Gala apple tree: description and characteristics of the variety, varieties, cultivation and care

Apple variety Gala has been winning the hearts of gardeners for more than a year. The hybrid was first bred in New Zealand, and after a few years it spread throughout the world. Apples of this variety are most often found on the shelves in stores because of their beautiful red color of the skin and the shape of the fruit. Subsequently, 20 more similar varieties with improved characteristics were bred from the parent hybrid.

Description and characteristics of the apple tree Gala Mast

Before buying a seedling of the Gala apple tree, you should study the characteristics of the tree and its description.First of all, you should pay attention to favorable areas in which the tree will grow best. In addition, the size of an adult tree and yield are an important characteristic.

Good Growing Areas

The most favorable regions for growing Gala Mast apple varieties are forest-steppes and steppes. A variety is planted on the territory of the Central and Volga regions, where the soil is predominantly of the chernozem type. Also, the hybrid grows well in the regions of the Caucasus. Trees are positively related to the subtropical climate. But in the North, Gala Mast is unlikely to take root due to harsh climatic conditions.

Tree height

The hybrid belongs to medium-sized apple trees, reaching a height of 3 to 4.5 m. Even in old age, the apple tree can reach a height of 5 m. In order for the tree not to grow too tall, it is pruned every year.

Crown width

The shape of the crown resembles a flattened circle at the top and bottom. The crown itself is spreading, the branches are unevenly spaced. The width of the crown matches the chosen rootstock.

Yields

Apple variety Gala is productive. Up to 90 kg of apples are harvested from one tree. Since the tree has a tendency to overload, you need to regulate the number of inflorescences and ovaries. Fruiting is the same level every year. Those apple trees that have been growing for a long time give less yield, and the tree does not bear fruit every year.

Tasting evaluation

Apples of this variety are considered one of the most delicious. The tasting score is 4.7 out of 5 points. The pulp is dense and juicy, fine-grained. The peel is red-orange. The fruits are rich in trace elements and vitamins, especially ascorbic acid.

Winter hardiness

Trees endure frosty winters when temperatures drop to -30 degrees. But on the condition that such a temperature in winter will last for several days. If all winters in the growing region are frosty, the tree will not be able to survive a severe drop in temperature.

Disease resistance

There is no apple variety that has 100% resistance to fruit tree diseases. The hybrid Gala has an average resistance to scab and bacterial cancer. The tree is immune to powdery mildew and European cancer. Regular preventive measures will prevent the appearance of diseases on the apple tree.

Life span of a tree

Apple trees are long-lived plants and can grow up to 150 years. Naturally, fruiting decreases with age.

Rules for planting seedlings

Planting seedlings is a crucial stage, during which the basis for the productivity and he alth of the tree is laid. Planting a Gala apple tree seedling does not differ from planting seedlings of other varieties. The main thing is to adhere to the rules of agricultural technology while planting a bush in a permanent place.

Date of landing

The optimal planting time in spring is the period from early April to early May. In autumn, seedlings are planted 20-25 days before the onset of autumn frosts. The seedling must have time to take root in a new place before frost hits.

Choosing a seat

The first thing to remember when planting the Gala variety on the site is the illumination. The hybrid prefers to grow in open sunny areas away from blackout. If you plant a plant in the shade, the yield will decrease, and the apple tree itself will grow poorly.Due to the lack of sunlight, the number of buds decreases, which in turn leads to poor flowering and the formation of ovaries.

The apple tree tolerates partial shade, but fruiting in this case will begin later after planting.

Gala prefers to grow on loamy, sandy loam soils or black earth. It is recommended to give preference to elevated areas where melt water will not accumulate in spring. Apple tree Gala prefers to grow on dry soils without excessive moisture.

Choosing a quality seedling

Before buying a seedling, it is carefully inspected. The seedling should not have any signs of damage, dry branches, spots and traces of insects. It is also worth paying attention to the root system. The roots should be elastic and strong, not broken. The trunk is straight, with dense bark.

