Features of the variety
The Bradchud variety has a number of features that give it uniqueness and the love of gardeners. It has a number of positive properties. These include frost resistance, high productivity, ease of caring for the apple tree and high taste. But the apple tree has a drawback: it suffers from scab and powdery mildew.
Plant lifespan
The variety is not long-lived. This is also a drawback. After 15-18 years of full fruiting period, it will be necessary to replace the apple tree with a new one.
External qualities
The Bratchud apple tree is considered low-growing and even dwarf. Her height does not exceed 2.5 meters. The crown is up to three meters in diameter, flat-round, the branches grow horizontally, they are spreading and wide.
Appearance of the Bratchurd tree.
Subspecies
The variety is very popular, even though it is relatively young. It has several subspecies, which differ slightly in properties and features.
Among them:
- winter creeping high-yielding variety with a rounded crown and tasty apples;
- early-fruiting low subspecies with large fruits;
- low and neat dwarf variety;
- super-dwarf standard apple tree up to a meter tall.
All these varieties have excellent resistance to low temperatures and can be grown even in the coldest regions.
Productivity
Fruiting is regular, annual, and occurs already in the fourth year after planting.
Up to 120 kg of apples are removed from the tree . The fruits ripen by the end of September.
The following varieties are also distinguished by their high yield: Jonathan, Volzhanka, Welsey, Uralskoye Nalivnoe and Lobo.
Characteristics of the variety
A number of characteristics of the Bratchud apple tree variety make it very popular. It’s worth looking at them in more detail to understand the advantages and disadvantages.
Resistance to diseases and pests
The variety has no immunity to fungal diseases. The tree is affected by scab and powdery mildew very often, especially in conditions of high humidity. Therefore, it will be necessary to regularly inspect the apple tree and carry out spring preventative spraying.
The same applies to pests. A number of protection measures will need to be taken from them.
Drought resistance and winter hardiness
Bratchud is considered a very resistant variety that can easily and without loss endure severe frosts, even down to -40 degrees. The shoots can withstand any temperature drops, thaws and spring frosts. Another thing is the roots of the plant. They are superficial and located close to the ground, so they are at risk. It is they who can freeze slightly in severe frosts, so they need shelter and insulation.
Apple tree in winter.
Maturation period
Fruit picking occurs in September. Depending on the climatic conditions of the region, the harvest is harvested at the beginning or end of the month. They are evenly spaced on the crown and hold well, so they can hang on the tree until the end of October.
Fruiting and productivity
The yield is plentiful for such a small tree and is annual. The first fruits are harvested in the third or fourth year. From one fruit crop you can harvest a maximum of 150 kg of fruit. But it is worth considering that the crop is not self-fertile and needs pollinators. Chudnoe, Podsnezhnik, and Sokolovskoe are best suited for this purpose.
Transportability and storage
Breeders have noted that the shelf life of ripened fruits is about 150 days. But in practice, under good conditions and proper humidity, apples last even until spring. A special feature is good transportability. The fruits can easily be transported over long distances, which is why the Bratchud variety is valued in industrial horticulture.
Video Review
The apple tree is the most widespread fruit crop in Europe. There are many stories and legends associated with it.
Currently, thanks to selection, old varieties of apple trees have been preserved and newer fruit crops have been developed.
Not so long ago, a new variety, Brother of the Wonderful, was developed, which in a very short time became famous throughout Russia . Why is the apple tree widely known among gardeners? In the article below we will look at its advantages in more detail.
Selection of seedlings
When purchasing seedlings, you need to carefully approach the process. It is better to choose young trees in special stores or nurseries. This way there will be more opportunity to check them and confirm their authenticity.
Here's what you need to pay attention to:
- availability of certificates for seedlings;
- healthy condition of the roots, their elasticity;
- developed lobe;
- smooth glossy bark;
- absence of traces of exposure to pests and diseases;
- healthy root collar.
Apple tree seedlings.
Experts advise buying a two-year-old seedling that already has developed roots and several shoots. Planting such a tree will ensure greater survival rate.
How to choose seedlings
Gardeners advise considering several purchasing rules:
- It’s better to buy from fruit nurseries (they offer crop certificates that indicate all the information about the seedling);
- an age of about 2 years ensures good survival rate;
- the roots should be elastic and moist, without damage;
- the lobe is chosen to be well developed;
- shoots of the 2nd order should have smooth bark and medium-sized buds;
- examine the plant for signs of damage by insects and areas affected by diseases.
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If the purchase is made at a market or fair, the tree is inspected between the trunk and the neck for the presence of a knee-shaped protrusion. A 2-year-old seedling usually has 4 well-developed branches with large buds. A healthy apple tree should have many small, elastic roots.
Description of the landing process
At the first stage, you will need to ensure that you choose a good place for the variety. Bratchud prefers to grow in a sunny area with fertile soil. It is very important that the place is protected from strong wind gusts.
