Apple Tree Silver Hoof

Apple tree Silver hoof is a representative of the summer subspecies of apple trees and is considered one of the most beloved and popular in cultivation by gardeners in our country. At the very beginning of the nineties of the 20th century, this subspecies was zoned in the West Siberian region.

Quite often you can find an apple tree of this variety in the northern regions of Udmurtia and Kazakhstan, in the Chelyabinsk, Perm and Kirov regions.

The Silver Hoof apple tree has a fairly good frost resistance, due to which it is highly valued in the more northern regions of our country. And these are far from all the advantages of this subspecies. In this article, we will consider in detail the Silver Hoof apple variety, all its advantages and disadvantages, as well as agrotechnical features.

Apple tree Silver hoof: variety description and characteristics

Apple Silver Hoof: photo of the variety

The apple variety Silver Hoof appeared in the Yekaterinburg nursery, thanks to the works of the breeder L.A. Kotov, by crossing the subspecies Snezhinka and Raduga.

If we consider in detail the pedigree branch of this apple tree, we can see that this subspecies originated from multiple crossing of the Siberian berry variety with large subspecies of apple trees from the northern strip.

The subspecies has a fairly high resistance to frost and early fruiting. It is not very whimsical to climatic conditions and is endowed with good taste characteristics.

Apple tree Silver hoof - characteristics and features

Apple variety Silver Hoof is a representative of summer apple trees. Quite a productive subspecies of this crop. It has a primary difference in the following:

• Cold tolerance.
• Good dry season resistance.
• The ability of the fruit to retain all its characteristics for up to two months.

But the Silver Hoof apple tree has its drawbacks, such as:

• With improper or untimely care, the fruits of this culture become smaller.
• Low level of immunity to scab disease.
• May be affected by fruit rot.

Therefore, one important circumstance should be noted right away: this apple variety needs constant care.

The tree of this subspecies is endowed with medium height, or slightly lower. The plant can reach its maximum height up to 4 meters. The apple tree has a dense round crown. Skeletal stems are straight, rather compact, and grow at a 90-degree angle to the base of the tree trunk. The leaves on such a tree have an oval or round shape, short-pointed, and have a pale green tint.

The Silver Hoof apple tree produces consistently high yields. It produces the same number of apples every year. The fruits are of medium size, each weighing about 85 grams. And the total yield from one tree reaches 160 kilograms. But it is worth noting that with improper agricultural technology, the yield of this tree can plummet.

The Silver Hoof apple variety is considered self-fertile, therefore, to set fruit, it needs to be close to other apple subspecies for pollination.

The inner part of the Silverhoof apple has a juicy, rather firm, fine-grained structure, as well as a pleasant aroma and bright sweet taste with a touch of sourness. Such fruits contain ascorbic acid, sucrose, titratable acids, P-active substances.

As already noted, this subspecies has a high level of frost tolerance, thanks to which this apple tree can be perfectly grown in regions with a continental climate.

The immunity to diseases in this apple tree is at an average level. Often, the plant is infected with such a common and dangerous disease as scab, as well as diseases of a fungal nature.

Apple tree Silver hoof: planting and care

Apple tree Silver hoof: photo of the variety

The first yield, as well as its regularity, depends on the correct planting and subsequent care of the crop.

The Silver Hoof Apple tree can be planted at times such as:

• Spring period (April month).
• Summer period (last decade of July).
• Autumn period (first decade of October).

Although experienced farmers advise planting this tree in the autumn season.

Apple Silver Hoof loves to grow on loose and light soil. The landing site should have good illumination and not have surface groundwater.

To plant a seedling of an apple tree Silver Hoof, a planting hole is dug in advance, which should go up to 60 centimeters deep, and should have a width of about 70 centimeters. At the bottom of the planting hole, a soil mixture is poured, consisting of 4 kilograms of humus, 40 grams of superphosphate, 20 grams of potassium, the same amount of urea and fertile soil. Then they make a small mound and put a seedling on it, gently straightening the roots. A peg is driven in next to the seedling, which will serve as a support for the tree. The seedling is tied to a peg and sprinkled with soil. After these actions, the planted seedling is watered abundantly with water until the liquid is absorbed into the soil. It is worth noting one very important point: when planting a young plant, it is absolutely impossible for its root system to have contact with fertilizers, otherwise the young culture will get burned.

