Apple tree March: description of the variety and characteristics, pros and cons with a photo

Martovskoye apple-tree is considered one of the longest-lasting varieties. Named due to the long-term preservation of the presentation. With the right approach to care and cultivation, juicy and sweet apples retain their appearance and taste until March. Due to its high productivity, the variety is grown not only by amateur gardeners, but also by large commodity producers.

History of selection

The variety was obtained by Soviet scientists by crossing the American McIntosh variety with the Soviet Antonovka. Plants over 10 years old were chosen for crossing.

At the beginning of the work, breeders pollinated 18 trees, but for secondary pollination, pollen was collected from 11 of the most successful specimens. After re-pollination, scientists received seeds of a new variety.

In the 70s, the apple tree passed the state test:

seed stratification;
hardening seedlings in cities with harsh climates.

The hybrid entered the state register after 20 years and immediately gained popularity among gardeners and industrialists for cold resistance, taste, keeping quality and productivity.

Description of the March apple tree

Features of the variety: tall, early-growing and unpretentious. An adult tree grows up to 7 meters, forming an elongated, not sprawling crown. Strong skeletal branches are directed almost at an angle of 90 degrees. Branches of the 2nd and 3rd orders are located compactly at an acute angle. The bark is smooth and light brown.

The leaf is large, oblong, deep olive color. The tip is shortened and twisted, the edges are slightly raised with small teeth. The surface is smooth with barely noticeable roughness.

Snow-white flowers with a subtle aroma of small size, oblong petals.

Large fruits reach up to 200 grams, are evenly distributed throughout the tree. Rounded apples have a thin smooth skin, white, juicy flesh and a sweet and sour taste. The fruits are olive-colored with well-defined subcutaneous points.

100 grams of product contains:

ascorbic acid - 17.6 mg;
sugar - 11.7 mg;
P-active substances - 223 mg.

Due to the detailed description, you can determine for yourself whether a variety is suitable for growing on a personal plot or not.

Varieties

Apple tree can be grown on different types of rootstocks: dwarf or columnar varieties.

Dwarf

The apple tree does not lose all its advantages and positive qualities when grafted onto a dwarf stock. With such a rootstock, harvesting begins 4 years after planting. Even if the fruiting is not constant and not high yielding, the efficiency comes from space savings and reduced planting waste.

Dwarf trees are planted at a distance of 3 meters from each other.

Stunted trees have two drawbacks:

not frost resistant;
fragility.

Columnar

This species is small in size and does not have strongly developed side shoots. Fruiting occurs at year 3.

Columnar trees don't need much space. They form hedges and cover unsightly places in the garden. The distance between landings should be at least 1.5 meters. The plant should be provided with drip irrigation, especially in the southern regions.

Columnar species have two drawbacks - they are not long-lived and unstable to severe frosts.

Pros and cons of the variety

Like every variety, the March apple tree has its positive and negative characteristics.

Positive include:

yield;
hardiness to harsh climate;
drought tolerance;
keeping quality and transportability.

Variety Faults:

low scab immunity;
unfriendly fruit ripening;
unripe crop not suitable for long-term storage;
due to high growth, crown formation is difficult to perform.

Key Features

The variety has gained popularity for its cold resistance and early maturity.

Apple tree size

Martovskoye apple-tree is a tall variety, reaches up to 7 meters, with a large annual growth. The crown is pyramidal, not spreading. The branches are large, located almost perpendicular to the trunk.

Frequency of fruiting

Seedlings, with proper care, begin to bear fruit from 3-4 years of age. To reap a generous harvest, the tree must be fertilized twice a season: in spring - before bud break and during fruiting.

Fruits are distributed evenly and appear both on the main shoots and on the annulus.

Yield and fruit evaluation

Young seedlings bear fruit regularly, with age there is a slight cyclicity. At 10 years of age, a tree can produce up to 50 kg of apples.

To get a generous harvest, pollinator varieties are planted nearby: Sinap Severny, Bogatyr or Ranet Chernenko.

The taste is high, apples are harvested in mid-October, and stored for up to six months. Marketability is high, at the level of 92%.

Winter hardiness

The variety has cold resistance at the gene level. In severe frosts, slight freezing is possible, which is quickly restored during the growing season.

Diseases and pests

Resistance to diseases is estimated at 3.7 points. In regions with a dry climate, the tree rarely suffers from viral and fungal diseases.

In unfavorable weather, diseases spread rapidly, affecting the leaf plate and the crop, which worsens the presentation and taste.

If you do not follow the rules of care on the apple tree often appears:

aphid;
leaflet;
apple moth;
flower beetle;
scab;
cytosporosis;
powdery mildew;
bacterial rot.

In order not to encounter diseases and pests, in the spring, before and after flowering, the tree must be sprayed with fungicides.

Growing regions

Natural region of growth - Central Russia. But due to its high frost resistance, the variety can be grown in all regions of Russia.

The tree grows well in moist soil, at an average temperature level, but thanks to genes it grows safely in dry and hot climates. In this case, the plant needs regular watering, loosening and mulching of the trunk circle.

Martovskoye variety is popular because of its high productivity, frost resistance and ease of cultivation. Its long shelf life and good transportability make it ideal for home gardens and commercial cultivation.