- Authors: selection of the All-Russian Research Institute of Breeding of Fruit Crops, the authors of the variety: E. N. Sedov, T. A. Trofimova
- Taste: sweet and sour, harmonious
- Scent: strong
- Fruit weight, g: from 100 to 200
- Fruit size: average
- Yield: high, at the age of 15-20 years yields 80-120 kg / village, average yield - 220 kg / ha
- Frequency of fruiting: prone to periodicity of fruiting
- The beginning of fruiting varieties: for 4-5 years
- Ripening terms: winter
- Removable maturity: in the second half of September
Any culture requires special attention and care. If you do not study in advance all the whims of the plant, you can be left without a crop. This article will tell you how to properly plant and care for the Orlik apple tree.
Breeding history of the variety
The Orlik variety was bred in 1958. Professional specialists E. N. Sedov and T. A. Trofimov from the All-Russian Research Institute hybridized different crops and developed a new variety. To breed a new apple tree, they needed Mekintosh and Bessemyanka Michurinskaya.
Description of the variety
The Orlik apple tree reaches a height of almost 5 meters, it does not grow higher. The bark is yellowish, smooth to the touch, which is quite rare among apple trees. The plant has a neat rounded crown shape. Branches branch off from the main skeleton and go up, adhering to a right angle.
The apple tree bears fruit not only on ringlets, but also on spears. The kidneys are small. They are strongly pressed against the branches. They are round or conical in shape. But the shoots are straight, and they sink strongly under the force of their gravity. There are many leaves on the shoot itself, in the Orlik variety they are very large. The leaf is flat, only slightly bent in the center. The surface is wrinkled. Their color is deep green, somewhere there are grayish shades. They resemble an egg in shape. The bottom is the same wide, but tapering towards the base. The tip of the leaf is strongly pointed.
The flowers of the apple tree are large. The buds come with pink or white petals.
This variety is very frost resistant. It can withstand even the most severe cold. It is advisable to mulch the soil with humus, pay special attention to the area around the trunk. And also it is worth wrapping the trunk with nylon so that the tree does not get burned by the sun's rays in the spring. It will also save the grower from unwanted rodents and save the apple tree.
Features, pros and cons
The variety has several features that must be taken into account.
The seedling should grow in an area where there is constant wind and a lot of sun. The tree is not afraid of shade, but the lack of sun leads to the fact that its fruits will be small in size.
It is impossible to plant the Orlik apple tree in places where there is a lot of moisture. The roots will begin to rot from a large amount of water.
Orlik can grow absolutely on any soil.
The hole should be up to 80 centimeters deep. It is advisable to cook it 4 weeks before planting.
A support should be dug in next to the seedling. It can be metal, plastic or wood. It can be removed after three years.
Trees can be planted next to each other.
Apple tree advantages:
frost resistance;
high yield annually;
fruits are in high demand in the market;
apples are stored for a long time;
good transportability.
There is no plant that is completely perfect. So Orlik has a couple of disadvantages.
Sprinkling apples.
The damaged areas quickly rot.
Sophisticated and constant care. The tree is often attacked by scab, moth. They harm not only the tree itself, but also spoil the fruit.
Ripening and fruiting
Orlik belongs to those varieties that ripen late.Gardeners know the secret of how to make the tree grow faster and take root in the soil. You just need to remove more than 80% of the flowers from the apple tree in the first year of flowering.
The variety is classified as self-fertile. Regardless of the weather conditions, the apple tree will bear a lot of fruits.
After planting the seedling, 4 years should pass, after which the tree will bring a rich harvest. In the fifth year, with proper and good care, the tree will bear 50 kilograms of fruit.
The culture begins to bloom in the spring. Flowering continues up to and including the beginning of the summer months. At first, bright red, and sometimes, in general, burgundy buds bloom. Then they change color to a more delicate one.
Fruits can only be harvested at the beginning of autumn. Most often, they fully ripen by the 20th of September. If the apple for some reason fell from the tree, it is better to immediately attach it somewhere, for example, to process it, otherwise it will rot.
A wooden box and clean sawdust are used to preserve the apples. They need to be laid in two layers so as not to damage the peel. You have to be careful with this, because the fruit will quickly deteriorate. Then this structure must be removed to a cool place, but its temperature should not exceed +5 degrees. If everything is done correctly, the fruit will last until March.
Yield
The apple variety is considered a high-yielding variety. Gardeners can harvest more than 100 kilograms of apples in one season. This amount is calculated from one senior stem. Having collected the fruits in the fall, they can be saved until spring, and nothing will happen to them. But don't expect a big harvest in the second or third year. During this period, the tree still takes root in the soil. However, 10 kilograms of winter fruits are provided to the gardener.
In order to further raise the level of the crop, it is better to plant the seedling in an area where there is a wind. And also there may be other varieties nearby. So cross-pollination will reach every crop.
Fruits and their taste
This variety has medium sized apples. In mass, one fruit reaches 100-200 grams. They are round in shape, but narrowed towards the end, resembling a thick cone. The peel has a natural and natural sheen. If you look closely, you can see a white wax coating.
During ripening, the color is green, there are some yellow spots. When the fruit is ready to be harvested, its color is yellow. There is a red blush all over the apple.
The pulp is juicy, its shade is soft cream. Closer to the peel, it turns green. The fruit tastes sweet and sour, but this sourness is pleasant. The freshly removed apple has a pronounced aroma, after storage it is weak.
Orlik fruits are recommended for people who often go on diets. And also they should be included in the diet for those who suffer from improper metabolism. And those who have suffered a heart attack should eat these apples every day.
They can be consumed both fresh and processed, for example, to cook compotes or jam.
The experts rated the taste of apples on a five-point scale at 4.6.
Growing features
The tree itself is small, so it can grow in small areas.
The seedling takes root well in the spring or autumn. Namely, in the middle of these seasons, that is, October and April are favorable months.
You can fertilize the hole with river sand, non-acidic peat, clay or humus.
Within 40 days, the tree takes root and takes root. The soil next to it should always be loose. In no case should it be allowed to dry out.
When the tree begins to bloom, it needs to be watered abundantly. And also watering requires a period of fruit set.
If apples fall from the apple tree, then this is a signal - it's time to mulch the soil. Fertilizer can be humus, laid out in several layers.
As soon as the tree turns 8 years old, it needs to be pruned. Remove dry and broken branches. This process must be started before the appearance of the kidneys.
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.