Dwarf apple tree varieties - spring pruning, height and fruiting, planting

All apple tree crops are considered durable. Speaking in fact, fruiting in garden plots takes no more than thirty or forty years.

If the crop is grown on an industrial scale, then fruiting occurs in 5-7 years (for some crops the period is later).

The approach of the fruiting period, when the tree begins to bear fruit, is the most basic task of all gardeners in the world.

Not long ago they started talking about dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstocks in fruit crops, and this topic was of great interest to many. Let's look at what a dwarf rootstock is in apple trees step by step.

What is rootstock for an apple tree?

The rootstock is the part of the plant located under the graft, that is, the entire root system and part of the trunk. The famous domestic scientist breeder I.V. Michurin called the rootstock the fundamental basis of the plant.

Please note! The quality of the rootstock will determine the strength of growth, the beginning of fruiting, as well as cold resistance and resistance to diseases and pests, that is, almost all the individual characteristics of the tree.

Planting and caring for such apple tree “curiosities” is somewhat different from the classics.

Rootstock for apple trees has a list of advantages, and this is the reason for its popularity in recent times:

trees begin to bear fruit after 2-3 years;
the height of an adult tree does not exceed 2-2.5 m, low-growing;
the root system of apples readily responds to watering and fertilizing;
due to their short stature, the fruits do not break when falling to the ground, which greatly simplifies the harvesting process;
due to good illumination of any part of the tree crown, a high concentration of ascorbic acid and sugars accumulates in apples;
Apple trees on a dwarf rootstock are not afraid of the proximity of groundwater to the surface of the earth and are unpretentious to the composition of the soil.

However, we should not forget about the disadvantages, which, unfortunately, also exist:

shorter tree lifespan;
some varieties of low-growing rootstocks are characterized by poor frost resistance;
there is a predisposition to overload with the harvest, which leads to crushing of the fruits and deterioration in their quality.

History of breeding low-growing apple trees

Let's start with the fact that most experts consider the definition of “dwarf apple tree” to be inaccurate and incorrect. Historically, representatives of three large groups began to be called this way:

Varieties known since ancient times, naturally small in size. These include the so-called “paradises” and “dusens”, which are actually varieties of the low apple tree (Malus pumila Mill.). According to the most common theory, these plants came to Western Europe from Transcaucasia and Central Asia. Similar wild trees still grow in Dagestan, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and some other countries. Before the advent of large-fruited crop varieties, both of these groups were cultivated by European gardeners as commercial crops. Paradises and Dusens were neither large-fruited nor high-yielding; their apples had a rather mediocre, sour taste. Over time, they gave way in gardens to new varieties that bear large, beautiful, juicy and sweet fruits. However, natural “dwarfs” and “semi-dwarfs” have not left the stage of world fruit growing. They became the basis for the selection of most modern low-growing rootstocks.
Relatively new varieties bred on the basis of paradise and dusen. A striking example of plants of this kind are the varieties obtained by the Chelyabinsk breeder M. A. Mazunin. They are the result of a complex crossing of domestic winter-hardy apple trees with the German low-growing variety “Eliza Rathke” (in Russia it is known as “Vydubetskaya weeping”). In addition to their small size, the trees have an interesting structural feature: the skeletal branches grow perpendicular to the trunk, and their ends slope down. As the crown grows, they take on a stale shape on their own, without human intervention. This makes “Mazunin’s dwarfs” suitable for cultivation in risky farming areas characterized by harsh, long and very snowy winters.
Regular (initially tall) apple trees on dwarf rootstocks. In European industrial gardens today they occupy more than 80% of the area. In our country, intensive plantings of this type are more common in the south, but in the middle zone, interest in this form is steadily increasing, both among farmers and owners of summer cottages. The most popular varieties (Melba, Grushovka Moskovskaya, Antonovka, Bogatyr, Candy, Uslada, Legend and many others) work well on low-growing rootstocks.

Domestic summer residents are enthusiastic about the “miniaturization” of their favorite apple varieties by grafting them onto weak-growing rootstocks

Types of rootstocks

Apple trees on a dwarf rootstock

Video: At what distance to plant apple trees from each other

There are two main ways to obtain rootstocks for apple trees - clonal (vegetative) or seed.

Apple tree on a seed rootstock - what is it? The name speaks for itself. The gardener obtains the seed rootstock from a seed that has been sown in the soil. A tree will grow from it in the future.

Apple tree on clonal rootstock - what is it? The second type of rootstock completely duplicates all the qualities of its “parent”. The vegetative rootstock, in turn, is divided into dwarf and medium-sized. They emerge from a seedling. The principle of selection of rootstocks is similar to the principle of breeding new varieties.

