Apple tree Ligol

One of the most successful novelties of hybrid apple varieties can rightfully be called Ligol, which has a number of advantages and benefits in comparison with other varieties. It is not necessary to wait for the warm seasons to taste fresh juicy fruits - Ligol will provide such an opportunity when there is a blizzard and snowdrifts outside the window.

Ligol is a Polish winter variety. This variety originated in Skierniewice at the end of the 20th century at the Institute of Horticulture and Floriculture by crossing Linda and Golden Delicious. Ligol is also called Ligol (Ligol).

In the Ligol apple tree, there is a tendency to thicken the crown, therefore it is necessary to carry out periodic pruning, giving it a fusiform shape. This is necessary so that the tree is well illuminated by the sun, thereby greatly simplifying its care. Usually the crown has a conical shape. Trees that have reached ten years of age are about 3.5 meters in height. This type of growth is usually called medium-sized. Most of the apple trees are long-livers, can live up to 100 years. Ligol fruiting can last 20-25 years, good care extends the time to 40 years.

Of the advantages, it should be highlighted:

• large and tasty fruits;

• resistance to frost, dryness and disease;

• high productivity and early maturity;

• keeping quality of fruits;

• universal purpose.

Cons include factors such as:

• vulnerability to fire blight;

• dependence on pollinators;

• periodic fruiting.

If the storage conditions for apples are violated, the taste becomes bitter.

Thus, the advantages of this variety are in many ways superior to its disadvantages - both in content and in quantity. Many summer residents do not pay attention to the presence of disadvantages, since they can be completely insignificant.

Ripening dates fall on the 3rd decade of September - 1st decade of October, depending on weather conditions. The end of shoot growth occurs at the end of July - early August, and leaf fall at the end of October - early November. However, consumer maturity comes only in January and continues until the end of this month.

With proper storage, that is, in a refrigerator or cellar, the fruits are stored for up to 6 months, otherwise, if storage is not in a dark, cool place, for 4 months. Ligol is distinguished by good keeping quality, average heat resistance and excellent drought resistance and frost resistance, just due to which apples are stored longer. Ideal for fresh and canned consumption. To impart good commercial characteristics, fruit growers recommend thinning, that is, removing defects and flaws at the stage of fruit formation.

The apple tree is grown mainly on the territory of Poland, Belarus, Russia and Ukraine on a large scale, since Ligol is distinguished by its early maturity and good yield. Accordingly, the marketability of the variety is at a high level. In Russia, planting occurs mainly in the southern regions, that is, in the Lipetsk, Tambov, Oryol, Kursk, Belgorod and Voronezh regions.

As already described above, the tree has a high yield and early maturity: already in the third year of fruit life from one plant, about 3 kg or more are collected, upon reaching 10 years, trees can produce from 15 t / ha of fruit.

The fruits are very large, with proper care, their weight can reach 400 grams. In addition to their size, they also stand out among other varieties for their sweet and sour taste and aroma. Their flesh is creamy, crunchy, coarse-grained and extremely juicy. Outwardly, apples are green in color with a bright red blush, have a rounded-conical shape, the skin is hard, dense, of medium thickness and without rusting.

For good care, it is necessary to water the young tree quite often, until it is able to independently extract moisture from the depths of the soil. It is customary to water a mature tree three times: in the spring, at the time of ovary formation and during the ripening period. However, you need to be very careful here, since excessive moisture can have a bad effect on the harvest, namely: contribute to the appearance of cracks on the apples and negatively affect the keeping quality of the fruit.

The variety is not self-fertile, so pollinators must be placed next to it. For example, Spartan, Idared, Golden Delicious, Champion, Macintosh. The best options are Lobo, Empire, Alva, Fuji and other varieties.

Fertile soil is one of the most important factors when planting a young tree, so you need to choose the right soil. For Ligol, the best options would be soil types such as loam, sandy loam and black soil. And also manure, mineral fertilizers and humus are added to the soil, if necessary. With regard to fertilizers, it is not recommended to apply them in the first year. It is necessary for the third season to start feeding the apple tree, namely: in the spring with nitrogen fertilizers, and from the beginning of flowering - with fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium, while observing an interval of 12-14 days.

The apple tree of this variety is winter-hardy. It can survive temperatures as low as –17 ° C, but with a strong rootstock, the life of the tree can continue even at –30 ° C. And also it is necessary to wrap the trunk with insulation, to spud the trunk circle and cover it with mulch.

The apple tree has good immunity to scab and powdery mildew, and also has resistance to fungal diseases. However, there are also diseases that can seriously harm the tree. For example, a fire blight. It can be prevented only by timely prevention. The presence of various parasites that bring death to the garden tree is also not excluded. Among these parasites, the following should be highlighted:

• the codling moth, which feeds on the seeds of the fruit, crawling inside the ovaries;

• apple blossom beetle, which lays an egg in a flower, then the larva hatches and eats the flower from the inside;

• gall aphid.

Of all the parasites listed, it is possible to save a tree after an attack only from a gall aphid by cutting off twisted leaves and damaged ends of young shoots. In other cases, the apple tree will inevitably die. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to carry out preventive treatments in advance.

Many of those who planted Ligol in their garden or in the country were satisfied. Most reviews praise this variety for its high yield and large tasty fruits that remain dense and juicy for a long time. With proper care, the apple tree gives more and more fruits every year, up to 50 kg; for the winter, the tree trunk can be tied with spruce branches, which protects not only from hypothermia, but also from mice. Ripe apples adhere firmly to the branches, do not crumble, are stored almost until February, taste sweet with a refreshing sourness.