Apple tree Bogatyr

Passionate gardeners are constantly on the lookout for the best tree varieties for their site. Some plants are replaced due to their age or not meeting the expected results. However, the well-known Bogatyr apple variety has been popular for almost 100 years.

The Bogatyr apple tree was bred in 1925 by the Ukrainian breeder S.F. Chernenko, the work was highly appreciated by Michurin himself. The hybrid variety was obtained by crossing Landsberg Ranet and Antonovka, from which it inherited frost resistance, good survival and excellent taste.

Resistance to weather factors and diseases, high yields and excellent taste of Bogatyr apple fruits quickly won many fans of this variety in Russia and neighboring countries. The hybrid belongs to a late-ripening species and is of interest for harvests intended for winter consumption.

The trees grow relatively tall - from 4 to 6 meters, and with a spreading, rounded crown, which is filled with evenly distributed branches, without dense thickets, which is convenient for harvesting. Fruits appear mainly on last year's shoots or ringlets. The bark of the tree is light olive in color, and the young twigs of the current season are distinguished by a reddish color of the skin. The leaves of the apple tree are round, oblong and dark green in color. Flowers are smaller than usual, collected in friendly inflorescences, classic pink-white color. Large apples are colored greenish-yellow with a red barrel.

Among the advantages of the Bogatyr apple-tree variety, the following can be noted:

• early and stable fruiting;

• good adaptability to winter and return frosts;

• the ability to gradually adapt to local conditions;

• immunity to certain fungal diseases;

• versatility of fruit use;

• large harvests of apples.

But there is also a small list of cons of the variety, including:

• strong rustiness of the skin of the fruit;

• sour taste that not everyone likes;

• difficulties in determining the ripeness of fruits due to their green color, which can turn yellowish only after collection;

• overloading of trees with apples in especially fruitful years.

The tree enters the fruiting age from 4-5 years after planting. The fruits are attached to the branches with short and dense stalks, thanks to which they are reliably held on trees even in strong winds. The late variety is designed to ripen the crop after harvest. Under normal weather conditions, the harvesting maturity of apples occurs in mid-September.

The ideal regions for growing the Bogatyr apple variety are the regions of the Moscow region and the entire central zone of the Russian Federation. In this region, everything is suitable for the normal development of these trees: soil, seasonal weather conditions, humidity and aridity. To obtain excellent yields in these areas, it is enough to carry out ordinary agrotechnical measures, without special methods of care.

When the soil in the root area is enriched with top dressings useful for the apple tree, the Bogatyr variety can develop successfully in the Urals. It is necessary to introduce organic matter and mulch the near-trunk zone to protect against early frost on the soil.

Many years of experience in cultivating the Bogatyr apple tree in the regions of Eastern and Western Siberia shows that the high frost resistance and adaptive abilities of the variety help it not only survive, but also bring good harvests even in harsh climatic conditions.

The tree begins to bear its first fruits from the 3rd year of planting on the site. Significant yields can be said only after the development of the tree for 6-7 years. From one adult apple tree, you can collect from 70 to 100 kg of ripe fruits every year.

Apples sit tightly on the branches thanks to their short and thickened stalks. The shape of the fruit is round, slightly flattened in height. Depending on the age of the tree, seasonal characteristics and region, each apple can grow from 175 to 350 grams. When harvested, the skins of apples can retain a light green color with a reddish speck from the sun. Until fully cooked, the fruits should lie in storage. Then they turn yellow, with fine-grained white flesh. The fruit contains little juice, and the taste is balanced, sweet and sour. When biting off or breaking the fruit, you can hear a characteristic crackling sound.

The pride of Bogatyr apples is their unique and strong aroma, which is especially felt when making jams, compotes, jams, pies and juices. The fruits are distinguished by excellent keeping quality and transportability. They begin to be eaten fresh from the New Year. You can stop eating last year's harvest in July, and the apples will still retain their flavor and aroma.

Apple trees of the Bogatyr variety prefer loamy soils with good ventilation around the root zone. They thrive in evenly lit garden areas. With a close occurrence of groundwater, it is necessary to take care of its diversion before planting, since the young tree that has begun to develop will die as it grows due to erosion of the near-root soil and excess moisture.

Saplings are planted in spring or autumn, calculating the planting time in such a way that in the fall the roots have time to take root and start feeding before the cold weather. Spring planting is carried out when the danger of the return of frosts on the soil passes.

For planting, a hole of 60x60 or 80x80 cm is prepared, at the bottom of which a 10-cm layer of drainage is placed, a peg is driven in to attach a young tree and the soil is enriched as needed. Fertile soil for filling the roots is mixed with peat or organic fertilizer. In cases of a large percentage of heavy clay in the soil, sand is added to it. After filling the roots of the seedling, water is poured into the hole.

In early spring, while the tree is still asleep, it is formed by cutting off branches that grow inside the crown or intersect with others. From old shoots, those that are older than 4-5 years of age are removed, since they will no longer have a crop. In order to heal the tree, damaged and diseased processes are also removed. After trimming, the tree trunk can be whitewashed with slaked lime with the addition of copper sulfate.

The flowers of the Bogatyr apple tree are not self-fertile species, so they must be planted next to pollinating varieties. For this variety, apple trees such as Melba, Zhigulevskaya, and Northern Sinap can serve as cross sources of pollination.

For the winter, the trunks of young trees are protected from rodents by wrapping them with wire with spruce branches or roofing felt. In a dry autumn, several buckets of water are poured under the tree from which the harvest is harvested, taking care of its health and fruiting next year.