Columnar Apple Amber Necklace

The Amber Necklace variety is distinguished by resistance to low temperatures, tolerance to lack of watering, rapid growth, and unpretentiousness. The apple tree takes up little space on the site and gives many large fruits that can be stored until spring.

Not to be confused with Pearl Necklace and Ruby Necklace.

Bred on the basis of a breeding nursery in the Kaluga region by the candidate of agricultural sciences M.V. Kachalkin. Obtained as a result of free pollination of the columnar variety Vozhak.

It has a strong straight trunk without lateral branches, the height of the tree depends on the variety to which the Amber Necklace apple tree is grafted. Belongs to semi-dwarf varieties, grows no more than 3 m, even on a tall rootstock.

The branches are thin and short, located at an acute angle to the trunk, the tips are directed upward. The bark is smooth, gray-brown in color. Differs in significant foliage. The foliage is dense green, medium in size. The leaf plate is elongated, oblong, slightly curved, and has a pointed tip. The surface is shiny, with slight wrinkles, the petiole is long, unpainted. It blooms with large white, sometimes pinkish cupped flowers.

The tree does not tend to grow more than 30-40 cm wide. The tree has a fibrous root system located in the upper layers of the earth. If there is groundwater on the site at a depth of at least 1.5-2 m, then they will not harm. Compact variety, abundant fruit, apples on short branches are evenly distributed over the entire surface of the trunk.

Young trees grow very quickly. Having reached the maximum height, growth is stopped.

Pros:

• suitable for a small area;

• grows rapidly - up to 50 cm over the summer;

• bears fruit fully at 5-6 years old;

• abundant flowering;

• bears fruit regularly;

• high winter hardiness;

• high drought resistance;

• any soil is suitable;

• no need to be afraid of groundwater;

• tolerant of light shading;

• ripe apples do not fall;

• good keeping quality of fruits - until March.

Minuses:

• short production period of 15-17 years;

• excessively hot summer reduces frost resistance;

• for the winter requires the shelter of the roots, in the north - completely;

• not planted near rivers and water bodies.

The fruits form on the edge of small twigs, adhere tightly to the trunk, covering the surface of the apple tree, like a real necklace. The variety does not have a change of seasons of rest and fruiting, for 20 years it bears a harvest, then the apples are not tied. When ripe on the branches, the apples become sweeter, the pulp becomes soft and translucent. It belongs to the late autumn species, the climate of the growing region affects the ripening time. Ripening begins in mid-September.

Recommended for planting in central Russia, in the North Caucasus, in the Crimea.

Differs in early maturity - for 3 years it can bring 5-7 kg, and for 5-7 years, with careful care, it gives 15-20 kg per tree.

At 9-10 years of age, fruiting decreases, and after another 7 years it stops completely.

Rounded, slightly flattened. The average size, weighing 140 g, is largely influenced by agricultural technology, can reach 170 g. If the number of flowers is normalized, then apples reach 300 g.

The skin is firm and smooth. The main color is greenish-yellow, the cover color is pink in the form of a blurred blush. The pulp is not very dense, white, juicy and crunchy, with a delicate aroma. Sweet and sour taste. Tasting score - 4.3 points. Apples keep well. They contain sugar - 14%, acids - 0.6%, pectins - 12%, vitamin C (ascorbic acid) - 14 mg.

It is considered a high-yielding variety. With a large number of fruits, especially if the trunk began to bend, some of the apples are removed - the load is reduced.

The first buds appear in the second year, but it is recommended to remove them so that the plant grows stronger.

They are planted in regions with cold winters in spring when the earth warms up to +14 degrees, in autumn - in September-October in southern and temperate climates, after leaf fall at least 2 weeks before frost. Choose annual seedlings with developed roots, preferably in a container.

The site should be sunny with protection from northerly winds and drafts. A very close location of groundwater is undesirable: the roots of the plant are at the surface, but from excess moisture in the soil they can begin to rot.

A hole is made in a depth and width of 60 cm, about 1 m is left between the trees. A mixture of soil and compost is poured at the bottom, with the addition of dolomite flour (only for acidic soil), superphosphate and potassium. The root collar is left 6-8 cm above the ground. After planting, the tree is tied to a support, watered with warm water, mulched. The soil should be kept moist and loosened regularly. This must be done very carefully so as not to damage the roots, which are located shallowly.

Water about 3 times a month if there is no rain. If it was raining, the next watering begins in 10 days.

Amber Necklace does not need pruning: in spring, damaged and frozen shoots are removed. Lateral branches rarely appear and should be cut off. In autumn, young branches are removed that did not have time to be covered with bark.

A good harvest can only be obtained with proper care. With rare watering, insufficient feeding, the absence of treatments for pests and diseases, fruiting decreases.

Blooms in April-May. The apple tree is considered self-fertile, pollinated with the participation of insects with the pollen of neighboring trees. Recommended varieties: Constellation, Barguzin, Statistics, Sweet Vikich. Pollinators are planted at a distance of no more than 50-90 m. Gardeners advise removing all flowers for the first two to three years after planting. To obtain large fruits, it is necessary to regulate the number of inflorescences.

They are fed 3-4 times per season.During bud break, ammonium nitrate or ammonium nitrate, or urea is introduced, before flowering - liquid mullein, in summer - complex fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus, ash. In the fall, humus is dug into the ground. Top dressing is applied along the outer edge of the trunk circle.

It is characterized by good winter hardiness, tolerates frosts below -30 degrees. In the northern regions, it is recommended to wrap up with breathable materials. Better to cover with a ball method. The soil is insulated with mulch from straw, leaves, spruce branches.

High resistance to fungal diseases such as scab and powdery mildew. The columnar trunk is not shaded by branches, moist air does not stagnate - fungal colonies have nowhere to develop. It is affected by rust, mosaic, cancer, viral spotting. For prophylaxis, in early spring and autumn, they are treated with a solution of Bordeaux liquid. In the event of a disease, the damaged areas are removed, and fungicides are used. Aphids are considered the most dangerous of pests; insecticides are used for destruction. If aphids have settled in a small area of ​​a tree, then they are treated with a solution of ash, laundry soap, yarrow infusion. Other insects are almost never found on the apple tree. For prevention in autumn and spring, the trees are whitewashed with lime to a height of 60-80 cm.

From rodents they are lubricated with grease or linseed oil, treated with copper sulfate.