Apple tree Sun

Most gardeners carefully choose apple seedlings for their garden, because they want to grow a tree that will delight you with delicious fruits every year, while not requiring special skills for growing and maintaining. These include a late autumn apple variety called Sunshine.

The variety was artificially bred by Russian breeders at the end of the last century. At the head of the group working on the creation of the variety were breeders Sedlov, Zhdanov, Dolmatov and Serova. The apple species was included in the State Register only 20 years ago, and in such a short time managed to win the love of gardeners and farmers. The variety was grown from seeds obtained from cross-pollination of trees growing in the collection garden of the Research Institute.

The Solnyshko apple tree is a low tree (height 2.5-3.5 m) with a rounded crown of moderate density. The crown diameter is small - up to 4 meters, so the apple tree looks compact and neat. The tree has strong branches with glossy bark and a strong root system. The external attractiveness of the tree is the slightly curled leaves and flower buds during the period of active flowering. The Solnyshko variety is represented by several species - dwarf and semi-dwarf, columnar and Orlovskoe.

The Solnyshko apple tree is a versatile variety that is incredibly tasty fresh, and also ideal for canning, making jelly, juices and compotes. The variety has a number of features: bountiful harvests, resistance to diseases and pests, winter hardiness, long shelf life (up to 100 days), easy transportation without significant losses, as well as quick adaptation to different types of soils.

Along with numerous advantages, there is also a minor disadvantage: low early maturity.

Blossoming of trees begins in the second half of May, when the air is well warmed up, and all frosts are behind. During this period, the crown of the tree is densely covered with white-pink large flowers with a pronounced aroma. The early maturity of the tree is average, and the first apples can be tasted at 6-7 years of growth and development of the fruit crop. On average, the peak of fruiting occurs in 7-20 years when the tree is up to 30 years old.

Fruiting is concentrated mainly on the ringlets. The period of active fruiting begins at the end of summer and lasts 4-6 weeks. After ripening, the fruits do not crumble. The frequency of fruiting is annual. The period of removable ripeness of apples directly depends on the climatic conditions of the region.

The Solnyshko apple tree is zoned and recommended for planting and cultivation in such regions as Central, Central Black Earth and Nizhnevolzhsky. Today the variety is massively grown in Ukraine and Belarus.

The yield figures are impressive. On average, up to 200 kg of ripe apples per season can be harvested from an adult tree. If we talk about an industrial scale, farmers collect up to 100-120 centners of fruit from 1 hectare.

All apples are 140-200 grams.The fruit is characterized by a regular, slightly elongated shape and barely noticeable ribbing. The color of the fruit is greenish-yellow with a raspberry blush, but when fully ripe changes slightly and turns yellow. The apple has a white juicy pulp, characterized by a pronounced sweet and sour taste and fruity aroma. The zest of the apple is its pronounced freshness aftertaste.

The size of the apples can be adjusted independently by removing several fruits in the inflorescences.

Almost any soil is suitable for planting seedlings (the exception is clay soil). The site must first be cleared of weeds, thoroughly dug up and fluffed, which will improve air permeability, saturate with fertilizers and moisten. In addition, the site should be well lit by the sun and be far from groundwater. The tree is not afraid of drafts, however, protection will be required from strong and frequent winds.

Planting seedlings can be done in the spring, when the soil is warmed up, and there will be no frost, and in the fall, 30-40 days before the first frost, after leaf fall, since the root system will take time to adapt. The distance between seedlings should be at least 5-6 meters.

The Solnyshko variety is self-infertile, so you can't do without donor trees. It is recommended to plant apple trees of the following types as pollinators - Antonovka, Orlik, Imrus and Grushovka Moscow.

Fertilizers are recommended to be applied annually. Spring is considered the best period. Most often, peat, humus and ash are used as fertilizers. Organic and phosphate fertilizers will be beneficial for the healthy development of the tree. Fertilizer is applied to trunks or holes. In addition to feeding, watering and shortening of branches will be required, which are carried out according to a specific schedule.

The frost resistance of the variety is very high, so there is no need to worry about frosts during the flowering period. The insulation of the near-stem zone and the trunk itself will be an ideal protection for the tree. Mulching is generally considered effective.

The apple tree has excellent immunity to scab, but there is no protection against red bream, moth and flower beetle. Preventive spraying with special solutions will become protection from pests.

Based on the numerous reviews, some conclusions can be drawn. The Sun apple tree is completely unacceptable in care, so even a novice gardener can cope with its cultivation.

Many summer residents characterize the variety with abundant yields, high taste of fruits, long-term preservation of appearance during transportation, which is important for those who grow apples for commercial purposes, as well as strong immunity that protects against diseases and pests.

The only drawback of the variety, according to experienced gardeners, is the low acid content in apples, which negatively affects preservation.