Apple tree Jonathan

Apple trees of the Jonathan variety are in great demand among gardeners, both beginners and experienced. Due to their good tasting qualities, juiciness and aroma, they are suitable for fresh consumption and for canning and processing. Unpretentious agricultural technology makes Jonathan easy to grow.

This variety of apple trees was bred by American breeders at the end of the 19th century. The cultivar Aesop Spitzenburg was used for breeding. Jonathan has other names as well, for example, Horoshavka winter or Winter red. Apple trees of this type are in demand literally all over the world, especially on an industrial scale.

The apple tree of this variety is of medium spreading, the crown has a wide outline, the shape is round, dense, branched type. Mature plants droop, especially during harvest. The color of the bark is green-brown, the shoots are pubescent. Fruiting of a mixed type, apples ripen on ring-type rods, one-year growths. Shoots are formed very actively.

The thickness of the shoots is small, sometimes medium. The foliage is also small or closer to medium, the shape is an elongated egg. The edges of the foliage are serrated, slightly wavy, the leaf itself wrinkles, the surface is matte. You can distinguish this variety by bloom on the leaves of a silvery tone. The apple tree blooms actively and abundantly in medium terms.

The apple tree of this variety has obvious advantages that allow Jonathan to remain relevant for many years:

• high tasting qualities, amazing aroma;

• the harvest is perfectly stored for a long time;

• fruiting starts early and continues steadily;

• fruits are suitable for consumption in their natural form and processed;

• long grocery period.

As for the disadvantages, it is worth highlighting the following points:

• does not tolerate frosty weather very well;

• pollinators are needed;

• immunity is not too high;

• it is important to organize storage of the crop in the cold.

The ripening process largely depends on climatic conditions, weather, region and agricultural technology. The beginning of the fruiting period varies from 2 to 6 years, according to the growing method - dwarf or seed. Collecting fruits does not mean that they can be consumed immediately, they reach tasting qualities in about a couple of months. Ripening dates vary from the end of the first month of autumn to October, dates may shift depending on climatic characteristics.

This variety of apple trees belongs to the early-fruiting type, a bountiful harvest becomes stable for an average of 5 years. At the beginning of the process, this may be 20 kg per tree, but a mature tree yields about 85 kg. A record harvest of 490 kg was recorded, the amount depends on agricultural technology.

Apples of this variety are medium, sometimes large, round, sometimes slightly conical. Ribbing is present, but in a weak form, the apex is even, the surface is smooth. The weight of one fruit varies from 100 to 150 g. Skin color is yellow-green with a slight reddish blush. The skin is not thick, elastic, the stalks are short.

The structure of the pulp is dense, but very juicy, beige in color.The tasting qualities are good, the taste is sweet and sour, the aroma is pronounced, typical for apples. If you store apples in the cold, you can eat them until mid-spring.

It is very important to choose a quality seedling; it is best to do this in specialized markets. The following signs are evaluated:

• lack of foliage on the shoots;

• number of branches as a criterion for age;

• roots without damage and pathologies when wet;

• there must be a graft just above the root;

• growth - up to one and a half meters.

In addition to the seedling, it is important to choose a suitable site:

• warm, sunlit;

• loamy or sandy loam soil, not depleted.

You can choose the planting date - April or September, early October. Planting in the spring makes it possible for the seedling to adapt to the cold. Do not grow this variety near vineyards, as this increases the risk of fungal infection.

The landing algorithm is as follows:

• hole formation up to 70 cm deep and a meter wide;

• introduction of organic matter combined with soil;

• driving in a peg for support;

• accurate placement of the seedling, sprinkling with soil, compaction;

• watering with 2 buckets of water, mulching.

Taking care of apple trees is not difficult, but a number of mandatory activities are required.

• Moisturizing. A young plant should be hidden from too bright sun using a cloth. Watering should be systematic, but moderate, otherwise the roots will begin to rot.

• Loosening and weeding. It is imperative to loosen the soil near the trunk, remove weeds. These events are carried out as needed, just a couple of times a month.

• Preparing for winter. If the temperature in winter drops below minus 15 degrees, it is necessary to cover the ground with spruce or agrofibre. It is also important to mulch the near-trunk space with coniferous needles, hay / straw.

• Fertilizer. It is not required to fertilize the correct soil in the first years, but after that it is necessary to feed it three times per season. Before flowering - a complex with organic matter, during flowering - a potassium-phosphorus composition. In the fall, it is worth adding a solution of potassium chloride and superphosphate.

• Pruning. This process must be started already in the second-year trees and is subsequently carried out annually. The optimal time for this is mid-spring. In the fall, after the leaves have fallen, you can also cut them off. Sanitary pruning involves removing damaged, dried-out branches. In addition, branches can be thinned to increase yields. After the procedure, you need to treat the cut area with charcoal. Aesthetic pruning involves the formation of a tiered crown. The branches are trimmed so that they line up in even layers. The ideal distance between the tiers is about half a meter. Small shoots must be removed. It takes about 5-6 years for the crown to form, after which the tree stops growing.

To increase the yield of this variety of apple trees, you need to plant pollinating varieties nearby. Optimal options: Macintosh, Spartan, Idared, Umanskoe winter. The percentage of natural ovary is small, the tendency to self-fertility is present.

This varietal variety is known for its resistance to any kind of scab that trees of this type are usually afraid of. Powdery mildew and freezing of the bark are of great danger. Frozen wood provokes the appearance of rust, scabs, thus, it is important to insulate the plant in frosts. Powdery mildew significantly reduces the quality and quantity of the crop, therefore it is important to carry out prophylaxis with fungicidal compositions.

To strengthen Jonathan's immunity, you should connect complex fertilizers, with potassium and phosphorus. In cases where the tree is already sick, it is imperative to spray with copper, manganese, soap solution, soda ash. Among the pests, the most dangerous are the moth, aphids and other typical insects for apple trees. It is necessary to carry out treatment with formulations with insecticides and be sure to whitewash the tree in the spring, before the formation of buds.