Deadlines
You can plant a dwarf apple tree in autumn and spring. If you do this at the end of the season, then you need to plant in October so that the apple tree takes root well before the cold weather. But experts advise carrying out the operation in the spring so that the apple tree can take root before the onset of cold weather.
Technology
Planting is carried out according to the standard scheme.
- The site and planting pit are prepared in advance. It is cleaned and fertilized.
- A little substrate is poured into the bottom of the hole, a seedling is placed on it and the roots are straightened.
- Gradually cover with soil so that the neck of the root is above the surface.
- The soil is compacted, a roller is made and watered well.
- It is better to tie the seedling to a stake so that it grows evenly.
Apple tree planting diagram.
It is better to mulch the tree trunk after planting to retain moisture.
Loosening
During the growth process, it is very important to monitor the condition of the tree trunk and loosen the soil to remove weeds. Grasses under a tree can be a source of disease. Mulching will help avoid some of these problems.
Care
After planting, it is extremely important to carry out proper agrotechnical measures and care for the apple tree. All procedures are simple and standard, but extremely important for the healthy and full development of the Bratchud apple tree variety.
Watering
The apple tree needs regular watering. Add up to 50 liters of moisture at a time. Before the start of fruiting, water will need to be added 5 times a year, and after the start of full fruiting - 3-4 times. But these numbers can change depending on the weather during the season. Dwarfs are very susceptible to moisture.
Disease Prevention
To prevent the apple tree from getting sick, it will need to be protected and protected. First of all, it is necessary to insulate the tree trunk circle, because it is the roots that suffer from the cold, which negatively affects the general immunity.
Compost for apple trees.
The tree trunk circle is mulched and covered with compost. It is also important to wrap the trunk to protect it from rodents and severe frosts.
Spring preventive spraying will also be a good preventative measure. After pruning and before sap flow begins, you need to use special preparations against pests and diseases.
Feeding
Fertilizers are applied several times during the season. Young trees are fertilized with urea in the spring, with sodium humate in the summer, and with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers in the fall.
Adult apple trees need feeding more often. It will be necessary to additionally apply mineral fertilizers after flowering. And before flowering it is necessary to use complex mineral fertilizers.
Trimming
It is very important to carry out sanitary pruning of the apple tree every spring. Damaged shoots that have suffered from low temperatures, diseases and pests need to be removed.
An important condition for proper cultivation is formative pruning. Especially if the slate subspecies or creeping form is grown. Apple tree branches lend themselves well to shaping.
Apple tree pruning diagram.
Reviews
According to the description of gardeners, the Bratchud apple tree annually pleases with abundant harvests. Apples taste good, are suitable for any processing method, and, most importantly, are stored for a long time. They last not only until the New Year's table, but sometimes until the end of winter.
Both medium-sized trees and dwarfs are distinguished by their winter hardiness and unpretentiousness. Fruiting in regions with risky farming is always successful, and cultivation does not cause any special problems. Judging by the descriptions, deterioration in the quality of apples is observed only in dry summers. In such cases, additional watering is especially important.
Features of growth in the regions
Although the advantage of the variety is its amazing resistance, it is suitable for almost all regions. There are just a few things to consider:
- In the Moscow region, it is necessary to carry out additional protection against pests and, in dry summer conditions, to add additional moisture.
- In the Urals you will need to pay attention to additional fertilizers and the correct growing location.
- When growing in Siberia, it is important to make extra efforts to protect the apple tree from severe frosts. You especially need to take care of the roots.
- In the conditions of the Middle Zone, it is necessary to support the trunk of the apple tree so that it does not break out from strong winds.
There are no restrictions on which region to grow frost-resistant Bratchud. You just need to adjust your care a little.
Harvest and storage
The harvest takes place in September, give or take two weeks, although the apples stick very well to the trees. A special feature is that the fruits are formed even under the most unfavorable conditions, because the variety is distinguished by noticeable frost resistance.
Apple harvest.
The winter variety Bratchut has a fairly long shelf life. Fruit lasts a long time under the right conditions. The storage temperature should be up to +3 degrees Celsius, and it is best to store it in a refrigerator or cellar. Apples last for six months or more. You just need to carefully inspect the harvest and select only whole and undamaged fruits.
Diseases and pests
The Bratchud variety has no immunity to fungal diseases. The most dangerous are scab and powdery mildew. These diseases are especially active in conditions of high humidity.
To protect against these diseases, it is necessary to provide the apple tree with proper care. Preventive spring spraying, which is carried out after mandatory pruning, will become important.
During the season, you will need to monitor the condition of the fruit crop, water and fertilize it. The key to the health of an apple tree is to provide it with proper care.
Pests also don’t mind eating green leaves and tasty fruits, especially young ones. To protect the apple tree, you need to treat the crown with special preparations in the spring and use catching belts.
