The Moscow apple variety later became widespread in temperate latitudes. This fruit crop has won the recognition of gardeners for its vitality, undemandingness to growing conditions and care. In addition, the fruits have a long shelf life. And most importantly, the plant is resistant to fungal infections. To grow a high-quality crop, you should study its strengths and weaknesses in more detail.
Description and characteristics of the variety and fruits
The Moscow apple tree later stands out for its tall growth. In the first years after planting, the young tree has a wide pyramidal crown shape, which, as the plant matures, takes on the shape of a wide oval. The central conductor and main skeletal branches are green-gray. Basically, the lateral processes grow in a vertically inclined position.
The dimensions of the sheet plates are characterized as average. Their shape is elliptical, the ends are pointed, and fibers form on the petioles. The smooth lateral processes have a rounded shape and strong pubescence. Their color is brownish-brown.
The Moscow apple tree later became popular due to its large harvest. Their weight is 160 g; under favorable conditions, fruits weighing up to 230 g can be found. The surface of the apples is smooth, there are no flaws, and the shape is round.
For this variety, the moment of removable maturity and consumer maturity coincides. This feature of the fruit allows them to be consumed immediately after picking, without waiting for complete ripening.
A slight blush is observed on the illuminated side of the fruit. According to the description of the variety, if the crop is stored for a long time, its color changes to golden.
History of selection
The Moskovskoye apple tree variety was later obtained through the process of hybridization, where the Soviet fruit crop breeder S.I. Isaev, based at Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov used two hardy varieties - Northern Synap and Brown New. The work was carried out in 1961. The variety appeared in official documents only in 2001.
Characteristics of the variety
The Moscow apple tree later has its own characteristics. Let's take a closer look at them.
Dimensions
Later, the Moscow apple tree, in the absence of proper care, in particular, without proper pruning and shaping, can reach a height of 5-6 m. This not only complicates the care of the tree itself, but also of other garden plantings that grow near it. Every year the tree grows 10-15 cm, which is relatively little.
Productivity
When grown in private plots by amateur gardeners, the fruit crop can produce up to 150 kg per tree. On large farms, productivity indicators reach 100 c/ha.
Winter hardiness
The plant is ideal for the regions of the middle zone. Its degree of resistance to sub-zero temperatures is above average. But in the first years after being assigned to a permanent place, it is better to additionally protect young seedlings from frost. For these purposes, you will need breathable material.
Disease resistance
The Moscow apple tree later stands out for its high degree of resistance to fungal infections. Often it is scab that destroys the future harvest. But resistance to other diseases typical of apple trees is average, which requires regular preventive measures. Powdery mildew poses a serious danger to fruit trees.
Taste qualities
The Moscow variety harvested later has juicy pulp, a moderately sweet taste and slight sourness. After eating them, a faint spicy aftertaste is felt. The structure of the dense pulp is fine-grained, white in color. The tasting score is 4.3 points.
Vitamin content
The ascorbic acid indicators inherent in this variety are 8.8 mg per 10 g of product. One apple contains 25% of the daily requirement of vitamin C. Phenolic compounds, distinguished by tanning qualities, are 55 mg per 100 g of fruit.The content of pectin substances as a percentage is 8.7% per dry weight, and P-active substances are 0.15 mg per 100 g.
Apples of the Moscow variety later contain 8.5-11.3% sugars, it all depends on the specific growing zone. Acidity indicators are 0.94%.
Kinds
There are several varieties of Moscow later apple trees, all of them are distinguished by a sufficient level of winter hardiness and endurance to adverse environmental factors.
Winter
The Moscow winter apple tree has proven itself exclusively on the positive side; it has a high level of endurance to sub-zero temperatures. The plant is distinguished by its vigorous growth, its height is 9-10 m, every year the central conductor and lateral vegetative organs grow by 10 cm. The fruits are collected in late September, early October.
The apples are large in size, weighing 250 g. They are dark red in color and have subcutaneous yellow inclusions.
Apples attract consumers with their pronounced aroma and sweet and sour taste. Under comfortable growing conditions and effective care, up to 160 kg of tasty harvest can be harvested from one tree. The shelf life is long, until June.
Columnar
The height of the tree of the Moscow Necklace variety does not exceed 2 m. The weight of the fruit is in the range of 150-250 g, their color is red, the taste is dessert. Neat and compact trees are often used on an industrial scale. The apple tree is distinguished by its early fruiting and high productivity.
Among the advantages of the variety, the high taste characteristics of apples are also noted; they are not afraid of transportation over long distances, which is ideal when using them for commercial purposes. The plant is frost-resistant and has a high level of resistance to scab.
The fruit crop is capable of yielding equally well both when grown in the southern regions and when cultivated in the northern regions. The plant tolerates low temperatures up to 42 degrees quite well. Considering the fact that over time its yield indicators begin to decrease significantly, after 15 years it is recommended to replace it with a new tree.
On a dwarf rootstock
The tree has all the varietal characteristics of the Moscow Late, its height is no more than 3 m. A fruit crop with late autumn fruit ripening, undemanding to care and produces a stable harvest.
Timing of flowering and fruit ripening
The flowering phase of the Moscow apple tree is later observed in the second half of May and lasts 1-1.5 weeks. The main factor influencing the timing of flowering is weather conditions in a particular region. The fruits ripen in the last days of September. In order for the fruits to maintain their integrity, you need to remove them in dry weather, leaving the stalk behind and carefully placing them in a suitable container.
Region of growth
The Moscow apple tree variety, due to its sufficient winter hardiness and high immunity to major diseases, is later cultivated in the Moscow region, Leningrad region, most of Russia, as well as in the northern and mountainous regions of Scandinavia.
The Moscow apple tree variety later has mostly positive reviews in gardening circles. It is especially valued for its high productivity with minimal maintenance. The main thing is to choose healthy seedlings, without any damage or signs of disease on the roots, and to adhere to the correct agricultural practices. Only an integrated approach will allow you to reap a healthy and abundant harvest.
