The Snowdrop apple tree was bred by breeders N. Mazunina, M. Mazunin and V. Putyatin. This is a tasty winter variety grown using the Vydubetskaya Weeping apple tree using the open pollination method. In addition to good yield, this tree is also valued for its decorative properties. Since it is low-growing, the distance between plants of this variety can be from 2 meters.
Features and description of the variety
The Snowdrop apple tree is a dwarf tree that requires systematic pruning. They also put up supports and tie him to them. If this is not done, the branches loaded with fruits will sag.
The appearance of the trunk and skeletal branches has a light brown tint. Fruit buds are formed on fruit formations of all types, this includes last year’s growths. The leaves of the tree are rich green in color with strong pubescence, their shape is oval, and the edges have small teeth.
In the description of the fruits, gardeners mention:
- ribbing and dots under the skin;
- the mass of the fruit, which is equal to 150 grams, and sometimes more;
- light yellow color with a slight blush;
- presence of gloss on the skin;
- white, juicy and fine-grained pulp, which is visible when cut;
- the presence of an erect, powerful stalk;
- the versatility of the variety, because apples are consumed both fresh and for processing.
What are the advantages and disadvantages?
The positive characteristics of the Snowdrop apple tree are its early fruiting, high winter hardiness, excellent generative abilities, high resistance to drought, and undemandingness in soil composition.
The disadvantages of the variety include its self-sterility. She should have pollinating apple trees nearby. These are the following varieties: Kovrovoe, Prizemlennoye, Sokolovskoye.
Apple tree varieties
Some representatives of this variety differ from its general characteristics, so gardeners classified Snowdrop as a variety of apple tree.
Dwarf winter
This is a dwarf tree of the Snowdrop variety. The only differences are in height. The maximum growth of this plant, grafted on dwarf rootstocks, is up to 1.5 meters.
Natural slate
This apple tree's branches creep to the ground because it has a drooping crown. There are no other differences.
Characteristics of the Snowdrop variety
Below we talk about the combination of features of the tree.
Apple tree sizes
This fruit tree only grows up to 2 meters if it has been grafted onto seed rootstocks. The crown is located around the apple tree and is formed parallel to the earthen surface.
Frequency of fruiting
Plants bear their first harvest in the 3rd or 4th year after grafting this cultivar. Young apple trees begin to bear fruit annually, and when several years have passed - periodically.
Productivity and fruit evaluation
An adult tree can produce a harvest of up to 80 kilograms of fruits with excellent taste.
Snowdrop apples have a sweet and sour fruit taste and presence of aroma. Evaluation of the taste characteristics of the fruit is 4.3 points. Fruits contain 14.4% dry matter, 9.2% sugar, 1.3% pectin, 0.8% titratable acids. Vitamin C in apples is 18.7 mg per 100 g.
Disease resistance
The Snowdrop apple tree has good resistance to scab, but it is still necessary to carry out preventive measures using fungicides 2-3 times.
The tree’s resistance to various diseases also increases if pruning is carried out annually and fertilizing is systematically applied. If one plant is affected, preventative treatment is given to all the others..
The following diseases and pests pose a danger to fruit trees: scab, copperhead, aphids, and codling moths.
Frost resistance
Since the Snowdrop was bred for harsh climatic zones, it can withstand frosts down to -40 °C. Even if the roots freeze at very low temperatures, the apple tree recovers without problems.
Growing regions
Breeders developed the Snowdrop variety for fruiting in the Urals and Western Siberia. It turns out that the small height of the tree was not created by chance: it was necessary in order to hide it in a snowdrift. Of course, this plant is also grown in the southern regions. And in the Moscow region, experimental planting of this apple tree gave good results.
Snowdrops are grown mainly in home gardens, where they play the role of both a fruit tree and an ornamental plant, delighting their owners with delicious fruits and a beautiful appearance.
