Fuji apple tree

The Fuji apple tree is a winter variety, remarkable for its taste, yield, keeping quality and versatility. Confidently cultivated in the southern regions and central Russia. Growing conditions are typical.

Fuji is deservedly classified as a long-liver, since the activity of creating the variety began around 1920. The work of the Tohoku station, which is located in the city of Morioka, was crowned with success only in 1939, but the culture began to be cultivated in 1962. During the work, the famous American ones were used - Red Delicious and Rolls Janet. Most experts believe that the variety is named after Mount Fuji, revered by the Japanese, although there are other versions.

The Fuji apple tree was highly appreciated in the countries of the southeast, is intensively grown in the USA, Australia, southern regions of Europe and Russia, and now it is successfully developing the middle zone of the country. Regions with a short summer are not suitable for the variety - the fruits do not have time to fully ripen.

The tree is vigorous, reaching a height of 6 meters or more (in the absence of formation), the standard height is up to 3.5 m. The plant is easy to mold. In the course of growing on dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstocks, the height is 2-4 m. The culture grows more intensively in a young state, with the entry into the maturity phase, its growth slows down somewhat.

The crown of the culture is thickened, spreading, wide-pyramidal or oval-flat configuration. Slightly drooping branches. When molded, the plant easily gets the required shape. The annual growth rate is about 0.6 m in height and 0.6 m in width. Without proper formation, the crown becomes large and shapeless.

The bark of the tree is wrinkled, light brown in color, with a grayish bloom. Young shoots of brighter shades, with a smooth, shiny bark. There are few lentils. The leaves are rounded, with a pointed or lanceolate-oval tip. Pubescence is noticeable on fresh leaves.

By the time the fruit ripens, the growth process slows down. Shoots are ordinary, medium-sized. Brownish buds are slightly pressed against the body of the shoot. Leaves are small, ovoid. The base of the plates is rounded, the tips are elongated, light green shades, with a slightly pubescent wrinkled surface and medium venation. The plate is slightly curved, folded like a boat. The edges of the leaves are finely serrated, slightly wavy. The cuttings are not thick, short in length, light green with a burgundy base and medium pubescence. The flowers are shaped like light saucers, the size is normal. The peduncle is medium pubescent, reddish-brown in color.

Of the main features of the variety, we indicate:

• for full, high-quality ripening of the fruits, it takes about 3200 hours of sunlight per year;

• at the beginning of fruiting, the first 2 years of growth are not indicative - the taste properties of the fruits are mediocre (not typical for Fuji), only for 3 years they receive an exquisite aroma and excellent taste;

• the richer the red color of the fruit, the sweeter it is.

Pros:

• a good level of winter hardiness (up to –25 degrees) and drought resistance, providing a high degree of crop survival in areas with a temperate climate;

• fruits have commercial value due to their average keeping quality;

• excellent taste properties of fruits;

• suitability for a dietary diet;

• the flowering process occurs late, so the variety is not afraid of recurrent frosts;

• the fruits are held tight and do not crumble - they can remain on the branches until frost;

• excellent portability;

• good shelf life - in basement containers up to 120-150 days, in refrigeration units up to 210-240 days (without loss of marketable conditions);

• fruits are versatile in use.

Minuses:

• low resistance to scab, powdery mildew and burns;

• instability of fruiting;

• vulnerability to prolonged frosts and significant temperature fluctuations;

• the need to thin out the ovaries when they are excessively significant;

• during storage, apples can be affected by bitter spots.

Young growth develops intensively, creating a strong root system when planted on humus-rich soils. On lean soils, a peat-manure mixture is usually added or rotted organic matter is added. Saplings are planted in the fall (in October), or in the spring (in April-May).

The variety is fast-growing (depending on the quality of the rootstock). On dwarf rootstocks, fruiting starts from 2 years of growth, medium-sized rootstocks allow to receive fruits for 3-4 years of growth. Seedling stocks provide the beginning of fruiting at 5-6 years.

To avoid unnecessary stress on the young, we recommend removing part of the ovaries. As a result, the flavoring properties of apples increase, and the fruits themselves grow larger.

With careful and systematic observance of the standard rules of agricultural care, the Fuji variety can bear fruit for more than 40 years. The trees of the variety, grown on semi-dwarf or dwarf rootstocks, bear fruit slightly less - up to 30 years.

Usually the time of fruiting begins at the 4th year of growth, and at first the number of fruits will not be large. The highest yield level is observed in the 10th year of growth, but trees on dwarf rootstocks will give you the first harvest already 2 years after planting.

The yield of the variety is good - a 9-12 year old apple tree with a medium-sized rootstock yields 14-21 tons of fruits per hectare. At the same time, the variety is characterized by an uneven yield from year to year - the frequency of fruiting. In some cases, specialists manage to stabilize the yield level, for which the process of ovary thinning is carried out. As in the winter variety, fruit picking usually starts in the second decade of October. Ten-year trees allow harvesting up to 20 t / ha.

Fuji has excellent fruit characteristics:

• large fruits - up to 250 g;

• smooth, oval configuration;

• bright and original color with yellow-pink or scarlet blush;

• the consistency is extremely aromatic, creamy, juicy, with a rich sweet-sour or sweet taste that changes little during storage.

After about a month of storage, the consumer ripeness of the fruit sets in, and the excessive sourness is felt somewhat less. The taste properties of small fruits of the first harvest are weak, but they improve by 2 years. Outwardly, they look appetizing, round-cylindrical configuration with some asymmetry. The dry cover is thin, but dense and elastic. The gloss is not very pronounced. The subcutaneous points are lightish, pronounced. There is a slight waxy coating. The dominant color is light yellowish or greenish, in its integumentary part it is pinkish or red-pinkish with a slightly blurred blush.

The consistency is juicy, crispy, dense. 100 g contains 9-11% sugars (calorie - 71 kcal). Tasting score up to 4.8 points. Seed cavities are small, open or partially closed.

The taste of Fuji fruits can be called honey-fragrant, which distinguishes them favorably from many varieties.

As mandatory, systematic procedures, we indicate:

• cleansing pruning;

• top dressing;

• watering, while in the first months of growth after the spring planting, seedlings should be watered 2-3 times in 7 days, with a minimum volume of 10 liters of water for each watering.