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The Ural bulk apple tree is an autumn variety common in the northern territories of our country. This hybrid has outstanding characteristics that are valued when growing a crop in harsh climatic conditions.
History of breeding
At the end of the 40s of the last century, at the breeding station in Chelyabinsk, as a result of crossing the apple varieties Ranetka red and Papirovka, the Ural bulk variety appeared. Its author was the famous breeder Professor P. A. Zhavoronkov.
Since the late 50s, the hybrid has been zoned in the Volga-Vyatka, Far East, West Siberian, East Siberian, Ural regions.
The variety has become an excellent donor for obtaining new productive frost-resistant varieties of apple trees.
Description of the apple tree variety Ural Bulk
The Ural Bulk apple tree belongs to semi-cultivation, that is, it is only half cultivated. The tree is medium in size, characterized by moderate vigor. The hybrid bears fruit abundantly with small yellow fruits.
The height and appearance of the apple tree Ural Bulk
The Ural bulk apple tree is a medium-sized tree, however, without pruning, it can grow up to a height of 8 m. Its dense rounded crown reaches a diameter of more than 4 m and is prone to excessive thickening.
Numerous photos of the Ural Bulk variety reflect its main features – abundant fruiting with small apples
On average, annual growth is 40–60 cm. Skeletal branches grow almost perpendicular to the trunk. During the fruiting period, under the weight of the fruit, they droop greatly.
In recent years, the cultivation of stem forms of fruit trees has been gaining popularity, and the Ural bulk apple tree can be successfully grown on a stem. Such specimens not only look spectacular in gardens, but also bear fruit better due to a well-formed crown.
The bark of the trunk and skeletal branches is greenish-gray, young shoots are brownish-greenish.
The leaf blades are light green, smooth, without pubescence, have an elongated shape. The edge of the sheet with small rounded notches.
Description of fruits
The hybrid bears fruit with medium-sized apples weighing about 60 g. With age, their size becomes even smaller, in old trees the fruits weigh no more than 40 g. Apples on a long, strong stem, rounded in shape, with barely noticeable ribbing. The fruit is covered with a smooth glossy skin with slightly visible subcutaneous dots. The color of apples changes from greenish-yellow in unripe fruits to golden with a soft pink blush when it reaches consumer maturity.
Characteristics of the apple tree variety Ural Bulk
Ural bulk has a number of features that distinguish it from other varieties of culture. First of all, this is the phenomenal resistance of the apple tree to adverse environmental conditions and high yields.
Palatability
Ural bulk apples have a pleasant sweet taste with honey spicy notes and slight sourness. The pulp is medium density, tender, juicy, with a light aroma.
Terms of maturation
The harvest of Ural bulk apples can be expected around the second half of September. There are three stages of maturity:
- Technical. Hard juicy fruits collected at this stage are processed into compotes and juices.
- consumer maturity. Apples are the most delicious, ready to eat fresh.
- Slight overripe. The fruits become loose and are suitable for making jams, jams, marmalade. In this variety, the stage of light overripeness occurs in the first decade of October.
You can determine the degree of ripening of fruits by appearance
Productivity
Ural Bulk is an early-growing variety. Often, already in the second year, gardeners harvest the first crop, but in order for the tree to take root better, it is recommended to remove the ovaries for several years after grafting.
The variety is characterized by stable fruiting. The harvest increases every season. Under favorable conditions and good care, up to 250 kg of fruit can be obtained from one adult apple tree.
Frost resistance of the apple tree Ural Bulk
The outstanding resistance of this apple variety to low temperatures is one of the key characteristics of the variety. It was noted that even at frosts below -50°C in one of the most severe winters, apple trees only slightly froze. The plasticity of the variety is also distinguished, allowing the tree to adapt to environmental conditions and quickly recover after exposure to adverse factors.
Pollinators of an apple-tree Ural Bulk
Ural bulk refers to self-fertile varieties of culture. For fruiting, an apple tree needs pollinators, the best of which is the Uralets hybrid. It has the same frost resistance and blooms at the same time as the Ural Bulk. It is recommended to plant these two trees at a distance of no more than 5 m from each other.
