Apple tree Pioneer

Pioneer is an ornamental apple variety discovered by the breeders of the Pavlovsk Experimental Station of the VIR. The main advantages of the variety are its high frost resistance and the ability to grow in cold regions of Russia, but these are not its only advantages.

Pioneer is a tree of average growth vigor 3-5 m high. The crown is oval, not very thickened. The leaves are painted in the original emerald color, in autumn their color changes to burgundy. The flowers are compact, pink in color.

Among the features of the variety, the following advantages should be noted:

• high winter hardiness;
• unpretentious care;
• attractive appearance;
• self-pollination.

Of the minuses, small fruits and a short shelf life are noted. Some summer residents use the tree only as a decoration for the plot and do not remove apples from the branches at all.

Pioneer belongs to varieties with an autumn ripening period, the beginning of fruiting occurs in 3-4 years of the plant's growing season.

On average, 40-50 kg of apples can be harvested from one tree, with intensive cultivation - up to 30 t / ha.

The apples taste sweet, juicy, but recommended for processing due to their low shelf life. Delicious compote and jam are obtained from the fruits. The apples themselves are miniature in size: their weight is only 15-20 g. The shape is spherical, the skin is thin, soft, the flesh is red and juicy.

Planting is an important stage in the life of a plant. Consider the following factors:

• seedlings are planted in a permanent place at the age of 2 years;
• the preferred place for the variety is a sunny area with deep groundwater;
• the optimal type of soil is fertile loose soil, for example, loam or sandy loam;
• before planting in a pit, you need to add manure or superphosphate;
• together with the seedling, a stake should be placed in the hole and a tree should be tied to it;
• the recommended distance between seedlings for group planting is 5 m.

When caring for the Pionerka variety, follow a few simple rules.

• Water the seedlings in the summer during dry weather. An adult plant does not require watering.
• In the spring, add top dressing by mulching the trunk circle. During the flowering period, treat the crown with a solution of trace elements.
• Don't ignore sanitary pruning in the spring and fall.
• Formative pruning is done in the first spring. During the process, a young tree is cut to a level of 2-2.5 m and branches growing in depth and side of the site are removed.

Pioneer perfectly tolerates severe winters, therefore it is suitable for growing in Central Russia, the Moscow region, in the Central regions. There are cases when the variety withstood temperatures up to -45 degrees. Slight freezing of annual shoots can sometimes be observed. To help the shrub survive the winter, you can cover the crown with snow masses.

The main enemy of the apple tree, scab, is not terrible for the Pionerka variety. This is due to genetic origin. However, the bark of the tree is weak and can sometimes be affected by other diseases and pests. As a preventive measure, you can treat the tree with a solution of potassium permanganate before the flowering period. This will protect against moniliosis, for example.

Reviews

According to gardeners, the Pionerka variety can become the main decoration of the site. Almost impenetrable hedges are obtained from it. Also, summer residents are attracted by the rapid growth of culture. But the fruits for the most part are called stupid. In rare cases, compote is prepared from them, but most often they are simply left for the birds and removed from under the tree in the fall.