Breeding new species

Which rootstocks to choose?

Of course, Russian gardeners should pay attention to the experience of using the most common clonal rootstocks for cherries in the world, grown in climatic conditions that are as close as possible to Russian ones. And these can be the following types of rootstocks: GiSelA 5 and GiSelA 6, as well as Colt, which ensure intensification of cherry fruit production.

The use of other new cherry rootstocks, such as Maxma 14, Piku 1, Piku 3, Piku 4, GiSelA 3 and 12, PHL C and PHL, can certainly have a future in Russia and be relevant for agrobiological study, but this will take several decades. World experience in the use of clonal rootstocks for apple trees indicates that from the many existing ones, gardeners have chosen only a limited list.

Characteristics of apple tree rootstocks

Where should the graft look when planting an apple tree?

Features of rootstocks for growing apples on an industrial scale:

MM-106 is a medium-growing rootstock, which was obtained by crossing M1 with the Northern Scout variety. The advantage is good compatibility with promising and zoned varieties. The rootstock has insufficient cold and drought resistance; the root system can withstand temperatures down to −12°C.
Rootstock 54 118 for apple trees is semi-dwarf and has high frost resistance. Well compatible with zoned apple varieties. After planting, the plant begins to bear fruit after 5-6 years. In the first years, high productivity is noted.
M-9 - dwarf representatives with good cold resistance, low growth, begin to bear fruit 2-3 years after planting. The fruits have an attractive appearance and fruiting abundance is high.
M-7 is a semi-dwarf, resistant to droughts and, conversely, excess moisture in the soil. Well compatible with zoned varieties. The tree begins to bear fruit 2-4 years after planting. Fruiting indicators are good, but inferior to many other types of rootstock.
M-4 is a medium-sized rootstock that begins to bear fruit 3-5 years after planting. The abundance of fruiting is high. The root system is well developed, but the depth is shallow, so the tree may tilt.
62 396 - a dwarf rootstock with excellent cold resistance; the plant can withstand temperatures down to −16°C. Well compatible with zoned varieties. It begins to bear fruit 3-4 years after planting.

How to choose a variety

The first question that arises for a novice gardener is: “Which varieties of apple trees are dwarf and which are not?” And here a detailed explanation is needed.

The fact is that absolutely any variety of apple can be grown on a dwarf rootstock. That is, having a special rootstock, the gardener grafts his favorite variety onto it, and enjoys the taste of the fruit and the small dimensions of the tree itself.

At the same time, in modern breeding there are already about ten thousand dwarf varieties of apple trees, which, when planted by the root method, will not grow more than one or two or three meters (the height depends on the variety).

Those who have no experience in grafting usually purchase varietal or natural dwarfs. Experienced gardeners can easily plant a special dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstock, and then graft any apple tree onto it.

Varietal "dwarfs"

The description of varieties of natural dwarf apple trees should begin with their classification. Like all other crops, they are divided according to the timing of apple ripening: early ripening (summer), mid-ripening (autumn) and late ripening (winter).

Among them there are sweet varieties of dwarf apple trees, sweet and sour, sour - that is, the taste of the fruit has the same classification as that of ordinary tall apple trees.

One of the most productive dwarf varieties. This apple tree usually grows no more than three meters in height. The apples themselves are round, slightly elongated, colored green, with blush visible on one side. The fruits are medium in size, weighing 200-250 grams.

Melba is a summer variety; apples ripen in early August. Their flesh is juicy, tender, and very tasty. The fruits can be stored for a maximum of three months.

The winter hardiness of the dwarf apple tree is average; it is better to insulate the roots. The yield is up to 40 kg per plant.

The “dwarf”, common in Russia, grows to a maximum of 280 cm. The fruits weigh about 150 grams, are yellow, round, with noticeable ribbing and a crimson blush. The taste of apples is sweet and sour, the flesh is fine-grained and juicy.

The dwarf apple tree bears fruit in late summer - early autumn. Apples of the Wonderful variety are stored for about two months. From each tree you can collect up to 75 kg of fruit.

The dwarf variety has very good resistance to scab and tolerates severe frosts without shelter.

Zhigulevskoe

This dwarf variety is an autumn apple tree with good yield. The tree grows up to two to three meters and can produce about 120 kg of apples per season.

Moscow red

A very productive winter variety of dwarf apple trees. The tree is compact (maximum height is three meters), its crown has the shape of a ball.

The fruits are round, smooth, shiny. When ripe, the apples are colored a rich yellow color, with a red blush on the side of the apple. The taste is good, sweet and sour, the aroma is strong. Apples can be stored for up to four months.

The Moscow Red variety resists scab and other diseases very well - the leaves and fruits always look beautiful and healthy.

