Apple Orlinka

In this article, we will consider in detail one of the high-yielding varieties - the Orlinka apple tree, as well as all the requirements for its cultivation and care.

Apple Orlinka: variety description and characteristics

Apple Orlinka: photo of the variety

The Orlinka apple variety appeared in 1978, at the All-Russian Research Institute of Selection of Fruit Crops, in the city of Orel. We learned about this variety thanks to the works of such scientists-breeders as N.G. Krasov, Z.M. Serova, E.N. Sedov. The subspecies was bred by crossing the First Salute and Stark Erliost Prekos varieties. In 1991 it was included in the State Register in the Central Black Earth Region. This variety is actively cultivated in the Moscow region, Perm, Orel, Vladimir and Kaliningrad regions, and these are far from all areas where this subspecies can be found.

The Orlinka apple tree is distinguished by a rather vigorous tree and a spherical crown. From the trunk of the tree, at an acute angle, sufficiently compact and even stems depart. The bark of this tree has a smooth structure and a dark gray tint. The fruits are formed on spears and ringlets. The shoots are thick and endowed with a round shape, they have a barely noticeable weak cranking. The leaves on such a tree have an elongated shape and matte color, they have a twisted upper part and a long petiole. The flower buds are quite large in size, from which the same large flowers of a pale pinkish hue bloom, with small oblong petals. The fruits of this apple tree are of medium size and a slightly flattened round shape. Separately, such a fruit can reach a mass of 100-200 grams, although the main and average weight of the fruit is 150 grams. The fruit is covered with a smooth and shiny skin. Being on the apple of the Orlinka variety, the fruits have a yellow-green tint, which, when taken off, changes to a pale yellow color at a rather rapid pace. Most of the surface of the fruit has red stripes. The subcutaneous points are quite noticeable. The inside of the fruit is very aromatic and endowed with a sweet taste, with a little bit of acidity. Experienced gardeners often compare this subspecies with such a famous apple variety as Melba.

Apple Orlinka: features of the variety

Like any other variety, the Orlinka apple tree has its own advantages and disadvantages. Its advantages include:

• Early maturity and high yield.
• High index of commercial and taste characteristics of the fruit.
• Unpretentious care.
• High level of adaptability and endurance to difficult, harsh climatic conditions. Takes a leading place among other varieties on this basis. That is why it is grown in most regions of our country.

It is worth noting that the ripening of the Orlinka apple tree does not take place at the same time, we can say in turn, thereby stretching the pleasure of the potential consumer. And many attribute this to the disadvantages of the variety, since the apple tree is summer.

The trees of this subspecies of apple are quite tall and strong, with a dense round crown. At a young age, the stems of the tree have an upward direction. And with the arrival of the fruiting period, they begin to tilt towards the soil surface. The fruits are pretty good at helping with this.

The yield of the Orlinka apple variety is quite good. Indeed, even from young trees, you can get 30 kilograms of fruit and more. What can we say about the yield per hectare. Compared to the popular Melba, this tree produces much more ripe fruit.

When tasting, the fruits of this culture received an assessment of 4.3 points out of five. They take into account 9.5 percent of sugar and acid.

The Orlinka apple variety has, interestingly, not very high frost hardiness, but the farmers of the Middle Belt of our country are quite successfully cultivating this early subspecies.

The immunity to diseases in the Orlinka apple tree is quite good, and in any region of Russia. In its homeland, in the Oryol region, this subspecies has a very strong immunity to the common and dangerous disease of scab. But do not forget about preventive measures, fully relying on the plant's immunity.

Apple Orlinka: planting and care

Apple Orlinka: photo of the variety

In real life, it is not always possible to paint the correct dates for planting an apple tree seedling. Some even make lunar calendars for this. But the most important thing when planting this plant is that the following conditions are met:

• Ground conditions and weather conditions.
• The presence and preparedness of a tree seedling.
• Compliance with all the features and rules of disembarkation.

