Description and characteristics of Lobo apple trees, varieties, planting and care

Canadian breeders developed the Lobo variety using the open pollination method. A 1906 experiment to improve the McIntosh seedling was a success. Today, Lobo apple trees grow in Belarus, Ukraine, the Baltic states, and Central Russia, despite the fact that in the register of fruit trees the variety is classified as plants of the Volga and Central Black Earth regions.

Characteristics and description of the variety

Lobo is a winter variety. Its apples ripen equally well in drought and cold summer conditions. The seedlings are distinguished by their cherry-colored curved, flexible shoots. The leaves of the fruit tree have a bright green matte color, oval shape, and the outer side is lumpy. Depending on the rootstock used, the leaf shape may vary slightly.

Fruit ripening occurs on the ringlets of last year's growth. The weight of apples varies from 130 to 180 g. The shapes of apples from apple trees grown on different rootstocks may differ - conical and flattened-rounded fruits are characteristic of this variety. Lobo varietal apples are distinguished by a small core and a heart-shaped testicle.

The peel of unripe apples is green and yellow. Ripe fruits are distinguished by a rich burgundy blush, covering almost the entire surface. The waxy coating that makes the apple bluish does not hide the subcutaneous points.

Tasting assessment

The Lobo variety received a high tasting score (from 4.5 to 4.8 out of 5 possible points) for its fine-grained, sour-sweet pulp, exuding a light alluring aroma of raspberry caramel.

Pollinators

The flowering period of the apple tree is in the middle - end of May; accordingly, pollinating varieties should bloom in the same period. Lobo has no particular preference for certain types of apple trees. The only unwanted neighbor is the Chinese woman.

Crown height and diameter

At the initial stage of growth, the crown has a rounded, elongated crown. As a fruit tree matures, its branches begin to bend downward. The shape of the crown becomes similar to a ball flattened on top; it is not prone to thickening.Every year the growth of branches decreases. The final shape of the crown can be given by pruning, which will make a tree with a slender, straight trunk a decoration of the garden.

Productivity

During the period of best yield of an adult tree in a season, up to 380 kg of fruit can be removed from it. There is no such harvest on a young tree, but it increases every year. The Lobo apple tree is characterized by consistently high productivity.

Beginning of fruiting

The first harvest from a fast-growing apple tree can be harvested in the 3-4th season after planting. After 6-7 years, the tree grafted with an eye taken from a cultivated cutting will begin to bear fruit. Any rootstock is suitable for budding; with the help of such grafting you can improve the quality of apples from a wild apple tree.

Ripening time

Fruit ripening on the Lobo apple tree is simultaneous, occurring at the end of September - beginning of October. The variety is characterized by good keeping quality and preservation of its presentation after transportation.

Winter hardiness

Without additional insulation measures, an apple tree can winter without damage in climatic conditions with frosts down to -30 °C.

Advantages and disadvantages of Lobo apple trees

The fruit tree of the Lobo variety can withstand drought and frost, is characterized by stable yields, begins to bear fruit early, and the apples are not damaged during transportation.

The disadvantages of the variety include:

• susceptibility to scab and powdery mildew diseases during prolonged rains;
• when budding, the date for harvesting the first harvest is postponed by 3-4 years;
• storage of apples is limited to 3 months;
• The branches require supports to prevent them from breaking under the weight of the fruit.

Landing

For spring planting, seedlings that are 2 years old are used. Older seedlings have a worse survival rate; they are planted in the middle - end of November, so their roots better adapt to the new place. A correctly selected and prepared place for planting is the key to good harvests in the future.

What is the scheme for planting seedlings?

Lobo apple tree seedlings are planted in a row at intervals of 4-5 meters. When grafting onto old trunks of apple trees or drupes, it is better to maintain a spacing between trees of at least 5 m, both in a line and between rows.

Basic soil requirements for planting a Lobo apple tree

The best soil for Lobo apple trees is light soil (loam) in an elevated, sunny place protected from the winds. The occurrence of groundwater in this place should not be closer than 1 m from the surface, otherwise the apple tree will constantly hurt from excess moisture.

Which hole should I plant the seedling in?

The depth of the planting hole is 90 cm, the width is 1 m. For areas in lowlands and with close occurrence of aquifers, high-quality drainage is required; for this, gravel or medium-fraction crushed stone is poured onto the bottom of the planting hole; broken red brick is also suitable.

Most of the selected soil is mixed with:

• 30 liters of peat;
• 20 liters of humus;
• 1 kg of superphosphate.

The hole is filled to a depth of 40-50 cm with this mixture, and plain garden soil is poured on top of the soil enriched with the nutrient mixture. When the fertile layer is severely depleted, the soil is shed with slurry.

Care

The health of the tree and its productivity depend on quality care. Pruning in the case of the Lobo variety affects the shape of the crown - the aesthetic appearance of the plant. Mulching - covering an area of ​​soil next to a tree trunk with sawdust and straw, prevents the appearance of weeds, and promotes the evaporation of moisture.

Trimming

A tree planted in the spring is pruned for the first time the next season to form a crown of branches of the 1st and 2nd stages.Active crown formation is carried out in the first 4 years after transplantation.

Next, all that is required is pruning of damaged, deformed branches and slight correction of overgrown branches. Considering the peculiarity that the fruits are set on last year's ringlets, it is necessary to annually replace old shoots with new ones.

Top dressing

At the stage of ovary formation, the apple tree requires nitrogen, which provides strength for the formation and ripening of fruits. In the second half of June, it is recommended to fertilize the apple tree with urea, mineral and organic fertilizers.

When fruiting is achieved, the tree is fertilized with urea, mineral, nitrogen and organic fertilizers. In summer, ash, compost and potash fertilizers are added to the soil. It is recommended to add ash to the soil.

Protection from diseases and pests

The Lobo apple tree is no different in its high immunity to disease. In the gardener's arsenal against the main enemies of the apple tree - scab and powdery mildew - there should be copper-containing preventive agents - "Horus" and "Skor".

Antifungal preventive measures:

1. fertilizing with potash and phosphorus fertilizers;
2. ash to reduce soil acidity;
3. treatment with colloidal sulfur;
4. removal of affected areas, burning them;
5. annual sanitary pruning;
6. timely harvest.

Systematic tree care, feeding, pruning, and whitewashing will significantly reduce the risk of disease.

Varieties of rootstocks

The Lyubo variety requires a winter-hardy rootstock; its main characteristics are transferred to the grafted plant:

• An apple tree not exceeding 3 m in height will grow on a dwarf rootstock.
• On a semi-dwarf rootstock, used mainly in very limited garden plots, Lobo fruiting will begin already in the 2-3rd season.
• The shortest apple trees grow on a columnar rootstock, their height is no more than 2 m. These plants do not have skeletal branches; fruit formation occurs on ringlets growing from the trunk.
• The height of an apple tree on a slate rootstock is the same as that of a standard one. It is more resistant to diseases and produces high yields.

The smaller the apple tree, the lower the yield, life and fruiting period of the plant.

Features of cultivation in some regions

In the Volga region, this apple tree, despite the arid climate, grows without requiring special attention from the gardener. For Muscovites and residents of the Leningrad region, when growing this variety of apples, strict adherence to the agrotechnical stages of planting, soil enrichment, care, and preparation of the tree for winter is required.

Harvest and storage

Apples are collected for long-term storage at the stage of their technical maturity. In this case, both the keeping quality and transportability of the crop will be at the highest level. The maximum shelf life of Lobo apples is 3 months from the date of collection. After this, the fruits begin to dry out, wrinkle, and their taste suffers.