- Taste: sweet and sour
- Scent: moderate
- Fruit weight, g: 100-120
- Fruit size: average
- Yield: up to 40 kg per tree
- Frequency of fruiting: annual
- The beginning of fruiting varieties: for 5 - 6 years
- Ripening terms: late winter
- Removable maturity: end of September
- Keeping quality: up to 6 months
Apple trees in garden plots are one of the almost indispensable elements. In harsh climatic conditions, gardeners rely on unpretentious varieties with excellent immunity. These include the Good News apple tree.
Breeding history of the variety
The good news is often confused with the Blagovest variety, but these are completely different plants. The good news was bred by breeders involved in the creation of varieties that are most appropriate for harsh regions and with good immunity. In 2004, the variety was registered as bred from Krasa Sverdlovsk and X-2034. The apple tree is excellent for growing in the northern and southern regions due to its high adaptability.
Description of the variety
The variety became very widespread in a short time, as it turned out to be very resistant to scab and frost. The visual characteristics are as follows:
the tree is quite compact, neat, average height - up to 3.5 m, but more often about 3 m and even lower;
filling of the crown is sufficient, but not too dense;
the shape of the crown can be of the type of an oval and a pyramid or a high oval;
branches are thin, medium and short length, geniculate;
the color of the branches is brown with a brown undertone or pure brown;
no pubescence;
foliage in large quantities, small size, round shape, oval type;
leaves are dense, leathery type, pointed short, rather smooth, there may be a small amount of edge from the inside out;
leaf color - juicy emerald or dark green;
the edges of the leaf are serrate type with fine serration;
the roots are well deepened;
the type of root system is fibrous, branching is good, it absorbs moisture easily.
Features, pros and cons
The most important feature of the Good News is resistance to frost and temperature extremes. The variety is unpretentious to the soil, care, grows well in neglected areas. The apple tree does not take up much space due to its compactness, regular fruiting. The fruits are distinguished by good taste, size, aroma and excellent storage. The good news can be grown in garden plots and on an industrial scale. The main advantage of the variety is its resistance to scab. As for the shortcomings, no obvious ones have yet been identified, except perhaps the average yield indicators.
Ripening and fruiting
As for the early maturity, this variety has proven itself very well - after 5 years it is already possible to harvest. As for the timing of flowering, the buds of this variety bloom late, in the second half of May. Flowering lasts a little more than a week - 10 days. The tree adds about half a meter in one growing season, fertility becomes higher every year.
Ripening of apples occurs in the middle of autumn, the term is late. The fruits ripen very closely, you can harvest in a couple of days, and the apples do not crumble, even the cold is not terrible. Ripeness in terms of consumption is reached in about a month or more.
Yield
The indicators from this point of view are average, but the regularity of fruiting levels it out. During the season, about 40 kg of fruits are harvested, and with high-quality agricultural technology, the indicators increase.Such a crop can only be harvested from mature trees; young plants yield almost 2 times less apples.
Fruits and their taste
Apples Good News are visually aesthetic, the shape is correct, rounded, slightly cylindrical. The fruits are symmetrical and even. As for the weight, it varies from 100 to 120 g, there are smaller and larger specimens, but not significantly. The calyx is ribbed, but there is no side seam, the skin is dense, strong, but not too thick and elastic.
Apples are smooth, have a glossy shine, pubescence is completely absent. Sometimes there is a wax-like plaque. The color varies from green to green with yellowness, covered with a red ruddy color. The integumentary surface is not less than 65% of the area. Subcutaneous green-gray dots are present, but in small numbers, and they are hardly distinguishable. The pulp is juicy, medium in density, crispy. Tasting qualities are high, table variety, taste combines sweetness and acidity.
Growing features
This variety prefers moist soil, with good air permeability, ideally fertile. But in general, the Good News grows in all types of soil. The main thing is to carry out care measures, to choose a site well. The choice of a landing site should be carried out taking into account the following nuances:
choose well-lit areas, this variety loves the sun most of the day;
however, sunburn in too much heat is not excluded;
the optimal level of groundwater is a maximum of 2 meters so that the roots do not rot;
the crown needs high-quality ventilation, the air should not linger there;
while drafts will negatively affect the immunity of the plant.
Algorithm for planting an apple tree of this variety:
the soil for planting is prepared in advance, about a month before the procedure;
holes are dug on average 60 cm, diameter is about 80 cm;
a small amount of fertile soil is placed at the bottom;
fertilizers, drainage and water are introduced;
ideally, immediately dig in a peg or trellis for a garter;
the seedlings are buried in the drainage, the roots are spread, the soil is covered, and tamped;
watering again, mulching.
As for the timing of disembarkation, you can do this both in spring and in autumn. The main condition is warmed-up soil, and the complete absence of frost. The optimal planting time is March or April, in autumn, September or October. In addition to proper planting, high-quality agricultural technology is important.
Loosening. The soil is dug up 2 times a year - in autumn and spring, but carefully, without going deep, otherwise there is a risk of damaging the rhizome. And also the earth is loosened after each moistening, garbage is regularly removed from under the tree.
Watering. Do not allow the soil to dry completely, therefore it is very important to moisten it in time. During periods of drought and too hot summer, this process is especially important.
Top dressing. They are introduced together with watering, but only to plants two years old or older.
Pruning. It is not worth forming the crown of a tree, it grows quite compactly by itself. Natural branching must be maintained. In the fall, extra branches are removed, dried up, injured. Do not forget to grease the cut with the pitch.
Pollination
This variety is self-fertile, but if there are other apple trees nearby blooming in a similar time period, the yield will only increase. You can spray the flowers with syrup to attract the bees. An apiary nearby is a great solution.
Frost resistance
The variety perfectly tolerates not only low temperatures, but, in general, any changes. The apple tree tolerates a temperature of -30 ... 32 degrees without difficulty, you don't need to cover it for the winter. But in especially frosty winters, when the temperature below minus 30 lasts more than a week, it is better to close the plant. If the risk of such a winter is high, it is worth taking care of the shelter in time.
It is necessary to stop adding moisture back in August, otherwise the apple tree will not have time to prepare for the frost. You can arrange a tent shelter for small boles. Large ones are covered with any material, the root zone is covered with straw, spruce. In the spring, all this is removed.
Diseases and pests
Sometimes it is enough to work the trunks with lime twice a year to protect them from insect attacks. Industrial solutions do an excellent job with this. Rodents will be scared away by grease, fuel oil, melted bacon, which grease the bottom of the tree thicker. This variety is resistant to scab, it is enough to prevent parasite attacks.
The apple tree is a popular fruit crop among gardeners. It can be found in many summer cottages. But at the same time, such trees are often affected by various diseases. It is very important to recognize the disease in time and carry out the necessary procedures for a speedy recovery. Otherwise, the fruits will be spoiled, and the tree itself may die altogether.