Apple Macintosh

The restlessness of breeders around the world prompts them to work on expanding the range of fruit trees with new varieties with certain qualities. However, do not forget about the old plants tested for decades. One of these is the Macintosh apple tree, whose purpose is to eat fresh fruits. Unpretentious and fruitful, the apple tree produces excellent fruits with good transportability. A synonym for the variety is Mekintosh.

The history of the variety has vague roots, and the fact that the variety is named after a farmer from Canada does not mean that he was its creator. But the fact that he gave worldwide fame to the variety is a confirmed fact. Since then, the Macintosh apple tree has been grown in all countries where, in principle, they are engaged in the cultivation of fruit. In Russia, the Macintosh received several popular names, these are Khoroshevka, Autumn and Red autumn, as well as Krasnobokoe and Excellent.

Macintosh is a tall, medium-fruited apple tree, sometimes reaching 6-8 meters in height. However, among fruit growers, it is customary to grow this variety as a medium-sized type, for which they are engaged in crown formation and adjusting the length of shoots. The branches of the tree do not exceed average thickness, but most of them are thin, covered with gray or brownish-gray bark. Large oval foliage is colored yellowish-green.

A distinctive feature of the variety is the pyramidal crown of young trees. With age and without proper care, it grows, becomes disheveled.

Pros of Macintosh:

• dessert taste of fruits;

• excellent transportability;

• long vitality and good winter hardiness.

As a disadvantage, a gradual decrease in yield with age and a low resistance to attacks of fungal diseases can be noted. In addition, the disadvantage is the tendency of the tree to be affected by powdery mildew and scab.

The variety has winter ripening periods, and although it reaches removable maturity by mid-September, the longer the fruits are stored, the tastier they become. The duration of the consumer period falls on August-October, and the beginning of fruiting of the apple tree begins at 6-7 years. Has no inclination to rest, and yields the harvest with enviable consistency.

The variety is listed in the State Register of Breeding Achievements and is recommended for cultivation in the North Caucasus region, the Lower Volga region, in the Ukraine, the Kuban, and in the Krasnodar Territory.

The variety gives excellent yields - up to 200 kg per tree.

Greenish-yellow large oval fruits with light ribbing and blush in the form of red-violet stripes, weighing 150-180 grams, covered with a thin elastic skin with large subcutaneous punctures. White fine-grained juicy pulp has a delicate pleasant aroma and sweet-sour taste with a caramel aftertaste. The variety has a high tasting score of 5 points and can be stored up to 150 days in a cool room.

Fertile soil is most suitable for growing, the place is chosen sunny, with protection from north-westerly winds. It grows well in the front gardens near the house, since the latter is a reliable protection and a kind of heating pad in winter. For planting, they dig a hole 80x80 cm, maintaining a three-meter distance between the holes. A drainage layer is arranged at the bottom, the dug earth is mixed with humus or compost, superphosphate, wood ash. A stake or pole is installed at the bottom of the pit - the future support for a young plant. The covered earth is tamped, carefully making sure that the neck of the root remains above the surface of the earth. After disembarkation, the hole is carefully spilled. Subsequent care consists in the preventive control of diseases and pests, sanitary and formative pruning, timely watering if it is a dry summer.

The variety is considered self-fertile, but for cross-pollination it is best to have apple trees in the garden or nearby with the same flowering time. This will help increase the yield.

As for additional nutrition, like all other young tree plants, it will not be needed in the first 2 years. Then the annual application of fertilizing becomes mandatory, otherwise a decrease in yield cannot be avoided. In spring and autumn, mineral fertilizers and organic matter are applied. In the spring, the emphasis is placed on nitrogen substances that contribute to the growth of vegetative mass, in the fall they fertilize with humus, manure, compost, not forgetting about wood ash.

The apple tree is not able to withstand too low temperatures, therefore it is not recommended for growing in the northern regions. Average frost resistance suggests that at minus 20 degrees, the plant, if it does not die, then the fruit shoots are severely frozen over and eventually die.

The Macintosh apple tree is not highly resistant to diseases and pest attacks. She poorly resists the onslaught of scab, powdery mildew, as well as insect pests - moth, aphids. She cannot do without the help of a gardener. On his conscience are the preventive treatments of the garden with insecticides and fungicides, as well as constant monitoring of the state of health for traces of black cancer, since this scourge can destroy the entire garden in a short period.

Reviews

Many owners of garden plots are pleased with the dessert taste of the fruit, and everyone is happy to note the regular fruiting of the apple tree, while it practically does not reduce the size of the yields. Many people grow Macintosh for sale - they are pleased with the constant demand for the product and customer satisfaction. Year after year, more and more gardeners are planting this variety for future implementation.