Apple tree Spartak: description and characteristics of the variety, planting and cultivation with a photo

Possessing excellent characteristics, the Spartak apple variety has proven itself well among gardeners. The tree easily tolerates hot summers with temperatures up to 55 ° C, and also feels great at low winter temperatures. Culture patiently endures dry winds and dust storms. Even in adverse conditions, summer residents are pleased with abundant harvests of fragrant fruits.

General description of variety

Culture refers to fruit crops of intensive type. It bears fruit from the 3-4th year. Individual specimens delight with delicious apples for the second year.

External Description

The tree is medium-sized. The bark of the plant is brown. Branches from the trunk depart at an acute angle, which is often the cause of breaks. Therefore, the plant needs regular crown formation. Shoots are even, brown-red, straight.

Apple height

The height of the tree grows no more than 6 meters. The crown of the plant is wide, dense, round-pyramidal.

Leaves

Leaf plates in a green culture, wavy, narrowed at the base. Leaves are oval-oblong. The tip is twisted and elongated. There is a slight hairiness on the reverse side of the leaves.

Fruits of the tree

Main characteristics of fruits of the crop:

medium fruit;
weight 90-130 grams;
there are large specimens weighing 300 g;
round shape;
peel shiny, medium thickness, strong;
yellow in color with bright red merging stripes;
medium stem;
medium cup;
seed nest bulbous, medium size;
pulp is fine-grained, medium in density, tender;
tastes sweet and sour.

Technical maturity comes at the end of summer or in the first decade of September. Consumer and commercial properties are high. Apples Spartak belong to the table destination. Suitable for fresh consumption, juice production and culinary purposes.

Root system

The root system of culture is strong, powerful. When buying, you should choose plants with a root length of no more than 40 centimeters.

Rootstocks

Apple variety Spartak is grown on various rootstocks. Summer residents often confuse a columnar apple tree with a dwarf one. To avoid mistakes when buying plants, you should understand the differences.

On a dwarf rootstock

The culture is undersized. An adult plant reaches a height of 3 meters. It has a spreading crown. Benefits:

easy care;
decorative look;
precocity;

Due to its near-surface root system, the crop is suitable for areas where groundwater is close.

Columnar

The main feature of the plant is its appearance. The culture has one strong trunk. Lateral fruit branches are short. The fruits are located along the trunk - this helps to save space on the site and, if necessary, plant more fruit trees.

Cultural Benefits:

the plant bears fruit from the first year;
gives a high yield;
frost resistance.

The disadvantages include a short fruiting period. Culture pleases with a quality harvest for only 15 years, after which the tree is replaced by another.

Characteristics of Spartak apple trees

When buying high-quality planting material, the tree bears fruit from the 4th year. The plant is recommended for growing in areas with cold climatic conditions.

Features of crown formation

The crown of the plant is thick. Branches constantly and rapidly grow at different angles, which leads to their breaking. Therefore, the culture must constantly form a crown.

Color pollination

Culture refers to self-pollinated varieties. Cross-pollination is required for better fruit set.

Fruits

Fruits are juicy, strong. They have high taste qualities. Apples make delicious jam.

Crop characteristics

Spartacus is a high-yielding plant. An adult tree pleases gardeners with a bountiful harvest, which in a prolific year is about 100 kilograms.

How the apple tree Spartacus endures low temperatures

Frost resistance of the culture is average. Requires proper care. When the temperature drops to -25 °С, it freezes over.

Diseases and pests

Possible ailments:

Scab. It usually manifests itself in unsuccessful years with heavy rains. The disease spreads through the foliage and bark of the crop.
Rare cases of plant disease with cytosporosis and fruit rot.

With timely preventive measures, the risk of plant diseases is reduced to zero.

Taste

Experts highly appreciate the taste of apples. They scored 4.5 on a 5-point scale.

Composition of vitamins and trace elements in apple Spartak

Includes:

copper;
potassium;
malic acid;
chlorine;
tartaric acid;
nickel;
iron;
citric acid;
manganese;
chlorogenic acid;
ursulic acid;
calcium;
cob alt;
molybdenum;
valeric acid;
magnesium;
iodine;
propionic acid;
zinc;
isobutyric acid;
vanadium;
phosphorus;
unsaturated fatty acids;
boron;
rubidium;
vitamins (A, C, E, K, H);
fluorine;
aluminum;
sodium;
vitamins B (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9);
chrome;
sulfur.

Depending on the area where the crop grows and climatic conditions, the amount of trace elements and vitamins in the fruits is different.

Planting seedlings

Before purchasing planting material, it is necessary to study in detail the rules and methods of planting a plant.

Ground landing

Before you dig a planting hole, you must carefully clear the area of weeds, pebbles and stumps. The place will need to be well lit and protected from the winds, and groundwater should be deep.

Choosing seedlings

The key to yield is the right planting material. When buying a crop, pay attention to:

Root system. It must be well developed. The length of the roots is not more than 40 centimeters and not less than 35 centimeters.
The thickness of the trunk, which is from 2 to 2.5 centimeters.
Branches. Their number should be 1-3. Length about 50 centimeters.
The height of the trunk. The ideal size is 80-90 centimeters.
Age. Two-year-olds take root best and bear fruit faster.

