The Phoenix Altai apple tree was bred by breeders of the Research Institute under the leadership of scientist-horticulturist Lisavenko specifically for cultivation in the harsh conditions of the Siberian region. Thanks to its undemanding and unpretentious care, as well as beautiful fruits with excellent taste, its popularity quickly spread far beyond the Altai Territory.
Description and features
The Phoenix Altai variety was obtained as a result of open pollination of the Bellefleur-Phoenix apple tree; the species is a universal winter high-yielding fruit crop. The trees are described as similar to the Golden Delicious variety and grow up to 8 meters in height. When planting, it is necessary to take into account that the apple tree belongs to a self-sterile species and its pollination is carried out with the participation of pollen from trees of other varieties. Therefore, it is recommended to plant the Altai Phoenix with seedlings of a different variety in strips, the distance between which should be 4-5 m.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Altai Phoenix variety grows successfully in the harsh conditions of Siberia. Its main advantages are:
- grows well in low altitudes;
- abundant fruiting;
- high consumer and commercial properties of apples;
- long period of preservation of collected fruits;
- undemanding in care.
Among the few disadvantages of the variety, one can note average winter hardiness and the risk of freezing in cold climates, as well as susceptibility to damage by pathogenic microscopic fungi, bacteria, and actinomycetes.
Characteristics of the Altai Phoenix apple tree
Apple trees grow quite compact in size with bright green foliage. The branches are located at an angle of 90 degrees relative to the axis of the trunk. When forming apple trees, they should be thinned out so that they do not intertwine and thicken the crown. The bark of the trees has a dark brown grayish color, young shoots are brownish in color with a small edge.
Dimensions
Apple trees of this variety are distinguished by a moderate growth rate of 6-8 cm per year, medium-sized in height, not exceeding 7.5-8 m. The crown is medium-dense, has a spherical shape, compact, and is formed by sparse skeletal branches during development.
Productivity
A rich harvest from Altai Phoenix apple trees can be obtained already in the fifth year from the moment of planting in a permanent place. Despite the relatively small size of apples, the variety is high-yielding due to the abundance of fruits.
As a rule, the first apples appear already in the 2-3rd year after planting the seedling, but during the first 5 years it is recommended to cut the flowers to obtain a larger harvest in the future.
The fruits usually weigh from 70 to 150 g, however, from one young tree you can harvest from 40 kg of apples per year, and the average yield is up to 22 tons per hectare.
Frequency of fruiting
Apple trees bear fruit annually 5 years after planting, varying in the degree of fruit abundance. They fully ripen in late August-early September. If the storage rules are followed, the apples will remain intact until February.
Winter hardiness
Frost resistance of the Phoenix Altai variety is average. If the winter is harsh, there is a high probability of trees freezing. They grow better in lowland areas.
Disease resistance
Trees and fruits of the Phoenix Altai variety are susceptible to scab, polypore fungus, and powdery mildew, especially at high humidity. Therefore, it is worth paying special attention to timely herbicide treatments.
When affected by scab, spots, warts, pustules appear on the foliage, and a brownish flaky crust appears on the apples. The tinder fungus settles on the bark. Powdery mildew occurs after prolonged rains, covering the leaves with a whitish coating.
Apple trees can also be damaged by codling moths - moths that lay eggs on the foliage, and if you do not get rid of them in time, on the fruits. Subsequently, worms appear from the eggs, which must be destroyed using insecticides.
Fruit evaluation
Round Phoenix apples with distinct ribbing are distinguished by excellent taste and marketability. The fruits are pale yellow or reddish in color, medium in size with smooth skin. The pulp is moderately dense, juicy, with a dessert sweet and sour taste.
The fruits of the Altai Phoenix apple trees have a rich chemical composition, a high percentage of sugar and pectin content. In addition, 100 g of product contains 17 mg of ascorbic acid, up to 115 mg of tannins, and 124 g of P-active compounds.
Spreading
The final stage of regionalization of the Phoenix Altai variety occurred in 1974. The territory with the most favorable natural conditions for growing this fruit crop is considered to be Western Siberia between the bed of the Yenisei River and the Ural Mountains. However, if the subtleties of planting and growing are observed, the tree can adapt to different regions of Russia.
Apple tree reviews
Mikhail, 37 years old: “The Altai Phoenix apple trees captivated us with their fertility; every year I harvest a large harvest from small trees. The apples are juicy and can be stored for at least 4 months. Growing healthy trees, of course, takes a lot of work. It is imperative to regularly treat them against fungal diseases and pests, otherwise there will be no point.”
Svetlana, 34 years old: “We spent a long time choosing which trees to plant in the garden. Six varieties were planted, including Altai Phoenix. In our lowlands and in cold winters it grows excellently; the shoots have never frozen. There are a lot of apples, but you can increase the yield by following a number of recommendations on the selection of seedlings, planting rules, fertilizing and care. I like squeezing apple juice.”
