Granny Smith apples: variety description and characteristics, cultivation and care with photo

One of the most common varieties of apples in the world is Granny Smith. This variety was bred at the end of the 19th century in Australia. And since then, he has gained popularity among gardeners of the world. Often this variety is sold in stores.

Description of Granny Smith apples

Before buying an apple tree for planting, study its characteristics and description.

The history of the creation of the variety

Granny Smith was first bred in 1868 by Australian breeders. The originator was Maria Anna Smith, who crossed a wild apple tree brought from France with one of the local varieties. A new variety has been named after her.

Useful properties of fruits

Ripe apples are rich in trace elements and other nutrients.

Macronutrients

The macronutrients included in the composition include:

molybdenum;
phosphorus;
potassium;
iodine;
calcium.

Also contains iron.

Micronutrients

Apples contain anthocyanins and flavonoids, pectin and various types of acids.

Vitamins

Fruits are rich in vitamins B, K and biotin.

Product calories

There are only 47 kcal per 100 g of pulp with peel. Due to the low calorie content, fruits are classified as dietary products.

Tasting and aroma

The pulp has a rich apple flavor. Apples are sweet and sour in taste. The longer the fruits are stored, the sweeter they become. The tasting score is 4.4 out of 5.

Contraindications for use

Contraindications include allergy to apples, a predisposition to bloating, ulcers, gastritis and other stomach pathologies.

Use in cooking

In cooking, the use of apples is wide. They are used for making preserves, baking, dried for tea and eaten fresh.

Features

When choosing a variety for planting, pay attention to the size of the tree, yield, fruiting and winter hardiness.

Tree dimensions

Mature trees grow no more than 3.5 m in height. Granny Smith is a semi-dwarf variety. The apple tree is distinguished by a spreading wide crown, shaped like an oval.

Disease resistance

Granny Smith is often affected by powdery mold, rust. Moderately resistant to powdery mildew, scab and monilial scorch.

Winter hardiness

The variety is not winter-hardy. Apple trees can only be planted in regions with moderate winters.

Agricultural activities

Particular attention is paid to agrotechnical procedures when growing the Granny Smith apple tree.

Planting an apple tree

During the planting of the Granny Smith apple tree, special attention is paid to the preparation of seedlings and the choice of planting dates.

Timing

Apple trees are planted in spring and autumn. The advantage of spring planting is that the seedlings have time to get stronger by winter. Seedlings are planted in late April - early May.

Autumn planting allows seedlings to take root until spring. Autumn planting begins in the first half of October.

Seedlings

Before planting, seedlings are dipped in a growth activator a few hours before planting. Immediately before planting, the roots of seedlings are dipped in a liquid solution of clay.

Actions during disembarkation

Steps of planting a tree:

Dig a hole, fill the bottom with manure, compost, wood ash and nitrogen.
Mix the fertilizer with the topsoil and leave the hole for 2-3 weeks.
Put a seedling at the bottom of the pit and gently straighten the roots.
Fill the hole with earth and tamp the soil near the trunk.
Sprinkle with warm water and tie the stem to a stake that is driven into the soil before planting.

If the seedlings were planted in the spring, they are watered several times a week. Watering is not needed in autumn.

Growing

First of all, when growing a Granny Smith apple tree, attention is paid to attracting pollinators to the garden and forming a crown.

Pollinators

Pollinating trees include the following varieties of apples:

Elise;
Ligol;
Pink Lady.

In addition, in order to attract bees, the inflorescences are sprayed with honey solution.

Cutting

In the first few years, apple trees are actively growing. To prevent thickening, the crown is regularly trimmed. Pruning starts from the 2nd year after planting. Skeletal branches are left at a distance of at least 50 cm from each other. Cut off those shoots that grow up. Dry and diseased branches are pruned in autumn.

Care

Apple tree care includes watering, fertilizing and disease prevention.

Irrigation and fertilization

Water and fertilize apple trees 4 times per season. The first time during the growing season, the second time - with the onset of flowering. The third time with the onset of fruiting. And the last time - before the frosts.

During the growing season, the apple tree needs nitrogen. Subsequent times, phosphorus and potassium are introduced into the soil.

Before the onset of cold weather, nitrogen-containing fertilizers should not be applied to the soil. Nitrogen stimulates the growth of shoots, and before the onset of cold weather, top dressing should be aimed at preparing the tree for cold weather. In autumn, the soil around the trunks is mulched with peat. The layer of mulch should be at least 15 cm.

Pest control

From pests every spring, apple trees are treated with Bordeaux liquid, Hom or Skor. From harmful insects, plants are treated with Karbofos or Aktara. The preparations help fight aphids, plum codling moth and other types of insects that are most often found on apple trees.

It is important to regularly inspect trees to prevent the spread of diseases and insects in time. From pests, spraying with a solution of laundry soap with the addition of mustard powder helps. Garlic or marigolds are also planted nearby. The smell of these plants repels insects.

Maturation and fruiting

Fruit ripening and fruiting are important characteristics that you need to pay attention to when buying a seedling.

Flowering

The apple tree blooms in mid-May. By the end of May, flowering ends. The flowering period coincides with the flowering of some late apple varieties.

Ripening

The fruits reach full maturity by mid-September. In some regions, fruits ripen by October.

Beginning of fruiting

Granny Smith begins to bear fruit in the 2-3rd year after planting the seedling in the ground. The plant begins to fully bear fruit in the 4th year.

Frequency of fruiting

The plant bears fruit every year. By the end of the tree's life, fruiting decreases, but not significantly. The apple tree does not begin to bear fruit every year. You can increase the yield by fertilizing.

Yields

The yield is high, up to 150 kg of fruits are harvested from one tree per season. The tree bears steadily every year.

Storage and transportation

Fruits are distinguished by transportability and shelf life, so apples are often grown for sale in stores.

Storage Features

After harvesting, the fruits are stored until November. With proper storage, the period can be extended to winter. The harvested crop is kept in a dark, cool room at temperatures up to +15 degrees.The fruits are regularly inspected and rotten ones are immediately thrown away so that the rot does not spread to other apples.

Transportation of apples

Because of the dense peel, apples endure long transportation, so Granny Smith is often found on shelves and store shelves.

Growing areas

Regions with long summers and short warm winters are suitable for growing the Granny Smith apple tree due to the predisposition to freezing in severe frosts. It is not recommended to plant seedlings in northern latitudes.