crown or below the branch, as well as diseased, dry and old branches. It should be borne in mind that you should not prune the tree by more than a quarter.

Rootstock types

The following varieties of the Zhigulevskoe variety are most common.

• Dwarf.

This plant has the same high external and taste qualities of fruits. However, the height of the tree will not exceed 2 m and will begin to bear fruit earlier than others. After 2 or 3 years, the first fruits can be obtained, and about 40 kg of fruits can be removed from one tree stably.

• Semi-dwarf.

This plant has a high vigor before fruiting. Further, the tree grows much more slowly. In this case, it is imperative to cut off the growth in order for the tree to bear fruit as long as possible.

• Columnar.

This variety cannot be columnar, but speaking about this rootstock, it should be noted that there is a similarity to a dwarf rootstock, and after three years the tree begins to bear fruit. But its fruiting period is about 10 years, which is much shorter than that of other apple varieties. However, columnar apple trees allow more plantings, so the yield is about the same as for tall plants.

Apple-tree "Zhigulevskoe": leaving

Best of all, the tree will grow and bear fruit in the Moscow region, since the winters here are quite mild. Growing in these regions, the variety will bear fruit stably and abundantly enough.

When growing a tree in Central Russia, more attention should be paid to it, especially when it comes to preparing for winter. Here they cover not only the trunks of young trees, but also their roots, and also whitewash the bases of the trunk and branches to protect against rodents. When insulating a tree, you should not do this too early, as you can harm the plant. It is best to start preparation around October.

In the Altai Territory, the climate is so harsh that it is very difficult to grow fruit trees here. However, the work of breeders does not stand still, and at present there are a large number of varieties for this area. In this case, it is imperative to take into account such a characteristic as frost resistance. The variety referred to in this article is not frost resistant and therefore cannot be grown in too cold areas.

When growing an apple tree in Siberia, the shale formation of the crown is usually observed, in order for the snow to cover the trees well from frost. A few weeks after the plants are planted, all the shoots are attached to the soil surface as much as possible, a sufficiently thick layer of mulch is laid out, not forgetting to loosen the hole so that air can freely pass to the plant.

The Zhigulevskoye apple tree is grown in the Urals using the same techniques. The most important thing here is to cover the tree for the winter, as warm as possible, and at the same time periodically visit the site and bury the trunk with snow.

Reviews

Those gardeners who have already grown this tree on their site note that the apples are very sweet and attractive. Moreover, they have a long shelf life.

Also note the average resistance to frost. Under suitable temperature conditions, the tree grows well and bears fruit. And its branches quickly recover after a harsh winter.

Conclusion

Summing up the article, it can be noted that the apple variety Zhigulevskoye is quite high-yielding and is distinguished by its early maturity, has very high external and taste qualities of the fruits. At the same time, the plant is practically not affected by scab and is quite unpretentious in care.It should be remembered that the tree is not very frost-resistant and the apple tree must be pre-insulated before the winter months.