The Silver Hoof apple tree should be treated with insecticides and fungicides several times per season, these are: in the period before the formation of foliage, after the green mass and before the flowering period. The apple tree of this variety requires abundant watering during the dry season and during the ripening period. You should also apply a layer of organic mulch to the tree trunk circle. Top dressing with fertilizers based on nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus is required.

The level and quality of yield in the Silver Hoof apple tree largely depends on the procedure for pruning excess and diseased branches, as well as on the formation of the crown of the tree. The first time the pruning procedure for a given plant is carried out at the beginning of the spring period, the next year after planting the seedling. The stems should be trimmed to the maximum, while leaving the tree trunk open. In the following years, a preventive pruning procedure is carried out, while making sure that the lower tiers of the tree do not overgrow.

In order for you to have a plentiful, high-quality harvest of the fruits of this variety in the Siberian region, this tree must be grown in a slate form. Due to this, the stems are under the snow cover and do not suffer damage from the cold.

For the Silver Hoof apple tree, the presence of pollinating varieties not far from it is required, and these can be completely different subspecies of apple trees, the most important thing is that their flowering and fruiting period coincides with the tree of the variety in question. But experienced gardeners still claim that the one hundred best pollinator for this tree is the apple variety Anis Sverdlovsky.

In the autumn season, this subspecies needs to be fed with compost or rotted manure. These fertilizers are applied to the ground and, together with the soil, carefully huddle near the tree's near-stem circle. Fresh organic fertilizers should not be used, as they can cause a burn at the roots of the plant.

The transplant procedure for this apple tree should be performed in the autumn period, about 30 days before frost. This tree should be in a state of dormancy, after leaf fall. If, nevertheless, you had to transplant this culture with foliage on it, then perform these actions in the evening period of the day.

Apple tree Silver hoof reproduces in several ways, these are:

• Seeds.
• Cuttings.
• By grafting the cuttings.
• Kidney vaccination.

The Silver Hoof apple tree is still quite highly valued by breeders for the fact that it helps to breed new elite subspecies as a result of crossing.

Fruiting and ripening

This apple tree begins its first fruiting period in the third year, usually after planting. But the highest quality, high-level fruits, as noted, are formed two years after the beginning of fruiting of the tree.

The flowering period of this fruit tree begins in the first decade of May. The apple tree has medium to large white flowers. They consist of semi-closed petals.

When grown in the Sverdlovsk region, this apple tree ripens during the last decade of August. When cultivated in the eastern and western territories, which are located from the Urals, the fruits ripen quite earlier. If the ripe fruits are not removed from the tree in August, then in September they turn into translucent.

The apple tree has a Silver Hoof and some features associated with fruiting, here they are:

• Early fruiting period.
• High taste characteristics of the fruit.
• Regular harvest.
• Good level of commercial characteristics of the fruit.
• Long storage period for fruits. Moreover, it should be noted that during transportation, these fruits do not lose their external qualities. Even after two months of storage, these fruits have juiciness and excellent taste.

Inexperienced farmers very often make mistakes when planting and processing this fruit plant. As a result, the tree does not give color and does not bear fruit. If flowers are not tied on the apple tree, then the reason for this may be:

• Early period. The apple tree may simply not have reached its fruiting age.
• Incorrect processing of the crown of the tree was performed, as a result of which the fruit branches were cut off.
• The culture was attacked by a harmful flower beetle insect.

If the tree gives abundant color, but fruits still do not form on it, then the following factors must be taken into account:

• During careless harvesting, short branches break - fruits.
• Frosts during the period of color of the fruit crop reduce the development of apples.
• Wrong choice of pollinating varieties, or their complete absence.

If you follow all these nuances, the plant will begin to bear fruit on time.

