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Apple tree Gift to Grafsky is a well-known variety with a high yield. Each tree in adulthood brings more than 200 kg. Gives very large fruits with good taste. The winter hardiness of the culture is excellent, which makes it possible to grow it not only in the south, but also in the middle lane, including in the Moscow region and in the northern regions.
History of breeding
Home Apple Tree Gift to Grafsky was bred by breeders. Kichina V.V., as well as researchers Morozova N.G. took part in the work. and Yagunov V.P. The culture was successfully tested and included in the register of breeding achievements in 2001. The applicant and originator is the Federal State Budget Scientific Institution of the Federal Scientific Center for Horticulture. The variety is recommended for cultivation in all areas of the Central region.
Description and characteristics of the apple tree Gift to the Count
The apple tree of this variety is quite tall and prolific. Differs in good productivity and excellent winter hardiness.
tree appearance
Apple tree Gift to Grafskoy belongs to the type of stem plants. The crown is inversely pyramidal, rather spreading, not too dense. Gives a lot of rings. It is on them that fruiting mainly takes place. Often apples appear on biennial branches.
The shoots are not too long, their thickness is moderate, straight type. Intense grey. The leaves are moderate in size, oblong in shape. The leaf plate is leathery, wavy, with serrated edges, the color is dark green. Petioles are not very long.
Description of fruits
The dwarf apple tree Gift to Grafskoy bears large fruits, by weight they reach 350 g. The shape is round, conical, the ribbing is weakly expressed. The surface of apples is smooth. At the same time, the skin is not too thick. The color is intense violet-red, the color is almost continuous, it consists of stripes that appear in large numbers.
The appearance of the fruits of the apple tree The gift to Grafsky is attractive, marketable. There are many subcutaneous points, but they are not very noticeable, they have a slight wax coating, there is practically no rustiness. The stalks are not very long, moderately thick. The hearts are medium, there are not very many seeds in the apples. The grains are small, brown in color.
The pulp of the fruit is light yellow in color, fine-grained, not very hard. The taste is sweet and sour, pleasant, the aroma is slightly pronounced.
Apples have excellent commercial and taste qualities.
When and how the apple tree blooms Gift to the Count
Apple tree Gift to Grafskoy blooms mainly from mid-May to the end of the month, but due to different climatic conditions there may be delays until the first decade of June. The flowers are light pink in color, small in size. At the same time, they are very numerous – during the flowering period they cover the apple tree almost completely.
Apple Pollinators Gift to Grafskoy
The variety is not self-fertile, so it needs pollinators. For these purposes, they will go: Moscow later, Student or Northern Sinap.
The timing of the ripening of the apple tree Gift to the Count
The variety belongs to late winter – the fruits reach full maturity by the end of October. At the same time, apples are stored for a very long time. If you provide normal conditions, they lie until April. The fruits are transportable, they can be transported over long distances to the place of sale or processing.
Productivity
The yield index of the columnar apple tree Gift to Grafsky is very high. Each adult tree with proper agricultural technology gives 250 kg, with industrial cultivation – 20 t / ha. Trees start fruiting at the age of 5-6 years.
Frost resistance of the apple tree Gift to the Count
The winter hardiness of the variety is very high – there is evidence that the trees withstood abnormal frosts down to -42 degrees in 1978-1979. According to this indicator, even the Antonovka ordinary variety is inferior to culture. Therefore, it is possible to grow an apple tree Gift to Grafsky in all areas of the Central Region, for example, in the Moscow region, in the North-West and in the Volga region.
Disease resistance
The immunity of the variety is quite high – with proper agricultural technology, trees rarely suffer from diseases or pests. But preventive treatments should not be avoided. Also, plantings should be periodically inspected and, if necessary, sprayed using folk remedies and special preparations.
Advantages and disadvantages
The apple tree variety Gift to Grafsky gives the gardener several tangible advantages at once. This is a very productive crop that is not afraid of even extreme frosts.
Apples are very large, with excellent commercial and taste qualities.
Pros:
- pleasant taste;
- high yield;
- increased winter hardiness;
- can be grown in regions north of Moscow;
- large fruits;
- attractive appearance;
- good keeping quality;
- transportability;
- resistance to common diseases.
Cons:
- fruits appear no earlier than 5-6 years after planting;
- the variety is not self-fertile – pollinators are needed;
- apples can crumble, but not much.
Planting an apple tree Gift to the Count
Apple trees of this variety grow well in lighted places. The soil should be fertile and loose, without a lot of clay. Lowlands should be excluded. Previously, the site is dug up and organic fertilizers (for example, humus) are applied in the amount of 5 kg per 1 m2.
For planting an apple tree of the Gift Grafsky variety, you can choose two terms:
- early spring – before the active movement of juices in the tissues;
- the second half of autumn – after leaf fall.
Pre-seedlings are soaked in a growth stimulator, for example, “Kornevin” or “Epin”. When planting an apple tree, Gift to Grafsky, they act like this:
- Dig holes with a diameter of 100 cm, a depth of 70 cm at a distance of at least 5 m.
- Spread a layer of stones on the bottom.
- Fertile soil is laid, for example, a mixture of soddy land with humus, peat and sand (2: 1: 1: 1).
- Seedlings are placed and buried with soil so that the root neck remains 5-7 cm above ground level.
- Watered with pre-settled water.
- Mulch with straw, hay, sawdust or other materials.
Care instructions
To grow a healthy and productive winter apple tree Gift to Grafsky, you need to pay attention to the reviews of experienced gardeners. They recommend the following rules of care:
- Watering should be regular – young seedlings are watered twice a week, mature trees – twice a month, and in the heat – weekly. Water is taken settled, cold is not used. Young apple trees are given 2-4 buckets each, adults – 6-8 each.
- Top dressing should be applied 3-4 times per season. In the spring they give urea, on the eve of flowering – chicken manure, slurry or humus. During the formation of the ovaries and during the fruiting period of the apple tree, Gift to Grafsky is fed with superphosphate and potassium sulfate. In autumn, you can give an infusion of wood ash.
- The soil in the trunk circle is periodically loosened, weeding is always done. To minimize the growth of weeds, the roots are recommended to be mulched.
- Sanitary and formative pruning is done annually.
To maintain a stable yield, it is necessary to regularly water and feed apple trees.
Fighting diseases and pests
The variety has a fairly good immunity. But it can suffer from fungal, bacterial infections and other diseases. For prevention, it is recommended to comply with the watering rate, prune in time, remove foliage and other plant debris from the site. Also, every spring and autumn it is necessary to treat trees with fungicides:
- “RAW”;
- Fundazol;
- “Bordeaux liquid”;
- “Strobe”.
Insecticides are used to control insects:
- Carbophos;
- “Fufanon”;
- “Spark”;
- “Actara”.
To prevent pests and sunburn, the trunk of an apple tree must be whitened annually.
Harvesting and storage of crops
It is necessary to prepare for harvesting in the second half of October. But if frosts are predicted, the fruits can be harvested earlier so that they do not suffer from adverse weather conditions. They are stored in a cellar or in another room, observing the standard conditions:
- temperature – 2-6 degrees of heat;
- humidity – 60-70%
- air ventilation;
- lack of light.
The fruits are long-lived and normally stored until April. It is better to keep them in wooden boxes, laying them in two layers. Periodically, apples are inspected and rotten specimens are removed.
Conclusion
Apple tree Gift to Grafskoy is one of the best varieties in terms of yield and winter hardiness. The fruits are of excellent quality. This makes it possible to cultivate the variety not only for personal, but also for commercial purposes.
Reviews of gardeners about the apple tree Gift to Grafsky
