Description and characteristics of the Honey Crisp apple tree variety, cultivation characteristics and origin

Planting a garden at a dacha or on a farm begins with planting apple trees. It is this tree that in our country is the standard of gardening, and many gardeners classify it as an unpretentious plant that does not require special care. The Honey Crisp apple tree is a prominent representative of winter industrial varieties, bred by breeders from North America. Its fruits are distinguished not only by their delicious dessert taste, but also by their original appearance.

Description and characteristics of the Honey Crisp apple tree

Honey Crisp apple trees are native to Minnesota. It was there that they began to be cultivated in 1974. Beautiful and tasty fruits have attracted the attention of gardeners from around the world. At the same time, planting material, like the fruits themselves, are not cheap.

Tree height

Apple trees of the Honey Crisp variety are not very tall. The average tree grows up to 4 meters, and if a dwarf rootstock is used, its height does not exceed 2.5 meters. It is also possible to use a semi-dwarf rootstock, but the height of the plant will reach 3.5 meters. Such indicators are very convenient for further care.

Crown width

In the first years after planting, the young Honey Crisp tree has a narrow pyramidal crown. Until the age of five, the seedling is actively growing, but after this the crown gradually begins to acquire wide oval shapes. It should be taken into account that this variety has a high ability to form shoots. This will definitely be needed for the correct formation and selection of crown type.

Productivity of the variety

The weight of one Honey Crisp apple reaches 250 grams. The shape of the fruit is elongated, somewhat elongated. Its color is light green with a red blush over the entire surface. The pulp has a yellowish-cream tint and is very juicy. The peel of apples is dense, with a characteristic glossy shine. The aroma of the fruit is strong, the taste has a light and very pleasant sourness. At the age of 6 years, the tree produces up to 9 kilograms of ripe fruits with high marketability and taste.

Tasting assessment

Tasters rate the taste of Honey Crisp at 4.8 points. The variety is easy to distinguish from competitors by taste, which distinguishes the fruits from other varieties.

Winter hardiness

The Honey Crisp apple tree variety can withstand temperatures down to -35 °C without additional shelter.

However, this figure can be significantly reduced in the following cases:

• after giving a bountiful harvest;
• when a young tree is overloaded with fruits;
• damage to trees by pests or diseases during the growing season, resulting in severe weakening of the plant;
• during drought and lack of moisture in the soil.

Disease resistance

Apple trees of the Honey Crisp variety are characterized by increased resistance to fungal diseases. In particular, they are not at all afraid of scab; their susceptibility to powdery mildew is average. However, experienced gardeners still carry out preventive treatments, since if at least one of the listed ailments appears in the garden, there is a risk of losing half the harvest.

Powdery mildew appears as a white coating on leaves, apples and shoots. Characteristic signs of scab damage are oily spots on the upper side of the leaves, which tend to darken over time. The fruit itself stops growing and cracks and spots form on it. For prevention purposes, trees are treated with Fundazol, Strobi, Strazhem, Thiovit Jet and other drugs.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The Honey Crisp apple tree variety has a number of advantages that distinguish it from its competitors. These include:

• precociousness;
• excellent frost resistance;
• large fruit;
• high aesthetic qualities of apples;
• excellent taste characteristics;
• suitability for long-distance transportation;
• long shelf life, which is more than six months;
• increased resistance to fungal diseases.

A distinctive feature of the variety is its characteristic honey crunch, which is not possessed by any of the known winter apple varieties. The disadvantages of Honey Crisp include the tree's tendency to shed fruit if it is overloaded with the harvest, as well as the susceptibility of the fruit to subcutaneous spotting during long-term storage.

Features of planting an apple tree

Not only the initial dates of fruiting, but also the full development of the tree, the yield and quality of future fruits depend on the correct planting of seedlings. That is why special attention is paid to this procedure.

Time and place

Honey Crisp apple trees are preferably planted in the spring, before the seedlings begin to bud. In the autumn, planting work is carried out after the sap flow processes in the seedlings have slowed down. Plants with a closed root system can be planted at any time, but experts still recommend refraining from this procedure during the summer heat.

