Apple tree Kovalenkovskoe: description and characteristics of the variety, planting, cultivation and care

Among summer residents, the Kovalenkovskoye apple variety is especially popular. Such demand is determined by the mass of the advantages of the plant: high yield, taste of fruits.

History of the variety Kovalenkovskoe

Breeding work on the development of the Kovalenkovskoe apple tree was carried out on the territory of the fruit-growing research institute of Belarus. Work on the development of the variety was carried out in the late 1990s. The variety got its name in honor of the breeder who is actively working to breed the plant.

Pros and cons of the view

Experienced summer residents highlight several advantages of this variety:

• get regular big harvests;
• high frost resistance;
• preservation of ripe apples on the branches.

There are also disadvantages. These include moderate scab resistance, drought intolerance, short shelf life of the harvested crop.

Description of tree and fruits

Due to the characteristic color of the fruit, this variety has another name - Red Sweet. The tree itself also has distinctive features.

Trunk height

The tree is medium-sized, actively growing. When located on a seedling stock without pruning, it can grow up to 4.5-5 meters.

Crown size

Krone has a rounded dense structure. The shoots are characterized by a fortress, under their weight they go down. Shoots turn dark reddish.

Root system

The roots of the tree are well developed, which allows the tree to form dense stems and a powerful trunk. The root system lies superficially.

Annual growth

The apple tree is actively developing, which is why its annual growth is 0.9-1.1 meters. Such indicators are achieved when favorable conditions are established.

Appearance and taste of the fruit

The main value of the variety is its fruits. They are large, on average 175 grams, with a regular rounded shape. The skin of apples is greenish, but almost its entire surface is covered with a reddish blush.

The fruit pulp is fine-grained. Apples are juicy, medium density. The taste of the fruit is sweet and the aroma is delicate.

Features of fruiting

To get a good regular harvest, you need to know about the nuances of fruiting this variety. Particular attention should be paid to the timing of fruit ripening.

Precocity

This variety is fast growing. The seedling gives the first harvest 2-4 years after planting.

Beginning of period

Fruits begin to ripen in August or early September. The peak of apple ripening falls on September.

Fruit ripening period

During the ripening of fruits, they do not fall off, but are firmly fixed on the branches. This feature makes it possible to harvest apples at the selected time.

Storage and use of apples

The harvested crop is versatile, it is suitable for fresh consumption, as well as after processing. Within a month after picking apples, they ripen. Once the crop reaches its maximum maturity, they cannot be stored for long.

Specifications

When growing the Kovalenkovsky variety, you need to pay attention to its technical characteristics. These include winter hardiness, disease resistance.

Resistant to negative temperatures

The trees planted on the territory of Belarus, Ukraine, the middle zone of the Russian Federation are characterized by high frost resistance. Some summer residents successfully grow this variety in southern Siberia. But in this case, the tree needs to be carefully mulched.

Immunity to diseases

The variety is resistant to pathologies, has an average resistance to fungi. To protect against fungal infection, the soil must be regularly treated with Karbofos, Fitosporin.

Planting and growing

For the effective cultivation of trees of this variety, you need to know the rules of planting. First of all, you need to pay attention to the quality of seedlings.

Selection of seedlings

The best option would be to buy material for planting at the age of 1 year - it adapts more actively to the environment, increases resistance to pathologies and adverse weather conditions, and is less whimsical to care for.

To determine the quality of a seedling, you need to pay attention to several nuances:

1. Planting material in containers must be carefully examined, for this it is advised to remove the tree from the packaging container. The soil ball must be solid, while it must be braided with roots.
2. A seedling ready for planting has flexible stems with he althy, undamaged bark that can be scraped off a little to reveal the green layer of cambium.
3. The grafting site should be located on the tree. It can be seen by a small thickening and curvature on the trunk 5-15 cm from the root collar.
4. A he althy root system usually has a light brownish tint; it should be fresh, not dried, there should be no growths, damage on it. Brown color, swelling and uneven roots are signs of the disease.

Before planting, the selected material must be kept in a growth stimulator for 2 hours.

Preparing the soil mixture

To plant a tree in the spring, the site must be prepared in the autumn. If the landing is scheduled for autumn, preparation must begin 2-3 weeks before landing. To prepare the soil, you need to follow the instructions:

1. Dig holes in a square shape with a side of 0.6 meters and 75 centimeters deep. The distance between the holes is 3 meters.
2. Set aside the fertile layer, add 0.1 kilo of superphosphate and 1 liter of ash to it, mix. You can replace fertilizer with 3 buckets of compost.
3. Add sand to clay soils, and add humus and peat to sandy soil (calculated as 1 bucket per square meter).

Schemes and planting dates

It is best to plant planting material in spring or autumn. If the territory is dominated by a temperate climate, planting is required in the fall. The best time is September or the first part of October. In the Urals and Siberian territories, landing should be organized in early spring.

You need to land according to the scheme:

1. In the middle of the hole, form a hillock of 20 cm, place a seedling on top of it.
2. Drive a peg from the side - it should protrude about 80 cm above the top of the pit.
3. Cover the root system with the prepared soil mixture. Lightly tamp it down. The root collar should remain about 5 cm above the soil level.
4. Use a shovel to form a watering groove around the seedling, pour 2 buckets of water into it.
5. Tie the fit to the support structure.
6. After absorbing moisture, cover the soil with a layer of sawdust 7 cm thick.

Irrigation Regularity

Apple trees planted in the spring should be watered once or twice a week. 1 plant should have 30 liters of water. Gradually, the regularity of watering should be reduced to 1 time per month.

Feeding

You can increase the yield with the help of fertilizers. Within 1 year after planting, the plant is not fed. In subsequent years, the trees are fed taking into account the recommendations:

• in the spring - urea (2 tablespoons per 10 liters of water);
• on the eve of flowering, spraying the crown with "Ideal" (5 milliliters per 5 liters);
• in September - phosphorus-potassium solution (2 tablespoons per 10 liters).

Cutting

For the first 5 years of plant growth, formative pruning should be done. A tree five or more years old needs rejuvenating pruning.

Water and loosening

The soil around the plant needs to be regularly loosened, all weeds removed. You need to loosen the earth to a depth of 10 centimeters.

You need to water the plant along the furrows. You can also use drip irrigation technology.

Shelter for the winter

For the winter, mulch the soil around the trunk with hay or straw. If the trees are young, it is recommended to tie their trunks with agrofibre.

Prevention and treatment of tree diseases

Kovalenkovskoye needs preventive treatments. But with improper care, it can be exposed to diseases. Therefore, when growing an apple tree, it is necessary to regularly inspect the trunk and branches for traces of diseases and pests.

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