The weather in the Urals is unstable, especially in summer: winds, drought and heavy rains. In winter, the orchard is threatened by frost; summer is not pleased with the abundance of heat. Nevertheless, gardeners are successfully planting apple tree seedlings in the Urals. The varieties bred for this region are as close as possible in their characteristics (frost resistance, adaptability to weather conditions) to wild forms.
Choosing an apple tree variety for the Urals
Summer residents of the Urals should choose varieties of apple trees bred for their climatic zone. It is worth paying attention to the winter-hardy apple tree of the Papiroyantarnoe variety.The selection was carried out by L.A. Kotov (breeding station in Sverdlovsk), he crossed Papirovka and Yantar.
Summer variety, winter-hardy (up to -30 °C). A mature tree is 6 to 7 m high. The skeletal branches are strong, extending from the trunk almost at right angles, forming a strong, rounded crown. Fruiting is regular. Fruit parameters:
- weight 150 g;
- the skin is light yellow;
- pulp (color) cream;
- pulp (structure) fine-grained;
- sweet and sour taste, rating 4.4 points;
- universal purpose.
Disadvantage: leaves and fruits are susceptible to scab if the summer is cold and damp.
The Aksena apple tree is another work by L. A. Kotov. The variety is late summer, ripens by mid-August, the shelf life of the fruit is short. The yield of an adult tree is 18 kg. The fruits are medium size (90 g), round in shape. The skin is creamy with a solid red blush. The pulp is dense, fine-grained, creamy, sweet and sour. Taste rating 4.3 points.
Reference! The Raika variety is planted as a pollinator in the Urals.
Of the autumn varieties of apple trees growing in the Urals, Sokovoe-3 deserves attention. The form was obtained by crossing the Ural bulk with the Urozhainoe apple tree. Fruit parameters:
- weight about 80 g, the largest specimens are 120 g;
- flat-round shape;
- skin color is cream, pink blush, striped and speckled;
- the color of the pulp is creamy, the structure of the pulp is granular, the juice content is high;
- harmonious sweet and sour taste, rating 4.5 points.
Fruiting from the 3rd year of life, fruit ripening period is September (from 1 to 20). Apples are stored for 3-4 months. The productivity of an adult tree is high (up to 100 kg). Advantages of Juice-3: winter hardiness, resistance to scab pathogens.
Other varieties grown in the Urals are shown in the table.
| Name | Productivity | Fruit (weight, g) |
| Rumyanka Sverdlovskaya | 350 | 180 |
| Rodnikovaya | 300 | 150 |
| good news | 200 | From 80 to 100 |
| Screen | 250 | 90 |
| Pervouralskoe | 360 | 160-200 |
| Persian | 320 | 145 |
Landing dates
Most Ural gardeners plant seedlings in mid-spring. By the end of April, consistently warm weather sets in and the soil warms up. You need to plant before the buds open. Over the summer, the apple tree will get stronger and will survive the first winter without any problems.
They are not planted early in the fall, so as not to provoke the awakening of the buds. They rely on weather forecasters and their long-term weather observations. You need to have time to plant a seedling a month before severe frosts; it is optimal to plant an apple tree in early October.
Ideal soil for an apple tree
Planting an apple tree in unsuitable soil causes diseases, irregular fruiting, and low yields. Not suitable for growing apple trees:
- heavy soil;
- soils with high acidity;
- areas with high groundwater levels.
Signs that characterize ideal soil for apple trees: structure, porosity, moisture capacity. The pH level ranges from 5.1 to 7.5, carbonate content from 12 to 15%, humus - at least 2%. For an apple tree to live a long life, groundwater must lie deeper than 1.5 m. Methods for increasing the fertility of garden soil are given in the table.
| Way | pros | Implementation |
| Add organic matter | The apple tree receives nutrients in an easily digestible form | Manure, sapropel, lowland peat, compost (vegetable) |
| Sowing the site with green manure | The soil structure improves, the percentage of humus increases | Mustard (white), phacelia, vetch, clover |
| Mulch | Protecting roots from overheating and hypothermia, creating favorable conditions for the development of soil microflora, maintaining optimal soil moisture, improving air conditions | Lawn grass, crushed green manure, ready-made compost, composted peat |
The simultaneous use of several methods accelerates humus accumulation in garden soil.
Rules for selecting seedlings
For planting, it is worth purchasing seedlings aged 2 years or older. The root system of a healthy tree is branched, at least 30 cm long, the length of the central shoot is at least 1.5 meters. The roots should not have growths; their color when cut should be white.
Several shoots should emerge from the trunk of a 2-year-old seedling. They should be located at different levels and at different angles. There should be no mechanical damage on the trunk and branches. It is best to purchase a seedling with a closed root system.
How to plant an apple tree seedling correctly?
3 weeks before planting the seedlings, preparatory work begins. Preparing the planting hole takes the most physical effort and time. It should be at least 80-90 cm in diameter and 70 cm deep.
In order for the seedling to receive adequate nutrition after planting, the soil for backfilling is prepared, and it must contain:
- humus;
- compost;
- peat;
- garden soil.
Everything is taken in equal shares. If the garden soil is clayey, then sand is added to the mixture. Before planting, you can pour fallen leaves and small branches into the bottom of the hole; when they rot, they will feed the apple tree as organic fertilizer.
Reference! Superphosphate is added to the soil for backfilling; it promotes better rooting and development of the seedling.
A stake is driven into the center of the hole, a mound of fertile soil is poured around it, on which the seedling is placed.The roots are straightened and evenly covered with soil. At the end of planting work, the root collar of the apple tree should be 5-7 cm above the ground. A root hole is formed, the soil is watered abundantly and covered with mulch (humus, peat). The trunk is tied to a peg in several places.
Preparing for winter
The standard is whitened using a chalk solution. Just before frost, the apple tree is watered abundantly, this increases its frost resistance. The trunk is protected from frost with old newspapers or burlap. The branches are wrapped with covering material. The tree trunk circle is covered with spruce branches.
Simple measures help the seedling to survive the winter. In the spring, before the buds open, all covering materials and spruce branches are removed from the tree. The tree trunk circle is cleaned and loosened. Further care of a young apple tree comes down to watering, fertilizing, and disease prevention.
