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It is difficult to imagine a garden in which at least one apple tree would not grow. Probably, the inhabitants of Our Country love these fruit trees, first of all, for the duration of their fruiting: summer, autumn and winter apple trees alternately give their fruits. Thus, the summer resident and his family can enjoy vitamin and tasty fruits all year round. Specifically, summer varieties of apples have both advantages and some disadvantages. Such varieties are valued for early ripening – already in July you can enjoy fresh fruits from your own garden. However, there are also disadvantages – for example, summer apples cannot be stored for a long time.
The best summer varieties of apples with a photo and description of each type will be discussed in this article. It will also describe the classification of summer varieties, listing the features of all groups.
Features of early ripe species
Summer varieties of apple trees – such varieties, the ripening of fruits in which begins in mid-July and ends in the last days of August. A feature of these apples is that they are intended for fresh consumption. Of course, you can make mashed potatoes or juices from fruits, but they will not be stored – a maximum of a month, and then in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator.
A summer resident who wants to start a summer apple tree in his garden should remember one more factor. The timing of flowering of neighboring trees of the same type (that is, apple trees) should not coincide. That is why it is not recommended to plant two summer varieties side by side or plant a summer apple tree not far from the autumn one.
In the event that the flowering periods of neighboring trees overlap each other, cross-pollination will occur, and the apple tree will no longer have specific characteristics of the variety. This is how breeders act when they are trying to get a new hybrid, and ordinary summer residents do not need cross-pollination of trees.
Specialists also note the increased winter hardiness of apples of summer varieties. This fact is explained precisely by early fruiting: having given the harvest in the middle to late summer, the trees have enough time to prepare before wintering. But there is also a downside to the coin: in regions with frequent return frosts, the buds of summer apple trees often freeze out, as they swell first.
early summer species
Early summer apple trees are those whose fruits begin to ripen in the first decade of July. Such varieties are not very widespread in Our Country, since in a temperate climate, not only buds, but also flowers of apple trees often suffer from spring frosts.
In any case, for an early summer apple tree, you should choose a well-lit place that is located on a hill. It’s great if this is a site on the south side of the garden, reliably protected from cold winds and high humidity (fog, melt water).
The names of the most popular species with early ripening will be given below.
Aport White
This variety is very common in the Kuban. Apple trees have excellent winter hardiness, do not freeze, and are resistant to scab. Trees begin to bear fruit 5-6 years after planting and are considered “long-lived”. Fruits ripen early, but it is not recommended to pick them until the end of July, as apples ripen better on branches, become sweeter and tastier.
A big plus of the variety is that you can store fruit until mid-September. And yet, with proper care, trees can bear fruit every year. The fruits have a slightly elongated or conical shape, their peel is thin, green. The average weight of an Aport apple is about 60-70 grams.
The summer view is not picky about the composition of the soil, pleases with a high and stable yield, rarely gets sick. The unsuitability of the fruit for transportation and the rather ordinary taste of the fruit can upset the summer resident.
Astrakhan Red
A very unpretentious variety of apple trees that can withstand severe frosts, winds, poor soil quality, high humidity or severe drought. Trees enter the fruiting phase 5-6 years after planting or rootstock. Trees are harvested annually.
Apples are considered table apples, they are most often consumed fresh. One cannot but rejoice at the suitability of this summer variety for transportation – if the fruits are picked unripe, they will not crumple and brown on the way.
Summer apples ripen very early – until mid-July. The fruits are medium or small in size, their skin is red, and the flesh is white or greenish.
July
Another sweet early summer apples that ripen already in the first decade of July. The winter hardiness of the trees is good, the view is pleasing and the yield is high. On the branches, the fruits are arranged in clusters, the fruits themselves are very beautiful.
Apples of medium and large size, weighing from 120 to 190 grams. The color of the fruit is interesting, a little blurry, there is a beautiful blush. The taste characteristics of fruits are very high, which is rare for early summer species.
summer views
A group with an average ripening time is usually called summer varieties. This includes apple trees that enter the fruiting phase from mid-July to the tenth of August.
White Bulk (Papirovka)
This summer variety appeared in private gardens in the Baltic states, but was very widespread in summer cottages and gardens throughout Our Country. Trees begin to bear fruit 7-8 years after planting, and the duration of their “life” often exceeds 45 years.
