Apple Lobo: description and characteristics of the variety, varieties, planting and care

Canadian breeders bred the variety Lobo by free pollination. A 1906 experiment to improve the Mackintosh seedling was a success. To date, Lobo apple trees grow in Belarus, Ukraine, the B altic states, and Central Russia, despite the fact that in the register of fruit trees the variety is classified as a plant of the Volga and Central Black Earth regions.

Characteristics and description of the variety

Lobo is a winter variety. Its apples ripen equally well in drought and cold summer conditions. The seedlings are distinguished by the cherry color of curved, flexible shoots. The leaves of the fruit tree have a bright green matte color, oval shape, the outer side is bumpy.Depending on the rootstock used, the leaf shape may change somewhat.

Fruit ripening occurs on last year's growth. The weight of apples varies from 130 to 180 g. The shapes of apples from apple trees grown on different rootstocks may differ - conical and flattened-rounded fruits are characteristic of this variety. Lobo varietal apples are distinguished by a small core, a heart-shaped testis.

The peel of unripe apples is green, yellow. Ripe fruits are distinguished by a rich burgundy blush covering almost the entire surface. The wax coating that makes the apple bluish does not hide subcutaneous points.

Tasting evaluation

Lobo received a high tasting score (from 4.5 to 4.8 out of 5 possible points) for fine-grained, sour-sweet flesh exuding a light alluring aroma of raspberry caramel.

Pollinators

The flowering period of the apple tree falls in the middle - the end of May, respectively, pollinating varieties should bloom in the same period. Lobo has no special preference for the neighborhood with certain types of apple trees. The only unwanted neighbor is a Chinese girl.

Height and crown diameter

At the initial stage of growth, the crown has a rounded, elongated crown. As the fruit tree matures, its branches begin to deviate downward. The shape of the crown becomes like a ball flattened from above, it is not prone to thickening. Every year the growth of branches is reduced. The final shape of the crown can be done with pruning, which will make a tree with a slender straight trunk a garden decoration.

Yields

During the period of the best yield of an adult tree in a season, up to 380 kg of fruit can be removed from it. On a young tree, such a crop does not happen, but every year it increases. The Lobo apple tree has consistently high yields.

Beginning of fruiting

The first crop from an early-growing apple tree can be harvested in the 3-4th season after planting. After 6-7 years, a tree grafted with an eye taken from a cultivated cutting will begin to bear fruit. Any rootstock is suitable for budding, with the help of such a grafting, you can improve the quality of apples of a wild-growing apple tree.

Ripening dates

The ripening of fruits on the Lobo apple tree is simultaneous, it falls on the end of September - the beginning of October. The variety is distinguished by good keeping quality, preservation of presentation after transportation.

Winter hardiness

An apple tree without additional insulation measures without damage winters in climatic conditions with frosts down to -30 °C.

Advantages and disadvantages of Lobo apple trees

Lobo fruit tree is resistant to drought and frost, has stable yields, starts fruiting early, apples are not damaged during transportation.

Disadvantages of the variety include:

susceptibility to diseases of scab and powdery mildew during prolonged rains;
when budding, the date of harvesting the first crop is postponed by 3-4 years;
storage of apples is limited to 3 months;
branches need props to keep them from breaking under the weight of the fruit.

Landing

Seedlings 2 years old are used for spring planting. In older seedlings, the survival rate is worse, they are planted in the middle - the end of November, so their roots adapt better to a new place. A properly chosen and prepared place for planting is the key to good harvests in the future.

What is the scheme for planting seedlings?

Lobo apple tree seedlings are planted in a row with an interval of 4-5 meters. When grafting to old boles of apple trees or drupes, it is better to maintain a step between trees of at least 5 m both in line and between rows.

Basic soil requirements for planting Lobo apple trees

The best soil for Lobo apple trees is light earth (loam) in an elevated, sunlit, wind-protected place. The occurrence of groundwater should not be closer than 1 m from the surface in this place, otherwise the apple tree will constantly get sick from excess moisture.

Which hole to plant a seedling in?

Depth of the landing pit 90 cm, width - 1m. For areas in the lowlands and with a close occurrence of aquifers, high-quality drainage is required, for this gravel or medium fractional crushed stone is poured onto the bottom of the landing hole, broken red brick is also suitable.

Most of the selected soil is mixed with:

30 l peat;
20 l of humus;
1 kg superphosphate.

The hole is filled with this mixture by 40-50 cm, simple garden soil is poured over the earth enriched with nutrient mixture. With a strong depletion of the fertile layer, the soil spills with slurry.

Care

The he alth of the tree and its productivity depend on quality care. Pruning in the case of the Lobo variety affects the shape of the crown - the aesthetic appearance of the plant. Mulching - covering the ground next to the tree trunk with sawdust and straw, prevents the appearance of weeds, promotes the evaporation of moisture.

Cutting

A tree planted in spring is cut for the first time for the next season to form a crown from the branches of the 1st and 2nd stages. Active crown formation is carried out in the first 4 years after transplantation.

Further, only pruning of damaged, deformed branches and a slight correction of overgrown branches is required. Given the peculiarity that the fruits are tied on last year's rings, annual replacement of old shoots with new ones is required.

Feeding

At the stage of formation of ovaries, the apple tree requires nitrogen, which gives strength for the formation and ripening of fruits. In the second half of June, it is recommended to fertilize the apple tree with urea, mineral and organic top dressings.

When fruiting is achieved, the tree is fertilized with urea, mineral, nitrogen and organic top dressings. In summer, ash, compost and potash fertilizers are applied to the soil. Application of ash to the soil is recommended.

Protection from diseases and pests

The Lobo apple tree is not distinguished by high immunity to diseases. In the gardener's arsenal against the main enemies of the apple tree - scab and powdery mildew, there should be copper-containing prophylactic agents - "Horus" and "Skor".

Antifungal preventive measures:

top dressing with potash and phosphate fertilizers;
ash to reduce soil acidity;
treatment with colloidal sulfur;
removal of affected areas, burning them;
annual sanitary pruning;
timely harvest.

Systematic tree care, feeding, pruning, whitewashing will significantly reduce the risk of disease.

Varieties of rootstocks

Lyubo variety requires a winter-hardy stock, its main characteristics are transferred to the grafted plant:

An apple tree will grow on a dwarf rootstock, not exceeding 3 m in height.
On a semi-dwarf rootstock, used mainly in very limited garden plots, Lobo fruiting will begin as early as the 2nd-3rd season.
The smallest apple trees grow on a columnar rootstock, their height is not more than 2 m. These plants do not have skeletal branches, the formation of fruits occurs on the annulus growing from the trunk.
The height of the apple tree on the slate rootstock is the same as that of the standard one. It is more resistant to diseases, gives a high yield.

The smaller the apple tree, the lower the yield, life span and fruiting of the plant.

Features of cultivation in some regions

In the Volga region, this apple tree, despite the arid climate, grows without requiring special attention from the gardener. For Muscovites and residents of the Leningrad region, when growing this variety of apples, strict adherence to the agrotechnical stages of planting, soil enrichment, care, and preparing a tree for winter is required.

Harvest and storage of crops

Collecting apples for long-term storage is carried out at the stage of their technical maturity. In this case, both keeping quality and transportability of the crop will be at the highest level. The maximum shelf life of Lobo apples is 3 months from the date of collection.After that, the fruits begin to dry out, wrinkle, and their taste qualities suffer.