Apple Barrel: description and characteristics of the variety, yield and cultivation

At the end of summer comes the season of apples. Fruits are among those crops that grow well in any region of Russia. One of the popular varieties of apple trees is Barrel. This variety gives a good harvest and unpretentious care.

Variety description

Apple trees of the Barrel variety were bred by breeders from Chelyabinsk. Barrels were born due to the crossing of the varieties Borovinka and Ural Ribbed. The main characteristic of this variety is resistance to severe frosts. The apple tree belongs to the trees with early fruit ripening. Anis Sverdlovsky is suitable as a pollinating tree for the Barrel.To increase the yield, it is recommended to plant seedlings in the neighborhood.

Apple Barrel has many advantages compared to other varieties. The apple tree has tasty fruits and high yields. Almost throughout the summer, the plant will bear fruit.

Pros and cons

Keg variety has advantages and disadvantages of cultivation.

Dignity of the apple tree:

frost resistance;
yield;
apples are sweet;
resistance to diseases and harmful insects.

The disadvantages include the fact that after harvesting the fruits are not stored for a long time. They must be eaten immediately or used for cooking. Ripe apples have a pleasant dessert taste.In addition, apples have a high tasting score. Out of 5 points, it is 4.6.

Features

The variety has a stable yield throughout the fruiting period. Barrel apples are distinguished by sweet juicy fruits that are good to eat fresh. With proper care and prevention of diseases and insects, the apple tree will delight with delicious fruits for a long time.

Mature tree size

Adult apple trees of this variety are medium in size. The height of the trunk reaches from 4 m to 4.5 m. Trees rarely grow up to 5 m. It is problematic to care for such trees. Although they are not tall, the upper branches are difficult to handle.

The crown of the tree is not dense, it has a pyramidal shape. Branches of medium length.

You can reduce the height of a tree if you regularly shape it. Cut off the top branches so that the apple tree does not grow in height. With the help of crown formation, the tree can be made compact. In addition, the procedure will facilitate the harvest.

Annual growth

During one season, the natural growth of tree branches is approximately 40-60 cm.

In some cases, there is an increase in shoots. But if the shoots did not have time to fully form by the onset of autumn cold weather, then most likely they will die due to winter frosts. Depending on how hard the frosts will be in winter.

Frequency of fruiting

Active fruiting begins in the 4-5th year after planting the seedling in open ground. Up to this point, the apple tree may bloom in the spring, but there will be no harvest from this. Just a couple of apples. But having reached the age of four, the tree bears fruit annually. And the productivity is always high.

To increase productivity, apple trees are formed annually by cutting off old and weak branches. It is also necessary to apply mineral fertilizers and organic matter to the soil.

Yields

Yield depends on climatic conditions and the weather that was in the year. It is worth noting that the Barrel brings an average yield compared to late varieties. But mid-early varieties, unlike late ones, are not intended for long-term storage, therefore the yield of the Bochonok variety is lower.

Frost resistance

The tree tolerates winter frosts well. Therefore, the Barrel is suitable for cultivation in the regions of Siberia and the Urals. In addition, the apple tree tolerates a drop in temperature at night.

It is worth noting that in severe frosts, frost cracks may appear near the tree. But due to its high resilience, the tree quickly regenerates from damage.The tree practically does not spend energy on recovery in the spring, so frost holes do not negatively affect growth and bud formation.

Disease resistance

Apple cultivar Barrel is characterized by medium resistance to diseases and insects. The main danger to the tree is scab. Therefore, in order to prevent an epidemic of the disease, you need to regularly inspect the tree and take measures at the first sign of damage. The same goes for pests. Despite the fact that the apple tree has relatively good immunity, it is often attacked by harmful insects.

Which regions can be grown?

Because of the ability to endure severe winter frosts, it is possible to grow an apple tree of the Barrel variety in any region, even in northern latitudes. First of all, the Urals is considered the most favorable region for growing, since the variety itself was bred in this area.