Description, characteristics and winter hardiness of the Red Early apple tree, cultivation

The apple tree is one of the most common plants in the garden. Breeders do not stop there and try to breed as many species as possible. Varieties proven over the years also do not fade into the background. Red early deserves special attention - an apple tree that produces small fruits of incredible taste.

History of selection of the Red Early variety

The apple tree was bred in the 60s. The variety is the result of crossing Vesna and Melba. Since then, it has taken pride of place in the gardens of gardeners around the world.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Culture

Advantages of the variety:

• appearance of apples;
• taste;
• drought resistance.

Disadvantages:

• poor keeping quality of fruits;
• short storage period;
• inability to transport over long distances.

Upon reaching maturity, the fruits fall off. It is necessary to harvest on time. With each fruiting, the size of the apples becomes smaller. Picked apples can be stored for no more than a month in a cool place.

External tree parameters

The description of the variety helps a person make a choice. Parameters such as tree height, crown width and others play an important role. This will help you design your garden plot.

Trunk height

Red early is included in the group of medium-sized trees. The maximum height is 5 m. This indicator allows for high-quality care and harvesting.

Crown diameter

At a young age, seedlings have a rounded crown shape. As it grows, it changes and becomes spreading. The width depends on the formation. If you don’t do this, the figure will reach 3 m.

Branching of the root system

The seedlings have compact roots. This is convenient because there is no need to dig a deep hole. As the tree grows, the root system changes, becoming branched.

Fruit

Red early bears fruits that look like bright red toy apples.Round and small in size. The weight of one copy does not exceed 100 g. Under the thin skin hides light yellow and loose pulp.

Technical characteristics of the apple tree

An important component of the Krasnoe variety earlier. By studying information about the variety, the gardener has an idea of ​​the immune system and the growing region.

Winter hardiness

As a result of obtaining a new variety, breeders were unable to make the tree resistant to winter cold. This was reflected in the choice of region for growing Red Early.

Thanks to its resistance to drought, the tree survives well in countries with hot climates.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The level of stability is average. Among the insects noticed are apple moths, aphids and codling moths. Red is previously affected by powdery mildew, cytosporosis, fruit rot and scab.

Growing area

Regions with a temperate continental climate are suitable for the variety.

Features of fruiting

The ability to produce fruits of good taste and presentation is what gardeners are most interested in.

Taste qualities

People like the fruits, so they get positive reviews in this category. The pulp is pleasant with sweet and sour notes. As it turned out, the fruits are not only beautiful, but also very tasty.

Beginning of fruiting

A young tree does not immediately bear fruit. The fruits appear in the 5th year after planting in the soil in a permanent place. Red bears fruit early every season.

Pollinator varieties

To produce fruit, there is no need to plant other varieties of apple trees near the tree. Red Early is self-pollinating.

Apple flowering and ripening period

The formation of flowers occurs at the end of May and continues until the beginning of June, like most trees. Ripe fruits can be tasted at the end of July. Apples ripen until late autumn.

Harvest and use

The fruits are cut as they ripen. This is done in several stages. The harvest is carried out regularly, as ripe apples fall quickly.

Apples do not need to be aged as they can be eaten immediately. Consumed fresh. Previously red is an excellent base for canning and making jam.

How to plant an apple tree on a plot

The standard planting scheme will not work in this case. Seedlings, like the soil, must first be prepared. The composition of the soil and the location in the garden are also taken into account.

Selection and preparation of seedlings

For planting, seedlings 1-2 years old are useful. The root must have at least 2 and no more than 4 branches. The small roots that cover them absorb moisture, contributing to the normal development of the tree. Seedlings with dense and elastic bark are selected. It is better to give preference to a young tree with a straight trunk. The seedling does not require special preparation before planting.

Optimal location and soil composition

The area where Red will grow earlier should be in the sunny side. Wetlands with potential for flooding during the rainy season are excluded.

The apple tree will delight you with a harvest if it grows in soils rich in humus and sand.

It should be light so that the root system can breathe. Chernozems are another option for normal apple tree growth.

Planting dates and scheme

The best time to plant an apple tree is mid-April. At the same time, make sure that the buds do not have time to bloom. If you adhere to this feature, the tree will be able to take root well.

The dimensions of the hole are made based on the dimensions of the root system. Depth - 60-70 cm. There should be at least 4 m between seedlings, row spacing at a distance of 5 m from each other.

Proper care of young and mature trees

Each season is distinguished by its own events, which the apple tree needs.

Spring

At the moment when nature comes to life after the winter cold, it is necessary to take care of the apple tree and set it up for fruiting. Of particular importance is pruning branches and applying fertilizers. There are also rules to follow in this matter.

Trimming

The procedure is important as it contributes to the harvest during the season. In spring, branches are removed in one of two ways:

1. Shortening.
2. Thinning.

In the first case, pruning stimulates the growth of buds that are dormant. This also affects the formation of shoots. Thinning is the removal of branches, which is necessary to lighten the crown.

Fertilizer

In spring, it is recommended to feed the tree with mineral organic fertilizers. This may be ammonium sulfate or potassium sulfate. More accessible elements are compost, bird droppings or manure.

Summer

Although the variety tolerates hot weather, do not forget about watering. The wood is also treated against pests. Attention is paid to the soil in the tree trunk area.

Watering

After planting, the seedling needs regular and abundant watering. Up to 3 buckets of water are poured under one tree. Once a week will be enough. During drought, the tree is watered every 3-4 days.

Prevention

Treatment with special solutions 2 weeks after flowering will protect against attack by insect pests. After 3 weeks, spraying is carried out again. Karbofos and chlorophos are used as treatment agents.

Autumn

Before the onset of cold weather, they prepare the tree so that it can survive the winter. Do not forget about preventive treatment against insects.In autumn the trunk is whitened.

Disease and pest control

Considering that the variety does not have a stable immune system to all pests, they help protect it. At this time, they fight scab, apple cancer, fruit rot and powdery mildew. For spraying, chemicals and traditional methods are used.

Shelter for the winter

If the winter is cold, it is recommended to cover the apple tree. To do this, the area of ​​land under which the roots are located is covered with a thick layer of mulch. The trunk and branches are wrapped with suitable material.

The fabric must allow air to pass through so that oxygen reaches the wood. Otherwise, the bark will rot and peel off over time. It is possible to grow the Red Early variety. There should not be any difficulties in the process. But you will have to try hard for this.