If you need to grow an apple tree in a cold climate, the Persian variety will be a very good choice. This tree was obtained by crossing Kungur Pineapple and Peach. This fruit tree requires moderate care and protection from scab, and in return it resists frost and drought well. The fruits of this variety are tasty and beautiful.
History of selection
The Persianka variety was bred at the horticultural station in Sverdlovsk by breeders L. A. Kotov and P. A. Dibrov.To obtain this fruit tree, the apple tree varieties Peach and Kungursky Pineapple were used. Was tested in 1990. The variety is zoned in the Volga-Vyatka and Ural regions. It is also suitable for cultivation in the Orenburg region.
Description of the Persian variety
The Persian apple tree is characterized by a spherical crown, thick branches, grows up to 6 meters and has a dark brown bark. The harvest is formed on the ringlets.
The leaves of the tree are rough. It blooms with white, large flowers collected in inflorescences.
Persian is considered self-sterile, that is, it should be planted with other apple trees of late varieties, such as Skryzhapel, Antonovka, Slavyanka, Pepin Saffron.
Descriptions of fruits by gardeners:
- they reach a weight of 120 grams;
- have juicy, creamy flesh;
- the shape of the fruit is round, and sometimes round-cylindrical;
- the ribbing of the fruit does not stand out;
- the color of apples ranges from light green to cream;
- those fruits that are located closer to the sun have a blush;
- fruits have a glossy peel with a slight waxy coating;
- the harvest ripens in the first autumn month;
- Fruits are stored for up to six months at a temperature of several degrees Celsius.
The appearance and taste of Persian apples sometimes change for the worse at unfavorable times.
What are the pros and cons?
Among the advantages are the large-fruited variety, transportability, excellent taste, long shelf life of fruit, as well as drought and frost resistance of the plant. This plant is also often used when breeding new varieties, as it produces excellent offspring. The disadvantage is insufficient immunity to scab, therefore, in conditions of high humidity, the Persian apple tree suffers from this fungal disease.
Tasting evaluation of fruits
The fruits of this variety have a sweet and sour taste, contain a lot of juice in the pulp, and are crunchy. Ripe fruits have a light apple aroma. Experts give a tasting score of 4.5 points, and under unfavorable growing and storage conditions it will be 3.8 points. Before removable ripening, the fruits hold well on the trees, but with a sharp gust of wind they fall off very quickly.
The harvest is stored in wooden boxes sandwiched between layers of paper. The fruits have an excellent taste after picking. They eat fruits both fresh and processed (jam, marmalade, compotes).
Winter hardiness and diseases
This variety is recommended for cultivation in harsh climates due to its excellent regenerative ability. The tree can easily withstand temperatures of 40 °C below zero, and it also has increased resistance to drought.
The Persian apple tree has average immune resistance to most diseases, but scab is an exception. In conditions of high humidity, it is often susceptible to this fungal disease.
To provide protection from apple tree scab Every spring they do a sanitary cleaning of the crown for better wind blowing and sun exposure. Be sure to remove and burn fallen leaves. Then the wood is further treated at the initial stage of its appearance with antifungal drugs.
Productivity and frequency of fruiting
Persian apples ripen in early autumn and can be eaten immediately. If you do not take into account the frequency, the yield of the variety is about 100 kilograms per tree. If the basic rules of agricultural technology are observed, 200 kilograms of fruits are removed from it.
The apple tree begins to produce a harvest 6-7 years after budding.The Persian apple tree has no periodicity, so it bears fruit annually.
Subspecies of the Persian variety
All described subspecies have a similar name, but there are columnar Persian apple trees. This tree has a trunk in the center, and the number of shoots is minimal, and they are all very short. This gives additional compactness and the ability to plant a larger number of apple trees in a certain place.
There is also the creeping Persian. The plant has low shoots that are inclined downwards. This feature helps to hide them in the snow in winter and prevent them from freezing. Winter Persian has winter hardiness even higher than that of the classic variety. The dwarf tree was grown specifically for ease of harvesting.
Best Growing Regions
At the initial stage of breeding the variety, this fruit tree was zoned in the Urals and adapted to harsh, frosty winters. Then, experimentally, we saw good survival rate and fruiting in the Volga-Vyatka region, Orenburg region and in other areas of the north.
There is a caution not to plant it in a humid climate, as it will become scabby year after year.
Then there can be no question of any commercial appearance of apples. In all regions where it is planted, gardeners are surprised by its large fruit and abundant fruiting.
The disadvantage of the Persian apple tree in the form of insufficient resistance to scab is compensated by its other advantages, such as withstanding severe frosts and drought, large fruit and a long shelf life of fruits. The combination of all the strengths of the variety makes it one of the best in the northern regions of the country.
