Apple tree Red Ketty

Gardeners are happy to plant old, tested varieties on their plots to obtain a stable harvest, but it is no less interesting to try some exotic novelties that will decorate the garden and delight with unusual fruits. The apple tree with the coquettish name Red Catty appeared among the breeding innovations recently, but there are already many good reviews about it due to its pronounced decorativeness and unusual fruit aroma.

The tree is not tall, about 3 meters, with a compact crown. Branches emerge from brownish trunks almost at right angles, and shoots turn upward. The crown is sparse, the branches are covered with reddish bark. Small, dark green leaves, with a reddish medium vein, have an oval-elongated shape. On the underside, the surface of the leaves is slightly pubescent. The flowering of Red Catty is distinguished by its extraordinary beauty - rich crimson inflorescences of buds are collected in small groups of 5-7 pieces. When the flowers fully bloom, their edges lighten to a pink hue, and the middle retains a dark color.

Numerous fruits adorn the tree with a bright red color of a smooth and shiny skin. Apples that look attractive have an unforgettable taste, with a hint of wild berries. A frost-resistant late ripening variety gives stable large yields of apples for winter storage. Lovers of unusual apple varieties will appreciate the bright decorative effect and high fertility of Red Catty. There are no official recommendations for the zoning of apple trees of this new variety, but it shows itself perfectly in individual farms in the southern, middle and northeastern regions of Russia.

Ornamental apple trees are not afraid of severe frosts even down to -30 ... 33 degrees, but subject to the purchase of seedlings obtained in the same harsh regions, since the variety has high adaptive abilities.

Among the advantages of the variety there are many unique qualities of beautiful undersized trees and fruits with an unusual taste, but there are also some disadvantages, among which the need to replant next to Red Catty varieties necessary for pollination. Among them are such varieties as Alva, Liberty, Champion, Antey, Belorusskoe raspberry. With high humidity, trees are more exposed to scab, powdery mildew and rust.

The Red Catty apple tree can begin to bloom very early - in the second year after planting, but such flowers are usually cut off so that the young tree directs all its forces to the growth of shoots. After the growth of the root mass and crown, the apple tree enters into a period of active fruiting for 3-4 years of its growth. Apples belonging to winter varieties begin to bloom in mid-May, depending on the climate and planting region, this may happen earlier or later by a week. The tree blooms at times when return frosts are less dangerous, but even if they appear, Red Catty retains most of the ovaries.

The apples are attached to the branches with short but thick stalks. The removable stage of ripeness begins from the end of August to the beginning of September. There are no data on quantitative measurements of the average yield yet, but gardeners mark the variety as high-yielding.By the end of summer, the whole tree is covered with large red apples, which ripen evenly and rarely crumble.

Delicious and juicy apples have a rounded, slightly flattened shape. The size of the fruit is large, up to 200 grams each apple, and even more in some areas. Dry shiny skin has elasticity and density, but at the same time it is not thick and easily bites through. Harvested apples must be matured for 3-4 weeks to achieve full flavor. There are many subcutaneous small light dots on the fruits, which makes their surface iridescent. They contain many useful substances:

• ascorbic acid or vitamin C;

• catechol substances;

• high content of sweet fructose;

• fiber with pectin substances.

The delicate and fragile pulp contains a lot of juice and is distinguished by a red-pink color. Red Catty apple juice also has a red tint. The fruit tastes very sweet, with a slight sourness and slight astringency.

The characteristic feature is the aroma of apples, which is similar to the smell of wild forest berries, and the juice often resembles the taste of cranberries. Rich in antioxidants and nutrients, the harvest of red apples is well stored all winter in a cellar. Apples do not lose their taste and color until spring, and all winter months delight with their taste and fresh appearance. Juices and other household supplies are prepared from them.

The unpretentious beauty Red Catty does not require special planting conditions, but if it is still present on the site as an experimental specimen, then you can place it in plain sight, decorating the recreation area or the adjacent territory.

The variety prefers light, fertile soils, close to loamy, and well-lit areas. The tree takes root equally well in a new place during spring or autumn planting, the main thing is to follow the technology that adheres to the usual scheme. The hole is prepared in advance, measuring 60x60 or 80x80 cm, and a peg is driven into it. Fertilized soil is poured into the dug hole with a mound, on which a seedling with straightened roots is installed. Then the root area is filled with the remaining soil and mulched. It remains to water the plant abundantly and tie it to a peg.

Spring pruning of a plant is carried out using the decorative-tiered method of crown formation. Generally accepted cultivation techniques for feeding, watering and protecting against pests will help grow a healthy tree that brings high yields.