Apples Macintosh: variety description and characteristics, cultivation and care with photos

The Mackintosh apple variety has long been known in different countries of the world, including Russia. The list of the State Register, in which all bred varieties are recorded, is annually expanded with new varieties with improved characteristics. Despite this, there are old cultures whose popularity is not declining. These include the Macintosh apple tree. The secret of her success among gardeners is her yield.

History of variety breeding

Foreign variety Macintosh, or Mekintosh, is one of the autumn varieties. The history of its development is interesting. A fruit crop, as is rarely the case, is not the result of the labor of breeders or the crossing of several varieties.

This variety was discovered by accident, this event happened back in the 18th century. In 1796, farmer Mekintosh bought a plot of land in Ontario and found several young apple trees on it. After the transplant, only one tree survived. It produced an apple harvest every year, and its lifespan exceeded 100 years.

It was this unique apple tree that became the progenitor of a new variety. First, it spread to Canada, and then was introduced to other countries of the New World, and then crossed the ocean and ended up in Europe, reached Russia. The culture was named Macintosh after the name of the discoverer.

External tree data

In our country, the Macintosh apple tree is known under other names. It is called Autumn excellent, Autumn red-sided or Autumn Khoroshevka.

Height and crown size

Culture is a medium-sized tree with a pyramidal crown.The skeletal branches of the plant diverge from the trunk in a cauldron-like fashion. The height of the apple tree can exceed 6 meters, and some specimens grow up to 8 meters. Branches of medium thickness, slightly curved, have a dark cherry hue.

The crown is slightly spreading, not thickened. Their annual growth, on average, is 7-10 centimeters. The trunk is covered with brown bark. The leaves are yellowish-green, broad, slightly pubescent, ovoid in shape. Edged with small teeth. The kidneys are small, with a round top, convex. The fruits are arranged randomly on the branches.

Root system

The root system of the apple tree includes thick skeletal roots and many processes of the second and third order. Young branches are covered with dense, fine hairs, the function of which is to seek and absorb moisture.

Description of the fruit and its taste

Mackintosh fruits can be large or medium in size. The mass of each of them varies between 150-200 grams. The main color of apples is whitish-yellow, sometimes green. The integumentary color consists of blurry dark purple stripes on a red background. The shape of the fruit, planted on short stalks, is spherical, with a slight ribbing.

Apples are covered with a smooth, thin, shiny skin with a waxy coating. It separates from the hearth pulp easily. The seeds are large and pointed. Their color is brown.

The pulp has a white tint, sometimes reddish streaks are located along it. It tastes juicy and very tender, with a pronounced sourness and a bright aroma. Has a medium density.

The purpose of the variety is fresh consumption. In addition, Mackintosh apples are often used for winter preparations, they are used in the preparation of apple sauce, drinks, and also as a filling for pastries.

Characteristics of the apple tree

Distinctive qualities of Mackintosh variety are duration of fruiting, pleasant taste of fruits, average winter hardiness and transportability of apples. It has a plant and its drawbacks. Many gardeners report poor resistance to certain diseases, such as scab, as well as reduced yields due to adverse weather conditions and unfriendly fruit ripening.

Resistant to negative temperatures

Variety Macintosh is among the medium-hardy. In the winter months, when the air temperature drops to -20 ^{C, the fruit shoots of this plant often freeze slightly. During the next growing season, this manifests itself in a decrease in yield.}

Susceptibility to diseases and insects

The most common diseases that pose a danger to this variety are fungal, namely: scab, powdery mildew. And the main insect pests that can cause damage to a tree include codling moth and aphid.

Areas where landing is possible

In Russia, the variety is most often found in the southern regions of the European part. In addition, the Macintosh apple tree is zoned in the North Caucasus and the Lower Volga.

Pollination and self-fertility

Representatives of the Macintosh variety are considered self-fertile plants. However, experienced gardeners recommend cross-pollination with other varieties. This allows you to increase the number of ovaries.

Flowering and ripening dates

For the first time, the culture blooms in the second year of life. Flowering occurs at the beginning of May. The maturation of the hearths is uneven. To preserve the harvest, it begins to be harvested at the end of August.

