- Authors: All-Russian Research Institute of Selection of Fruit Crops, E. N. Sedov, N. G. Krasova, M. V. Mikheeva.
- Taste: sweet and sour
- Fruit weight, g: 160-200
- Fruit size: average
- Yield: at the age of 8-9 years harvest - 40-60 kg, 13-15 years old - 80 kg, average yield - 220 kg / ha
- The beginning of fruiting varieties: for 4-5 years
- Ripening terms: winter
- Keeping quality: refrigerated until mid-March
- Appointment: universal
- Growing regions: Central Black Earth Region of Russia, six regions of Belarus
The Veteran variety of apples began its history 60 years ago. The beginning of its selection was laid in 1961. Then Soviet scientists sowed seeds of the American King variety, but the grown trees were pollinated with pollen of other local varieties. Breeders of the USSR N. Krasova, E. Sedov and M. Mikheeva took part in the complete breeding of the variety, control of pollination and its final registration.
Description of the variety
Apple-tree Veteran belongs to winter early-growing varieties. It has an average growth rate and most often reaches 3 m in height. Its crown has a neat spherical shape and dense branches that must be cut or removed in time.
The bark of an adult tree has a characteristic brownish tint, and young shoots are slightly pubescent, dark brown in color. Leaves are dark green in color with a gray bloom characteristic of this variety and have slightly curved and serrated edges.
The flowers of the apple tree are small, light pink in color. The fruits are of average size and weight 160-200 g, they are slightly flattened from the side and elongated towards the top. The apples are dense and smooth with a slight waxy coating, which makes them only slightly shiny. The color is yellowish-golden, yellow-green, golden-orange, on most of the surface of the apples there are orange-pink blotches and strokes.
Features, pros and cons
Pros:
- yield;
- early maturity;
- moderate frost resistance;
- high appreciation of the taste characteristics of the fruit;
- long-term storage of fruits;
- unpretentious care.
Minuses:
- does not withstand severe frosts;
- high probability of infection with scab (fungal disease);
- possible premature fall of leaves due to heat;
- requires more frequent watering when planting in arid regions, but over-watering will be detrimental.
Ripening and fruiting
The fruits ripen from the 4th or 5th year of the tree's life. Apples can be kept cool from mid-late September until early spring. All fruits ripen at the same time.
Growing regions
The apple tree of the Veteran variety has an average level of frost resistance, therefore it grows successfully in the Central Black Earth, North-Western regions, in the southern part of the Central region of the Russian Federation and in 6 regions of Belarus. This variety is quite unpretentious to weather conditions, it is enough that excess moisture will not form at the planting site. For example, a place with groundwater close to the surface would not be the best solution. The plant also does not like severe frosts, so the northern regions will not suit it.
Yield
This variety is distinguished by its early maturity and high yield. From a young tree (from 8 to 13 years old), you can get about 60 kg of fruit. If the plant is over 13 years old, then its yield rises to 80 kg from one tree.
Fruits and their taste
Veteran apples have a sweet and sour taste. Their flesh is quite juicy, tender, it has a yellow-brown color. The fruit contains:
- sugar - 9.5%;
- titratable acids - 0.64%;
- ascorbic acid - 17.5 mg per 100 g of product;
- pectin substances - 10.9%;
- P-active substances - 307 mg per 100 g.
The tasting score is 4.5 points.
Growing features
Planting a seedling is carried out in the spring before the first buds bloom, or at the beginning of autumn. The second method is more often preferred.
The planting site should be sunny, with free space around and minimal risks of high humidity, that is, you should not plant an apple tree in a depression so that excess rainwater does not accumulate. The soil is selected loamy or sandy loam.
The pit is prepared at least a month before planting. A cubic pit with sides of 80 cm is dug. A distance between seedlings of about 4 m must be observed. The pit is filled with a mixture of a removed layer of soil, humus, compost, rotted manure with the addition of 0.5 liters of ash.
The pit is filled in several layers, each layer must be tamped tightly. It is imperative to make a small hill from the remains of the soil.
A month later, the pit, ready for planting, is excavated to the size of the root system of the seedling. The roots must be carefully straightened out and gradually covered in such a way that all the voids are filled.
Watering is carried out immediately after planting in the amount of 2-3 buckets of water. Re-watering will be needed 2 weeks after planting.
Subsequently, the Veteran apple tree will require verified watering. In hot weather, it is watered every 10 days using 2 buckets of water. An adult plant will need 4 waterings per year:
- in spring, before the first leaves bloom;
- 2 weeks after flowering;
- 1-2 weeks before harvesting;
- in the middle of autumn.
After planting the apple tree in the ground, the upper part of the trunk is trimmed. In the future, it is necessary to cut 2/3 of the length of the branches. It is also necessary to regularly remove any dried branches.
Top dressing
If during the planting of the seedling any fertilizers were applied, then they will not be needed for another 3 subsequent years. It will be quite enough during this period to add a little manure or compost in early spring. If the condition of the plant begins to bother, then you can re-fertilize at the beginning of summer.
Mature trees are fed in the fall using phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium fertilizers. The rules for the use of each specific top dressing are indicated on the packages or communicated by the seller at the time of purchase.
Diseases and pests
The main enemies of the Veteran variety are the goldtail, aphid, silkworm, bark beetle, apple blossom beetle and honeydew. For prevention, you must perform the following procedures:
- whitewashing every spring;
- cultivate aisles;
- annual pruning of shoots;
- treatment of wounds;
- harvesting old bark;
- spraying with special agents in the spring.
If all these actions are performed regularly and on time, then many problems such as a decrease in yield, a decrease in frost resistance, and frequent diseases can be avoided.
In addition to pests, diseases can threaten the tree.
- Powdery mildew (white bloom) - is treated in spring or when the apple tree blooms with Topaz and Skor.
- Cytosporosis is a fungus that causes the appearance of dark ulcers on the bark, causes the death of branches, and can lead to the complete death of the tree. It is treated with Hom in the spring and after the end of the flowering period.
- Fruit rot. With this disease, brown (rotten) spots appear on the apples. In this case, the drug "Hom" is also used. In addition, it is necessary to get rid of all affected fruits.
With proper planting and subsequent care, you can get a healthy and strong tree that will delight you with a lot of delicious fruits every year. The main thing is to observe all the necessary preventive measures, to neutralize pests in time and to notice diseases at the initial stage.
The apple tree is a popular fruit crop among gardeners. It can be found in many summer cottages. But at the same time, such trees are often affected by various diseases. It is very important to recognize the disease in time and carry out the necessary procedures for a speedy recovery. Otherwise, the fruits will be spoiled, and the tree itself may die altogether.
