Apple tree Shtrifel

In the ancient Bible, there are references to apples as a fragrant fruit that has a beneficial effect on the human body. For many centuries, people have been cultivating apple trees, trying to improve their taste every time. In particular, the Shtrifel apple tree is considered one of the oldest varieties, which is well known in our country. But the people call this variety "Autumn striped". It is no longer truly known where this variety originated, maybe in Germany, or maybe in Holland. Therefore, gardeners attribute this variety to products of folk selection.

Apple tree Strifel: variety description

Photo of apples, variety Shtrifel

The variety is most widespread in the regions of central Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Also suitable for growing in more northern regions. The cultivation of the variety is also carried out in the countries of the former Soviet Union.

Pros and cons

The main advantages are:

• Long lifespan.
• A bountiful harvest.
• Great taste.
• Good transportability and presentation.
• Has the property of good recovery after various injuries.

Among the cons are:

• The crown is large and requires a lot of space.
• Young trees are distinguished by a late fruiting period and varying frequency.
• Does not tolerate dry weather very well.

Characteristics that the apple variety Shtrifel has

Photo of an apple, variety Shtrifel

Height and width of the tree. In adulthood, trees can reach heights of up to 8 m. If you carry out the crown formation procedure, you will be able to independently adjust the size of the tree. The crown of the tree is powerful and spreading. The width can also be up to 8 m, and sometimes even more. Skeletal branches are powerful. They extend from the trunk at right angles, hang down at the edges, and form a crown that looks like an overturned cauldron.

The formation of growth shoots occurs in a rather intensive manner, they thicken the crown.

Annual plant growth. It may seem surprising, but over the summer period of time, a tree can grow quite a lot. Fruit formation occurs on 3-4 year old ringlets, as well as on the tips of long twigs of 2 years old. Such fruiting is mixed.

Life expectancy. The tree can grow and develop for more than a decade. Due to the fact that the variety is distinguished by a late fruiting period, it becomes truly adult when it reaches 15-30 years. And even after that, the apple tree will delight you with a rich and healthy harvest of delicious apples for a long time.

Harvest... One tree can yield up to 100 kg of harvest. If the apple tree Shtrifel grows in the region of the middle zone of our country, then at the age of 15-30 it can bring up to 300 kg of harvest.

Pollinating varieties. To improve the quality characteristics of fruiting, it is necessary to use pollinating trees at the rate of 1 tree per 3 apple trees.

Tasting assessment. Apples have an excellent sweet and sour taste. Fruits contain a large amount of useful vitamins, trace elements, amino acids. And also zinc, calcium, magnesium, iodine, manganese, pectin and sucrose.

Resistant to frost. The variety is able to tolerate low winter temperatures well. Special measures should be taken only for young trees.

Disease and pest resistance

The variety is distinguished by good resistance to many diseases and insects, namely against:

• Scab.
• Fruit rot.
• Apple moth.
• Sawfly.
• Aphids.

How to plant an apple tree Shtrifel and how to care for the variety

Photo of an apple tree, variety Shtrifel

The correct planting determines how your tree will take root in a new place, which in turn will affect both the growth and the future harvest.

Terms and rules of landing. For planting, it is better to choose autumn or spring. If you are going to plant in the fall, then you need to be in time before the winter frosts come. The best time to plant is late September to early October. This time is enough for the tree to take root in a new place. If you are going to plant a tree in the spring, then the end of March-early April is well suited for this, before the buds begin to bloom.

How to grow properly. 5-7 days before landing, you need to prepare the landing pit. The diameter of the hole should be 1-1.2 m, depth 60-80 cm. This size is quite enough for the normal formation and development of the root system.

The infertile layer of earth is laid at the very bottom of the pit. The 1/3 hole must be filled with a loosened fertile layer. The rest must be mixed with 2/3 of a bucket of rotted manure.

Apply mineral fertilizers: potassium sulfide (4 tablespoons) and superphosphate (1 glass). In order to neutralize the soil, it is necessary to add wood ash. Fill up the soil to the middle of the planting pit. And place a seedling in the center and install a support stake. Fill the planting hole so that the root collar is above ground level.

The care that apple tree Strifel requires

Photo of apples, variety Shtrifel

Apple-tree Shtrifel refers to unpretentious crops. The variety is well suited to moist, fertile, warmed-up soil. So the tree can bring a rich and healthy harvest. If you have a sandy soil on the site and there is a lack of watering, then this will negatively affect the harvest. The main tree care activities are:

• Fertilization.
• Carrying out protective measures against pests and diseases.

During the season, it will be necessary to apply fertilizers only 3 times:

1. May - dilute half a glass of urea in 10 liters of water.
2. June - complex mineral fertilizers.
3. August - by 1 sq. m. - superphosphate (20 g) and calcium chloride (30 g).

