Apple tree Spartan: description and characteristics of the variety, cultivation and care with photo

The new apple variety Spartan stands out for its high yield. Refers to the winter ripening period. Thanks to the excellent indicator of the taste of apples, the culture is gaining popularity among summer residents. In Canada, fruits are grown for export. The culture grows in Poland, Switzerland, Ukraine, Russia.

Description and characteristics of the Spartan apple tree

Winter ripening variety. The culture, bred in Canada, has become widespread in Europe.

Appearance variety

The culture is medium-sized. The crown is flattened and rounded. The central conductor of the plant is tilted. The branches are painted burgundy.

Color and shape of leaves

The leaves are shiny, dark green, rounded with a relief surface.

Tree height

Culture has an average strength of growth and reaches 6 meters.

Crown width

Unusual splendor culture gives a large number of branches, which are located at an angle of 70 ° to the trunk. The lilac shoots of the apple tree are slightly down.

Tasting evaluation

Plant fruits:

• dense;
• crunchy;
• fragrant;
• juicy.

Sour notes are clearly felt in the sweet taste of apple fruits. The skin is strong and thick.

Frost resistance

Culture does not withstand frost and frost. Requires good cover.

Self-fertility

The plant is self-fertile and acts as a pollinator for other crops.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Before buying a plant, you need to study the advantages and disadvantages of the culture.

Cons:

• Poor frost resistance. In the central regions of the Russian Federation, summer residents need to provide additional care.
• Over time, the fruits shrink.
• Culture requires constant pruning.

Positive properties:

• keeping quality of apples, subject to the conditions, the fruits are stored until April;
• good crop transportability;
• boosting yields;
• fruits from the 3rd year;
• disease resistant;
• high palatability.

Fruits are ideal for juicing and making jams.

Fit features

Before planting a plant, you need to choose the right place.

Date of planting

Culture is planted in autumn or spring. In autumn, the best period is the beginning of October. In the spring - the last decade of April.

Choosing a seat

The site is chosen without groundwater and with fertile soil. The culture prefers lit places with a regular stream of sunlight.

Distance between trees

From other cultures, Spartan is located at a distance of 4.5 meters. When planting several seedlings of the same variety, leave a gap of 3 meters.

Fitting technology

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

1. Dig a hole 100 centimeters wide and 50 centimeters deep.
2. Fertile soil mixed with fertilizer. The bottom is covered with stones. Ash, humus, superphosphate and potassium are used as top dressing. The resulting mixture is filled with drainage.
3. The root system is being corrected. Placed in a hole and covered with soil.
4. Watch the location of the root neck. It must be above ground level.
5. The earth is being rammed.
6. Pour over 25 liters of water.
7. The soil around is mulched.

Clay soil is pre-mixed with sand, compost and peat.

Tree care

In order for the plant to feel good and not be affected by diseases, several significant points are taken into account.

After planting

A stake is stuck next to the hole, to which a plant is tied with a ribbon. This will help the crop withstand strong winter winds.

The trunk circle is regularly weeded and loosened. The apple tree does not tolerate weeds.

Irrigation

On hot days, the culture needs additional watering. It is carried out 2 times a week by sprinkling. To saturate the root system with oxygen, the near-stem circle is loosened after each watering.

Feeding

Feed the crop 3 times per season:

1. In April. After the snow has completely melted. Use root fertilizer. To do this, mix 20 liters of humus, 25 g of ammonium nitrate and 250 g of urea. Fertilize the near-trunk crop circle.
2. When the plant blooms. To do this, 2 liters of bird droppings are diluted in a bucket of water. Fertilize only in dry weather.
3. After flowering is complete. In a 15-liter bucket, 15 g of dry sodium humate and 750 grams of nitrophoska are diluted.

It is not recommended to fertilize the plant before the winter period.

Cutting

Culture is famous for its high growth of branches. Therefore, it is very important to produce crown formation. The plant is annually subjected to sanitary pruning. The growth of branches in the process of crown formation is directed sideways. This helps to make the apple tree more stable.

The tree needs sanitary pruning. To do this, if necessary, remove dry, diseased and damaged branches. It is necessary to remove parts that rub against each other, intertwine and grow towards the trunk. Pruning saturates the crown with sunlight, thereby providing a steady influx of fresh air masses. This helps to prevent the spread of pests and the reproduction of diseases.

Preparing for winter

Cultivation in the central regions must take into account the poor ability to endure harsh winters. Therefore, before the onset of frost, the plant is additionally prepared:

• Produce pre-winter watering. To fully saturate the crop with moisture, you need 45 liters of water.
• The trunk circle is insulated with a layer of peat, which is at least 30 centimeters.
• The fallen snow is raked under the plant and compacted.

The younger the tree, the more carefully it needs to be looked after.

Diseases and pests

Culture is susceptible to the same diseases as most varieties of apple trees. Canadian breeders have achieved high resistance to:

• Powdery mildew. The first manifestation is a white coating. It appears as a white fluff, which is easily erased. Then it becomes more rough and brown. As a result, the foliage dries up, and dots appear on the fruits. Topaz helps to cope with the disease.
• Parche. The disease is manifested by black dots on the fruits. In the initial stage, their quantity is small and does not affect the taste. In an advanced degree, the disease completely affects apples and makes them unfit for consumption. Fungicides are used for prevention and treatment. Chorus is ideal for these purposes.
• Cytosporosis. The disease manifests itself on the bark in the form of spots. Then the affected parts dry up and fall off. The drug "Hom" helps in the fight.
• Fruit rot. Damages apples. They rot and become covered with beige dots. Horus will help get rid of the problem.

Despite resistance to ailments, with a strong thickening of the crown or constant high humidity, these ailments can affect the culture. With due attention and care, the plant rarely suffers from the listed diseases.

Pests:

• Aphids. The insect sucks the juices from the plant, thereby depleting it and worsening the quality of the crop. Control measures should be started immediately after the detection of the pest on the crop. It is best to carry out preventive treatments against the appearance of aphids. Manual removal of insects also helps, but this is a long and laborious process. The danger of aphids lies in the high fertility. It reproduces very quickly and voluminously. Massive insects are able to drink all the juices in a short time and destroy the tree.
• Codling moth. She strikes apples, gnawing their moves. Each larva infects 3 fruits, after which they do not have time to ripen and fall prematurely.

A good protection against insect pests is a trapping belt mounted on a tree trunk. They also use electric traps and baits with odorous liquids.

Features of cultivation in different regions

Recommendations:

1. In Siberia, the crown is formed in such a way that it is hidden under the snow cover. This will help keep the culture from freezing.
2. In Belarus, the climate is suitable for cultivation. A large amount of regular rainfall provokes the reproduction of diseases. Regular preventive measures against diseases are needed.
3. In Ukraine. The climate is ideal for growing the plant and does not require additional care recommendations.

When growing in the middle lane, it is required to regularly water and loosen the ground.

Collection and storage

The amazing taste of the fruit is very popular, so in Canada apples are used for export. In the Russian Federation, fruits are used for their own needs. The variety is not grown for large-scale purposes. The taste of the first fruits can be enjoyed in the last decade of September.They are removed from the tree until December. Harvesting late helps the fruits to saturate with juice and acquire a unique taste.

Apples are well attached to the branches and do not fall off. This greatly simplifies harvesting and ensures a high quality crop.

Fruits are stored for a long time. They are kept in wooden boxes. Place should be:

• ventilated;
• cold;
• dark.

Perfect cellar. With proper storage, they lie until March. Heat increases the sweetness of apples and causes them to wilt.

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