Growing regions
Due to its unique frost resistance and excellent adaptive capabilities, the Ural Bulk variety has become widespread in the South Urals, the Far East, and the North-Western part of Our Country. He is well known in Kazakhstan as well.
Disease resistance
The variety Ural bulk has an average resistance to the most common disease of apple trees – scab. However, the risk of infection increases in unfavorable years and in the absence of care for the garden. With the correct timely formation of the crown, trees are rarely affected by scab.
Sometimes the plant suffers from moniliosis – a fungal disease that leads to rotting of the fruit.
Advantages and disadvantages
Apples of this variety can be consumed fresh and processed. They are well stored and well transported.
Due to the small size, the fruits of the Ural Bulk variety have a low marketability.
Pros:
- adaptability to various growing conditions;
- frost resistance;
- high yield;
- stable fruiting;
- good taste, versatility.
Cons:
- the tendency of branches to break off under the weight of fruits;
- small fruit;
- the need for pollinators.
Planting an apple tree Ural Bulk
The hybrid is propagated by grafting into the crown or seedlings.
Since the early start of the growing season is characteristic of the Ural bulk apple tree, it is preferable to plant young trees in the fall.
The best place for an apple tree would be a heated area, protected from strong winds. Like other fruit trees, the variety is very sensitive to excessive soil moisture, so lowlands and places with close groundwater are not suitable for it.
Planting a young apple tree in open ground is not difficult:
- prepare a pit measuring 70×80 cm;
- soil mixture from fertile soil and fertilizers is poured to the bottom;
- the seedling is placed in a hole and filled with the remaining soil;
- the trunk is tied to a small peg.
Apple tree care Ural Bulk
Ural bulk requires specific care, due to the characteristics of the variety. Since the variety is high-yielding, in order to avoid breaking off the shoots under the weight of the fruit, props should be placed under the skeletal branches. For the same purpose, many gardeners manually remove some of the ovaries, especially in the first few years after planting the plant in open ground.
This variety is prone to crown thickening, so annual pruning is a must.
Since the Ural bulk does not have strong immunity against certain diseases and pests, it is recommended to carry out preventive treatment with fungicides and insecticides.
Preparing for winter the apple tree of this extremely frost-resistant variety comes down to protecting the trunk from rodents, hilling and mulching the near-stem circle.
The tree needs watering, fertilizing, loosening the near-stem circle, preventive treatments against diseases and pests.
How to form the trunk of an apple tree Ural Bulk
Pruning is one of the most important components of caring for the Ural Bulk apple tree. The first step in the design of the tree is the formation of the trunk. In order for the apple tree to grow well and bear fruit effectively, the first pruning of the seedling is performed according to the following rules:
- The procedure begins in early spring, before the start of sap flow, immediately after planting the tree in a permanent place. If planting is carried out in the fall, pruning must be done at the beginning of the next season.
- The height of the bole is determined in the range of 50–60 cm.
- In the absence of lateral branches, the crown is cut at a height of 80–100 cm; small seedlings are not shortened.
- If there are side branches, several multidirectional ones are selected from them, located at a level above the intended height of the trunk. These will be the skeletal branches of the first tier. The rest must be removed.
- The ends of the remaining branches are cut into 3-5 buds.
A well-formed bole of an apple tree Uralskoe Bulk is the key to a healthy, effectively fruiting tree
Collection and storage periods
In order for apples to be well stored, when harvesting them, you must adhere to the following rules:
- only dry fruits can be removed from the tree, so it is best to choose a clear sunny day for work;
- apples on the south side of the tree ripen a little earlier than the others. They should be removed first;
- all damaged fruits, as well as carrion, must be discarded. Not only will they not be stored, but they will also become a source of infection for other apples.
Pre-harvest shedding is not typical for this hybrid, so the fruits can remain on the tree until full maturity.
Store apples of the Ural Bulk variety for about two months.
Conclusion
The apple tree Uralskoye Bulk rightfully ranks first among the varieties growing in areas with harsh climatic conditions. The legendary ability of the hybrid to endure cold, recover from the most adverse environmental influences and high yields make it attractive not only for amateur gardeners, but also for farmers and owners of large gardens.
Reviews of gardeners about the apple tree Ural Bulk