After choosing seedlings, it is necessary to plant them correctly and provide competent care.

Determining the landing site

Culture is unpretentious to soils. Grows equally well in different regions. In order for a young tree to develop properly and gain growth strength, it is necessary to feed regularly.

At what distance to plant seedlings

Before planting, take into account the crown of an adult plant. In order for the apple tree to receive enough light and nutrients throughout its life, it is necessary to plant crops at a distance of 5 meters from each other.

Date of planting

Planting is allowed twice a year: in autumn, in spring. If the region is characterized by early autumn frosts, then planting work is recommended to be carried out in the spring, before the buds open.

In autumn, the crop is planted in the ground after all the foliage on the trees has fallen, but before the onset of frost.

Step by step disembarkation process

To make the plant take root faster, follow simple recommendations when planting:

Dig a hole in 3 weeks. The minimum size in width and depth is 70 centimeters.
Topsoil mixed with compost and humus. Fall asleep in a hole and pour 30 liters of water. Cover with foil.
After 3-4 weeks, make a depression in the center according to the size of the root system of the plant. Pour 15 liters of water.
Spread the roots. This will help the plant develop better. Place in prepared hole.
The root neck should be 6 centimeters above the soil level. Roots carefully bury and compact the soil.
Make a hole near the trunk. This will help improve watering on hot days.
Drive in a peg next to the plant and tie a seedling to it. Such an event will help the tree to hold firmly and resist the winds.

The culture is plentifully watered and the trunk circle is mulched.

How to grow an apple tree

The first few years of crop care consists of several steps that must be strictly followed in order to get a bountiful harvest.

Tree care

Regularly monitor the cleanliness around the plant. Weeds take away heat and light from apple trees, so they must be removed in a timely manner.

Due to the average winter hardiness, care is taken to ensure that the culture remains alive after the winter period.

After the temperature drops below +15 ° C, the trunk circle is mulched with a layer of humus. It helps to retain heat and does not release it from the ground. The tree trunk is covered with mineral material.

Pruning and crown shaping

Formative pruning is carried out for the first three years. Remove branches growing at a right angle. From the age of 4, only weak and dried parts are cut off. The procedure helps to rejuvenate the crop and makes it possible to obtain abundant harvests of large fruits.

Care during flowering

During flowering, regularly inspect for pests. If found, delete them manually. Spraying with chemicals is not recommended, as they harm beneficial insects that pollinate plants.

Irrigation

Crop watering should be regular. Carry out 4 times a month.

Protection from diseases and pests

For prevention:

planted on high ground;
for air circulation, the crown is regularly thinned out;
dig up the trunk circle in autumn;
in the spring time they make a trapping belt from pests;
The crop is regularly sprayed with special preparations.

If you follow simple recommendations, the plant will grow strong and he althy.

Apple tree nutrition

The best fertilizer is horse manure, which is recommended to feed 3 times a season.

Pollinator varieties

To increase the number of ovaries, pollinating apple trees are planted nearby:

Umanskoye;
Idared;
Ruby Dookie.

Without pollinators, only 30% of ovaries are formed.

Fruiting time

Fruits in 3-4 years. Refers to precocious.

Selection

The first Spartak apples were obtained in 1945. The culture originated from the Skryzhapel and Sharapai apple trees.

Harvest and storage of crops

Pick fruits when their surface turns an intense red hue. If the stripes stand out strongly, then the apples need to hang for a couple more weeks.

Harvest

The fruits ripen unevenly. The first copies can be enjoyed in early September. The rest ripen for about 3 more weeks.

Storage of fruits

Commodity and transportable fruit retain 2 months. After that, their condition worsens significantly, but apples are edible until February.

Use

Fruits fit for:

fresh use;
canning;
juice production;
culinary purposes.

To help the gardener

There are nuances in the rules for growing crops in different regions.

Geography of growing variety

Due to drought tolerance and ability to tolerate heat and cold, suitable for many climates.

Moscow Region

In order for seedlings to take root better, they are whitened with lime twice a year. For the winter period, be sure to cover and mulch the space around the bole.

Middle strip of Russia

In this region, the plant is often affected by scab. To prevent the disease in order to prevent the culture is treated with fungicides.

If the trunk is damaged by rodents, the damaged areas are disinfected with iron sulfate.

Southern regions

In order for the tree to take root better, fertilize with a solution of sodium fertilizer and urea. Based on the characteristics of the soil in this region, to prevent a fracture of the central conductor, a support is constructed that does not allow the plant to sag.

Ural

The soil of the Urals is strong and hard. Therefore, the aeration of the roots of the culture is increased. Several times during the season, the space around the trunk is loosened and the topsoil is broken.

In the Kirov region

To improve the properties of the earth, the near-stem circle is sown with creeping bentgrass. To avoid drying out of the soil, compost and humus are placed around the apple tree.

Other regions

In other regions, crop care does not require additional recommendations and does not differ from caring for other fruit crops.

Purchase of seedlings

It is necessary to purchase planting material only in verified places. The plant should be with a strong root system and no signs of disease damage.