The banana variety apple tree is a fairly common variety grown in Russia. But it is more popular in Belarus, where it was bred by crossing the Winter banana and Babushkino. Apples are quite large and tasty, they are used universally - for preparations, baking or fresh. Ripen in late summer - early autumn.
Description and characteristics
When developing the Banana variety, two apple trees were crossed - Babushkino and Winter Banana. Selection work was carried out in Belarus by A. E. Syubarov. The plant is suitable for growing in the garden and for industrial cultivation.
The variety has the following description:
- The tree is low-growing, up to 4 m high. The crown is rounded, characterized by medium foliage. The leaves are dark green and small.
- Blooms in late April-early May. The flowers are collected in inflorescences, white. Pollination occurs by insects.
- The tree produces large fruits, weighing up to 135 g. Sometimes there are particularly large specimens, weighing up to 200 g. The apples are round in shape, but slightly flattened, and bright yellow in color.
- The pulp is very sweet and juicy, hard, so it crunches when bitten.
- The plant is early-bearing, producing its first fruits already in 2-3 years.
- Apple trees are high-yielding - up to 60 kg of apples can be harvested from one tree. The fruits ripen at the end of August, but should not be collected before mid-September.
If you properly care for the plant, it will produce a good harvest every year.
Pros and cons of apple tree Banana
The variety has a number of advantages, thanks to which it becomes the choice of many gardeners:
- The fruits are very large and sweet. They can be used for making juices and jams or eaten fresh. Apples tolerate heat treatment well and do not lose their taste.
- High yield. If the growing rules are followed, the maximum yield is observed 5-6 years after cultivation. In the future, the number of fruits may decrease slightly.
- Good keeping quality. Unlike other summer varieties, apples have a hard skin and almost never spoil. Therefore, they can be stored throughout the winter. In addition, the fruits tolerate transportation well over long distances and have a marketable appearance. But it is recommended to store them in the basement or in the refrigerator.By spring, the taste may deteriorate slightly, so it is recommended to eat apples before winter.
- Winter hardiness. The tree does not freeze, even if it is not protected from frost. If some branches become damaged, they will simply need to be pruned in the spring.
- Drought resistance. The plant tolerates summer heat. But sometimes it is recommended to water it.
- Resistance to diseases and pests. The plant is rarely susceptible to the development of scab and other diseases. But for prevention, annual spraying with special compounds is recommended.
- Unpretentiousness. The plant tolerates any weather conditions well, does not die and does not reduce yield due to temperature changes.
The plant has almost no flaws. Unless already ripe apples have to be picked by hand, since they do not fall off, as happens with other varieties. In addition, the apple tree begins to bear fruit poorly 15 years after planting. Therefore, growing it in the future is unprofitable.
Ripening and fruiting
Apples begin to ripen at the end of August. Even if they are not collected in time, they stay on the branches and do not fall off. Therefore, there is no need to harvest in several stages. It is better to do this in mid-September, when all the fruits are definitely ripe.
The apple tree of this variety bears fruit regularly and produces good yields. The first fruits appear 2-3 years after planting. At the same time, it is recommended to apply the first fertilizers to increase fruiting.
Regions of distribution
The banana apple tree tolerates any weather conditions well. Therefore, it has become widespread in all regions of Russia and Belarus.
For a plant to produce good yields, it needs the following growing conditions:
- It is recommended to plant the tree on the south side, in a well-lit place. It should not be planted in a draft, as in the spring with slight frosts the flowers will fall off and the harvest will be weak.
- When planting a large number of trees, a certain distance must be maintained between them. The distance in a row is at least 4 m, and between rows is 5 m.
- Loams with neutral acidity are best suited for Banana apple trees. It produces a good harvest on black soils.
The plant also requires regular care. It is necessary to timely trim the crown, apply fertilizers, and water.
The banana apple tree is an excellent option for planting in the home garden. The plant will delight you with delicious and sweet apples every year.
