Characteristics and description of the Bolotovskoye apple tree, planting, cultivation and care

The Bolotovskoye apple tree has been grown in most regions of Russia for more than half a century. This species has a large number of advantages, including resistance to scab.

History of selection

The hybrid was obtained in 1977 by breeders from Russia. In the 2000s, it was included in the State Register.

Areas of distribution

The main advantage of the Bolotovskoye variety is that the tree will take root in all regions, even in the north. The Bolotovskoe apple tree is grown in the southern and central regions, as well as in the Volga region.

External parameters

The description of the Bolotovskoye variety should begin with the characteristics of the tree. This is important in order to select in advance a place for planting crops in the garden.

Tree

The Bolotovskoye apple tree is a tall variety; the tree can grow up to 10 m in height. The crown is oval in shape, not very thick. Without regular pruning, the tree is prone to overgrowth.

Leaves

The leaves of the apple tree are medium in size, rich light green in color. There are small nicks along the edge. The leaf blade is dense, with light veins.

Fruit

The fruits of the apple tree are medium in size and grow heterogeneously on the tree. On one apple tree you can see both large fruits weighing 200 g and small ones. On average, the weight of the fruit is 100 g. The skin is without a waxy coating, matte. The shade is yellow, with red stripes. The pulp is fine-grained, juicy, with a sweet and sour taste.

All about the harvest

Every gardener, buying one or another variety of apples, hopes that it will be the most productive. And in order not to make a mistake, you should study the yield of an apple tree before purchasing a seedling.

Pollinator varieties

To increase productivity, pollinating varieties are planted next to the plant:

• Cinnamon Striped;
• Antonovka;
• Welsey;
• Pepin Saffron.

The distance between plants is left from 3 to 4 m.

Beginning of fruiting

The tree begins to bear fruit 4-5 years after planting. Bolotovskoye is an early ripening winter variety.The first ripe fruits on the tree can be seen in September.

Flowering and fruit ripening

The apple tree begins to bloom in mid-May. Mass ripening of fruits begins from mid-September to mid-November.

Apple collection and use

The harvest of Bolotovskoye apples lasts until mid-October. Not quite ripe fruits are immediately picked from the tree and stored until spring. Winter apple varieties are suitable for making twists and baking. They should be eaten fresh after they have been sitting for a while after harvesting.

In order for the harvest to be stored longer, the harvested apples are placed in a cool, dark room and laid out in one layer.

Specifications

Technical characteristics include frost resistance, drought resistance and immunity. These characteristics are important for choosing regions for growing apple hybrids.

Lifespan of a tree

The hybrid Bolotovskoe begins to bear fruit late. The peak of its fruiting occurs at 15 years, so the plant is a long-livers. The average lifespan of an apple tree is 40-45 years. The tree may grow longer, but the yield will be extremely low.

Resistance to frost and drought

The main advantage of this variety is its frost resistance. Even at very low temperatures, the tree can survive frosts. The minimum temperature threshold at which the apple tree will not die is -35 degrees. Therefore, the hybrid is suitable for growing in the regions of the Far North, if the apple tree is insulated in the fall. The variety is also resistant to drought. If the drought lasts for a long time, it is worth additionally watering the apple tree.

Disease resistance

The Bolotovskoe apple tree is resistant to one disease - scab. The plant has average immunity to other fungal and bacterial diseases.

To prevent the occurrence of diseases, it is important not to thicken the plantings and remove foliage from the site in the fall.

How to plant and properly care for

By following all the rules of agricultural technology when planting a seedling, you can significantly increase the yield of an adult tree and increase immunity.

Selection and preparation of seedlings

Only healthy seedlings with a well-developed root system are suitable for planting. The roots should be elastic and the branches should not show signs of damage. Before planting, the rhizome is dipped in a liquid clay solution. You can also soak the root system in a growth activator a few hours before planting.

Optimal timing

Seedlings are planted in spring and autumn. In spring, apple trees are planted from April to May. In autumn, trees are planted from mid-September to October. Autumn is considered the most favorable time for planting seedlings.

Choosing the best place to land

It is recommended to plant an apple tree in open sunny areas. Trees should be in the sun most of the day. The distance between other trees is left at least 3 m.

Procedure technology

In 2 weeks, the soil is dug up, a hole is dug out and the top layer of soil is mixed with manure and bone meal.

Planting stages:

• Place the seedling in the hole.
• Spread the roots and cover with soil.
• Drive a stake and tie the trunk of an apple tree to it.

The last step is to water only the planted tree with warm or sun-warmed water.

Features of caring for young and mature trees

Without care, apple trees quickly stop bearing fruit and often begin to get sick. First of all, it is important to regularly apply organic and mineral fertilizers.

Regularity of watering and fertilizing

Before watering, the soil is loosened and then weeds are removed.Weeds should be destroyed regularly to prevent diseases and pests from appearing in the garden. Watering and fertilizing are applied four times a season at approximately the same time.

The first irrigation is carried out during bud formation. The second is during flowering. The third watering is during the period of fruit filling. The soil is irrigated for the last time before the onset of cold weather.

In the first half of the season, the soil is fertilized with nitrogen. After flowering, phosphorus and potassium are added to the soil. It is also useful to fertilize the soil with manure, wood ash, urea or bird droppings.

Pruning and crown formation

Apple trees are pruned in the second year after planting the seedling. 3-4 skeletal branches are left on the tree, the rest are cut off. You can also remove the top. Then, every spring, some of the young branches are cut off. In autumn, sanitary pruning is carried out. Diseased and affected branches are removed.

Treatment

In spring, trees are sprayed with Bordeaux mixture. After the first procedure, you need to wait two weeks and re-treat the apple tree.

Preparing for winter

Before the onset of winter, dig up the soil around the apple tree and add mulch. The width of the mulch should not be less than 15 cm. Also, the lower part of the trunk is covered with spruce branches. This is necessary if mice chew on the bark in winter.