Growing regions

Apple tree Silver hoof: photo of the variety

• Moscow region. In the Moscow region, a climate prevails with the following features: a harsh winter, a dry summer, a shortened growing season of a fruit tree. Not every subspecies will be able to adapt in this climate with a regular and stable fruiting period. Due to multiple selections, this subspecies takes root well to these difficult climatic conditions, and produces a crop with excellent consumer characteristics. But do not forget that during the dry period, the plant needs watering on a regular basis.
• Ural. The subspecies Silver Hoof is considered to be quite popular and widespread in the area of ​​cultivation earlier. Apple tree with a well-formed crown, with an average growth rate. The positive features of this subspecies are: good frost resistance; early fruiting period; high level of fruit yield.
• Volga region. To grow this fruit crop in this region, the tree must have the following characteristics: resistance to the dry period; cold endurance; high yield rate; stable fruiting period. If we take into account all the characteristics of the subspecies under consideration, we conclude that this variety is perfect for cultivation in this region. Although it should be borne in mind that apple crops in this area quite often get sick with diseases such as scab and powdery mildew.
• Northwest. The weather conditions in this area are quite unpredictable, the cold here can dramatically change to warming. Therefore, being in such a climate, farmers are quite serious about choosing a subspecies of this fruit crop. The subspecies should be early maturing and at the same time sufficiently hardy to cold weather. The variety considered in this article can perfectly grow in this area with seed cultivation. During the period of development and growth, a young tree needs careful and high-quality care. Otherwise, frosts and a sharp cold snap can simply destroy the tree.
• Siberia. This apple subspecies appeared as a result of crossing the autumn subspecies Snowflake and early fruiting of the Rainbow subspecies, and, thanks to this combination, is perfect for growing in Siberia. When cultivating an apple crop in this area, it is necessary to take into account the presence of cold weather up to 50 degrees. During such a cold, the apical branches may die. In order to prevent this, this plant is planted on a dwarf rootstock or they are engaged in the formation of a shale-shaped crown.

Apple tree Silver hoof: reviews

Apple tree Silver hoof grows in quite a few regions of different republics. But many beginners make serious mistakes when planting and caring for this tree, which can lead to the death of the culture. Follow all the above tips for growing this apple crop and you will get not only a beautiful fruit tree in the garden, but also a regular, stable and tasty harvest.

Among the numerous discussions on the Internet, in various forums of apple subspecies, the Silver Hoof apple variety is often mentioned. Here are some reviews of the Silverhoof apple tree:

We live in the former State Farm, which collapsed back in the 90s. We used to have a large orchard with different fruit crops, including a large number of different varieties of apple trees. Now, for quite a few years, this garden has been abandoned, most of the crops in it have lost their ability to bear fruit and grow there like simple trees. My husband and I come to this garden every year to pick sea buckthorn and apples. Of all the remaining fruit-bearing varieties, I can single out this particular subspecies of the apple tree. I am a gardener, and I have no idea how this tree should bear fruit correctly, but every year we harvest it. I can't say that this tree is distinguished by a large harvest, but its fruits have an amazing taste, even fresh, even processed. These fruits are stored in abundance, their quality begins to deteriorate only a month and a half after removal. Apples Silver Hoof are beautiful and dried; in winter, compote and pastries with them are wonderful.

Irina, Altai Territory

I don't consider myself an experienced gardener yet, but I've been doing this for six years now. And, based on my experience, I want to say that I do not agree with those who praise this subspecies of the apple tree. Before purchasing this seedling, I carefully studied the photo, description, and features of this variety. The seedling was dropped not anywhere, but at the breeding institute. 6 years have already passed, and I am still waiting for the fruiting period of this fruit tree. The Silverhoof apple tree first gave color last year, but no ovaries were observed.This year, the apple tree again had a color, but again there are no ovaries, although pollinating varieties grow near it. Very often the tree is attacked by various pests and diseases. I perform the trimming procedure using the technology. The winter period, however, is going through well. For myself, I decided that if I don’t get the fruits of these apples next year, I’ll just cut the tree down.

Maxim, Kiev

I have my own small garden outside the city, which consists of some apple trees of different varieties, and I have been cultivating this fruit crop for more than 15 years. At the moment, I grow more than 20 varieties: Gornoaltaiskoe, Uralets, Persian Woman, Silver Hoof and many others. Apple trees Silver hoof grow in my staggered pattern, with an interval of five meters between them. From early spring until the very autumn period of the year, you have to spend quite a lot of time in the garden, since some subspecies are quite capricious in growing and caring. Even taking into account the fact that this variety is one of such crops, I personally fell in love with this tree, even from the time when I looked at the photo of this apple tree and read its description. With the period of flowering and the formation of fruits, I have never experienced any difficulties. The growth of this tree is average. Fruiting every year. Taste and quality of apples Silver hoof pleases. The Silver Hoof apple winters well. With the arrival of spring, the number of dead branches is quite small.

Mikhail, Sterlitamak