Apple tree Semerenko

Semerenko are apples of another very old domestic variety. Initially, Semerenko was known under other names - Renet Semerenko, Zeleny Renet Semerenko, Simirinka (as the apple tree is called in Ukrainian), and simply Semerenko. The name was received in honor of the breeder, who was the very first person who began to cultivate this apple variety - P.F. Semerenko. Cultivation began around the 19th century and since then the variety has enjoyed a very high level of popularity.

Introduction

In this article, we will tell you more about the features of an apple variety called Semerenko, about its characteristics, as well as about planting conditions, adherence to agricultural techniques and the subsequent care of this apple. The article is of interest for both experienced gardeners and beginners, all the information collected is the knowledge of experienced gardeners and professional breeders who have experience in growing the Semerenko apple tree.

Characteristics of the Semerenko apple tree

Semerenko, as we have already noted, is an apple tree of a truly Russian variety, which is completely unknown in Europe. One way or another, the variety is incredibly in demand in the central part of our country, and at the same time it has gradually spread to Ukrainka. The variety was entered in the State Register back in 1947, and since then has been extremely popular in the vast homeland. The popularity of the variety is ensured by a number of its indisputable advantages, among which the following are worth highlighting:

- the variety has a high yield level

- fruits are early enough, which distinguishes them from any other varieties

- apples, after being removed, can be stored for a very long time, about several months

- the variety differs in that it has a high level of resistance to too severe drought or to a hot climate

- apples are very large, while they are also very sweet, tasty and juicy, have excellent external characteristics, therefore they are suitable for growing not only in private households, but also on a more industrial scale

But still, you should not make quick conclusions about this variety as the only correct one. Semerenko also has a number of its shortcomings, among which the following aspects should be emphasized. Firstly, the variety is very susceptible to fungal diseases, infections, as well as scab and powdery mildew, so the gardener has a very big responsibility to ensure that the tree receives all the necessary preventive procedures and treatments, and that it is protected from negative influences. There is also a tendency to excessive thickening of the crown, so the tree needs timely pruning, both formative and sanitary. Thirdly, it is also worth paying attention to the fact that when the tree reaches an older age, the fruiting may decrease, be not so regular, and even less so periodic. There is another drawback - the variety has low winter hardiness, it needs constant preparation for frost, and it is generally not recommended to plant a tree in areas where there is no stability of weather and temperatures.

It is best to soot an apple tree of the Semerenko variety on the territory of the Krasnodar Territory, in North Ossetia or Georgia. The climate of Abkhazia and Ukraine is also ideal for the tree to feel absolutely full and comfortable. It is also worth noting that the tree can be planted in less stable areas, but there it will require a lot of attention, and the gardener will have to spend not only his physical resources, but also material ones, and not everyone is ready for this.

If everything works out, then a tall tree with a powerful, spreading crown will form on the site. The bark will have a slightly grayish tint, while on the sunny side the bark will be slightly orange. The shoots are standard, strong, brown in color; under favorable conditions, the annual growth of a young seedling will be about sixty centimeters. If we are talking about a more mature tree, then the annual growth will be about 45-55 centimeters. The leaves are standard, as for any other variety of apple crops, while the fruits are very large, regular in shape, rounded. The peel has a smooth structure, when the fruits reach their technical ripeness, then in color they become a light green hue, they look very pleasant and appetizing. The fruits are great for storage, only as the fruits turn from green to yellow. If fruits grow in sunny areas, then on one barrel they may show a faint pinkish blush. But usually these are juicy green apples, which are very tasty, aromatic, without the visible wax coating, which can be inherent in many varieties of apples.

The average weight of one fruit, which has reached technical ripeness, can vary from 150 to 160 grams, while if the harvest is rationed, is stable, then the fruits in weight can reach two hundred grams. The pulp has a white, creamy color, very juicy and tender; when biting off, a characteristic crunch of the pulp appears. At the same time, the taste is very pleasant, not at all sour. Lovers of the Semerenko variety say that the fruits have a characteristic spicy taste, while the fruits contain a lot of sugar, vitamins, useful components, which makes them very beneficial. Professional tasting ratings range from 4.5 to 4.7 points on a five-point scale.

