Apple tree Red Chief

Many gardeners think that the apple tree is a truly Russian fruit crop. However, for more than one century, this crop has been successfully grown in other countries of the world. Thanks to the work of breeders and farmers, there are more and more different varieties of apple trees that meet the most varied requirements. This apple variety was obtained thanks to American breeders. At the moment, Red Chief is in great demand both in America and in our country. In order for such plants to give the maximum number of fruits, you need to know about the peculiarities of growing this variety.

Apple tree Red Chief: variety description

This apple variety is often grown in our country. However, he appeared in the western part of Virginia. It is Virginia that is the country that produces Red Chiv apples. This happened by crossing varieties such as Grims Golden and Golden Reinet.

This variety was officially registered and released for different countries in 1914.

This variety has many advantages. The fruits of the Red Chief produce quickly enough, the apples have high tasting marks, the fruits are large in size. Apples of this variety lend themselves well to transportation, and can also be stored for a long time. Among the disadvantages, many gardeners note the sensitivity of plants to diseases of fungal origin.

As the plant grows, the number of branches becomes large, the crown acquires a rounded shape. In height, such an apple tree grows six to seven meters. It is considered a medium layer. As for the annual growth, it is average. Every year the apple tree adds five to seven centimeters. The Red Chief apple tree shows very good results in terms of yield. Such apple trees respond to weather conditions quite strongly. If a prolonged drought prevails in summer, and in winter the temperature drops too much, then the harvest will be more modest. Also, because of this, there may be some periodicity in terms of yield.

The size of a Red Chive apple can range from one hundred and eighty to three hundred and eighty grams. It resembles a cone in shape. The surface of the apple has a bright red color, there is also a waxy coating. The inside of the Red Chive apple is cream colored, the aroma is bright, has a lot of juice and sugars. Tasters highly appreciate such fruits. The chemical composition of such apples is rich in various vitamins and useful elements. As for the winter hardiness of this variety, it is at an average level. If your plantings are not properly cared for, then apple trees will not survive the drop in temperature in spring in the north of the country. If in winter the temperature drops below minus twenty-five degrees, then there is a risk that the tree will freeze.

Red Chiv apples are not very well protected from scab and spotting, but they are practically not affected by powdery mildew. It has an average resistance to the moth.

Apple tree Red Chief: photo

How to properly plant and care for the Red Chief apple variety

Young plants are usually planted in spring or autumn. If you prefer a spring planting, then it is best to choose the last days of April. If you plant apple trees in the autumn, then you need to guess so that at least one month remains before the first frost.

When choosing a place to plant your apple trees red chief, it is better to give preference to well-lit and protected areas from wind gusts. When the site is selected, it is necessary to prepare a pit.Its depth is usually about sixty centimeters and its width is about seventy centimeters. Then you need to add a drainage layer. For this, you can use dry branches, humus, and peat.

After that, these top dressing is sprinkled with soil, the plant is set in the middle, the root system must be straightened. After that, the plant is buried and watered with two buckets of water.

This variety has a fairly compact crown, so a lot of trees can be planted even in a small area. There should be at least one and a half meters between the plants, and about four meters between the rows. Frost resistance and drought resistance of this variety are at an average level. In order for the plant to grow and develop well, you need to regularly water the plants, at least twice a month.

Apple variety Red Chief: photo

After the soil has been moistened, the area of ​​the trunk circle must be loosened, and weeds must also be removed. This will allow the root system of your plants to receive oxygen more intensively. To prevent the plant from freezing in winter, a mulching layer must be laid in the zone of the trunk circle in the autumn. For this, you can use humus. It will not be superfluous if you cover your trees with insulating material.

Correct agricultural technology plays an important role in the successful cultivation of Red Chief apple trees. In the first year of planting in the summer, you need to apply top dressing. Fertilizer must contain nitrogen. In the following years, apple trees need to be fed in this way: before the plant bears fruit, fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium must be added to the zone of the trunk circle. When the first flowering occurs, the plant needs to be fed with a mixture of components such as urea, potassium sulfate, superphosphate. Red Chief apple trees that are already bearing fruit are typically fed four times in one season. For this, mineral fertilizers and urea are usually used. Fertilizer cannot be applied directly near the trunk, they are applied at a distance of at least fifty centimeters.

