- Authors: S.P.Kedrin, Samara Experimental Station for Horticulture
- Taste: sweet and sour, with spice
- Scent: light but pronounced
- Fruit weight, g: 120-130
- Fruit size: average
- Yield: high, 113 c / ha
- Frequency of fruiting: regular
- The beginning of fruiting varieties: for 5-7 years
- Ripening terms: winter
- Removable maturity: at the end of September
The apple tree is considered one of the most popular types of fruit trees that are grown on personal plots and on an industrial scale. Every summer resident seeks to plant an unpretentious plant that gives abundant harvests with minimal maintenance. This type includes the Kutuzovets apple tree. Having planted it on your site, for many years you can provide yourself with a large number of fruits, with excellent taste and are able to maintain their presentation until the next harvest.
Description of the variety
The Kutuzovets variety is one of the brightest representatives of true winter fruit crops. Bred in 1935 at the Samara Experimental Gardening Station by the outstanding gardener-breeder S.P. Kedrin, when crossing the Skryzhapel ordinary and Renet Simirenko varieties.
The plant is semi-dwarf, reaches a height of 2.5 to 3.5 m, with a flat-round crown of medium density. With age, the crown becomes more spreading, but does not require large costs for pruning and maintenance.
Leaves are dark green in color, medium size, slightly shiny. Their shape is oblong-oval or elongated-oval, with serrated one-double-serrate edges. The tip is curled, bordered. The lowering of the bottom is quite strong.
Skeletal branches from the trunk branch off at a large angle. The branches are fastened quite firmly. Perennial twigs and bark of a greenish-brown hue.
Shoots are straight, of medium thickness, grayish-brown in color, pubescent, the upper ones branch off at right angles.
Features, pros and cons
Among other varieties of universal use, Kutuzovets is ranked in first place. And the reason for this was the significant advantages:
- high drought resistance;
- long shelf life of fruits;
- during transportation they do not lose their presentation;
- good taste and marketability of apples;
- excellent generative abilities of the plant;
- high frost resistance;
- regular fruiting.
Among the disadvantages, it can be noted that fruiting occurs in the 5-7th year of cultivation, therefore the variety is considered medium-fruited. However, this disadvantage can be easily dealt with by timely feeding, watering and pruning.
Ripening and fruiting
Flowering occurs in mid-May. The technical ripeness of the fruit occurs at the end of September. Ripe apples are able to hang on the tree for a long time and not fall off until the first frost.
Apples of the Kutuzovets variety are very good, the duration of the consumer period is six months. From November to May, the fruits do not lose their taste.
Yield
High-yielding variety. From one specimen per season, you can collect up to 50-60 kg of fruits or 113 c / ha.
Fruits and their taste
The fruits are of medium size, one apple can weigh 120-130 g. They have a flat-round shape, slightly flattened, with a weakly expressed wide ribbing. The main feature of the fruit is one-dimensionality. When fully ripe, the color turns yellow with a slight blush. Dense, smooth skin of medium thickness, with dark colored subcutaneous punctures.
The pulp is greenish or cream-white, juicy, dense, fine-grained. Classic taste - sweet and sour with a pleasant spicy aftertaste. Has a light fruity aroma.On a 5-point tasting scale, 4 points are given due to the presence of sourness in the taste.
The purpose of the fruit is universal. They make delicious jams, jam, compotes, dried fruits. Apples are especially useful when fresh.
Growing features
The hybrid can be planted both in spring and autumn. In the spring, planting is carried out until the buds swell. In the autumn - before the onset of frost. Before starting planting work, you need to carefully choose a place.
The site is chosen well-sanctified, but protected from cold winds. Groundwater, which may be close to the root system, negatively affects the development of the culture. They should be located at least 2 meters from the ground surface.
When planting several seedlings, the distance between them should be at least 3-4 m. The planting pit is prepared in advance. Its size depends on the root system. The volume is approximately 50 cm deep and up to 1 m wide. Filled in layers. 1/3 of the hole is covered with fertile soil, mixed with humus and mineral fertilizers. The next 1/3 is only fertile soil without any additives.
A seedling is placed, the roots are gently straightened and covered with earth. The soil is well rammed so that no air voids remain. The root collar is left 2-3 cm above the ground. After that, the plant is watered abundantly and the soil is mulched.
The apple tree needs moderate watering. Irrigation is carried out in stages:
- before budding;
- after flowering, but not earlier than a month later;
- a few weeks before harvesting;
- in the fall, before the onset of the first frosts, provided that the soil is dry.
Watering depends on weather conditions. If the weather is dry and the amount of precipitation is insignificant, then the irrigation should be more abundant. It should be noted that the older the tree, the more water it will need for normal development. Young seedlings need about 30 liters of liquid. For trees from 3 to 5 years old - 60 liters, for older specimens - 90 liters per watering.
The variety does not really need pruning and shaping due to its medium thickening. Basically, they carry out crown rejuvenation and sanitary pruning. Broken, dry, damaged branches are cut off. Old areas of the bark are also removed.
Pollination
The hybrid is pollinated by insects. To improve fruiting, other apple varieties of a different variety should be planted near the crop.
Top dressing
Additional food begins to be introduced several years after planting. In the spring, nitrogen-containing fertilizers are applied to improve the active growth of the green part. During the flowering period, Kutuzovts need urea, potassium and phosphorus. At the stage of active fruit formation, organic feeding is introduced in the form of rotted mullein or humus. Pre-winter nutrition consists in introducing a complex mixture, consisting mainly of organic matter.
Frost resistance
The winter hardiness of a plant largely depends on climatic conditions. In a temperate climate, the indicator will be good, but for Siberia and the Urals it is medium or low. The hybrid is able to withstand short-term frosts up to 35 degrees. After spring recurrent night frosts, shoots and buds may freeze slightly. But the culture is recovering very quickly.
Diseases and pests
The Kutuzovets apple tree is distinguished by persistent immunity. Resistance to many fungal diseases - scab, powdery mildew and fruit rot, is one of the highest. Treatment of wood from harmful insects and diseases is minimal. For prophylaxis in the spring, spraying is carried out, the trunk and skeletal branches are also whitened to avoid sunburn.
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.