The yield of the variety is very high; experienced gardeners can harvest from 140 to 170 kilograms of excellent tasty fruits from one tree. Moreover, a tree that is eight years old can produce only 12 to 15 kilograms of apples. Yes, the indicator is not very high, but you can see a standard tendency: the older the tree itself becomes, the more fruits it is capable of producing. But later the tree begins to age gradually and, accordingly, its yield will also decline.

As for the early maturity of the Semerenko variety, experienced gardeners, as well as breeders, evaluate it as good. Usually, the crop is formed already in the fourth (sometimes in the fifth) year of planting. Flowering occurs in the second half of May, and the harvest begins to ripen in the second half of September. If the trees are planted a little further north, then the harvest ripens by mid-October, and such shifts are fully justified by climatic conditions, so it is worth keeping this in mind. The harvest that is harvested from trees is stored for a very long time - it can lie quietly right up to the next summer, and sometimes some gardeners can keep Semerenko fruits until the next harvest. In fact, this is exactly the case, and for this the fruit is incredibly prized within the framework of production on an industrial scale. The fruits retain not only their taste characteristics, but also their presentation.

At the same time, as practice shows, the variety does not have a high level of winter hardiness, the tree can succumb to frost at temperatures below 20 degrees, so it needs additional protection. The same applies to diseases - the tree is very susceptible to attacks from powdery mildew, as well as scab, so you should take care of the organization and implementation of preventive measures so that the tree feels as comfortable as possible. Also, the variety needs trees that will become its pollinating varieties. For this role, you can choose varieties such as Idared, Korey, Golden Delicious, In Memory of Sergeev and Kuban Supr.All these varieties have similar indicators and characteristics, and that is why they are so valued among gardeners for choosing pollinators for Semerenko. Sometimes there is mutual pollination, which also has an excellent effect on fruiting and on the quality of the crop.

Reviews of the variety are very positive, even though the tree is not so resistant. Gardeners talk about an abundant and, most importantly, a very tasty harvest, and this fact cannot be ignored. In the next part of this article, we will dwell on how to properly plant the Semerenko apple variety, take care of it so that an excellent harvest is obtained, and so that the tree continues to bear fruit for as long as possible. Most of the information provided is not just the facts of the gardeners themselves, but also data that were obtained from more experienced gardeners and gardeners.

Planting, agrotechnical features, as well as fruiting

The Semerenko apple variety is a tree that loves fertile soils very much. In addition, one of the conditions for growth, development and subsequent fertility is that the soil must pass oxygen, because only in this case it will be most useful for the root system of this tree. Also, in principle, this variety perfectly tolerates dry and hot weather, and the tree also takes root well in hills and hilly areas. At the same time, these hills may not be particularly moistened, but even there the tree, in principle, takes root quite calmly, but still it is worth paying more attention to its general condition and growth opportunities.

As for the timing of planting an apple tree, they coincide with the timing for other varieties. It can be a spring planting, which occurs from mid-April to mid-May, or it can be an autumn planting, which occurs between the end of September and mid-October. It is believed that this time is the most favorable for the seedlings to have time to normally adapt to the conditions, as well as so that they have time to take root before the onset of not the most favorable climatic manifestations. It is very important, of course, to also pay attention to the climatic features of the region where the tree is planted, since if this is done in the South, then autumn planting will be predominant, but in less stable areas it is best to plant in the spring. Much also depends on the capabilities of the gardener himself, on his desire, the prospects for the further development of this tree in the garden. Although, as a rule, the tree takes root well, and then gives excellent yields, the main thing is sometimes to look after it, give it maximum care support, and also take preventive measures.

Agricultural engineering is an important part, which contains all the requirements for planting a seedling, as well as for its subsequent care. First, it is worth preparing a hole for planting, for this its width and depth should be half a meter. The soil inside is carefully dug up, loosened to make it light and breathable. If the soil on the site is heavy, then it is necessary to make a larger pit. The soil, which is removed from the pit, must be mixed with sand, then it will become lighter and more loose. Further, it is worth observing the following algorithm in preparation and landing:

- a peg with a height of one and a half to two meters is dug into the bottom of the hole. This is done in order to then tie a seedling to this peg, make it excellent support and support.

