Contents
Summer apples are good because they ripen very quickly – without waiting for autumn, you can enjoy the taste and aroma of fresh fruits. Winter varieties of apples have their own fundamental differences, the main of which is that it is recommended to eat fruits a few weeks after harvest. It is winter apples that are intended for long-term storage, transportation over long distances, processing, drying and fresh sales. Late-ripening varieties have a lot of advantages, but there are also some features that you need to know about at the stage of planting seedlings.
The best varieties of winter apples will be listed in this article. Photos with names will also be presented here, brief characteristics of each late variety are given: the classification will help determine the specific type of apple tree.
General characteristics of late species
Winter apples, unlike summer ones, are not customary to eat directly from the tree – these fruits must lie down for some time to acquire sweetness and aroma. Some types of late-ripening apples need a couple of weeks, others become tasty only after months. This fact must be taken into account by the gardener, because he will have to equip the storage for the winter harvest and wait for the biological ripening of the fruit.
During the harvesting period, the fruits should be at the stage of technical maturity, and the taste, aroma and color will appear in them a little later – already in the process of storage. The warmer it is in the storage, the sooner the apples will ripen: the starch will turn into sugar, and the acids will evaporate during the “breathing” of the fruit.
Another feature of winter varieties is their winter hardiness: as a rule, such trees tolerate even frosty winters well, they are not afraid of return spring frosts (the flowering period falls on early summer).
Benefits of late fruit
Delicious winter apples, stored until spring, and sometimes until next summer, have a lot more advantages. It is worth having at least one late apple tree in your garden for several reasons:
- fruits have very good keeping quality – some varieties can be stored for up to eight months;
- the crop can be transported to any distance;
- apples ripen perfectly when picked, so you don’t have to wait for winter to harvest;
- the consistency of the pulp in winter varieties is dense, and the peel of apples is thick and strong (fruits do not lose their presentation for a long time, do not crumple and do not rot);
- late-ripening crop is suitable both for fresh consumption and for any type of processing;
- trees have good winter hardiness, their flowers do not crumble after spring frosts.
The only drawback of late-ripening varieties is that it will not work out to eat fruits immediately after harvest – apples need to lie down for a while to become sweet and fragrant.
Classification of late-ripening species
Among the varieties of winter apples are those that produce green fruits, red or yellow fruits, there are striped fruits or colored with a bright blush. In private gardens and farms in the country, you can find old, time-tested varieties or the latest hybrids. The developments of domestic breeders are popular, adapted to local climatic conditions and foreign novelties, striking with high yields and ultimate resistance.
In this regard, there are several classifications of apple species with late ripening. Most often, these varieties are divided into three groups, depending on the maximum duration of storage of the crop, as follows:
- early winter;
- winter;
- late winter apple trees.
In each of these groups there are dozens of worthy varieties that are perfectly adapted to the climate of any corner of Our Country. The best and most popular types of winter apple trees will be discussed in more detail.
Early winter views
It is customary to include apple trees in this group, the fruits of which have the shortest shelf life – in well-equipped and ventilated cellars, the crop lies until January-February.
Antonov obıknovennaya
Green varieties in the winter group are rather rare, because most late-ripening apples are red in color. One of the oldest domestic species – Antonovka – to this day does not lose its relevance.
The tree is well adapted to a temperate climate, withstands high humidity, tolerates frost well, and is immune to scab. Seedlings usually enter the fruiting phase after ten years of age. Harvest Antonovka gives every year, the number of apples is large – up to 500 kg per tree.
The trees of winter Antonovka are tall, with a powerful crown. Medium-sized apples – 150-200 grams. The shape of the fruit is oval-conical, the peel is colored in a greenish-yellow hue (in the stage of technical maturity, the color of apples is rich green). The taste of fruits is good, wine-sweet. It is recommended to eat the fruits of Antonovka not earlier than the end of October, and you can store them until February.
Honey Crisp
These are beautiful in appearance and very tasty apples of American origin. They are distinguished from other winter species by their unusually crisp flesh. The taste of apples is dessert, sweet and sour.
The fruits are large, cone-shaped, painted in a deep crimson color. Dots appear on the peel, resembling strawberry grains. The average fruit weight is 220 grams, some apples can weigh more than 350 grams.
Trees grow to medium size, resistant to scab, have good immunity to powdery mildew. The yield and winter hardiness of the Honey Crisp variety is also on the level. The early winter harvest should be stored in the refrigerator, then the apples will last until the last days of February.
winter group
According to reviews, winter varieties of apple trees are the most popular in Our Country – this group includes hundreds of domestic and foreign hybrids. It is customary to call winter apple trees, the harvest from which can be stored until March-April. This refers to the storage of fruits in ordinary cellars with good ventilation, while in refrigerators with a gas chamber, for example, apples will be stored even longer.