Apple tree formation

To grow a healthy and abundantly fruiting tree, you need to regularly carry out sanitary pruning, thanks to which the correct shape of the crown will be formed.

Pruning to form a crown

Is it necessary to pick flowers from an apple tree in the first year of flowering?

After planting, during the first year the seedling builds up its root system. Numerous studies have shown that in the first year the diameter of the root ball increases by approximately 35-40 cm, and the total length increases by 9-10 times.

In order for the branches to grow evenly in all directions, the upper conductor must be shortened by a quarter of the total length, thanks to which the growth of the lateral branches will be stimulated.

You should pay attention to the uniform growth of branches throughout the crown. From thickened areas, branches can be bent back to bare ones and fixed; within a few weeks or months the branch will remember the new direction of growth.

Important! Pruning of mature trees consists only of thinning, as well as the removal of damaged, frozen and non-fruit-bearing branches. Fat shoots should be cut off as soon as possible after they form.

Planting an apple tree in spring

The pit should be prepared 2 weeks before the expected planting date. Rotted manure or humus, as well as a mixture of fertile soil and mineral fertilizers, are placed at the bottom of the depression. When planting in spring, it is recommended to use urea.

Before planting an apple tree, the cuttings should be placed in a solution of water with several granules of potassium permanganate a few days before planting.

The landing algorithm is as follows:

A small mound is formed at the bottom of the pit. A support is inserted on either side of the center.
The seedling is carefully placed on the mound and the root system is straightened.
First, fertile soil is filled in, and then ordinary soil. The earth is compacted.
A circum-trunk circle is formed from the trunk at a distance of 25 cm.
The seedling is tied to a support and the tree is watered abundantly.
When the moisture is completely absorbed into the soil, mulch the tree trunk circle using humus and dry peat.

Apple tree varieties on dwarf rootstock for the Moscow region

The Moscow region belongs to the Middle Zone. Varieties grafted onto low-growing clonal rootstocks are very popular in these places. The best varieties:

Melba. It is grown in the Moscow region on an industrial scale, thanks to its high frost resistance and abundant fruiting. The fruits ripen at the end of July. The weight of apples, subject to agrotechnical rules, is at least 250 g.
Zhigulevskoe. The fruits ripen at the end of September, each weighing approximately 300 g. It is characterized by excellent frost resistance; the tree can withstand temperatures down to −30°C.

Pros and cons of growing “dwarfs” in a personal garden

The technology for forming fruit trees on dwarf and semi-dwarf rootstocks was developed specifically for planting industrial orchards. With proper care, such plants are quite suitable for growing in summer cottages.

The undoubted advantages of low-growing specimens are:

compactness of the crown, allowing for compact plantings;
low growth, which significantly reduces labor costs when carrying out many agrotechnical procedures (pruning, spraying with preparations that protect against pests, scab and other fungal diseases);
reduction of crop losses during harvesting (apples from the upper branches are easy to remove by hand, which increases the number of high-quality fruits suitable for storage);
the possibility of growing in areas with high groundwater levels.

Small trees bear less fruit, but allow you to have several varieties on the site with different ripening periods

Some summer residents consider an additional advantage of low-growing apple trees to be lower fertility compared to tall “analogues”.

Indeed, when fruits are grown exclusively “for oneself”, it is more convenient to have several small trees of different varieties than one large apple tree that brings a huge harvest, the processing and storage of which still needs to be dealt with. By planting “dwarfs” and “semi-dwarfs” on your plot, you can provide your family with fruits for different purposes and periods of consumption, and extend the use of fresh produce throughout almost the entire year.

However, apple trees on weak-growing rootstocks also have a number of disadvantages. When cultivated in intensive industrial gardens, these qualities are neutralized to some extent, but they must be taken into account when deciding to purchase such seedlings for a summer cottage.

When choosing seedlings, it is important to understand that dwarf fruit plants require constant care

Owners are faced with the following negative features of “dwarfs”:

increased need for fertilizers and moisture due to poor development of deep roots. Small-growing apple trees have a fibrous root system located mainly in the surface layer of soil, which easily dries out during drought and is quickly depleted. Without “high” agricultural technology, the fertility of trees drops sharply, and they themselves may wither and die;
instability. Low-growing trees, especially with a heavy harvest load, can be damaged by the wind (fall or break). In industrial orchards, such apple trees are usually tied to supports; some are cultivated on trellises;
the need to organize protection from frost. Many varieties formed on weak-growing rootstocks are considered winter-hardy, but this does not exclude the possibility of freezing of the root system, especially in winters with little snow, characteristic of many central regions of Russia, for example, the Moscow region. Unlike their tall “analogues”, such trees in the fall need to be loosened and mulched around the tree trunks;
high risk of damage by rodents. The bark of low-growing rootstocks is quite tender. Before winter, the “dwarf” trunks are necessarily wrapped in coniferous spruce branches, mesh, roofing felt and other similar materials;
relative fragility. Weak-growing apple trees are characterized by early fruiting, but the period of active fruiting in most varieties does not exceed 20 years. It will not be possible to create a garden for grandchildren and great-grandchildren from such trees. When grown industrially, dwarf plants are usually uprooted at the 15-17th year of life and replaced with young seedlings.

