Apple tree Helena

Decorative varieties of apple trees are just beginning to gain popularity in Russia among summer residents, although they have long been used in city parks and squares. The Helena apple tree brought from Canada quickly attracted gardeners, conquering them not only with its beauty, but also with its endurance.

Many gardeners prefer to plant not only varietal fruit trees, but also decorative ones on their personal plot. Helena apple tree can be a wonderful decoration of the garden.

The culture has unique decorative characteristics. She looks great all year round. The long and plentiful spring flowering period pleases with pink inflorescences. The tree then changes the color of its leaves to an amazing purple, keeping it until late autumn. In winter, the bark of a reddish hue acts as an ornament. Against the backdrop of white snow, the apple tree looks amazing.

Reaches 3-4 m in height, with a dense, rounded, spreading crown. Due to this growth, the plant looks powerful. Leaves are oval, up to 7 cm, glossy, deeply lobed, dark red when blooming, then a dark green color appears.

It grows slowly, keeping compact for quite a long time. The tree reaches its maximum growth by 10 years.

Helena's apple tree can become a real decoration of any garden, creating a wonderful mood. The variety is successfully used in the landscape design of city parks and alleys. This decorative tree is widely used both in the creation of compositions and in a single planting.

Among the virtues of culture are:

• high resistance to unfavorable environmental conditions, dustiness and gas pollution of megalopolises;

• excellent indicators of winter hardiness and drought resistance;

• compact shape and beautiful appearance;

• unpretentious care.

The disadvantages include:

• inedible fruits;

• requires mandatory treatment of bark, shoots and leaves with special preparations for diseases and pests;

• has certain requirements for the composition of the soil.

Yields first fruits for 2-3 years of growth. Initially, the number of ovaries is small; with each subsequent year, their number increases. Already 5-year-old specimens give abundant fruiting.

The apple tree begins to bloom profusely in late April - early May. However, vegetative terms largely depend on climatic conditions. When the weather is cool, flowering can last up to 1 month.

The variety is not planted for harvest. However, on average, up to 10 kg of small apples can be harvested from one tree.

The apples are small, the size is slightly larger than ripe cherries, about 40 mm. Their color is bright red, with a slightly elongated shape and dense flesh. The fruits are completely unsuitable for consumption, both fresh and processed. Although they have an unusual sweet and sour taste, with a viscous spicy aftertaste.

Due to the long stalks and small size, apples can hang on the tree for quite a long time and not crumble.

Before you start planting a plant, first select a place. Sunny, with fertile soil with a slightly acidic or neutral reaction is best suited.

If the soil is poor, a large planting pit must be prepared in advance. Its volume depends on the root system. First, the hole is filled with a fertile mixture consisting of humus, compost, peat, sand and mineral fertilizers.

It has a well-developed root system, which must be fully straightened when planting. There is no need to apply additional fertilizers for several years. For the normal development of the roots, what was introduced during planting will be enough.

After planting, the seedling must be tied to a support. It is advisable not to remove the stakes until the culture reaches 5 years of age.

In turn, watering should be abundant. So the seedling adapts faster. Timely it is necessary to carry out loosening of the earth, weeding from weeds and mulching.

You can plant a plant in spring (before bud break) or in autumn (a month before the onset of cold weather). Landing time depends largely on regional characteristics.

Self-pollinated species. Most often planted to create cross-pollination with other fruit trees. It is considered an excellent honey plant.

Canadian varieties are resistant to extreme cold temperatures. Helena easily tolerates frosts of -30 ... 35 degrees, even when they can last a month or more. Only young seedlings need to be sheltered for the winter, their immunity is not fully formed, and they can get damaged shoots.

Resistance to many diseases is high. However, the culture is susceptible to the same infections as ordinary apple trees. To avoid this, preventive treatment for diseases should be carried out every year. Then the decorative appearance will not be spoiled.