The apple tree is perhaps one of those trees that can be found in almost every garden. The reason for this is its unpretentiousness and ease of cultivation. There are many varieties of these fruits, and one of them is Champagne apples. Champagne fruits are ideal for growing on your own.
Description of the variety
This is one of the most successful varieties for growing in your own garden. The fruits grow large - on average 100 grams. Some can reach 150 grams.The ripe fruits are predominantly round in shape. When ripe, apples of this variety are light yellow in color with red spots or “blush”.
The description of this type of fruit says that such apples are juicy and have a dense texture. The skin may have a characteristic waxy coating. The fruits have a sweet-sour taste, and during ripening the sour taste becomes less.
Subspecies of the variety:
- Ranet champagne;
- Splashes of champagne;
- Livland champagne;
- Crimean champagne.
Pros and cons of the Champagne apple tree
The positive features of this type of apple include:
- Frost resistance. There is no need to worry that the tree will freeze in winter - it preserves well in low temperatures.
- Resistant to diseases common to most apple trees.
- Even after damage, this variety quickly recovers.
But there are also some downsides. Unfortunately, Champagne apples don't last long. The shelf life of fruits under temperature conditions is 1 month. Another disadvantage is the considerable percentage of damage to the tree from the rays of the spring sun.
Main characteristics of the variety
To decide whether a Champagne apple tree is suitable for growing in the garden, you should familiarize yourself with the main characteristics and features of this tree.
Dimensions
The trees themselves reach great heights - up to 5 meters. If you do not form a crown from the very beginning and allow the apple tree to grow on its own, then you may end up encountering difficulties in caring for it.
The ripe apples themselves weigh on average 100 grams, but there are also large specimens reaching up to 150 grams.
Productivity
The productivity of this type of apple is high: among all varieties of apple trees in this group, the Champagne variety occupies one of the leading positions.This is a priority for many gardeners, especially if the crop is grown for sale.
If the spring turns out to be warm and sunny, then the harvest will be better and larger than if there was a lot of rain and wind. Productivity also increases due to pollination of the tree by insects or other apple trees.
Frequency of fruiting
With proper care (timely watering, fertilizing and feeding, forming the tree crown and protection from pests), the apple tree will bear fruit every year. The first apples appear, as a rule, no earlier than the 3-5th year of tree growth.
The apple tree begins to bloom towards the end of spring and continues until about the tenth of June. The fruits ripen in early August and until early September.
Winter hardiness
One of the advantages of this variety of apple trees is their winter hardiness and ability to tolerate low temperatures. Of course, the younger the tree, the more susceptible it is to bad weather conditions, but in general these apple trees survive the winter well.
Even if minor damage occurs, the tree easily and quickly recovers and continues to produce crops.
However, it is still recommended to prepare for the cold season. In autumn, it is better to feed the tree and treat it with special products, and whiten the trunk. If it is a young apple tree, you can cover the trunks to avoid damage by rodents.
Disease resistance
Champagne apples are resistant to disease and are rarely attacked by pests. But even if this happened, the advantage of the species is the ability to quickly recover. The likelihood that the tree will have to be treated for a long time and the gardener will miss the harvest season is small.
Fruit evaluation
Apples are assessed using a five-point system based on a number of indicators and characteristics of the fruit. Champagne apples received a tasting score of 4.6 points. They are suitable for baking, making jam, marmalade, compote and dried fruit. They are also recommended to be consumed fresh.
Best Growing Regions
Due to their characteristics, apples of this type take root in most regions of Russia, but the best place for cultivation is the central zone. Trees of this type are often planted in Siberia, despite possible extreme temperature conditions - Champagne apples are winter-hardy and can quickly recover if damaged.
Reviews from gardeners about the apple tree
Valentin, Belgorod: “The Champagne apple tree has been growing here for a long time. It produces a harvest every year, easily survives even cold winters, and is unpretentious. The fruits are tasty, but do not last long. What we don’t have time to eat or sell goes for conservation.”
Oksana, Nizhny Novgorod: “More than one tree of this variety grows on the family plot. The taste is amazing, the apples are beautiful. It is characterized by extraordinary resistance to diseases. We are glad".
Artem, Perm: “I bought a tree after seeing a photo on the Internet. I received my first harvest already in the 4th year. The tree easily survives winters and temperature fluctuations. I recommend".
