- Authors: domestic selection
- Taste: sweet and sour, slightly tart
- Fruit weight, g: 15-20
- Fruit size: small
- Yield: high
- Frequency of fruiting: annual
- Ripening terms: autumn
- Removable maturity: late August - early September
- Appointment: fresh, making jam
- Growing regions: Siberia, Ural, Altai, Krasnoyarsk, Omsk, Novosibirsk, Far East
Once it was a problem for gardeners in Siberia and the Far East to grow sweet apples on their plots. But it was solved when the breeders bred the Rayskaya apple variety - small-fruited, mid-ripening and very frost-resistant.
Breeding history of the variety
Many people confuse the Rayskaya apple tree with a group of varieties called "raikas". The paradise apple tree is only partly related to "paradise". Its progenitor is the Nizkaya apple variety, which was actively cultivated in Central Asia and southern Europe. Czech breeders crossed it with varieties such as Katka and Champion, and as a result, they got a variety with amazing fruit taste and excellent frost resistance.
Description of the variety
Apple-tree Rayskaya is a hybrid variety, bred by selection of small-fruited subspecies with varieties of the "kitaika" type, as well as plum-like European ones.
Fruit trees of this variety are distinguished by excellent frost resistance, high productivity and decorative properties. They are a decoration of the site both during the flowering period and during the ripening of the fruits. Apples are numerous, located close to each other, bright, small.
The height of the tree is not too high, usually varies within 2-3 m - a typical Siberian tree. The low height allows the tree to be completely covered with snow from frost, due to which the high winter hardiness of this variety stands out. The crown is round, spreading, the branches are strong, calmly withstand a large weight of apples.
Features, pros and cons
The main feature of the Rayskaya apple tree can be considered a flowering different from other varieties. In this varietal variety, the flowers are much larger, are located on a long stem and begin to bloom about a week earlier than other apple trees.
Among the advantages are other varietal characteristics.
The paradise apple tree is an excellent honey plant, so all plants around it are guaranteed to be pollinated. This fruit tree attracts a large number of pollinating insects with its aroma.
Excellent frost and drought resistance. Paradise was bred specifically for regions with unfavorable climates, so she is not afraid of either severe frosts or the lack of timely irrigation.
Many gardeners note that the apple tree of the described variety is a long-liver in their gardens. Its fruiting period can reach 20 years with high-quality and timely care. It is noted that it bears fruit every year, and the yield does not fall from year to year, almost does not depend on weather conditions.
Unpretentiousness is another important advantage of the Paradise apple tree. When choosing a variety for planting on your site, it is this factor that is fundamental for many gardeners. The apple tree can grow in the shade and on poor soils.
The increased content of nutrients in fruits. In their composition there are much more useful trace elements and vitamins than in the fruits of more thermophilic varieties. Moreover, Rayskaya apples have a high fiber content and are enriched with pectin, which has a positive effect on digestion.
The disadvantage is the small size of the fruit. For some, this creates inconvenience when harvesting.
Ripening and fruiting
After planting in the ground, Paradise apple trees begin to bear fruit at 4-5 years of age. Apples begin to ripen in August, and this process lasts the whole month. A full harvest can be removed in the 7-8 year of the tree's life.
Growing regions
Rayskaya will successfully grow in all regions of our country, except for the Far North. Abundant harvests can be taken in the Novosibirsk and Kemerovo regions, Khakassia, Primorye. With proper shelter for the winter, this variety grows well in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, in the Tyumen Region and in the south of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug.
When growing the described variety in the Volga region and the southern regions, you do not need to worry about additional shelter for the winter at all, since even in winter in this area the temperature is usually comfortable for the Paradise apple tree.
Yield
With timely and high-quality care, the Paradise apple tree can produce up to 30 kg of fruits from one tree. It is noteworthy that this indicator practically does not change from year to year, and for this quality this variety is highly valued by breeders and gardeners.
Fruits and their taste
The apples of the Paradise apple tree are red in color, sometimes with blue thin veins. The size of the fruits does not exceed 3 cm in diameter, their weight is up to 20 g. The surface is dull, slightly ribbed. The color of the pulp is light, the consistency is dense. The apples taste sweet and sour, have a pronounced aroma. The light graininess of the fruit is perfectly preserved during processing, so the Paradise apples are excellent for making jam. Fresh, they remain fresh for up to a month.
Growing features
When choosing seedlings for planting, you need to pay attention to the root system. It must not be damaged. The roots of a healthy seedling are branched, strong, and evenly spread from the trunk.
Almost any area, even slightly shaded, is suitable for landing. It is important that the groundwater level is not too high, otherwise there is a great risk of root rot.
Well preparation does not have any special features. It is only important that the roots are freely located in them and covered with soil up to the root collar. After instillation, you need to lightly tamp the earth in the trunk circle and water abundantly. Disembarkation can be carried out both in the spring and in the fall. It is important that there are no fallen leaves on the site - pathogens can hide in it for the winter, which cause diseases such as scab and powdery mildew, as well as insect pests that have a detrimental effect on a young seedling.
Apple trees are planted at a distance of 4-5 m. This is enough so that the trees do not shade each other and receive a sufficient amount of sunlight and moisture.
Top dressing
Despite the unpretentiousness of the Paradise apple tree, it still needs periodic feeding with organic and mineral fertilizers.
In early spring, as soon as the snow melts, it is recommended to introduce a mineral complex with a high nitrogen content into the trunk circle. When forming the ovaries, it is good to support the tree by adding a combined preparation with water, which is based on magnesium and potassium. During the fruiting period, organic fertilizing is applied. And in winter, the soil under the tree is mulched with humus.
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.