The location for planting Honey Crisp apple trees is chosen based on the fact that the distance between the tree and buildings or other plantings must be at least 3 meters. The groundwater level in the area chosen for planting must be at least 2 meters.

Otherwise, a mound is formed about 70 cm high and the seedling is planted in it so that the winter hardiness of the plant is not damaged in the future and its root system is not damaged.

Seedling preparation

To plant Honey Crisp apple trees, seedlings aged from 1 to 2 years are selected. It is at this time that their survival rate is highest. Carefully examine the root system and branches of the young tree.They should not have mechanical damage or signs of disease, they should be elastic. Roots with signs of spoilage are cut off with a sharp knife, and the skeletal roots are shortened slightly. If the root system has dried out, then the apple tree is placed in water for a couple of days.

Soil preparation

The area for planting young Honey Crisp apple trees is prepared a month before the main work. To do this, dig a hole 70 cm deep and about 1 meter in diameter. For refueling prepare a mixture consisting of:

• cow humus;
• wood ash;
• potassium sulfate;
• superphosphate.

Landing technology

The roots of a young apple tree of the Honey Crisp variety are straightened in the prepared hole, after which they are covered with a nutritious soil mixture, periodically compacting it. In this case, the root collar should rise above the ground surface by at least 8 cm. Otherwise, the apple tree will delay fruiting, and in exceptional cases even periodicity is observed. If the root collar is placed high, then during the summer heat the root system will not receive enough moisture.

Plant care rules

Care is no less important than planting a Honey Crisp apple tree. The correctness of these works guarantees not only the abundance, but also the integrity and good preservation of the crop.

Features of spring care

The next year after planting young apple trees, in the spring, it will be necessary to shorten the vertical shoot. In subsequent periods, growth of young branches from the current year is cut off by 1/3 of their length. Those shoots that become competing with the central conductor are cut into a ring. This is necessary in order to properly form the crown and avoid its thickening.In the first year after planting an apple tree, it is not necessary to feed it, but later in the spring it is useful to apply mineral fertilizers or organic matter. The tree trunk should be whitened with a solution of quicklime.

Summer care

Caring for Honey Crisp apple trees in the summer comes down to timely watering, applying potassium-phosphorus fertilizers and carrying out preventive treatments. The watering norm for an adult tree is 4 buckets of water. The frequency of irrigation depends on prevailing weather conditions. Experienced gardeners advise carrying out this procedure at least once a week.

Autumn care

Caring for Honey Crisp apple trees in the fall comes down not only to harvesting, but also to preparing the plant for wintering. A month before the expected harvest, they completely stop watering the trees. As soon as the fruits are harvested, they begin sanitary pruning, during which they get rid of damaged and shriveled branches.

Preparing for winter

In the conditions of the middle zone and southern climate, Honey Crisp apple trees do not require special preparation for winter cold. This procedure here looks standard for all winter-hardy varieties. But in colder regions, trees should be provided with additional shelter and the trunk should be insulated. To avoid freezing of plants, they should be planted in regions with harsh climates in a place protected from drafts and winds.

Ripening and fruiting

The Honey Crisp apple variety is rightfully considered early ripening. The medium-sized rootstock begins to bear fruit 4 years after the seedling is planted on the site. The use of a dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstock speeds up the onset of fruiting.

You can enjoy the first harvest after a couple of years. Medium-sized trees live up to 40 years, and low-growing ones - up to 15.

The fruit ripening period for the Honey Crisp apple tree is in September. Harvesting is carried out only when there is complete confidence in its maturation. This can be determined by the brown color of the seeds and the easy separation of the apple from the fruit branch.

Features of cultivation in the regions

Due to their high frost resistance, Honey Crisp apple trees are grown everywhere. They are suitable for the climatic conditions of Ukraine, Belarus, the Moscow region and the middle zone. When cultivated in regions with cold weather conditions, due to a lack of heat, sourness appears in the taste of the fruit. However, it adds piquancy to apples and does not spoil their taste.