Among all types of fruit trees, the Favorite apple tree is especially popular among summer residents and gardeners, as well as in large garden farms. The name itself speaks about this. This type of columnar apple tree was bred by Russian botanists in 2000 in the Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Federation, and quickly spread throughout the country.
Description of the variety
The variety was previously described, which helps gardeners to properly care for the tree so that it blooms and bears fruit in a timely manner.The Favorite apple tree is unpretentious and does not require special care - it is enough to follow the basic agrotechnical rules for growing fruit-bearing trees - provide a sufficient amount of light, loose soil and timely watering.
The Favorit apple tree variety is a late-ripening columnar variety. The fruits are harvested at the end of September and can be stored until spring. The trees have a dense, slightly rounded crown and straight branches. The leaves on them are wide, greenish-yellow, with a pointed, curled tip.
Pros and cons of the variety
The advantages of the Favorit apple tree include:
- resistance to low temperatures;
- immunity to a number of fungal diseases and resistance to pests;
- rapid fruit ripening;
- high degree of productivity;
- apples that have a pleasant dessert taste;
- unpretentiousness.
Perhaps the only drawback that is attributed to this variety of apples is the shrinking of the fruits as their number increases.
The combination of these indicators has made this tree one of the most beloved by domestic gardeners.
Characteristic
All the main characteristics of the Favorit apple tree variety provide the tree with mostly positive recommendations.
Tree dimensions
After planting, the seedlings begin to grow quite slowly; to form an adult tree 4-5 meters high, Favorit needs from 3 to 5 years. At the same time, the variety begins to bear fruit. In order for the first harvest to please you with the abundance and size of the fruit, you need to take care of the tree. There is nothing difficult to care for; it is enough that it is planted in a sunny place, and the soil is periodically loosened and watered.
Fruiting
The first fruits that appear on the apple tree 2-3 years after planting will be large, almost uniform red in color.Apples will ripen regularly, and their number will increase every year.
With proper care and sufficient light and heat, the fruits will improve their taste characteristics with each new harvest.
On average, their tasting score is 4.7 on a five-point scale. The fruits are sour-sweet, the pulp is medium in density, very juicy and tender. They contain more sugar than acid. This allows you to eat apples fresh, make preparations in the form of jam and jam, cook compotes and squeeze juice.
Winter hardiness
The Favorite apple tree is highly frost-resistant. It is recommended to fertilize trees in the fall to give them strength for the winter. In this case, Favorite’s buds will not freeze, even if there are no other trees nearby.
Disease resistance
Speaking about the resistance of the variety to fungal diseases and pests, it can be clarified that the Favorite apple tree is immune to scab and powdery mildew. To prevent other diseases, the tree is treated with chemicals.
Important! You cannot use chemicals to protect trees from diseases during the fruiting period, otherwise the apples will absorb some of the chemicals and enter the human body.
Features of ripening and fruiting
These apple varieties begin their ten-day flowering period in April-May. White fluffy flowers bloom in bunches throughout the tree. Then the formation and development of the ovary quickly occurs. By September, ripe fruits weighing from 100 to 300 grams are harvested. During storage, until February-March, a waxy coating appears on reddish shiny apples, which is easily washed off.
Young apple trees of Favorite annually produce a harvest, which, over time, becomes more abundant. Over time, fruiting becomes periodic, and the fruits become smaller. Fruits contain 29 times more sugar than acids, and ascorbic acid in the Favorite apple is 7.0 milligrams per 100 grams of pulp.
Regions for growing the variety
The most favorable climate for growing the Favorit apple tree is in Central Russia. Here the tree has enough heat, sun and moisture, so the intensity of fruiting, size and quality of the fruits here give the highest indicators.
Despite its good resistance to frost, growing this columnar variety of fruit-bearing trees in Siberia or the North, where cold weather sets in quite early, is problematic. Due to lack of heat, the size of the fruit decreases, the quality deteriorates, and due to the early onset of frost, the crop may be completely destroyed.
Tips for planting and care
In order for the Favorite apple tree to take root, you need to take into account some features when planting:
- in northern latitudes it is better to plant seedlings in the spring - there is a high probability that trees planted before winter will not withstand the cold;
- in the Middle Zone, apple trees are planted both in spring and autumn, the main thing is to choose a tree with a developed, intact root system;
- It is better to place seedlings in the ground on loamy or sandy loam soils;
- trees do not like shade and drafts; in such conditions, the fruits will not gain enough strength, and the buds will constantly die off.
The key to the development of an apple tree and increased fruiting are:
- watering every two weeks during dry periods in summer;
- loosening the soil every 10-12 days;
- feeding and fertilizing in the off-season (spring and autumn) - compost, humus, fertilizers with potassium.
From the very moment the seedlings are planted, you need to begin periodically pruning the sprouts. In the first year, all branches are cut off by 30-40 centimeters that interfere with the formation of a strong trunk, then for two years the branches are cut back by no more than 25 centimeters. When the tree begins to bear fruit, you will have to periodically thin out the crown and saw off dry branches. This will help new young branches grow.
The Favorit variety apple tree will take root well on a personal plot in Central Russia. Its fruits will appeal to the most demanding connoisseurs and those who love sweeter, juicy apples.
