Apple tree Pepin saffron

Saffron Pepin is a great option for gardeners who value old, time-tested winter varieties. The variety has a number of positive properties, has long been cultivated almost throughout the country. However, in order to achieve the highest yields, it is important to adhere to a number of simple rules for growing it.

This magnificent apple variety was obtained by I. Michurin back in 1907 by crossing the Reneth of Orleans and hybrid species - Pepinka Lithuanian and Kitayka Zolotoy. He remained the best variety from the list of varieties obtained by the great scientist. It was produced in the Tambov region, in the city of Michurinsk, and after a few years it also conquered other territories of the country. Pepin was entered into the State Register in 1947 as a species intended for cultivation in most of Russia. Nowadays, it is classified as a popular culture both in our country and in the CIS countries.

Pepin has become widespread in both industrial and amateur gardening. On its basis, more than 20 other varieties have been obtained (Gorno-Altayskoye, Osennyaya joy, Vishnevaya and others).

The trees are medium-sized, growing up to 2.5-3.5 m. Up to 5-7 years, their crowns are spherical, but later they become wide-rounded, with shoots dropping almost to the ground. Dense crowns require regular pruning.

Shoots are elongated, not thick, with a greenish-gray color and a slight superficial bloom. The pubescence is pronounced, noticeable and well felt when touched. The leaf blades are medium in size (5-7 cm), emerald tone, and the tips of the leaves are pointed and heavily pubescent.

Flowering is represented by small white flowers grouped in modest inflorescences. During the flowering period, apple trees become a real decoration of any garden.

The peculiarities of the culture mainly lie in its merits and the specifics of cultivation. The pluses of Pepin include:

• stable and rich fruiting;
• a high degree of self-fertility;
• excellent regenerating qualities that provide trees with a high degree of survival after pruning or frost;
• excellent commercial properties of fruits;
• reliability of crop transportation;
• high breeding value.

Of the shortcomings, we note:

• the tendency of fruits to shrink (for this, timely pruning is necessary);
• weak level of scab resistance;
• a decrease in the taste of apples associated with the age of the plants;
• shattering of ripe fruits, especially with sharp temperature fluctuations and winds;
• medium resistance to moth attacks.

The trees begin to bloom from the beginning of June. Although Pepin is considered a self-fertile variety, the presence of cross-pollination can significantly increase its yield.

On traditional seed stocks, the culture begins to bear fruit at 3-5 years of growth, but when grown on dwarf stocks, fruits appear at 2-3 years of growth.

The culture is classified as a winter species - the removable maturity of apples falls on the period from 15.08 to 10.09.

Pepin brings wonderful harvests every year. Usually one young tree gives up to 35-50 kg, and after 10 years of growth, the yield already reaches 170-190 kg. Record harvests are 200-220 kg of apples, which can be obtained in September.

Pepin's fruits are intensely sweet, with a delicate grape aroma.The crispy texture is medium in density, with a creamy shade. Fruits are medium-sized (70-100 g), rounded, slightly flattened. The skin of the fruit is dense.

Outwardly, the fruit is very attractive for its smooth, yellowish and shiny skin with a bright blush. Experts-tasters rate the taste properties of Pepin at 4.75-4.85 points - almost excellent.

In addition to excellent taste, there are also long shelf life of apples, reaching 230 days, almost until spring. To this we add that storage improves the taste of the fruit.

Productive cultivation of a variety is characterized by a number of features that are important to consider.

After Pepin's disembarkation, a long period of agro-care starts, which includes watering, feeding and pruning the young. Each of these activities is characterized by certain features that contribute to the normal development of trees, obtaining a good harvest.

1. Watering. The first years after planting, young growth requires regular moistening - most often it is once a week, 10-15 liters of water per tree. The required level of watering is determined by means of a simple test, squeezing a clod of earth in your hand - if the clod crumbles when the hand is relaxed, then watering is necessary. Subsequently, the frequency of watering is reduced to 2 times a month (with light rainfall) or up to 4 times on dry days. In August, plant moisture is stopped, and pre-winter irrigation is carried out by the end of November, when the soil is moistened by 0.7–1 m. This increases the plant's winter hardiness and protects the roots.
2. Fertilizer. Attention should be paid to the composition of the substrate, since the plant is extremely sensitive to the lack of nutrients. Only with regular feeding can you expect a good harvest. The soil should be fertilized systematically, adhering to a certain fertilization scheme. In the spring, an aqueous solution of guano (1: 15) is useful, about 8 liters per tree. After the ovaries have fallen off, the tree is fertilized with slurry mixed in water (1: 3), about 10 liters per plant. In September, the culture is fed with manure (5 kg per 1 m² of the near-stem space) or compost is used (7 kg per 1 m²). After adding these consistencies, the soil is once again irrigated, loosened and mulched.
3. Trimming and shaping the crown. It is performed both in the fall and in the spring (April). In the first year of growth, the center of the plant is shortened by 2 buds, the remaining branches are cut by 2/3. Over the next 3-4 years, the crown is thinned out, having previously marked the skeletal branches, eliminating weakened and deformed shoots. In the same period, branches are trimmed into a ring, located at the trunk at 45 ° or 90 °, and the largest dimensions of the remaining hemp should be no more than 10 mm. After 5 years of growth, sanitary pruning is done with the elimination of dried branches and elements that thicken the crown. For plants older than 7 years, the top of the head is removed - this will limit the growth of trees.

Self-pollination is the advantage of a plant, even if there are no apple trees around it, a large proportion of flowers in any case gives fruitful ovaries. With the use of cross-pollination, the level of fruiting increases dramatically. Excellent pollinators for Pepin are Antonovka, Kalvil Snezhny and Slavyanka. Effective pollination is possible at a distance of about 50 m or more.

The level of frost resistance of Pepin in the central climatic zone is average, this deficiency is more than compensated for by the self-healing of trees. So, frozen trees that endure frosts from -25 to -30 ° C can effectively recover and bear fruit productively in a number of years. With prolonged exposure to severe frosts, it will be necessary to shorten the frozen shoots by 1/3.

The culture is poorly protected from various problems that arise during growth, often susceptible to widespread damage from diseases and attacks of insect pests. Scab, powdery mildew, cytosporosis, moth often appear. The fight against them is carried out in standard ways.