Anis Scarlet
The apple tree was bred by folk breeders from the Volga region, the variety showed itself best on non-chernozem soils. Anise can withstand frosts down to -45 degrees, so it is suitable for almost all regions of the country.
The apple tree bears fruit from 5-7 years after planting, is immune to scab, tolerates drought well, and is undemanding to the composition of the soil. The yield of Anise is high – about 300 kg per tree.
The trees are powerful, have a spherical crown. The fruits are small, on average, weigh about 65 grams. The peel of apples is greenish with a pink or red blurred blush. The pulp is dense, sweet and sour, juicy and crispy. You can store the crop until spring, if you ensure the ventilation of the basement and treat the fruits with a special remedy for “pepper”.
Courtland
An American hybrid that did not take root well enough in Our Country due to its low winter hardiness. Cortland is suitable for southern regions, where it gives average yields, is immune to scab, and tolerates drought normally.
Fruiting begins 5-6 years after planting. The fruits are round, slightly flattened. The average weight of apples is 100-120 grams. The peel is colored in a yellowish-green tint, there are dark red stains on the surface of the fruit, and a wax coating is also visible.
Cortland’s flesh is snow-white, fine-grained, juicy, with a delicate pleasant aroma. In the refrigerator, the harvest can be stored until May – apples remain just as tasty and beautiful.
Welsey
A very popular variety of American selection in Our Country. Welsey pleases with very good immunity to scab, average winter hardiness – the tree will withstand temperatures down to -25 degrees without shelter.
The winter apple tree enters the fruiting phase early – in the third or fourth year after planting. It produces a crop every year, but after that it needs careful pruning. Trees grow quite tall, have conical crowns. The shape of the apples is correct, flat-round. Fruit size is average and above average – about 130 grams.
The peel of apples is dense, colored yellow, has a crimson blush. Pulp with a greenish tint, juicy, crispy, sweet and sour, aromatic. Welsey’s sweet winter apples can be eaten a month after picking, they are perfectly transported and can be stored until the end of March.
Late winter views
If you are already planting winter apple trees in the garden, then choose the latest varieties, the fruits of which can be stored until next summer. Late winter apple trees are usually called, the harvest from which is harvested in the same way – at the end of September or in the first half of October, but apples of these species can be stored until next summer (May-June).
Moscow Winter
Excellent domestic late-winter variety with excellent winter hardiness, high yield, scab resistance, early fruiting.
Trees of medium size, with a dense crown. The apples are very large, the average fruit weight is 220 grams. The shape is correct, round-conical, there are no ribs on the fruits. During the picking period, the apples are green, then turn yellowish, may have red strokes on the surface.
The flesh is creamy, sweet and sour, with a pronounced spicy aroma. Consumer maturity of the variety Moscow Winter comes at the end of November. The harvest is stored until the end of spring.
Rossoshanskoye Striped
A good winter-hardy late apple variety that gives high yields. The tree begins to bear fruit 5-6 years after planting, yields crops every year. The disadvantage of this winter variety is considered to be instability to scab – you will have to treat the apple tree with special preparations several times over the summer.
Apples are very large – up to 350 grams, their shape is round-conical. The peel is greenish-yellow with a rich crimson blush over the entire surface. The pulp is greenish, very tasty, juicy, fragrant. The crop is stored for a long time, it tolerates transportation well.
columnar trees
A winter columnar apple tree is not such a rarity. These trees are loved for their compact size and amazing yield: in a small area, a summer resident can grow several apple trees with different ripening dates.
Currency
Late variety with very good yield. Apple trees are dwarf (up to 180 cm), have a compact crown. Trees tolerate low temperatures well, are not afraid of scab, and do not need special care.
The fruits of Currency are round, have a yellow peel, with a rich blush over the entire surface. The average weight is about 100 grams. The taste of apples is sweet and sour, the aroma is strongly pronounced, the pulp is juicy.
Currency enters fruiting already 1-2 years after planting. Harvest should be in October, and you can store it for 3-4 months.
Conclusion
It is difficult to imagine an orchard without winter apple trees. It is these trees with late ripening that produce fruits that can be stored for several months. These winter apples are sold in shops and markets, they are used to make delicious jams and fragrant marmalades. There are many varieties of late apple trees, the most popular of them are presented in this article.
More information about winter varieties of apple trees and the rules for their cultivation is described in this video:
