Apple tree Black Prince

Almost everyone has several apple trees in their garden. The popularity of this fruit is due to the ease with which it is grown. The Black Prince variety is one of many that can delight you with the sweetness of the fruit.

The variety was bred in Belgium, from there it came to the territory of our country.

The trees of the Black Prince can reach a height of 3 meters. The crown is formed of an oval shape, its thickening is average. It is not a self-fertile, medium-sized species.

Already in the third or fourth year after planting a seedling, fruits appear on the tree. The fruits reach the required ripeness by November. Experts recommend cultivating this variety on dwarf rootstocks.

The foliage on the crown is large, its shape is oval. The tip is slightly pointed, the shade is dark green. During the flowering period, many large flowers of a snow-white shade are formed on the tree.

Regardless of the apple variety, each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Of the merits of the Black Prince, it can be noted:

• early maturity;
• the harvest is stable and plentiful;
• amazing commercial qualities of fruits;
• wonderful taste;
• can be transported over long distances and lie in a warehouse for a long time.

Cons:

• it is difficult to find pollinators;
• cannot grow in regions where the air temperature drops greatly in winter;
• fruits can become smaller over the years, if you do not carry out high-quality watering.

Harvest time is autumn. If necessary, apples can be harvested in September, but you need to understand that this will affect the taste of the fruit.

Today, the Black Prince variety is grown with great success in three countries:

• Poland;
• Ukraine;
• Russia.

The most abundant harvest is observed by the sixth year after planting. Up to 20 kg can be harvested from one plant.

Apples of this variety can be consumed not only fresh, but also used for making delicious compotes and jam.

The fruit has a rich red hue, the shape can be characterized as rounded-conical, even or symmetrical.

The weight of each apple is about 200 g, while the diameter of the fruit is 10 cm. From above, the flesh is covered by a smooth, glossy skin. Inside is a dense, juicy pulp, which has a yellow creamy tint.

There is a peculiar aroma. The Black Prince apples taste sweet, but there is a slight sourness.

If you store the fruits in the refrigerator, then they lie perfectly until April, and if a specialized storage is used, then until June. Apples tolerate transportation well.

To achieve a large harvest, experienced gardeners are advised to choose fertile soil for this variety. Loam works well. If it is known that the land at the place of planting of seedlings is not rich in nutrients, then it is preliminarily cultivated. First, a deep digging is carried out, and then fertilizers are applied. In this case, it is best to use organic matter, namely 4 buckets of rotted manure, which are enough for 1 square meter of land area. Compost is suitable. Fertilizers are applied six months before the planting of seedlings.

The apple tree will not grow where groundwater is close to the surface. If there is a lowland, then you will have to artificially raise the site and drain it.

Apple trees grow well in zones 3 to 9. It is better to plant in a place where the sun is constant. An apple tree planted with partial shade will not produce as much fruit as the grower expects.

The Black Prince grows best in well-drained loamy soil, although sandy or lightly clayey soil will work. A soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0 is suitable.

There should be no draft at the landing site. In winter, seedlings planted in such an area may simply die. In addition, late spring frosts can kill apple blossoms. The trees bloom in late spring after peaches, cherries and almonds. Early fall frosts can damage the fruit.

Avoid planting in the same place where the apple trees used to grow. Pests and diseases affecting these fruits can still live in the soil.

Trees are planted in spring, before winter the root system will develop enough for the seedling to survive the first cold weather. Make a planting hole, which must be large enough so that the roots can completely fit in it.

They look at the root collar, it should be at ground level. If the tree is grafted, place it in the hole so that the grafting is visible when planting, about a couple of centimeters above the soil.

Well-rotted compost or manure is introduced into the soil at the bottom of the hole. They put a stake in the ground on the side of the hole - this is a support for a young seedling.

After planting, each tree is thoroughly watered and fertilized with liquid fertilizers with a high phosphorus content.

This variety requires a pollinator and is not easy to find. Trees can be pollinated by bees or other insects, possibly even wind-carried pollen. In bad weather, this process may not go as well as we would like, so it will have to be controlled artificially.

You can plant an apple tree next to another that is blooming at the same time, or graft a branch from a suitable pollinator to the tree. Flowers that are only partially pollinated will drop prematurely during the fruit stage.

The tree is fed with seasoned compost mulch, applied abundantly around the base of the tree once or twice a year, in spring or late autumn after the leaves have fallen off.

They feed the apple tree and 10-10-10 balanced fertilizer every year. Low levels of potassium, calcium or boron can inhibit fruit growth and quality. Check the soil for nutrient content throughout the year.

Productivity can be improved by foliar feeding with seaweed extract.It is introduced when the buds begin to show color, the second time after the fall of the petals, and again when the fruits grow a little.

The Black Prince has good frost resistance, so it is grown in many regions of our country.

The best way to prevent disease and pests is to keep your garden clean and tidy. Use pruning to remove diseased shoots so they don't infect the rest of the tree.

Apple scab is one of the most serious problems. It is caused by the fungus Venturia inaequalis and infects leaves and fruits. In severe cases, the entire tree can be damaged. As a result of such a defeat, the fruits are clumsy, although they are edible. The Black Prince has high scab resistance, but this does not mean that preventive treatment should not be carried out. Be sure to use fungicides and insecticides.