But nevertheless, the Orlinka apple variety is preferable to plant in the spring period of the year, around the end of April or the first half of May. In the autumn season, you can also plant this plant; some experienced arguments even claim that this is the best option. In this case, planting is carried out after autumn leaf fall, one month before the arrival of cold weather. Planting time may differ depending on the region of future growth. Basically, this is the third decade of September and the first of October. In the southern regions, this can be done later.

Consider the landing technology:

• First, you need to choose the right site for planting, as well as the soil for this. This subspecies prefers sufficiently illuminated places. If it is a slope, then only the southern one. The plant requires light soil and loose, loamy soil.
• The best option would be an area with no surface groundwater. But if this cannot be avoided, then you should take care of drainage. In this case, the rootstocks should be semi-dwarf or dwarf.
• The planting methods, as well as the sequence for this variety, are quite common: It is required in advance to prepare a planting hole, which should be up to 60 centimeters deep and up to 100 centimeters wide. If we take into account the rhizome of the seedling, then it is required to pour fertile soil mixed with wood ash and compost into the planting hole in advance. Make a small mound and place a seedling on it, gently straightening its roots. Drive a small peg next to the seedling, to which a young tree should be tied, this will serve as a support for it. After these steps, cover the seedling with fertile soil and tamp it a little. The planted tree should be watered abundantly (up to 30 liters per plant) and the trunk circle should be mulched.

Be sure to look for the location of the graft: it should be 6-8 centimeters above the soil surface and when the earth shrinks.

When planting several Orlinka apple tree seedlings at once, the distance between them should be depending on which rootstock the young trees are on, as well as which crown shapes you choose. So, with a vigorous stock, the row spacing should be five meters, and the distance in a row should be 4 meters; with a semi-dwarf stock - 4 and 3 meters, respectively; with dwarf stock - 3.5 and 2.5 meters.

There are no unusual features in the cultivation of the Orlinka apple tree. You just need to water the plant on a regular basis, especially after the spring planting. In dry weather, watering is done more often, but in the evening. After the watering procedure, it is required to loosen and mulch the soil. From the second year of life, the plant needs to be fed. With the correct planting and following all the tips, the fertilizers applied at the time of planting will be enough for one year.And starting next year, it is required to apply fertilizing from fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. And it happens like this: under the root of a plant with a watering procedure; foliar during the spraying procedure; do not forget about the introduction of trace elements.

Agrotechnology includes a whole range of measures for the care of this tree. Some of these activities have already been described above. Particular attention should be paid to pest control measures, because there are a sufficient number of them in this fruit crop (gnawing, sucking, and others).

In the month of February-March, it is required to process the plant from wintering pests. Processing is carried out with such preparations: Fufanon, copper sulfate, Hom and others. From April to May, before the beginning of the flowering period, they are treated with Nitrafen, Urea, Aktaram and others. From June to August, the treatment is carried out two to three times, with the formation of the ovary and fruits. Do the treatment with drugs such as Aktara, ZOV. In October-November, after harvesting the fruits and falling leaves, the tree is treated with Iron vitriol, Urea, Fufanon. Chemical and biological insecticides are also used for prevention. Do not forget about folk remedies.

The procedure for pruning and forming the crown is considered mandatory measures for agricultural technology of the Orlinka apple tree.

The subspecies in question is an excellent pollinator for many other varieties of apple trees. Therefore, it is necessary to plant it with this subspecies nearby. Moscow pear tree, Melbu, Papirovka. The described variety will help these trees get the best possible pollination. Whereas this crop itself is not required in other pollinators.

Fruiting and ripening

With good and high-quality care, your Orlinka apple tree will give you the first harvest of ripe apples in 3-4 years after planting. From the very beginning of fruiting, the fruits of this variety are large in size.

The flowering period of this subspecies is quite beautiful. Bees circle around the tree and a pleasant aroma emanates. Plus, this variety begins to give color early enough - in the first decade of May, and blooms quite strongly.

The fruits of the Orlinka apple variety usually ripen for the wonderful holiday Yablochny Spas. If we compare with the popular Melba variety, then the described subspecies gives fruits earlier.

