When is the best time to plant apple trees in the Moscow region, timing and soil preparation, tree care

A properly planted apple tree is characterized by active growth, good fruiting, and resistance to climatic conditions, pests and diseases. Therefore, choosing the period when to plant apple trees in the Moscow region is a very important moment for the successful cultivation of a tree. But in addition to choosing the season and time, you need to pay attention to other important factors: selection of variety, healthy seedling, care after planting.

Features of planting apple trees in the Moscow region

In the Moscow region, apple trees should be planted in spring or autumn. The best option is to plant a tree in the autumn - from the last days of September to mid-November.

You should also pay attention to the quality of the soil for planting. The fact is that the apple tree does not take root well in swampy areas, in places where groundwater is shallow.

If it is not possible to plant the plant in another place, before planting in such soil, it should be drained using sand or gravel.

Planting in spring can be done from the last days of April to mid-May. Before planting, you must make sure that the ground has warmed up. This can be done with a shovel. You can find out that the soil has warmed up to the optimal temperature if the shovel enters the soil at the level of the bayonet.

Which variety should I choose?

The choice of variety depends on when the summer resident plans to harvest. Summer varieties bear fruit from late July-August. Such apples are distinguished by the fact that their shelf life reaches 14 days. Autumn varieties ripen in September and retain their freshness for 1-2 months. Winter varieties delight with their harvest in October. At the same time, such apples are stored for 3-6 months.

Many summer residents plant different varieties of trees on their plots. The best option is to plant 1 summer plant, 1-2 autumn plants, 2-3 winter plants. If you want to grow only one variety in the Moscow region, you should give preference to winter-hardy varieties, since they are resistant to the climatic conditions characteristic of the region.

Summer varieties of apple trees

If a summer resident plans to harvest in the summer, it is better for him to focus on the varieties listed below:

• Melba;
• Moscow pear;
• Candy;
• Padding;
• Lungwort;
• Mantent;
• Pink is excellent.

Autumn varieties

The best autumn varieties are:

• Zhigulevskoe;
• Rossoshansky striped;
• Brown striped;
• Antonovka;
• Spartacus;
• Anise;
• Glory to the winners.

Winter varieties

If it is necessary to harvest in late autumn, preference should be given to growing winter varieties such as:

• Moscow winter;
• Kutuzovets;
• Star;
• Golden;
• Kuibyshevskoe;
• Saffron;
• Northern synapse;
• Richard.

When can I plant?

If a summer resident plans to plant young seedlings 1 year old, it is better to do this in the spring. This approach to cultivation will allow the root system to adapt to climatic conditions before the onset of winter cold. Such plants need to be planted in late March - early April.

If the seedling is 2-3 years old, it is better to plant it in the autumn. The choice of this season is not accidental; it allows you to save a year until the first harvest. In this case, in order for the tree to survive the winter well, it must be securely covered and all planting nuances must be carefully observed. In autumn, it is better to plant seedlings from the end of September to the last days of October.

Choosing a landing site

In order to get a healthy plant and a good harvest, before planting you need to choose the right place where the apple tree will be planted. It is best if it has the following features:

• the site is located on a small hill, while it is open and sunny;
• there should be no swampy soil, drafts, shadows from buildings or other plants at the landing site;
• groundwater must be more than 2 meters deep;
• the soil acid-base balance should be neutral.

After the optimal location has been found, it is necessary to bring the soil to its optimal condition, preparing it for planting.

Soil preparation

The summer resident should take care of preparing the planting hole in advance. This must be done approximately a month before the planned disembarkation date. For good growth and development of the apple tree, it is necessary to prepare a mixture of the top layer of fertile soil, a mineral complex and wood ash.

Nitrogen compounds, chicken or cow droppings can be used as fertilizer.

Selection and preparation of seedlings

Before planting a plant, it must be carefully inspected. Seedlings must have a healthy root system, a smooth trunk that is free of damage. The plant must have live buds. Before planting, you cannot cut off small roots, as thanks to them the plant can provide itself with nutrients and water.

A day before transplanting, the seedlings are soaked in a bucket of water. In this case, any stimulator of the root formation process should be added to the liquid. As such additives you can use “Kornevin”, “Heteroauxin”, “Epin”. It is also allowed to use a yeast solution made from 10 liters of water and 100 grams of yeast.

Planting scheme

In order for the plant to grow well and bear fruit, it must be planted correctly. To do this, you need to take into account several nuances:

1. The hole should be made in height no more than the size of the pot, so as not to deepen the neck during planting.
2. Since the soil will settle slightly after planting, it is necessary to make a reserve in height.
3. The seedling should be placed in the hole. In cases where the apple tree has an open root system, the shoots must be carefully straightened.
4. It is necessary to sprinkle the soil gradually in several layers. In this case, each layer needs to be watered.This approach will allow you to compact the soil tightly and eliminate all air voids from it.
5. A peg is driven in next to the plant. It is necessary for support and to prevent the trunk from bending.

After transplantation, the root zone is watered. Then it needs to be mulched. Mulch is required to retain moisture in the root system and protect the planting from weeds. Also, such covering material provides the necessary fertilizing for the apple tree.

Further tree care

After planting an apple tree, it needs to be properly cared for. To do this, you need to keep the soil clean, regularly carry out sanitary and formative pruning, water, and protect from pests, diseases, and cold weather.

Watering seedlings

In the first month, the plant is watered every week, and 2 buckets of water should be gradually poured under the tree. In dry autumn, additional watering is organized: 2-3 buckets of water are poured under the plant every day. There is no need to fertilize the tree for 2-3 years, provided that the hole for planting is prepared in advance.

Gradually watering is done more abundantly, but less frequently. 4-5 buckets of water are poured under each tree once every 3 weeks. An adult tree needs only 4 waterings during 1 season. They are organized during the period of flowering and fruit set. The rest of the watering is done at the time of pouring the apples, before winter.

Shelter for the winter

If the plant was planted in the fall, the seedlings need to be covered for the winter. This procedure must be carried out for 2-3 years until the plant is fully strengthened. To prepare apple trees for winter, they need to be watered abundantly before the onset of cold weather. After this, the root area is thoroughly mulched.The mulch layer should be at least 7 centimeters. The tree trunk also needs to be protected from the cold. To do this, it should be wrapped with a transparent covering material.

Treatment against diseases and pests

After planting an apple tree, it is necessary to regularly inspect its branches and leaves for the presence of diseases and pests. At this stage, such an inspection is quite easy, since the tree is not covered with many leaves. If signs of disease are detected, it is better to treat the young tree with folk remedies.

If even after treatment the disease does not recede, it can be overcome with the help of safe biological agents, the positive effect of which is based on the vital activity of fungi and microorganisms. Such drugs include “Fitoverm”, “Bitoxibacillin”.

To maintain the health of the plant, it is necessary to pay attention to ensuring that the support peg does not injure the trunk. This is due to the fact that a damaged tree is prone to pests and diseases.