Everything new that appears in gardening invariably arouses interest. This happened with the Eliza apple tree. Its intriguing characteristics encourage gardeners to experiment. The Dutch apple variety Eliza conquered the European market more than 40 years ago and even received the title of elite. Its fruits have an incomparable taste.
Description of the variety
This variety is ancient, bred by A. at the end of the 19th century.Dühring in Elbing, Germany, then sold to the owner of the nursery Franz Rathke, and the latter gave him the name Eliza and sent him around the world.
It was obtained by crossing varieties of apple trees Cox Orange Pepin and Septer, and is considered a club apple in Europe.
Eliza is characterized by a medium-sized tree, with an unthickened, wide crown. It is also winter-hardy and begins to bear fruit early. It is distinguished by very high yields, even overloading with crops. Therefore, it needs normal pruning - this way the apples will remain firm.
Judging by the description of the fruits, their shape is round-conical, their size is quite large, and their color is brownish-brown. By the beginning of October they are fully ripe and ready for harvest. And they will retain all their taste even after 7-8 months of storage in the refrigerator.
Advantages and disadvantages
The popularity of the apple tree with the female name Eliza was facilitated by the undoubted advantages of this variety:
- precociousness;
- winter hardiness (only in regions recommended for cultivation);
- consistently high productivity;
- beautiful and large apples;
- resistance to scab, powdery mildew and fire blight.
Eliza has practically no shortcomings, except that for some, rare cases of scab and powdery mildew may seem so.
Characteristics
Eliza apple trees have excellent characteristics, although for some this species may seem typical.
Sizes of an adult tree and annual growth
The apple tree is considered medium-sized. In adulthood, it rarely grows above 4 meters. The shoots reach a length of 40 centimeters. And its not too thick crown with its drooping branches makes it similar to mulberry or weeping Japanese sophora.
Frequency of fruiting
Apple trees of this variety are found even in industrial orchards. And in such farms, varieties with constant fruiting are planted so that they can produce a lot of apples every year.
Productivity
Eliza apple trees have naturally high yields. All gardeners who plant them on their plots talk about this. But you will have to regulate it by performing normal pruning. This will improve the marketability and attractiveness of apples.
If you properly care for the trees, then, on average, you can remove more than five buckets from one apple tree.
This apple tree will not make you wait 6-8 years for the first harvest. It only takes 3-4 years for the trees to begin bearing fruit. At 6-7 years old they produce up to 30 kilograms of fruit (12 tons per hectare), and at 10-13 years old they produce up to 90 kilograms (20-33 tons per hectare).
In the conditions of the South, on average, they harvest 300-400 centners per hectare, sometimes up to 500.
Tasting assessment
You can safely give it 4.8 points, even 5. Out of five!
Frost resistance
In areas that are recommended for growing Eliza, the winter hardiness of the apple tree is quite high.
Resistance to diseases and pests
The fact that the tree is resistant to the most serious diseases of apple trees, such as scab, powdery mildew and bacterial canker, is recognized as one of the most important advantages of this variety. And by treating apple trees for preventive purposes, the gardener will help protect them from other diseases characteristic of these fruit crops.
Timing of flowering and fruit ripening
You can easily remember the period when the Eliza apple tree blooms - the second half of May. And they ripen from the end of September. The first half of October is suitable for harvesting. Then they are put into storage. Some gardeners note that apples can survive on the tree until the New Year holidays.But you shouldn't wait that long. It's better to take them off in time.
In what regions can it be grown?
Eliza is an excellent apple tree not only for European gardeners and farmers. It can grow and bear fruit well in our area too.
- Moscow region and Volga region.
The climatic conditions of the regions must be taken into account. Frosts here can reach -30 ℃, even lower, and remain so for a long time. It is not uncommon for temperatures to change from minus to plus and vice versa. You will have to provide reliable and constant protection from frost. That is why you don’t hear too often about successes in growing this variety.
- Ukraine.
There was a time when the Eliza apple tree variety became widespread in the Vydubitsky Monastery in Kyiv. And after that, many literary sources call it “Weeping Vedubetskaya”.
Today, Ukrainian farmers are showing considerable interest in this crop.