- the root system of the seedling can be slightly shortened, for this it is worth removing no more than four centimeters. Wrinkled and broken roots are also removed, as they increase the risk that the root system may undergo diseases or the development of a fungus.

- in the very center of the pit, it is worth pouring a small slide in order to neatly position the apple root system in it.To do this, it is recommended to involve two gardeners - one will hold the seedling, but the second will straighten the roots in different directions. Together, in principle, it is much more convenient to work in planting crops, and this is correct from the point of view of agricultural technology

- then the pit is carefully filled up with soil, from above it is necessary to crush the earth a little with your hands, but at the same time you should not compact the earth too much, since it must maintain its looseness. The seedling is tied to a peg, which becomes its reliable support

- then another important stage comes - watering the plant. This will require about three leads of settled water. In general, for irrigation of any crops, it is better to take the water that has managed to settle, since some useless substances end up at the bottom, in the sediment.

There is also advice from experienced gardeners. For example, if the pit is cooked some time before planting, about 14 days, it will be best saturated with moisture. Also, the layers of soil that are at depth are saturated with oxygen, which is also a huge advantage. In principle, both so and so it is better to prepare the pit in advance, so that by the time of planting in it all conditions are as favorable as possible.

It is necessary to adhere to the planting scheme, since the apple tree has a very high growth force. The tree can spread about five meters, so it needs a lot of space. Due to the fact that the crown also becomes thickened and, most importantly, spreading, it can shade the adjacent territory, so the trees should be planted at the maximum distance from each other. To prevent the tree from interfering with other plants from developing, it is recommended not to plant any additional flowers, shrubs or crops near the trunk circle. The apple tree is, in principle, completely unpretentious, if we talk about agrotechnical features and requirements. Even if you do not give the tree special care, it will still take root perfectly, will give excellent results in growth and, of course, in fruiting, and this is its huge advantage. At the same time, it is still recommended to additionally protect the plant from fungal diseases, while taking preventive measures. Prophylaxis is started even before the buds bloom; for this, the branches, shoots, the deciduous part and the main trunk of the plant must be treated with a weak solution of Bordeaux liquid. Some drugs belonging to the group of biofungicides are considered no less effective. These are, for example, phytosporin, raek, zircon, which can be purchased at any gardening store, and sometimes they can be immediately purchased at the nursery along with the planting material. The solution is advantageous in that they are completely safe for the person himself, and at the same time, the fruits from the apple tree that has been processed can be eaten even on the same day when the tree was treated with biofungicides. But such safety is maintained only if the gardener follows the instructions for using the drug, does not exceed the permissible norms and concentrations. If these rules are not followed, then the drugs will be dangerous not only for the person himself, but also for the future harvest and those who will eat it.

Pruning is an important step in tree care. It is carried out every year, and especially pruning is needed precisely when the crown thickens too much. Thickening of the crown is generally a situation that can arise with Semerenko apples at any stage of their growth and development. One way or another, pruning is very important, and if the gardener does not carry out it, then this can lead to the fact that the tree's immunity will be too low, and stress resistance will be completely absent. Also, if there is no trimming for the tree and its crown, then the yield decreases, the mass of the fruits also becomes much less.

When pruning is carried out, during it it is necessary to remove all damaged branches and branches that have ached for some reason. It is also necessary to remove all branches that fall and touch the ground, tops growing upward must be removed immediately, as they noticeably spoil the appearance of the plant. In addition, it is worth removing branches that grow too close to each other, since it is because of them that the crown becomes thicker, it becomes quite painful, and it becomes even more difficult to harvest the crop.

Fertilizer should be applied in the spring, as well as in the fall. In the spring, fertilizers are applied from April to May, but in the fall it is worth applying top dressing in September, since the substances have a higher chance of being well absorbed in the soil. For feeding in the spring, such substances and components as urea, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, humus and compost are ideally suitable. You can also add manure or chicken droppings, but this should be done very carefully and in certain proportions so as not to harm the plant.

