Apple tree Semerenko

The Semerenko variety is a real classic of apple growing. It is extremely difficult to find people who have not seen its fruits on the counter at least once or have not tried them themselves. But it is all the more pleasant to figure out how to grow such a culture with your own hands.

The Semerenko variety is quite old. Back in 1947, it was entered into the State Register of Fruit Plants. The exact origin is unknown. A number of sources report that this culture was discovered by chance in the 1880s in one of the gardens of the Kiev province. What happened before will forever remain unknown, one can only assume that the famous fruits were the result of random spontaneous selection.

The plant has several synonyms at once - these are Renet Simirenko, Zeleny Ranet Simirenko, and Simirinka. The sizes of apples vary widely. And yet, large specimens clearly prevail among them. Large light spots on the skin are clearly visible.

The growth of the Semerenko variety is very vigorous, this sometimes even creates some problems. The crown resembles a wide circle. Spreading is typical for her. The ovate leaves are elongated. They bend like a boat at right angles; typical light green color, with a slight shiny effect.

The Semerenko variety is very old, and, it would seem, newer varieties should push it out. But this is absolutely not the case. The culture is in great demand both by summer residents and professional apple growers. The tree is covered with plain gray bark. For him, straight brown-green shoots are typical, which sometimes bend slightly.

Lentils in this variety are rare and small. During the year, the growth is 45-60 cm. This indicator depends on the age of a particular plant. Large white flowers look like a saucer. The problems with growing this plant will be:

• weak frost resistance (even in the middle lane without shelter in any way);

• self-pollination is impossible;

• due to active growth, it will be necessary to prune the tree annually;

• immunity to scab and powdery mildew is very weak;

• after 15 years of development, the apple tree will bear fruit unstably.

However, all these problems do not allow us to deny the immutable advantages:

• excellent commercial and consumer characteristics of fruits;

• excellent level of transportation;

• excellent yield;

• resistance to cold and heat;

• suitability for baby food;

• low risk of crop shedding;

• suitability for dietary nutrition;

• usefulness for vitamin deficiencies and anemias, for rheumatism and gastrointestinal pathologies.

Semerenko is a simple late winter apple tree. The necessary maturity for harvesting the fruits will pick up in the second half of September. Ripening can continue exactly until mid-autumn. The first collection takes place at 4 or 5 years. Important: the variety is prone to periodicity of fruit formation.

Cultivation of the Semerenko apple tree is excellent in:

• Central Black Earth District;

• other regions of the south of Russia;

• various Ukrainian regions.

One tree can collect 140-170 kg of apples. Among this volume, at least 90% of the fruit is of commercial quality.A seven-year-old tree produces an average of 16 kg of fruit. The culture gains peak fertility by the age of 10. For your information: when grafting with a low-growing stock, the very first collection is sometimes made in the 4th year.

Semerenko's apples can be transported almost without restrictions. Technically ripe fruits are light green. The stored fruits will gradually turn yellow. Their shape is more often a regular circle, less often a cone. The average weight of fruits ranges from 150 to 200 g.

Other features of Semerenko apples:

• large size;

• smooth skin;

• mass of light subcutaneous points;

• creamy white pulp with special juiciness and tenderness;

• attractive delicate aroma;

• sugar content from 7.5 to 12%;

• the proportion of titratable acids is from 0.4 to 0.7%;

• keeping quality (subject to the correct temperature regime) reaches 220 days;

• minimal risk of shattering;

• assessment of the tasting examination from 4.5 to 4.7 points.

For the Semerenko apple tree, moisture-absorbing soils with high air permeability are important. Better if it is fertile loam or sandy loam. In the early years, it is necessary to water the tree more often so that it takes root properly and quickly reaches optimal conditions. However, the "swampiness" of the land is contraindicated. In mature years, it is necessary to water the apple tree of this variety 4 times during the season:

• just before flowering;

• after its completion;

• when the apples are ripe and poured;

• when the tree prepares for winter.

It is recommended to form the crown in the manner of a bowl. It is this geometry that makes it easier to care for and pick apples. Crown thinning should take place annually. In young apple trees, only the longest growths are cut. If the culture is planted in sand, then clay must be added to the bottom.

The first feeding is carried out at 3-4 years old. Up to this point, there should be enough nutrients in the soil itself and in the original laying. Culture requires both organic and mineral nutrition. For 1 sq. m of near-trunk space, 5-7 kg of fertilizers are used. They must be brought in in the spring by the method of even spreading for digging.

As soon as the time for fruit formation comes, the apple tree is fed with potassium. The best way to add it is to add potassium monophosphate to the irrigation water. For 1 sq. m is spent 10-20 g. The interval between two dressings is 14 days. In summer, mainly liquid organic matter is used.

According to this indicator, the well-deserved variety "with history", alas, loses to most beginners. Already a temperature of -25 degrees is akin to a disaster for him. Therefore, it is impossible to grow such plants without shelter in most of the territory of Russia. Freezing is not excluded even in the Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories. Only diligent farmers can avoid this kind of trouble.

Gardeners note that the collection of Semerenko's apples goes "in several passes." The harvested fruits will be stored very well. For a long time, the tree retains all its advantages. And also this variety is less than many others attacked by the codling moth. Other assessments note:

• exactingness to growing conditions;

• partial degeneration of the variety due to cross-pollination;

• the versatility of fruits (both in size and in use);

• responsiveness to care;

• preservation of the elasticity of apples during long storage.