The Celeste apple tree is highly valued by gardeners for its productivity and ease of care, and its juicy fruits are valued for their taste, long shelf life and attractive appearance. The hybrid was bred in Germany and combines the qualities of the best dessert fruits, being an improved clone of the famous Delcorf apples. What are the benefits of the fruits of the Celeste variety, and what are their features? First things first.
Wood appearance
Celeste apple trees visually do not have any special features that distinguish them from other apple trees. The matte leaves are slightly curved, and the branches are covered with greenish bark. The tree is medium-sized and reaches 3-4 meters in height.However, growth slows down when fruits first appear. Flowering occurs in the first half of May. The beige buds turn into pinkish-white saucer-shaped flowers.
What do the fruits look like?
Apples of the Celeste variety have a decent presentation and are distinguished by taste properties that allow the fruits to be considered dessert. The aromatic, sweet, crispy pulp melts in the mouth, and a slight sourness is a distinctive feature of the variety.
The fruits have a regular round or slightly elongated shape. The main color is yellowish-green. On the sides, and less often over the entire surface of the glossy peel, pale vertical stripes of red shades are noticeable. Celeste apples are large and can weigh up to 200 grams.
Fruiting
Fruiting begins quickly. The primary harvest can be harvested in the third year of life, but there have been situations when Celeste bears fruit a year after planting. The apples ripen alternately, so they require manual picking, to which the variety is well adapted. The fruits are highly transportable and rarely break even when dropped.
The first stage of collection occurs in the second half of August. Celeste is particularly stable and produces a high-quality harvest every year. With proper planting and regular care, up to 110 kilograms of juicy and strong fruits can be harvested from one tree.
Disease resistance
Since the variety, called Celeste, was developed through crossing, its genetic feature is resistance to a large number of diseases. These include powdery mildew, scab, black cancer and some types of viruses.
However, it is worth considering that an apple tree variety that is considered resistant to a certain type of disease can become infected with it after several years.This is due to the fact that pests and bacteria can mutate, giving rise to new physiological races. In addition, rodents and flying insects can visit the garden, so preventive treatment measures should not be neglected.
Winter hardiness
An important feature of the hybrid variety is winter hardiness. Celeste apple trees are frost-resistant and can tolerate air temperatures down to -40 C.
Pollination
Pollination is the process by which an apple tree flower receives pollen from another plant before fertilization begins. This is necessary to improve the quality and quantity of the harvest. The success of the process is ensured by butterflies, bees and the wind, transferring pollen between tree flowers.
For this reason, it is recommended to plant apple trees of different varieties in groups, close to each other. A suitable pollinator can grow on its own or a neighboring plot. The following are perfect for pollinating Celeste:
- Arlet;
- Discovery;
- Elista;
- Idared;
- Sunrise;
- Naydared;
- Antonovka;
- James Give;
- Lodel;
- Summered;
- Gala Mast;
- Elstar;
- Idared;
- Fiesta.
