Columnar Apple Beam

For a small garden or backyard, it is recommended to choose compact fruit trees that will produce high and tasty yields. One of these is the columnar apple variety Luch, which is widely grown on an industrial scale.

The early ripe apple tree Luch was bred in 2004, but has already won the love of many farmers and agronomists. A group of breeders of the North Caucasian Zonal Research Institute of Horticulture and Viticulture, Artyukh and Prichko, worked on the creation of the variety. The result was a variety when crossing the following species - Kuban spur, Melba and mutational selection. This species has been zoned over the territory of the North Caucasus, but it is promising for the southern regions of Russia.

Apple-tree Luch is a spur-type medium-sized tree with a columnar crown, which is moderately thickened with green foliage. The volume of the crown does not exceed 50 cm. The tree reaches a height of about 2 meters, so pruning branches growing at an acute angle will not be difficult.

Apple-tree Luch is a fast-growing and early variety, with many advantages, thanks to which the fruit crop is popular among summer residents and agronomists. The main advantages of this apple variety can be considered: the abundance of the harvest, given that it is a columnar species, high palatability of the fruits, the external attractiveness of apples, which is important if they are grown commercially, winter hardiness, good immune protection against fungal diseases and pest infestations, and also early maturity.

There are practically no minuses in the fruit crop, with the exception of low keeping quality (it is possible to store the fruits for 2-3 weeks) and the need to create protection against the moth.

The active flowering phase begins in early May. During this period, the tree-bush is covered with beautiful and fragrant light pink flowers. The fruiting period starts quite early. The first apples can be tasted in late June - early July. The tree bears fruit in the second year of growth. Fruiting is stable and annual.

The North Caucasus is considered an ideal growing area, but recently the variety has been successfully grown throughout the southern region of Russia. The tree loves moderately warm climatic conditions without sudden temperature changes and prolonged cold weather.

The yield indicators for the pillar tree are very high. On average, bountiful harvests can be counted on for 5-10 years of fruit crop development. In the 5th year, apple trees are capable of producing up to 100-150 c / ha, and in the 10-14th year of growth - up to 400-450 c / ha.

Luch apples are characterized by large size (fruit weight reaches 170-220 g), regular round-flat shape with a perfectly smooth surface. The taste of the fruit is bright, sweet and sour without astringency, and the pulp is dense and juicy. The fruit has a very attractive presentation due not only to its regular shape and large size, but also to its unusual color - a light green base with a raspberry blush, diluted with pronounced subcutaneous dots. The scope of application is not limited to eating fresh fruits, they can also be canned and dried.

Planting seedlings can be done in early spring, when the soil is warm enough and the buds have not yet blossomed, or in the fall, 3-4 weeks before the first frost, since the root system takes time to adapt. For planting, fertile and loose soil is optimal - loamy or sandy loam.

The species is self-infertile, so there is a need for pollinating trees, the flowering period of which coincides with the appearance of flowers in Ray apple trees. According to agronomists, the best pollinating trees are Vadimovka, Mantet, Alenushkino, Snow White.

Top dressing is applied gradually - in spring and autumn. The tree loves mineral and organic fertilizers. The amount of dressings is half that of standard apple trees.

The culture has a high winter hardiness, but it is recommended to insulate young seedlings for the period of frost.

Resistance to scab and powdery mildew is moderate. Therefore, preventive measures are required. In addition, the tree needs protection from the moth.

Apple-tree Luch is a popular variety, therefore, the opinion about the fruit crop is extremely positive. The species is not capricious in care, quickly takes root in the soil and adapts to weather conditions, gives high yields, moreover, annual, fruits are externally attractive and incredibly tasty.