Apple tree Christmas

Rozhdestvenskoe is a variety not only frost-resistant and retains its fruits until the winter months, but also extremely resistant to scab, which makes it an ideal apple tree for the harsh climatic zones of Russia and beyond.

The apple tree was bred, like most Russian hybrids, at the All-Russian Research Institute for Breeding Fruit Crops, in 1985. The inventors of the fruit product are E. N. Sedov, Z. M. Serova, V. V. Zhdanov, E. A. Dolmatov. The ancestors of the new tree were two different varieties - Wellsey x BM41497.

At the end of the 90s, Rozhdestvenskoye was provided for the State test to establish the suitability of the variety for cultivation on a production scale on low-growing rootstocks common in Central Russia and the Black Earth Region. In 2001, the variety was included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements Permitted for Use.

The tree is medium-sized, but rapidly developing, with a broad-pyromidal crown. Skeletal branches extend from the trunk at an angle close to 90 °. Shoots are medium in thickness, knees are not prominent, pubescence is minimized. The color of the young bark is brown.

The leaf plates are ovoid, sharpen towards the end, the top of the leaf is twisted helically. The plates are wavy at the edges, green, with a matte sheen, average pubescence, wrinkled leaf surface.

The flowers of the apple tree, like other varieties, are saucer-shaped. The open buds are medium in size, the petals are pale pink, the silhouette is rounded, close to the base, but not tightly. Flowers are collected in umbellate inflorescences of 5-6 pieces

A feature of the Rozhdestvenskoye variety is its complete resistance to scab, thanks to the Vf gene. The advantages of the apple tree also include:

• high productivity;
• the safety of fruits for a long time;
• excellent taste of an apple;
• early maturity.

It is difficult to identify the minuses, but during very cold winters at -40 ° C, the variety shows slight damage to the buds and wood. According to these characteristics, Rozhdestvenskoye is slightly inferior to ordinary Antonovka. Since the variety is winter, you can notice uneven pouring in the fruits.

Since the apple tree is early-growing, the ripeness of the fruits, for example, in the Oryol region occurs earlier, in the first weeks of September, while in other regions, ripeness occurs in mid-autumn. If Christmas is re-grafted, then ripe apples can already be harvested at the 4th year of the tree's life.

Fruiting in the apple tree is regular.

Rozhdestvenskoe belongs to the category of high-yielding apple trees. Young trees are capable of producing up to 180 centners of fruit per hectare.

The apple is slightly flattened in shape, medium. The skin is either uniformly colored in a red blush with interspersed cherry shade, or a cover, consisting of two colors - red and green. The skin is shiny, subcutaneous points stand out, clearly visible, large in size, cast a little gray. The weight of one fruit fluctuates around 140 g.

The pulp of the fruit is creamy, can cast in whiteness, the texture is dense, grainy, but tender with increased juiciness. The aroma is weak.The taste qualities of the Rozhdestvenskoye variety are of the dessert type, the pulp tastes sweet, but the sourness is well felt. Tasting score - 4.3 points.

The fruits of the apple tree fall off when picked late.

Young trees in cold regions are planted outdoors in spring. If the cold comes according to the calendar, then the variety can be planted in mid-autumn. The place is selected illuminated, but with shelter from the wind.

Planting holes, as for all apple trees, are prepared in advance. The main thing is to sprinkle the young tree after planting in the ground just above the grafting level.

Additional nutrition for the apple tree is brought in depending on the maturity of the tree and its needs. There is a well-established scheme for fertilizing the variety:

• in the first year of the planted plant's life, feeding is not carried out, taking into account that humus or compost was previously introduced into the planting pit;
• the next year, with the onset of autumn, when digging the soil, organic fertilizers are applied;
• by the third year and further, fertilization continues as before, only the depth of the digging and the indentation from the trunk increase.

It is also allowed to use ready-made prolonged and ready-made mineral fertilizers.

Since the variety is quite frost-resistant, in the central regions of Russia, apple trees do not require shelter for the winter. However, it is worth spreading mulch, spruce branches or other material near the trunk circle that will protect the tree from rodents and pests, and also protect the bark from drying out.

Despite the fact that the apple tree is resistant to scab, Rozhdestvenskoye, with inadequate care, is affected by ticks, scale insects, and bark beetles.Buds and leaf plates can suffer from aphids, moths, leafworms.

To minimize the risk of infection, in the spring (before the buds swell) the whole apple tree must be treated with special preparations with insect-fungicidal properties.

This variety is ideal for most of Russia and countries with cold climates. The apple tree is unpretentious in care, has regular fruiting, and the high keeping quality of the fruits allows you to receive vitamins so necessary for the body in the winter months.