Papirovka apples are medium in size, have a glossy greenish-white skin, and a barely noticeable ribbing on the surface of the fruit. The taste and aroma of these summer fruits are very good, but they cannot stand storage – they become “cotton” and tasteless.
July Chernenko
These apples ripen in late July-early August. Medium-sized fruits (up to 180 grams), round, with slight ribbing. The surface of the fruit is painted in a juicy green color, there is a cherry blush that makes the fruit especially attractive and colorful.
The pulp of the July apple is very tender, but its taste quickly deteriorates when stored for more than 10-12 days.
Quintus
Summer apple tree of Canadian origin. Recommended by the State Register for the Central and North Caucasian regions. The fruits of this variety ripen together in the first decade of August. The weight of the fruit is average, there is no ribbed surface, the peel is yellow-green in color, there is a large raspberry spot on the side.
The taste of Quinti apples is very pleasant, sweet-sour, the aroma is very pronounced. A freshly picked apple has a greenish flesh, after a short storage it acquires a white tint, it becomes very juicy.
Late-ripening species
Late summer apples ripen in the last days of August. A distinctive feature of this group of apple trees is a longer storage of fruits and the suitability of the crop for transportation.
Melba
A variety of Canadian selection, obtained by crossing the famous Macintosh apple tree. Harvesting of these apples begins around August 15, and fruiting ends at the end of September.
The fruits are round, slightly elongated, medium in size – about 150-180 grams. The peel on apples is dense, light green in color, covered with a slight bloom. Fully ripe fruits are easily distinguished by yellowed skin and a pronounced red spot on the side.
The taste of the fruits of the Melba apple tree is sweet and sour, the pulp is juicy, the aroma is rich. The tree begins to bear fruit already 3-4 years after planting.
Beauty Garden
The ripening of the fruits of the summer apple tree occurs after August 20. The shape of the fruit is round, slightly elongated, there is a slight ribbing. The peel of unripe apples is white, after ripening, pink stripes appear on it, and the undertone becomes more yellow or beige.
Fruits do not tolerate transportation, they can be stored for no longer than two weeks. The taste is excellent, the pulp is juicy, the aroma is pronounced.
New varieties
Old varieties of summer-ripening apple trees are gradually being replaced by more modern developments of breeders. New apple trees show greater winter hardiness, immunity to scab and other diseases, good yields, and unpretentiousness to the climate. And most importantly, they have even earlier ripening dates.
Gaia
This high-yielding summer apple variety was registered just two years ago. Fruit ripening is early, fruits are massively ripened in the last days of July.
The fruits are rounded, medium in size, have a dense peel of yellow-green color and a pronounced blush. The taste of the variety is very good, the pulp is tender, fine-grained, the aroma is very rich.
Summer Red
Summer apple with later ripening dates – early August. The trees are strong and grow very fast. The fruits are large (on average, 220 grams), have an ovoid shape, almost the same size.
The skin is dense, yellow-green in color, there is a scarlet blush and a slight ribbing. The taste is good, sweet and sour, very refreshing.
Early columnar species
Summer varieties of columnar apple trees cannot be ignored, because this type of fruit tree is becoming more and more popular. The main advantage of the columnar apple tree is its compactness, which allows you to get a full crop of apples even in a cramped garden.
President
type of columnar apple tree with summer ripening terms. The president is already over forty years old, but he does not lose his relevance and is successfully grown in the gardens and dachas of the country.
Apple trees are considered semi-dwarf, since their height rarely exceeds 200 cm. But the fruits are quite large – on average, about 180 grams. The shape of the fruit is flattened, the color is pale yellow, there is a pink-purple blush. The taste of the fruit is good, the peel is thin.
The ripening of the President begins at the end of August and continues until the second half of September.
Conclusion
Only the best summer varieties of apple trees are presented here, but in fact there are dozens and hundreds of such varieties. Although early ripe apple trees are not as popular as autumn and winter species, they are successfully grown in most of the country. A big plus of summer varieties is the early ripening of fruits, which allows saturating the body with fresh vitamins already in the middle of summer.
A novice gardener will be helped to decide on a photo and description of each summer species.
