Description and varieties of Golden Delicious apples, cultivation and care rules

It is difficult to meet a person who is not familiar with the taste of Golden apples. Wonderful taste, juicy pulp, shelf life are only part of the advantages of the fruit crop. Thanks to its characteristics, the variety has become popular among breeders, whose efforts have produced many subspecies that are no less popular among gardeners. Before you start growing a tree in the garden, it would be useful to understand the peculiarities of cultivation, learn more about the subspecies, and familiarize yourself with the rules of care.

Description and characteristics of the Golden apple tree

The popularity of Golden apple trees is difficult to underestimate; in almost every garden there will certainly be at least one tree of this variety. Gardeners are attracted by the unpretentiousness of the crop, good fruiting, and the taste of the fruit. The advantages also include the resistance and endurance of plants. The trees of this variety bear fruit well even in cool regions of the middle zone.

Tree dimensions

The height of the Golden will certainly please lovers of compact plants; the apple tree rarely grows higher than 3 m. It is recommended to carry out pruning, limiting the growth of the crop - this will allow you to get a lush tree. You also need to take into account the density of the crown - thinning will be required.

Annual growth

Golden grows slowly, young trees add only 3-5 cm per year. Nothing depends on fertilizing or proper care; nutritional elements will only provoke the growth of side shoots.

Frequency of fruiting

After planting, the plant begins to bear fruit after 2-4 years, but only under conditions of proper care and a temperate climate. The scion differs in terms of fruiting; the first fruits can be harvested in just a year.

For 10 years, Golden actively produces a generous harvest, although it happens that the culture takes a break (1-2 years), stocking up on new forces. The fruiting period of the variety is 25 years.

Tasting assessment

Golden captivates gardeners and apple lovers with its taste.The fruit combines pleasant sourness, sweetness, and caramel aroma. The pulp is juicy and very tender. The color of the fruit itself depends on the variety, but the flesh is usually creamy or a pleasant yellow hue.

The benefits of apples

In terms of useful qualities, Golden is no different from its counterparts. The fruits contain a high concentration of vitamins and minerals necessary for the human body. The taste and richness of useful elements do not disappear even with prolonged storage.

Pros and cons of the variety

It is quite difficult to list the advantages of apples; there are not so few advantages over other varieties. Among them:

• high yield (more than 100 kg per mature tree);
• undemanding;
• endurance;
• resistance to adverse climatic conditions;
• taste qualities.

There are also disadvantages - Golden is susceptible to diseases. You will have to carry out regular treatments against scab, rot, and powdery mildew. Another disadvantage of this variety is that it does not tolerate frost well, so it will need a cover.

How to choose seedlings when purchasing

When purchasing a Golden or one of the clones, you should definitely carefully examine the root system and shoots. They should not have dry spots, mold, or rotting areas. It is advisable to purchase plants with bare roots, this will allow you to identify all the shortcomings in a timely manner.

Rules for planting seedlings

Despite their unpretentiousness, when planting Golden apple trees you will have to follow the basic rules. Otherwise, the mistakes made will cause poor fruiting or its absence.

Optimal timing

It is recommended to go to the garden in autumn or early spring. The only condition is that there must be no frost. Even minor temperature fluctuations are enough for the seedling to refuse to take root.

It’s better not to take risks and start an interesting process in the spring - after the frosts have gone, but before the leaves begin to bloom.

Selecting a location

Choose a site for Golden apple trees that is sunny, protected from wind and drafts. Recommended soil is light loam or turf. If groundwater passes near the surface, it is better to refuse planting; excess moisture will provoke diseases and root rotting.

Preparing the site and seedlings

Before planting, soak young plants for an hour in a clay mash and dry a little. When preparing the hole, add:

• some clay;
• mineral fertilizers;
• rotted compost;
• leaf soil.

Soil that is too heavy is not suitable for growing crops; you will have to add coarse river sand.

Planting process and scheme

It is recommended to plant plants at a distance of 2-3 meters. The gap between the rows is small - up to 3 m.

