- Authors: Ukrainian Research Institute of Horticulture
- Appeared when crossing: Kashchenko 208 x Gross Mignon
- Growth type: medium-sized
- Ripening period: early
- Appointment: for fresh consumption
- Yield: high
- Early maturity: for the 2-3rd year
- Bone size: medium
- Separability of the bone from the pulp: not separable
- Winter hardiness: high
Peach as a treat is a good addition to both a festive and a dinner table for every day. It is a delicious, juicy and aromatic fruit that can be enjoyed naturally or used as an ingredient in a dessert.
The cultivation of the Kievsky early peach variety has been practiced for many years. He is well known to gardeners from Russia and their colleagues from neighboring countries. This variety combines early ripening and excellent taste.
Description of the variety
Trees reach a height of 4 meters. A medium-sized variety forms a dense, rounded crown. Young plants at the age of 4-5 years quickly grow a large number of shoots, but this process slows down with age. Most often, trees bloom at the turn in May.
Flower sizes are medium. The petals are painted in a delicate pink color. The flowering period lasts for 10-12 days. At this stage, the decorative qualities of the variety increase significantly, and trees become a bright decoration of any garden.
Early Kiev peach easily adapted to the climatic features of the middle zone and the North-West region of Russia.
Fruit characteristics
The fruit grows medium in size. Their weight ranges from 60 to 80 grams. The main skin color is cream. Scarlet blush and intense blurring are observed across the entire surface. Average pubescence. The abdominal suture is clearly visible. The inside is white and transparent flesh, the color of which does not change to red in the area of the stone. The consistency is dense. The medium-sized bone does not separate well from the pulp.
The shape of the peach is rounded-oval, slightly flattened. The skin is covered with small light-colored villi. It is strong, but thin, and therefore does not cause discomfort when eating fresh fruit. The crop can be stored for a week without loss of marketability.
Taste qualities
The flavor of the ripened fruit is based on sweetness, but there is also a slight and pleasant sourness. The tasting score ranges from 4.4 to 4.6 points out of the maximum 5. High palatability enhances the pleasant fruity aroma.
Ripening and fruiting
Trees begin to harvest 2 or 3 years after planting. The name of the variety indicates the early ripening period. Peaches are harvested at the end of the second decade of July. The dates may shift slightly in different climatic zones.
Yield
Variety Kievsky early has a high yield. Mature trees produce an average yield of 50 to 60 kilograms of fruit.
Growing and care
The considered variety of peach tree does not have special requirements for care, therefore, when growing it, you should adhere to standard agricultural techniques.
Peach trees of the variety have low resistance to drought, so regular watering should be ensured in the southern regions. Summer starts early in these regions, and high temperatures are considered normal. In such conditions, the soil dries out quickly, and the plants do not receive the required amount of moisture. If there is no precipitation, watering is carried out once a week, consuming 15 to 20 liters of water (scheme for young plants). For mature trees, the volume is doubled. In central Russia, the crop is irrigated less frequently.
During watering, water is poured into special holes, which are dug in the area of the trunk circle.The distance between them should be about 40 centimeters. The first time the soil is moistened 1-2 weeks before the start of flowering.
Throughout the growing season, the peach takes a lot of nutrients from the ground. To restore them, and so that the peach does not experience nutritional deficiencies, top dressing is introduced into the soil in the spring. When growing crops on depleted soil, fertilizers are used every year.
Pruning of the Kiev early peach tree is performed in early spring. For convenient collection of fruits, it is recommended to form the crown in the form of a bush.
Frost resistance and the need for shelter
Variety Kievsky early boasts record frost resistance, withstanding temperature drops to 26-28 degrees below zero. Even if the trees have suffered from frost, they are able to recover on their own, and in a year they will begin to delight again with a rich and regular harvest.
The peach should be prepared for freezing even before the onset of cold weather. Work begins after the leaves have completely fallen off. The trees are watered with plenty of water, and the soil around the trunk is covered with mulch. For its preparation, humus is mixed with sawdust.
In severe frosts, the bark may crack in some places. If such damage is found, action must be taken. The wound must be thoroughly cleaned and crushed horse sorrel should be applied to it. The treatment pad is changed as needed.
To protect the trunk from harmful insects, it is covered with the following composition: a kilogram of mullein, how much clay and 200 grams of lime. For better frost tolerance, trees can be wrapped with agrofibre.
Within the boundaries of the middle lane, trees do not need to be covered for the winter. They are able to withstand frosts without resorting to additional measures. But despite the innate frost resistance, it is advisable to cover the roots with mulch 10 centimeters thick.
In some regions, young peach plants can be completely covered. To do this, the branches are tightly tied, and a structure in the form of a hut is installed around the tree. It is advisable to perform this procedure while the growth of the trees allows them to be completely covered.
Disease and pest resistance
The variety is resistant to curly leaves and powdery mildew. Resistance to major diseases is average. Therefore, the crop must be processed at certain stages of the growing season. Harmful insects do not pay much attention to the early Kiev variety. If you follow all the conditions of agricultural technology, the trees will grow healthy, and preventive measures will be enough.