After the plant has been planted, it is necessary to prune the plants. The central trunk is shortened by fifteen centimeters, leaving a maximum of five buds on it. This measure is needed for the normal development and growth of the plant skeleton.

In the second year, the formative pruning of the crown is already carried out, the shoots should not grow towards each other, and also be located above the branches that are below. Next, you need to remove the weakened branches from time to time so that the crown does not thicken.

The Red Chiv apple variety is not capable of pollinating on its own. In order for the ovaries to form normally, it is necessary to plant apple trees in the neighborhood, which act as pollinators. Golden Delicious is well suited for these purposes. Gloucester and Elstar.

How the dark red apple variety Red Chiv ripens and bears fruit

This variety begins to bear fruit quickly enough. The first crop can be harvested within two to three years after the plant has been planted on the site. If you take good care of this crop, then there is every chance of getting a bountiful and tasty harvest. However, if the soil is in a dry state for a long time, and in winter the apple trees are pretty frozen, then the amount of the crop becomes lower. This can sometimes lead to periodicity.

If the climate conditions are favorable for the cultivation of this crop, then the flowering of the apple tree begins on the fifteenth of May.

In terms of ripening, this variety belongs to the winter. Apples ripen in late September - early October. These fruits, in addition to their taste, have the property of being stored for a long time. If the temperature regime is observed, as well as the level of humidity, then such apples can retain all their properties for about seven months. As for the transportability of Red Chief apples, it is also at a high level.

The rootstock your apple tree grows on plays a big role in the further development of plants. If this variety has a semi-dwarf rootstock, then the apple trees automatically acquire many advantages. On such a rootstock, apple trees begin to bear fruit faster, the yield increases. It is much easier to care for and harvest the fruits of such a tree. Apples are larger in size and look very elegant. The crown has a decorative appearance. As for the disadvantages of such apple trees, it can be called a disadvantage that the roots are located in the upper layer of the soil.

To prevent the plant from breaking and leaning to the ground too much under the weight of heavy apples, you need to install additional support.

In which regions is the Red Chief apple tree grown?

On the territory of the Moscow region, you need to pay great attention to the correct planting of the dark red Red Chief apple tree. This is best done in early spring. The autumn period is not very suitable for this. If you bought a Red Chiv apple tree sapling in the fall, then it is better to dig it in and leave it until spring time. So that moisture does not stagnate in the area of ​​\ u200b \ u200bthe roots, it is necessary to lay a drainage layer of expanded clay on the bottom of the planting pit. After that, a little black soil is added, the seedlings of the Red Chive apple tree are set in the center and covered with soil. To avoid the risk that your plants will freeze in winter, you need to cover them in the fall. In addition, rodents can harm plants. In order to avoid such a problem, you need to install baits that will scare away rodents from your trees.

On the territory of Ukraine, it is also necessary to take into account some features of the climate. Usually, in parts of Ukraine, groundwater is rather low. So that the root system does not start to rot during the rainy period, it is necessary to loosen the soil from time to time in the area of ​​tree trunk circles. Whitewashing in spring and autumn will help protect your plants from burns. Before planting plants, it is necessary to make certain fertilizing, which in their composition will have the necessary elements for the normal growth and development of plants.

Apples Red Chiv: photo

The concentration of dressings should not be too high, this is fraught with burns to the roots of plants.

When growing this variety in the middle lane, you also need to know certain nuances. If you plant a plant in clay soil, then it must be diluted with sand, compost, humus and other organic fertilizers before planting. In order not to develop various diseases on your plantings, you need to take the cleanliness of your garden seriously. It is imperative to remove weeds from the tree trunks, as well as collect leaves that have fallen off. From time to time, you need to apply a fertilizer based on nitrogen and minerals. So the yield will be higher, and you will pick up the fruits every year.

The dark red apple tree Red Chief is not a very whimsical garden culture. If you follow all the basic rules for planting and caring in a particular region, then an excellent result in the form of a tasty and bountiful harvest will not keep you waiting.