Boarding process

The process of planting a seedling takes place in several stages. Stages of planting the Gala apple tree:

Dig up the soil, dig a hole to a depth of 1 m.
Fill in mineral fertilizers for growth, rotted compost and wood ash.
Mix the fertilizer with the soil and leave the hole like this for 2-3 weeks.
After 2-3 weeks, they start planting a seedling.
Place the seedling in the hole, gently straighten the roots and bury the seedling with soil.
Tamp the soil around the trunk.
Water abundantly with warm water.
Then drive a stake next to the seedling and tie the trunk to it.

The apple tree is planted one month before the onset of night frosts, so that the seedling has time to take root and survive the winter.

How to care for an apple tree

Caring for an apple tree includes watering, fertilizing, loosening the soil and preventing diseases and insects. It is also important to devote time to the formation of the crown every year. Proper care helps increase yields.

Cutting

Young branches in the spring are cut to 1/3 of the entire length of the branch. Such measures allow you to regulate the overload of the tree and increase productivity.

Irrigation

Apple tree Gala does not like excessive humidity. It is enough to water the tree twice a month. If the summer is rainy, then watering is completely abandoned. Young seedlings are watered once a week.

Feeding

The first top dressing is applied at the stage of bud formation. Use nitrogen-containing fertilizers, humus or ammonium nitrate. The second time fertilizers are applied in the summer, in the first decade of June. Phosphorus and potassium, slurry, chicken manure or urea are added. The third top dressing is made in August or September. The last feeding is carried out before the onset of cold weather. Humus, peat, phosphate and potash fertilizers, humus and compost are introduced in autumn.

Preparing for winter

With the onset of autumn, the soil around the trunk is dug up to a depth of 30-40 cm. The soil is covered with peat. The apple tree does not need active preparation for winter.

Diseases and pests

With the onset of spring, the lower parts of the trees are whitewashed with a solution of lime. Then, until the buds have blossomed, the trees are sprayed with a 3% solution of Bordeaux mixture. After the apple tree fades, it is treated with copper chloride.

Variety options

After the Gala hybrid was created, breeders based it on more than 20 other varieties with improved characteristics.

Brookfield

Brookfield begins to ripen in early September. With proper care, the variety has a high yield. Harvested fruits are stored until the onset of winter.

Galaxy

Apples of deep red color with dark stripes. Ripens a little earlier than the Gala variety. The average fruit weight is 150-190 g. The harvested crop is stored for up to 4 months. The pulp is sweet and sour in taste.

Delish

This variety is not as common as all other hybrids. The characteristics are similar to the parent variety Gala.

Costa

It tastes like Gala Mast, only the apples are slightly smaller. On average, the weight of the fetus is up to 150 g.

Cube

The hybrid was bred by breeders from Krasnodar. The peel of the fruit is light yellow in color, weighing from 140 to 180 g.

Mondial

First bred in 1978 and quickly gained popularity with gardeners. The shape is more elongated in contrast to the parent variety.

Natalie

In terms of taste and shade of peel, Natalie is no different from Gala Mast, only apples are slightly smaller in size.

Prince

Prince is another name for Gala Must.

Red

The peel of apples is red. The fruits ripen in the second decade of August. Stored until March. Moderately resistant to powdery mildew and scab.

Royal

Fruits shaped like Gala. The peel is yellow-red. It was this variety that was first bred on the basis of Gala Mast.

Growing in different regions

The Central regions and the Volga region are considered the most suitable for growing Gala apple trees. Winters in these latitudes are not so frosty. The Krasnodar Territory is also suitable for cultivation, because it was for this region that the variety was zoned. In addition, most hybrid clones were created in the Krasnodar Territory. In the northern latitudes, cultivation is problematic due to the fact that the trees are not frost-resistant, and some die in winter.

Helpful tips

The future harvest depends on the correct planting and care of the apple tree. Apple Growing Tips:

When planting a seedling, do not deepen the root neck. It should be 2-3 cm above the ground.
If the soil is sandy, then a 10 cm layer of clay is laid at the bottom of the pit, and then a thick layer of peat is laid out.
Manure is applied in large quantities in autumn.
Spring apple tree requires nitrogen-containing top dressing.
Preventive measures to prevent the development of diseases of fruit trees begin in March.

If you follow the rules for planting a seedling and caring for it, in a few years the apple tree will bring a rich harvest. It should be remembered that without care, fruiting will be poor, and the apple tree itself will grow poorly.