One of the best ornamental crops is the Ola apple tree. The Ola apple tree variety was bred by Polish breeding scientists to be used in landscape design and to decorate gardens with parks and streets. Today it is popular in this business and as a garden crop among summer residents. What it is, what types of apple trees there are, and much more.
Description of the Ola apple tree
Any description of the decorative Ola apple tree will say that it is used for decoration as a hedge.It will also indicate that it brings a rich harvest and serves as a garden crop with bright leaves and small fruits.
An adult apple tree reaches a size of 5 meters. Every year it grows by 40 centimeters. Every year its growth slows down. Its crown has a sparse, round, openwork and spreading structure. The bark is purple-brown in color. The leaves have a simple ellipse shape.
In spring, depending on the species, they turn chocolate-colored, and closer to summer they become dark green and shiny. In autumn, like other apple trees, Ola's leaves turn yellow and brown.
The plant blooms towards the end of spring. Blooms profusely for about two weeks. During flowering it is covered with large, dark pink and fragrant flowers. The fruits are formed from these flowers towards the beginning of September and remain hanging on the branches until December. Apples have hard, juicy and tasty pulp. They can be used to make various products or eat them fresh. This type of apple tree is a pollinator plant. This means that by planting it next to other fruit trees, you can attract many insects and increase the yield of these crops.
Ola grows unpretentiously in nutritious, moderately moist soil, well illuminated by light. It also feels comfortable in partial shade. Propagated by seeds and cuttings.
History of variety development
The variety has its own breeding history. It was first bred in 1970 in Poland by crossing two types of apple trees - Cardon and Arthur Turner.
There are two versions of the history of the creation of the name apples. According to the first of them, the variety was called the Spanish greeting because it resembled Spanish purple paradise apples in appearance and taste.According to the second option, the apple tree is called this because it is unpretentious and “friendly” to all summer residents. The scientific name of the crop is Malus purpurea Ola.
What are the subspecies?
The Ola apple tree has several varieties that differ from each other in the color and size of fruits and leaves, durability and disease resistance. This diversity is the result of hard breeding work that was carried out to obtain the most beautiful and valuable forms of ornamental apple trees.
Red-leaved
The Ola Red-leaved apple tree is a strong and strong four-meter tree covered with red leaves. One of the hybrid varieties that retain leaf color from spring until autumn leaves fall. The red-leaved hybrid is resistant to cold and disease. Grows well in the center of Russia, Siberia and the Urals.
Hybrid
Hybrid Ola is an apple tree with a regular spherical crown 5 meters high. The crown of the tree is represented by simple ellipsoidal green leaves, which turn yellow in autumn. The buds take on a red tint and turn into large four-centimeter flowers.
Flowers of a hybrid type are collected in umbrella-shaped inflorescences on short shoots. At the beginning of flowering they are dark pink in color, and at the end they are white-pink with yellow stamens. They bloom for 2 weeks at the end of May. The fruits turn purple and measure 3 centimeters in diameter. They have a rich taste and aroma.
The soil for a hybrid species requires nutritious soil. The place is sunny or slightly darkened. It can be adjacent to other fruit trees, or it can grow alone. Hybrid Ola is characterized by gas resistance, winter hardiness and resistance to apple tree diseases.
Features of ripening and fruiting
All types of Ola apple trees are light-loving. They need to be planted directly in open ground, well illuminated by sunlight. It also does well in partial shade. He will die in the shadows. Prefers fertile (enriched in potassium, nitrogen and humus), drained and deep soils. Resistant to cold, heat and disease. In severe drought, it may die or stop actively bearing fruit.
To achieve the highest decorativeness and productivity, it is recommended to plant in the sun and water abundantly (more than 20 liters per day in portions). Loves feeding well, does not survive transplants well. It is recommended to prune branches in the spring to stimulate active growth and reproduction of the tree. If one tree becomes diseased, all trees must be disinfected with special chemicals.
Fruits every year until its 50th anniversary. Every year after 20 years, fruiting decreases. From a young 3-year-old tree you can harvest up to 20 kilograms of harvest. Peak fruiting activity occurs at 5-6 years of age. By this age, the plant is covered with a rich crown with numerous fruits and produces a harvest of up to 50 kilograms.
Winter hardiness and disease resistance
The plant shows high resistance to pests, diseases and cold. She is not afraid of strong winds, frosts, scab and powdery mildew. Fungal diseases will also bypass the tree even during heavy rainfalls.
Naturally, if a neighboring plant gets sick, Ola can also get sick. In such a situation, disinfection of both crops is required.
Which region is best to grow in?
The Ola apple tree takes root well in most regions and regions of Russia. Basically, it grows well in the center, closer to Moscow.It is also actively grown in the Urals and Siberia. There it yields noticeably less than in the center, but it feels good.
