Apple tree Orlovim

Apple trees are very often subject to such a disease as scab. But a variety has appeared that resists it well. Apple Orlovim is just such a variety. In this article, we will consider the characteristics of the culture, the taste of the fruits, note the positive aspects, agrotechnical features, as well as pollination and frost resistance.

In 1977, at the All-Russian Research Institute of Breeding of Fruit Crops, specialists in this field, Sedov E.N., Serova Z.M. and Zhdanov V.V., received a new apple variety that is resistant to scab due to the Vm gene. For the parental pair of the future hybrid, they took varieties of the Antonovka ordinary apple tree and a seedling called SR 0523. This hybrid was entered into the State Register only in 1999 after it had passed all the tests in central Russia.

The apple tree has good vigor, but it grows 4-5 m in length. The crown is round in shape, not too dense, up to 6 m in diameter. Skeletal branches are crooked and extend from the base of the trunk almost at right angles. They are located at a distance from each other, which creates a feeling of the rarity of the branches.

The color of the bark is light brown, there are small notches and peeling.

Newly formed shoots are thin in structure, with a round section and very pubescent, brown in color. The buds are brown and slightly pubescent.

Orlovim apple-tree leaves are medium, oblong-elongated especially at the end. The tip is slightly pointed. The upper part of the sheet is folded in a spiral. The anterior surface of the plate is glossy, the posterior surface is matte with barely noticeable pubescence. The edge of the leaf is wavy.

The flowers resemble the shape of a saucer. The flower petals are pale pink. The number of petals is 4, but there are also 6-petal flowers.

The root system is well developed and takes up a lot of space, as the roots grow both vertically and horizontally.

Every gardener first of all looks at the positive aspects of any culture. In the Orlovim hybrid, the positive aspects are that the fruits have good taste, they are fragrant and suitable for universal use. And also the apple tree is characterized by frost resistance, stable fruiting and resistance to scab.

But the first minus, which catches everyone's eye, is that apples are absolutely not intended for transportation. The shelf life does not exceed 3 weeks. Gardeners also note that some apples grow too high, and they are not only difficult to pick, but also to care for them.

Fruiting takes place in two stages. The first stage is to eat apples in the second decade of August. This is the average maturity of the apple, they are still green in color, but ready to eat. They can sour a little.

The second stage is September 15-20, apples are completely filled with color, become sweet.

The ripening period takes place from mid-May to August. Approximately 90-100 days. Fruiting times may increase depending on the growing region.

The yield of the Orlovim apple tree is high and stable. The apple tree bears fruit every year starting from the 5th year of planting the seedling in the ground.

From an apple tree up to 10 years old, 60-80 kg of apples are removed, older trees increase the yield to 100-120 kg. 200 centners are removed from 1 hectare.

The apples are medium-sized, light yellow in shade with a rich blush on the sides and interspersed. The apple weighs 130-150 g, there are also fruits weighing 180 g. They are conical in shape, slightly flattened at the base and bottom. There are apples with a slight slope at the base.

The rind is thin, with a small ribbed surface. Gloss and oiliness are present. Funnel of medium depth, sharp-conical.

The pulp is juicy, creamy, tender, without noticeable graininess. The seeds are small. The apples are sweet-sour to taste, much depends on the degree of ripening. There is a strong apple flavor.

Agrotechnical aspects of caring for the Orlovim apple tree are not particularly different from the cultivation of other crops. In order for the apple tree to bear fruit well, several steps must be followed.

The first thing you should pay attention to before disembarking is the square. The crown of the tree is quite large, although the branches are not spreading, but still it needs a place. And picking apples will be easier when nothing is growing close.

The place should also be well lit by the sun and not too blown by the winds. It is worth regularly watering the crop, especially during the period of color set and fruit ripening.

The selected place is checked for the presence of groundwater, since the root system is extensive, and the roots will reach for the water anyway. This should be avoided, since in a highly humid environment, the roots are oversaturated and begin to rot, and this will adversely affect the harvest.

The soil should be loose, oxygen-permeable, sandy and loamy in composition.

Particular attention must be paid to the crown, or rather, its formation. Formation begins from the first years of planting a seedling in the ground so that the plant does not thicken.

Circumcision takes place in several stages: in spring, summer and autumn. In autumn, it is advisable to cut off more branches, leaving only skeletal ones.

Since the root system is large, it is worth pulling out a hole 1.5-2 times larger than the rhizome. This will have a beneficial effect on growth and root formation.

The flowers of the Orlovim apple tree are sterile, although pollination still occurs, but the harvest in this case will not be large. In order for the apple tree to be well pollinated, apple varieties are planted next to it at a distance of 2 m, in which the flowering dates coincide, for example, Wesley or Pepin saffron.

Top dressing should also be carried out in several stages. These are usually stages that are divided by season. Spring feeding is carried out when all the snow has melted and the earth dries up slightly. During this period, the soil must be equipped with nitrogen and beneficial growth minerals, since after winter the culture is still weak.During flowering and growing season, you can fertilize the apple tree with natural organic fertilizing, and do spraying. In the fall, the apple tree is prepared for winter, so it is necessary to carry out a whole complex of mineral components. Of course, you can buy special dressings in the store marked "autumn", they must contain potassium and phosphorus.

The Orlovim apple tree has excellent winter hardiness, up to -30 degrees. Gardeners note that this is indeed the case, and it is not worth harboring additional culture.

It is only necessary to cover young seedlings in the first 2-3 years, until the trunk is sufficiently strong and the root system is not fully developed. You can cover it with agrofibre or roofing material. This will protect the bark from freezing.

And also after harvesting the tree trunk is whitewashed. This is an additional protection of the bark from the penetration of pests both in winter and in subsequent seasons.

Gardeners note that this apple tree does not have any pests as such, but it is still worth carrying out preventive work.