Few ordinary consumers know the real number of varieties of apple tree varieties growing on the territory of the Russian Federation. For them, apples are divided into imported and domestic, sweet and sour, large and small. In reality, everything is much more complicated. Papirovka, Antonovka, Champagne, Pineapple, Melba, Old Man Erliest, Early sweet, White filling, Kitayka golden - this is a small share of apple varieties. Below we will talk about the Pineapple apple tree.
Description of the variety
Oddly enough, it is not easy to get acquainted with a detailed description of the Pineapple apple tree. Basically, the sites provide a brief description of the species. However, this knowledge is not enough to choose the Pineapple variety of fruit tree.
The Pineapple apple tree is a Western European species of autumn-ripening apple tree. But some gardeners call it a late summer variety. The fruits usually ripen in September; in a sunny area they can ripen at the end of August. Shelf life up to 4 months. And in conditions of optimal temperature and humidity, fruits can remain until December.
The apples are large, the average weight varies from 180 to 350 grams. The skin is dense, smooth, shiny, with a slight waxy coating. The color of the fruit is sunny yellow, with clearly visible gray dots around the perimeter. On the sunny side there is a slight reddish blush. The pulp is white-yellow, juicy, elastic, with a sweet and sour taste and rich aroma. Apples have a persistent aftertaste of pineapple, which is why the tree got its name. When picked, the fruits are firm, but after a short storage they become looser. The shape of the fruit is round, somewhat reminiscent of a truncated cone.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Each type of apple tree has advantages that set them apart from other varieties, and Pineapple is no exception. The advantages of the variety include:
- taste (the only apples with a slight aftertaste of pineapple);
- winter hardiness (the variety is not afraid of low temperatures and survives weather fluctuations well);
- high resistance to common apple tree diseases such as scab and powdery mildew;
- long shelf life (4-5 months);
- annual fruiting;
- easy to transport.
But there are also a number of disadvantages. Among them, the Pineapple variety apple tree distinguishes:
- the tree is tall, making it difficult to care for;
- low yield;
- inconspicuous appearance of the fruit, dull color;
- fruiting is possible in a year if the apple tree is not looked after and the branches are not pruned;
- have low resistance to other diseases and pest attacks.
Dimensions of an adult tree
The Pineapple apple tree is considered a vigorous tree, which makes harvesting difficult. Even with the help of a stepladder it is often difficult to reach the fruit. If you do not remove them from the tree and wait until they fall, the shelf life of the fruit will be significantly reduced. But at the same time, the crown of the apple tree is sparse and not wide, which makes caring for the apple tree easier.
Many sources contain information that the Pineapple apple tree is literally 2-3.5 meters in height, but in reality the apple tree easily reaches a size of 5 meters.
Productivity and taste of fruits
The Pineapple apple tree variety is a medium-yielding species, but this pays off in the size of the fruit. The apples are large, elastic, and approximately the same size. With proper care (pruning branches, watering, fertilizing), the tree bears fruit annually. If you don’t do any of this, the Pineapple apple tree will delight you with fruit in a year.
Standard care steps include the following:
- if the summer is dry, then the apple tree must be watered on a regular basis;
- periodically weed and loosen the tree trunk area;
- in spring and autumn, whiten the trunk;
- spray with special means to resist pests;
- feed with fertilizers.
The fruits of this species have a sweet and sour dessert taste with a rich aroma and a slight aftertaste of pineapple. This is where the variety took its name. The apples are juicy and reveal their main flavor once they are picked from the tree.Tasting rating on a five-point scale: 4.6 points.
Winter hardiness
Apple trees of the Pineapple variety are characterized by high winter hardiness. Trees easily tolerate sub-zero temperatures and weather changes and do not require additional insulation. However, some gardeners recommend (this applies to cold regions of the country) in particularly harsh winters, covering the tree trunk circle with a layer of peat at least 10 centimeters thick, and laying dry leaves on top of it.
Choose an area for the apple tree that is illuminated better and longer than others by the rays of the sun during the day. If the gardener has just planted a Pineapple, then it would be a good idea to cover the trunk for the winter.
Disease resistance
Pineapple is moderately resistant to many apple tree diseases. At the same time, trees are almost never subject to scab or powdery mildew. To protect the apple tree from other diseases, you need to treat the tree with special means and feed it. And to avoid attack by pests, you need to whitewash the trunk in the fall and spring.
Timing of flowering and fruit ripening
The apple tree of the Pineapple variety is distinguished by long-lasting flowering at a late time. More precise timing depends on the temperature in the region. It should be set at between plus 15 and plus 20 degrees. In the first years, you need to pick off the flowers so that the tree can use all its strength to grow and in the future will delight you with a tasty harvest.
The fruits usually ripen in September. But if the summer is warm and the area where the tree grows is sufficiently illuminated by sunlight, the apples may be ready for picking as early as August.
Regions of growth
Considering the characteristics of the variety, the Pineapple apple tree has taken root well in regions with cold climates.Now it is grown in other regions of Russia: the Volga region, Central Russia, North-West. The tree is easy to care for and produces good large fruits in almost any climate.
Reviews from gardeners
Kirill, Volgograd: “I planted this variety on the advice of a neighbor. Now the tree is 5 years old, and every year it pleases with a good harvest. The taste of apples is amazing, unlike others (and we have 5 varieties of these trees in our garden). Of course, one tree is not enough to sell. We grow for ourselves. And given the shelf life, we eat fresh, juicy apples until spring.”
Kristina, St. Petersburg: “I’m not happy with the tree. I’ll literally keep 1 female for my collection of varieties. The yield is very low, there is not enough even for oneself, let alone for sale. In addition, apples crumble quickly. The taste is, of course, excellent, but I don’t see the point in keeping a whole tree for the sake of a few fruits.”
Alexander, Yaroslavl: “I planted this tree on the advice of the seller. The fruits are not just big, they are huge. Pros: apples are tasty, can be stored for a long time, and do not require special care. We eat them fresh, my wife sometimes adds them to baked goods or cans them. But the tree bears fruit poorly. If you have a large family or are selling, one tree will not be enough. Another disadvantage is that the tree is tall, which complicates harvesting and pruning branches.”
Stanislav, Nizhny Novgorod: “What I like about this tree is its unpretentiousness and the taste of the fruit. After I received the first harvest, I planted 3 more of these trees. Now I have enough for myself and for the whole large family.”
