Apple tree Alyonushka

Apple trees are always a decoration of any garden. But since the garden plots are small, compact apple trees are currently appreciated. The apple tree Alyonushka belongs to just such varieties. In this article, we will consider the characteristics of the culture, the positive and negative aspects, yield, quality of apples, as well as the peculiarities of cultivation.

This apple variety was obtained by crossing two varieties, namely Ranetka Laletino and Papirovka. The hybrid appeared on the domestic market in 1963. The variety was bred at the Krasnoyarsk Experimental Fruit Growing Station. The breeders were Tikhonov N.N. and Tolmacheva A.S. Apple tree Alenushka was bred for mass industrial production and grown in the fields. Over time, this need disappeared, and everyone was able to purchase seedlings.

Apple Alyonushka belongs to semi-dwarf plants. The height of the tree is no more than 2-2.5 m. The shoots, like the trunk itself, develop quickly, which subsequently makes it possible to reproduce by layering.

The crown of the tree is not very dense, but there is a large amount of foliage. The leaves are medium-sized, ovoid in shape, sharpen towards the end of the leaf, there is a small notch along the edging. Light green in shade.

Branches of an apple tree drooping. The bark is rich brown.

The shoots of the hybrid are erect, round, plastic. The bark on them is brown, there is a barely noticeable pubescence.

The flowers of the apple tree are large, with a pronounced aroma. The petals of the open flower are white and rare, in the closed position the bud is pink.

Growing each crop has both positive and negative aspects. The Alyonushka hybrid is no exception. Therefore, we will first consider the positive aspects.

The most important point for many gardeners is that the apple tree is dwarf, and it does not need a lot of space for its location. The apple tree is fast-growing, which means that the crop can be harvested as early as 3 years after the seedling is planted in the ground.

High yield and good winter hardiness are noted.

Another main point is that the apple tree takes root well in a new area, and also has good regenerating properties. After a strong freezing of the shoots, they can move away on their own.

The disadvantages include the fact that Alyonushka has insufficient immunity to fungal diseases such as scab. The fruits of the apple tree are small, for many this is a minus. And also the crop has a short shelf life after harvest.

The first fruits appear on the apple tree 3 years after planting in the ground. The harvest for the first year is always small, the plant has not yet fully matured. Flowering occurs in May and harvesting in the first weeks of August.

For the first year, the yield is in the range of 20-30 kg. In subsequent years, up to 80 kg or more are removed from one tree.

Alyonushka's apples are medium-sized, by weight one fruit stretches by 30-40 g, there are also larger fruits weighing 55-90 g. They are round in shape, slightly flattened. All fruits are practically the same size. The shade is dominated by yellow. The peel of apples is smooth, glossy and slightly bloom, thin. The pulp is juicy, fleshy, white in shade, medium density.

By taste, the fruits are sweet and sour.There is a rich aroma.

Apples stick to the stalk well and do not crumble. The storage time after harvest is short - 1.5 months.

Agrotechnical features of cultivation vary depending on the age of the plant. If this is a young seedling, then basically the need arises for regular watering and feeding, crown formation and preventive work from pests.

But the yield also depends on the choice of location. It is necessary that the soil is always sufficiently moist and loose. You can use mulch to retain moisture, and to loosen it, you need to periodically loosen the soil. And also the apple tree loves sandy, loamy soil - this will favorably affect the development of the root system.

Unknowingly, many gardeners are faced with some problems, such as lack of fruiting. This can occur due to excessive deepening of the seedling into the ground during planting or iron deficiency.

And also peeling of the bark happens - this is due to the strong sun. The bark gets burned and therefore begins to flake off the trunk. Another reason may lie in the pest - the bark beetle.

The flowers of this hybrid are sterile, so additional pollination is needed. Other varieties with the same flowering period must be planted next to the apple tree. These can be apple trees Yunost, Flashlight, Lada or Zarnitsa.

It is necessary to actively feed the apple tree from 2 years of fruiting. The main feeding takes place in spring and autumn. In the spring, top dressing consists mainly of humus and fertilizers containing nitrogen. During the set of color and flowering itself, it is necessary to add potassium. In the fall, they are fed with fertilizers containing phosphorus.