- Authors: I. V. Michurin
- Taste: sweet, with pleasant sourness
- Scent: moderate, thin
- Fruit weight, g: 140-180
- Fruit size: large
- The frequency of fruiting: annual
- Ripening terms: winter
- Removable maturity: September 25 - October 5
- Keeping quality: until February in a cool place
- Appointment: universal
Apple-tree Slavyanka is a very old variety. This culture is praised for its chic horticultural qualities. Consumer characteristics are also very high.
Breeding history of the variety
The famous Michurin himself was the developer of Slavyanka. The work was based on the varieties Renet pineapple and Antonovka. The crossing was completed by 1890. In 1897, the first harvest was obtained. Although the plant is not included in the national register of crops and is not officially zoned anywhere, it has proven itself excellent.
Description of the variety
The height of the apple tree reaches 3.5 m. It has a rounded crown, distinguished by its medium density. Small oval leaves have a rounded base and a significantly elongated apex. Branches are sparsely located, covered with gray bark. Resistance to negative weather conditions is very high.
The qualities of Slavyanka are indeed attractive even in comparison with more modern varieties. Culture shows itself well in difficult conditions. The branches are elastic. The crown width reaches 3 m.The tree is medium-sized, it rises by 50-70 cm per year.
Features, pros and cons
Slavyanka has only 3 negative sides:
apples are relatively small;
with dry weather and a deficiency of nutrients, fruits become smaller;
the overripe part of the crop crumbles.
But these problems are fully compensated for:
impressive resistance to winter cold, temperature fluctuations;
excellent resistance of flowers to frost in late spring;
early maturity;
self-fertility;
retention of fruits on branches in a fairly strong wind;
keeping quality;
transportability;
versatility of use;
attractive culinary characteristics;
optimal responsiveness to fertilization and irrigation.
Ripening and fruiting
This variety belongs to the winter group. Ripeness under normal conditions is reached between 25 September and 5 October. Fruit formation will occur annually. Moreover, they are formed in a stable amount. The first flowers appear in 2-3 years of development.
But there will be few more such colors. They are capable of producing only a relatively small amount of fruit. The first harvest usually takes place in 4-6 years. At this point, you can remove 5-15 kg of apples. Blooming in most regions occurs in May; flowers are similar to a saucer and have a white or light green color.
Growing regions
Slavic woman, according to experience, is grown in:
Crimea;
various areas of the middle lane;
regions of the North Caucasus;
separate northern areas;
Ural and Volga regions.
Yield
An adult Slavyanka tree gives 200 kg of fruit per season. The spread is normally from 185 to 210 kg. The culture, of course, cannot be compared with the original varieties. But this does not prevent it from being classified as a high-yielding category. Therefore, culture should be recognized as a worthy choice for any garden.
Fruits and their taste
Universal fawn or greenish apples at the time of consumer ripeness acquire a golden yellow tone. Fruit weight varies from 140 to 180 g. Rounded fruits have wide ribs. The height of the fruit is up to 6 cm, width is up to 7 cm. It is covered with a smooth dense peel, which, when stored for a long time, turns out to be oily in appearance.
It is worth considering that grafting to other varieties allows you to count on picking apples with an average weight of only 110 g.Under unfavorable conditions on poor land, the mass of fruits completely decreases to 50-75 g. You can save the harvest until the end of winter. The pulp is juicy and very dense, has a good fine-grained structure.
Growing features
The plant needs open and well-lit areas. The variety is not suitable for lowland cultivation. Drafts are also contraindicated for him. It is very important to check that the groundwater is at least 3 m underground. The composition of the soil is not important.
However, experts advise giving preference to sandy loam and loam. Excessive acidification can be eliminated with lime. The root collar is left 8-10 cm above the ground. The planted plants are watered with 10-25 liters of water, after which the plantings are mulched with any suitable material. In the southern regions, Slavyanka is planted in March and April or in September-October.
You just need to make sure that after the end of the cold weather (or before their return), there will be approximately at least 2 weeks. The harsher the climate in the region, the more relevant the spring planting. This will allow the tree to better adapt to the situation. You can trim the crown for sanitary purposes in both spring and autumn. Rejuvenating pruning will be needed by a culture at 15-18 years of age.
Pollination
For this purpose, you can use:
Antonovka;
Rennet;
Pepinka;
Granny Smith.
Frost resistance
In moderately cold areas, such as Crimea, the Caucasus or the middle zone, there is no need for special shelter. However, even there it is useful to wrap the trunks with sacking. In more northern areas, grass and straw mats should be used. Sometimes they simply cover the culture with soil, the layer of which can reach 25 cm. Synthetic covering materials should be used with caution.
Diseases and pests
The Slavyanka variety tolerates fungal diseases well. The scab is also practically not afraid of him. Only minimal precautions are required to avoid contracting these diseases. Immunity to bacterial infections is also good. No specific pests have been described.
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.