Gloucester apples: description and characteristics of the variety, planting and care rules

Apple fruits contain a lot of vitamins and microelements. Culture is bred for their own use and replenishment of the budget. One of the common varieties is Gloucester, whose fruits reveal their taste qualities in the middle of winter. Further information on the use of Gloucester apples, the pros and cons, the nuances of growing crops on the site.

How the Gloucester variety was bred

Apple Gloucester bred by German breeders in the middle of the 20th century. To do this, experts crossed 2 varieties: Glockenapfel and Richard Delicious. From the "parents" Gloucester inherited the best qualities. The variety is very popular in different European countries.

Pros and cons of an apple tree

The positive qualities of culture include the following characteristics:

good taste and appearance of fruits;
high yield;
precocity;
excellent keeping quality and fruit transportability;
good immunity;
unpretentiousness of the plant in care.

The negative qualities include poor frost resistance and large dimensions of the tree.

Description

At a young age, the Gloucester apple tree has a rounded shape. Over time, it becomes pyramidal. The leaves are dark green, rounded, serrated at the edges. The root system is superficial, branched.

Mature tree size

Without forming a crown, the Gloucester apple tree can reach a height of 8 meters. This is one of the significant disadvantages of the variety. A tall tree is difficult to care for and harvest.

Annual growth

The variety is fast growing. The crown of an adult plant spreads up to 3.5 meters wide. Shoots mainly depart from the stem at an acute angle. Fruits are formed on kolchatka and annual shoots.

Specifications

Up to 75 kilograms of round-conical apples are harvested from the tree. Their weight varies between 160-200 grams. Fruits are colored yellow. A red blush spreads over the entire surface. The Gloucester apple tree is harvested at the end of September. Fruits reach consumer maturity in the middle of winter.

Growth areas

Apple of this variety is cultivated in many European countries. Gloucester is popular in the southern regions of Russia and Belarus, in Moldova, in Ukraine.

Winter hardiness

The frost resistance of the culture is average. It does not tolerate winters well in cold regions. Without loss of productivity, the Gloucester apple tree will withstand frosts down to -22 ° C. Therefore, the variety is recommended to be grown in warm areas.

Immunity to infections, fungi and bacteria

Culture has good immunity. But under adverse climatic conditions, it can be affected by scab. High resistance in plants to powdery mildew, fruit rot. In spring, the bark of trees is burned by the bright rays of the sun.

Therefore, experienced gardeners recommend treating the trunks with a solution of lime at the end of autumn. The procedure also contributes to the destruction of the larvae of harmful insects.

Apple tasting evaluation

The flesh of the fruit is creamy, juicy. They contain a large amount of vitamins, trace elements. Fruit tastes sweet and sour. Tasting score - 4.5 points out of 5 possible.

Precocity

The apple tree begins to bear fruit in the 4-5th year after planting. On dwarf rootstocks, the gardener can harvest the first crop in the 3rd year after planting the tree in the ground.

The nuances of ripening and fruiting

Fruits are tied on annual shoots and kolchatka. Harvest in the first month of autumn. Fruits reach technical maturity after they lie down a little.

Pollinator varieties

Gloucester is a self-fertile variety. But when pollinators are planted nearby, the yield increases significantly. The following varieties of apple trees are used:

Jonathan.
Spartan.
Idared.
Gala.

Additional information. An apple is 25% air, so it does not sink in water.

First harvest

The gardener can remove the first fruits in the 4-5th year after planting the tree. If the apple tree is grafted onto a dwarf rootstock, then the fruits are tied in the 2nd-3rd year after planting. From an adult plant, 40-75 kilograms of apples are harvested.

Terms of fruit ripening

The harvest is in September. After lying down for 2-3 months in storage, fruits reveal their taste qualities even more. Apples reach consumer maturity in mid-January.

Periodicity

The Gloucester apple tree is characterized by regular fruiting. Every year the yield increases, reaching a peak at the age of 10-12 years. Up to 75 kilograms of fruits are harvested from one plant.

Storage and use of apple trees

Fruits are consumed mostly fresh. Juicy fruits can also be juiced. In addition, apples are used as a filling for confectionery. Store fruits in a cool place.

Agrotechnology

The yield and immunity of the crop depend on correctly performed agrotechnical measures.

Landing

Trees 2 years old are planted. Purchase seedlings from plant nurseries or garden centers from reliable sellers.

Dropping season

Young trees are planted in open ground in spring or autumn. The first option is preferable for regions with a temperate climate. In warm areas, planting in autumn is allowed.

Preparation of seedlings

The root system of the apple tree is placed in a container with warm water. To prevent diseases, you can add a few crystals of potassium permanganate. If there are damaged areas, they are cut and disinfected.

Scheme and rules for planting a tree

Apple trees are planted in open ground as follows:

dig a hole 60 centimeters deep, 1 meter in diameter;
pour fertile substrate;
plant a seedling in the middle, straighten the roots, cover with earth;
plentifully watered, mulched;
a stake is driven in next to the seedling.

Important! The root neck should be buried no more than 2-3 centimeters.

Irrigation Rules

The Gloucester apple tree is watered in stages. For the first time in a season, the land is irrigated before bud break. The tree is then watered 20 days after flowering. The third time the procedure is carried out 2 weeks before harvest. Plants use between 30 and 120 liters of water depending on age.

Feeding

Fertilize the land in the 3rd year after planting an apple tree. In the spring, nitrogen is introduced to promote the growth of the vegetative mass. Then, before and after flowering, complex mineral fertilizers are used. Foliar top dressing can be carried out in summer.

How to trim

To stimulate the growth of side shoots, the top of the main stem is shortened in the first year. Then dry, diseased, frozen branches are removed. Every year, shoots that thicken the crown are cut off.

Shelter for the winter

In the southern regions, shelter for the winter of the Gloucester apple tree is not required. In colder areas, the tree is wrapped with agrofibre. The trunk circle is mulched with humus.

Processing apple trees from diseases and insects

In early spring, to prevent diseases, preventive spraying is carried out with a solution of Bordeaux mixture. To prevent the appearance of insects, trees are treated with Karbofos, Nitrofen according to the instructions.

Subspecies and variants

Gloucester is used to produce other varieties of apple trees. The culture itself is grown on different rootstocks. The lifespan and height of trees depend on them.

On a dwarf rootstock

M9 is used as a rootstock. The tree reaches a height of 2.5 meters. From such an apple tree it is convenient to collect fruits. Consumer qualities of fruits are preserved.

Columnar

Trees grafted on a columnar rootstock take up very little space. This is a big plus if the gardener has a small area. But the viability of such an apple tree is only 15 years.