Remove seedlings with a closed root system from the container, lower them into a previously prepared hole, and sprinkle with soil mixture. Plants with bare roots after soaking in a clay mash do not differ in planting, leave the root collar 4-6 cm above the soil surface, after sprinkling with soil, water, put a layer of mulch.

Tree care

Caring for the crop is not difficult, but only if all the rules of agricultural technology are followed will it be possible to achieve high yields. The main requirements are watering, disease control, pruning.

Pruning and crown formation

It is recommended to prune annually. It is better to carry out the process in the spring, this will allow you to identify withered or frozen shoots. During the flowering period, repeat pruning and remove excess buds. Leave 1-3 ovaries per inflorescence.

It is recommended to form the crown in the second year after planting - remove part of the main trunk, shorten the side shoots.Leave only 5-6 buds on each of them. It is forbidden to prune before frost - the plant may die.

Watering

Golden loves moisture, but does not tolerate waterlogging. It is recommended to water frequently, but not too much. Immediately after planting, add 10-12 liters of water to each plant.

Top dressing

Growing the variety on black soil will allow you to avoid fertilizing - the plant will receive everything it needs from the soil. If the soil is not very nutritious, use organic matter; in the fall, cover the tree trunk circle with a thick layer of rotted manure. Melt water will allow nutrients to penetrate to the roots in the spring.

Protection from cold and rodents

In cold regions you will need a cover - straw, spruce branches, burlap. After snow falls, it is recommended to place a high snowdrift around the tree, which should be removed at the end of winter. Use special nets to keep rodents out, build a temporary fence, and place poisonous baits.

Diseases and pests

The lack of stable immunity is the main reason for the destruction of crops by diseases. You will have to regularly carry out treatments against powdery mildew and all types of rot. Use Bordeaux mixture and copper sulfate. Use insecticides against pests, which also quite often invade the tree. Irrigation should be carried out in cloudy, cool weather.

Subspecies of the variety

When planning to plant Golden in the garden, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the main clones. Some of them are distinguished by greater endurance and resistance to cold, which allows the crop to be grown even in cold regions.

Delicious

The Golden delicious variety is characterized by stable yield and medium-early ripening.Excellent keeping quality of fruits - even in early May the fruits remain firm and juicy. The fruits are large - more than 150 g, but only with regular watering. Lack of moisture will affect keeping quality; after 2-3 months the fruit will dry out.

Rangers

It is characterized by increased frost resistance and grows well in cool regions. Apples are stored rather poorly, in favorable conditions only until mid-February. They are well transported, the fruits have a pronounced apple aroma and pleasant sweetness.

Hornet

The main advantage is the timing of fruiting. The first fruits can be harvested just 2 years after planting. Side branches grow rarely, so you won’t have to spend much time on pruning. Keeping quality is poor - apples begin to rot already in the middle of winter.

Vladimirsky

Due to its increased endurance, it is recommended for cultivation in the Yaroslavl and Leningrad regions. The apples are golden, with small dots. They ripen early, so given the short summer they have time to produce a full harvest. The weight of the fetus often exceeds 200 g.

Millennium

The characteristics are no different from other varieties; the fruits have excellent keeping quality, almost until spring, juiciness, and high taste. Fruiting occurs 3 years after sending annual seedlings into the ground. The variety is quite resistant to diseases; it is rarely affected by powdery mildew, but it is recommended to carry out preventive treatments.

Resistant

Grown in warm regions. Late flowering allows you not to worry about frost. Fruiting occurs in September, the apples are not too large - up to 160 g. In cool conditions they can easily last until spring.

Features of growing in the Moscow region

For cultivation in the Moscow region, it is recommended to choose clones with increased frost resistance. Even this does not guarantee that the trees will survive the cold winter, so coverings cannot be avoided. Another requirement is to pay attention to watering. In hot summers, add at least a bucket to each adult plant. It is necessary to carry out loosening, allowing moisture to penetrate deep into the soil.

Golden is a variety that has long been loved by gardeners. A distinctive feature of the culture is its high taste and shelf life. If you immediately send the fruits to a cool room after harvesting, you will be able to enjoy healthy apples full of vitamins until spring.