One has only to remember that even such fruits, with a short ripening period, do not reach ripeness at the same time. The collection takes place in several stages, with an interval of one week, approximately.

The storage period for these fruits is short, about three weeks, but it can also be a month, provided that the crops were harvested quite neatly and placed in boxes, after which they were placed in the refrigerator. After all, they can not only be eaten immediately, but also cooked with them.

Subspecies options

Apple Orlinka: photo of the variety

It is worth immediately remembering why it is better to grow on low-growing rootstocks:

• They begin to bear fruit earlier.
• Higher level of productivity, which is especially important for cultivation on an industrial scale.
• More convenient care (treatment from diseases and pests, pruning), due to the low growth of the tree.
• Due to the best illumination of the crown of the tree, the quality of the fruits is much higher (apples are larger, tastier, and the shade is richer).
• You can choose any completely shape of the crown, even unusual ones, due to which your personal plot will become much more beautiful and interesting.
• Possibility of more space for other cultures.

But it is also worth remembering that:

• The life span of such plants is on average two to three times less.
• They can freeze more strongly due to the root system.
• They are considered more demanding on the composition of the soil and cultivation techniques.

It is also worth paying special attention to the stock, because it needs a frost-resistant zoned one.

• On a semi-dwarf rootstock

Orlinka apple tree on such a rootstock will grow up to 4 meters. The fruiting period begins earlier, after about three to four years.Rootstocks 60-164, 60-160, 57-545, 54-118.

• On a dwarf rootstock

The tree grows with such a rootstock up to three meters. The first fruiting occurs in two to three years. New rootstocks B9, Kid Budagovsky and others.

Growing regions

The Orlinka apple tree is grown quite successfully in Central Russia, from the Vologda and Leningrad regions to the Saratov and Belgorod regions. And also from Belarus to the Eastern Volga region. It is considered an ideal variety for Yaroslavl and Mordovia, and it is not surprising, because the subspecies was created for this region.

The regions of Russia, where a severe and cold climate prevails, with a rather long winter period, is not entirely suitable for the cultivation of this subspecies. The frost tolerance level is not suitable for such regions.

Apple Orlinka: reviews of gardeners

A pretty good and proven apple tree subspecies that won't leave you feeling upset. It is worth telling about one important fact: in 2008, scientists from the Michurinsky Garden of the Timiryazev Agricultural Academy tested a large number of domestic apple varieties in terms of frost resistance, yield, immunity to scab, taste characteristics and weight of fruits. For each indicator, the maximum score is 5 points, that is, in total for all indicators - 25 points. And the subspecies considered in this article scored 22 points for the first of the middle-summer varieties.

You can hear a lot of different opinions about this variety. And on the Internet, on various forums, read a huge number of reviews from both experienced gardeners and amateurs. Here are some of them:

• In my Orlinka apple tree, the first fruiting began five years after planting. Before purchasing this seedling, we carefully studied all the features and photos. Pretty tasty early summer apples came out. The family is delighted. While I will not talk about the yield, it is too early. The tree itself is still small in size, but there are many ovaries. A lot fell off.

Anna, Moscow

• I was satisfied with the Orlinka apple variety as a whole. Everything that I read about the subspecies, everything is true, and even a photo. Some apples grew very large, weighing up to 210 grams. During a good season, the fruit is almost identical in size - large. I noticed that it is better to remove them from the tree when they have a yellowish tint. At this point, they are juicy, tasty and crunchy. And when they start to turn orange, then they have a glassy-friable structure. It turns out the porridge is watery. The juice must also be removed in advance, a little unripe.

Anatoly, Kursk

• I have two early apple varieties growing on my site - these are Melba and Orlinka apple trees. Therefore, I compare them all the time. I like both apple trees. Although the Orlinka subspecies is slightly better, in my opinion. Although my wife has a different opinion, she is leaning more towards Melba. They ripen almost simultaneously. But the Orlinka apple variety was harvested earlier. Such a good harvest brought a little more problems, a lot of fruits, not only ate themselves, but even sold a little. But you just need to make sure that the apples themselves do not fall off.

Stepan, Nizhny Novgorod