Yields

One mature Macintosh tree produces, on average, 200 kilograms of fruit per season. Among the representatives of the variety there are also champions. Some of them in favorable growing conditions show a yield of 350 kilograms.

At the same time, in some years, the fruiting of a crop may decrease, without periodicity.

Storage time and use of fruits

The harvested crop ripens within 3 weeks. Fruits stored at +5 ,+10 ^{С leave their taste unchanged for 3-4 months. They are used to make juices, jams, ciders, sauces, pie fillings.}

Planting and farming practices

Proper planting and subsequent care determine the lifespan of a tree and its yield.

Date and landing plan

Planting of seedlings is carried out in early spring, before bud break, or in autumn, 30 days before frost. When landing, they dig a hole, the depth of which should be 60 centimeters, and the width - 100 centimeters.The distance between adjacent seedlings must be at least 3 meters.

The bottom of the pit is covered with humus, a glass of wood ash and superphosphate is added. Having planted a seedling, a peg must be installed nearby. When planting, make sure that the neck of the root of the planted tree is above the ground, at a height of 5-6 centimeters.

Essential earth mix

In areas where sandy soil predominates, black soil, humus and peat must be added to the soil before planting. And when preparing a pit for a seedling, a layer of clay about 10 centimeters thick should be poured onto the bottom.

Fertilizer and watering

Thanks to regular fertilizing, the culture begins to bear fruit quickly and actively.

It is recommended to use nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers every year, and mineral and nitrogen fertilizers every three years.

The first watering is carried out immediately after planting. The required volume of water for one plant is at least 4 buckets. The next watering is breaded no earlier than in 6-7 days.

Preventive treatment

To protect against diseases and pests, they resort to spraying. For the first time, this procedure is carried out before bud break, to destroy the larvae. Then the trees are treated at the beginning of the flowering period, to protect against fungal diseases. Fixing spraying occurs at the end of flowering.

Crown pruning

For the first time trees are pruned immediately after planting. This is done in such a way that the branches are located 5 centimeters lower than the main conductor. Subsequently, bud pruning is carried out so that the main side shoots show active growth.

Preparing the apple tree for winter

Before the onset of cold weather, you need to take care of the frost resistance of the crop. To do this, hilling and mulching of trunk circles is performed. Whitewashing of lime or chalk is applied to the lower parts of the trunks.

Varieties

Mackintosh apple trees are successfully propagated by rootstocks, which makes it possible to develop new fruit crops. There are several varieties of the variety.

Daughter

Is the result of a cross between China Coulomb and Mackintosh. The apple tree was bred by domestic breeders. It belongs to winter varieties, it is resistant to low temperatures, high yields, and storage time. The fruits are green in color, with a reddish blush. The variety was bred specifically for cultivation in the Moscow region.

Black

Late autumn variety with yellow-green fruits. It gives the first crops, starting from the fourth year of life. Apples are sweet and sour, medium in size. One of the benefits of Mackintosh Black is drought tolerance.

Cortland

A well-known variety introduced in the USA in 1898. At the beginning of the 20th century it was brought to Russia. The variety is characterized by late maturation. Apples weigh up to 110 grams. Cortland shows scab tolerance, which reduces its yield.

American

Weak culture. Belongs to mid-autumn varieties. The fruits are bright red in color and have a sweet taste. Their main advantage is their saturation with vitamins, due to which apples are often used for baby food.

Columnar

It is a straight bole without spreading lateral branches. The fruits are located on small fruit twigs along the trunk. This shape of the tree allows you to save space on the site. The variety is characterized by fast fruiting. The life expectancy of this species is no more than 13 years. After this period, apple trees are replaced with young ones.

Currently, there are about 60 varieties of Mackintosh in the world, and about a third of them are bred by domestic breeders. When choosing apple tree seedlings, it is worth taking a closer look at the varieties Melba, Orlovskoye striped, Spartan, Orlik, Slava Winners.All of them are the result of hybridization of the old variety Macintosh.