Apple tree Rock

The apple tree is a fruit crop that is grown by gardeners in their private plots, in summer cottages, as well as by farmers on an industrial scale. The most popular varieties are considered to be with high yields, which quickly adapt to different weather conditions. These include the Skala variety.

The laborious work on the development of a new variety Skala was carried out at the N.N. Michurin. The group of breeders was led by NI Saveliev. The species was bred thanks to the crossing of two crops - Bessemyanka Michurinskaya and Prima. Included in the State Register in 2001. Initially, the variety was zoned in 6 regions, such as Tambov, Lipetsk, Kursk, Oryol, Voronezh and Belgorod.

Apple-tree Skala is a tall tree with a powerful trunk and a moderately dense crown of a rounded shape. The tree reaches a height of 5-6 meters, while it does not take up much space, since the branches are directed upwards. The annual growth of branches is small. Autumn variety, table variety, which gives delicious fruits of universal purpose - fresh eating, canning, freezing, drying.

This autumn variety has its own characteristic features, including excellent taste, high yield, winter hardiness, quick survival in different soils, unpretentious care, as well as an increased content of ascorbic acid in fruits, due to which apples become as useful as possible for the human body. What is characteristic, after ripening, the fruits do not crumble from the branches, despite their large size.

Along with the advantages, the variety has some disadvantages: low keeping quality (up to 100 days) and weak immune defense against diseases and pests.

Flowering begins in mid-May and lasts up to 11 days. During this period, the crown is transformed, white-pink flowers with a rich aroma appear on it. Fruiting begins in September and lasts until mid-October. The first flowers appear in the second year of the tree's growth, and begins to bear fruit in the fifth year.

The Skala apple tree is capable of growing and producing good yields in any climatic zone, since it is characterized by high frost resistance, adaptation to droughts and heat. Mass cultivation of this fruit crop takes place on the territory of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine.

The yield indicator is high. Fruiting of the variety is annual, without interruptions. A slight decrease in yield is observed if the tree has survived severe frosts. On average, one adult tree is capable of producing up to 200 kg of fruit per season. In order for the yield to be high, biologists recommend plucking all the buds of the inflorescences for the first 4 years.

Fruits are large (weight 150-200 grams) of regular round-elongated shape with a beautiful greenish-yellow color, covered with gloss. Apples have a thin skin, firm and juicy flesh with a light fruity aroma. The taste of the fruit is sweet and sour with low astringency. On some apples, you can see blotches and stripes of a reddish color on the skin.After picking, the apples seem overly sour, but after a short storage (about 2 weeks) they have a pleasant sweetness.

An ideal place for planting seedlings will be loamy or sandy loam fertile soil that breathes well, is sufficiently fertilized, and is also free of weeds. The landing site should be illuminated by sunlight, protected from strong winds and drafts, and also be away from the passage of groundwater.

Planting can be done in spring, autumn or summer. In the summer, planting is carried out as a last resort and requires abundant watering. Autumn planting is performed 30-45 days before the first frost, allowing the root system to adapt. Spring planting takes place in well-warmed soil.

The rock is a self-fertile species that requires pollinator donors, the flowering of which must completely coincide with the period of flower appearance in this variety. For cross-pollination, almost any type of apple tree planted in the same area is suitable.

No special fertilizers are required for the apple variety, but standard fertilizers are recommended. In the spring, you need to stimulate the vegetative system using nitrogen-containing fertilizers. In the summer, you can add phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, and in late autumn you can not do without organic fertilizing. In the first year of growth of the tree, fertilizers do not need to be applied.

The variety has an enviable winter hardiness, thanks to which the tree perfectly survives frosts down to -40.45 degrees. In addition, spring frosts are not terrible for apple buds. If necessary, mulching of the area around the trunk is carried out for the winter period.

The presence of the VF gene provides the tree with absolute protection against scab, but powdery mildew and bitter pits sometimes appear. Spraying will help fight diseases and pests.

Taking into account the reviews of gardeners, you can be sure that the Skala apple variety is an unpretentious fruit crop that consistently pleases with high yields, without requiring special climatic conditions and special soils.