To protect the tree from diseases and pests, it is necessary to process it with preparations that contain copper:

• Inta-vir.
• Karbaphos.
• Iskra-M.

You can also use folk methods. The method has gained great popularity, the essence of which is to plant next to the pharmacy chamomile, garlic, marigolds. You can also carry out the spraying procedure using a decoction and infusion of wormwood, tansy, hot pepper, parsley and needles.

We carry out pruning and crown formation

Due to the fact that the tree has a large and spreading crown, the formation of the crown is one of the main points of tree care. It is necessary to remove shoots that are directed towards the inside of the crown and thicken it. By pruning, you rejuvenate your tree and provide room for new, young shoots to grow.

Pollinating varieties

The variety is considered self-pollinated. But to improve pollination, the following varieties can be used as pollinators:

• Antonovka.
• Welsey.
• Folding.
• Zelenka Dnieper.

Ripening and fruiting process. When fruiting begins

Photo of apples, variety Shtrifel

Unfortunately, getting your first crop takes patience. The first harvest can be started only 5-7 years after the first planting of the apple tree. The first good, rich harvest can be obtained when the tree is 8-9 years old.

Flowering time. Depending on the region in which the tree grows, the flowering time may also differ. Most often this is the beginning or middle of the last decade of May. The buds are light pink in color.At the beginning of the disclosure and appearance, they are white in color. The cups are rather large and consist of overlapping, rounded petals.

Ripening dates of fruits. The fruits begin to ripen by early September.

Shelf life of fruits. If the crop was harvested at one time, then apples can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 3 months. After this time, the apples begin to lose their moisture and wither.

Fruiting. Young trees bring a crop every year. Fruiting frequency can be observed in trees over the age of 20 years. The fruits are uniform, large, and have a good marketable appearance. The fruits are round, slightly conical in shape. Depending on how much moisture is contained in the fruit, the weight can start from 170 g and above.

The surface of the fruit is smooth, with a slight gloss. There are small ribs at the base, and there may also be a longitudinal seam of great length. The pulp is yellowish in color, pinkish under the skin, has a slightly loose structure, but at the same time it is juicy.

Ripe fruit has a greenish-yellow tint. On the sunny side, there are pronounced stripes of orange-red or brownish color, thin-skinned, there is a waxy coating.

Types and variations

The work of breeders is to improve the quality of the variety and reduce the number of disadvantages. Apple tree Shtrifel keeps up with innovations

Apple tree Shtrifel on a dwarf rootstock

On dwarf rootstocks, a long period of life and tolerance of the variety to various influences from the environment are preserved. The variety is very easy to care for. At the same time, harvesting costs are significantly reduced.

Apple trees on dwarf rootstocks are distinguished by earlier dates of the onset of fruiting. Unfortunately, however, the yield per tree is reduced compared to taller trees. Their lifespan and low temperature tolerance are reduced.

Apple tree Shaft red

As a result of the improvement, the species of Shtrifel red was created. They have the same qualities as the yellow variety. A distinctive feature of the species is its red coloration. The fruits have a good marketable appearance and a pleasant, beautiful waxy coating. Fruit development takes place on long stalks, while being attached quite tightly. If they are overripe, they do not crumble.

Photo of an apple tree, cultivar Red Shtrifel

Columnar apple trees

It is this type of variety that does not have a columnar variety. So just consider this kind of apple trees. In order to speed up the fruiting process and facilitate the care of the tree, these varieties of apple trees were created. They have no side branches. Fruit formation takes place densely along the tree trunk. The height of the tree can be up to 3 m.

It is quite simple to care for such trees, but at the same time you can get a not very rich harvest.

Features of cultivation in different regions

As we said earlier, the Strifel apple tree tolerates low winter temperatures well. In particular, mature trees. Even during the harshest winters, neither the tree nor the flowering buds will be harmed. Due to its Baltic roots, the variety is well suited to the climate of the Moscow region and Belarus.

In outskirts of Moscow... If the amount of precipitation is sufficient on loamy and soddy-podzolic soil, an adult tree almost does not need watering.

In the Volga region... In lighter soil and in southern regions such as the Volga region, the tree needs abundant watering, since it does not tolerate dry weather very well. If the variety grows in the southern region, then it is necessary to ensure that there is no moth.

In the Leningrad region. Regardless of the good degree of scab resistance, if it rains a lot, individual fruits and leaves may be affected. It is best to carry out preventive work against various fungal diseases.

In conclusion, it should be noted that the variety is easy to care for and resistant to low temperatures, has a long life span, and high yields. All these factors increase the efficiency of growing the Strifel apple tree.

But at the same time, the tree has significant dimensions, due to which it takes up a lot of space. Although the variety does not begin to bear fruit immediately, the wait is well worth the wait. You can get a rich and healthy harvest of not only beautiful, but tasty and healthy apples, which you can hardly find analogues.