When feeding is carried out in the fall, it is best to use potassium-phosphorus components and fertilizers, which just have an excellent effect on the formation and laying of the future harvest. In this case, you can take wood ash, superphosphate. What should not be added in the fall is nitrogen-containing top dressing, since because of them, the shoots usually grow very rapidly, and in winter this is not at all necessary, as it can affect the general condition of the plant. If the tree lacks certain components, then this can lead to its noticeable weakening. To avoid this, it is worth making some top dressing throughout the summer. Ideally, Kemira Lux, Aquarin or any substances and mixtures that include copper and zinc, iron or magnesium are suitable. In general, such complexes provide comprehensive support to the plant, make it very strong and very developed, from which the yield becomes more active. Fertilizers can be applied dry, or diluted in a certain amount of water. Then it is applied either at the root, or they use a foliar feeding method - by spraying on the green crown. Usually, the substances are sprayed about 21 days after the apple tree has finished flowering and the fruits have just begun to form.

Young trees give an annual harvest, but when the tree reaches the age of 25-30 years, the harvest becomes more periodic, and here a lot depends on the external climatic conditions, and on how the gardener himself takes care of the plants. The harvest is tasty, if you remove it ahead of time, then the fruits will be very sour, and this may frighten the gardener a little. Usually, if you remove the fruits earlier and bring them to ripeness indoors, then they ripen perfectly, give aromatic and sweet pulp, but the conditions should be just perfect in this case, otherwise nothing will work. One of the advantages of the variety is that the crop can be stored for almost 9 months if the most suitable conditions are created for it. However, none any other grade cannot boast of such an indicator. There are also several basic rules for storing apples that you need to know if the gardener wants to preserve the harvest for many months:

- apples for storage must be removed in dry weather, then they will lie even longer

- before you leave apples in storage, you must very carefully examine them. Leave only whole apples that are not scratched, not beaten, do not have wormholes

- apples that have been selected are packed in cardboard boxes, and you can also take wooden boxes, which must be well dried. It is important that the container is very clean and dry.

- apples after packing are placed in a cold place. The temperature there should vary from 1 to 8 degrees, this will be ideal.You can also place boxes in the refrigerator or in the cellar, in the basement, which is located right in the house. It can also be a balcony that is specially insulated, and there are really ideal conditions for apples. You can treat the fruit with a propolis solution, then the chances that the shelf life will become even longer increase.

You can also use the hands of a gardener to eliminate such an indicator as the frequency of yield, especially in mature trees. In order to return the plant to a second life and make it bear fruit again, it is necessary to trim the crown, as well as remove all unnecessary branches. After that, the tree should be very well fed, because only in this case it will be supported within the framework of its life. After that, new branches will begin to actively form, and a new crop will be formed on the new branches. When a gardener acquires seedlings, he also needs to know not only the characteristics of the variety and species itself, but also the characteristics of the rootstock onto which this seedling was grafted.

There are several types of rootstocks, among which a vigorous (clonal) rootstock, a semi-dwarf or dwarf apple tree, and a columnar apple tree stand out. Rootstocks affect the size of the tree, as well as the shape of the crown, the number of fruits and the abundance of fruiting. There are several varieties similar to Semerenko with similar characteristics and features. This is Antaeus and Antonovka, Ranet Chernenko, Zhigulevskoe Yablochko. The Granny Smith variety is very popular, which can also be found on the shelves of stores and supermarkets, since it is perfectly stored and retains its properties, taste, and size. In general, Semerenko is an excellent apple variety that can be grown in various regions of our country. This tree is completely unpretentious, you can not take particular care of it and, most importantly, in principle, there are no special requirements in the composition of the soil and its condition - the tree will take root perfectly, will give abundant fruiting. The fruits are stored for a long time, they can be used very versatile - they can be consumed fresh, make jams, jams, drinks (juices, compotes). Apples are also great for transporting them over long distances or storing them for several months. They do not lose their taste and do not lose their useful indicators at all, which is undoubtedly a positive quality, an advantage of the variety.