The root system of dwarf varieties is located in the surface layers of the soil, so they require more frequent watering and fertilizing, strengthening with supports

Despite the prospect of additional care, summer residents are increasingly giving preference to seedlings of traditional varieties on low-growing rootstocks. Future owners are not deterred by either relatively high prices or the existing risk of purchasing low-quality planting material.

The problem is that many sellers give detailed descriptions of scion varieties, but say almost nothing about the qualities of the rootstocks. For example, quite often buyers who choose dwarf varieties of apple trees for the middle zone are assured that the seedlings they have chosen are grafted onto clonal winter-hardy rootstocks of domestic selection, while in fact the rootstocks used to grow young trees were imported. In this case, it is impossible to detect deception without special knowledge. An inexperienced purchaser runs the risk of getting a plant that is not worth the cost and labor, and will never produce the expected yields.

To protect yourself from troubles of this kind, you need to contact only trusted nurseries that independently produce rootstocks and grow seedlings for sale. Another option is feasible if there is a sufficient area of land: it makes sense to buy a seedling of a modern low-growing apple tree of the “rootstock” variety from a reliable supplier and plant it at home. Over time, from this tree it will be possible to obtain cuttings from which rootstock seedlings will grow, adapted to local conditions, and in a few years the summer resident will be able to start grafting on his own. This will not only allow you to grow the most interesting varieties of crops in a low-growing version, but will also help you acquire an interesting hobby that can subsequently become a source of additional income.

Using high-quality zoned rootstocks, you can grow several varieties grafted onto one tree at once

Varieties for the Yaroslavl region

Persian apple tree

The Yaroslavl region experiences harsh climatic conditions, so preference should be given to frost-resistant varieties. The fruits are usually small. The best varieties to grow in this region:

Persian is a winter variety, the weight of each fruit does not exceed 150 g. The trees are able to withstand temperatures down to −40°C. Poor resistance to scab (fungal disease) is noted.
The Zhigulevskoye variety, which is also grown in the Moscow region, has performed well in these areas.

Varietal varieties of dwarf apple trees

Dwarf apple trees

There are a huge number of varieties of dwarf apple trees. Usually, they are divided according to the time intervals of maturation. The division in this case is very simple; dwarf apple trees are:

summer type
autumn type
winter type

The fruits of some varieties of winter and autumn apple trees become ripe several months after harvest.

Let's take a closer look at the popular varieties of dwarf apple trees currently grown.

Wonderful

Wonderful This low-growing tree is considered a “natural dwarf”, since its crown is formed not high, but wide, as if spreading along the ground. It has large fruits, the record weight of which reaches 200 g. They have a flat-round shape and a green tint. As it ripens, a reddish blush forms on the skin.

The pulp has a medium elastic consistency, it is granular, but at the same time juicy. The taste is sweet and sour. The aftertaste is fruity, long and pleasant, without cloying. The plant is frost-resistant (withstands temperatures down to -35°C), the fruits are also winter-hardy. Scab resistant. Thanks to early ripening, it is possible to grow and harvest crops even in the Urals.

Bratchud

Bratchud His name is an acronym meaning "Brother of the Wonderful." It is a genetic variety of the previously discussed variety, differing from the latter in its longer shelf life. This variety has the ability to grow in almost all climatic zones of the CIS. It is also a “natural dwarf” with an extensive and relatively low crown.

The average size of the fruits is slightly larger than that of Chudny, but giants among them are relatively rare. A negative sign of the fruits of this hybrid is the presence of a small seam in the form of a strip.

The fruits have dry skin with a glossy shine. The main color is green with the appearance of a crimson blush when ripe. The apple pulp is grainy, but not very juicy. Despite this, the taste of the fruit is still pleasant.

The variety is ideal from a logistics point of view - it has high shelf life and transportability.

Sun

Sunny Among the common dwarf apple trees, this is a relatively new hybrid, bred by breeders no more than 20 years ago. It is a late-ripening variety that is immune to some diseases, in particular scab. The crown has a rounded appearance with a low degree of density. The fruits are oblong-oblique in shape with smooth and oily skin.

The pulp is white, sometimes creamy (in some cases, pulp of different colors may be observed inside the same fruit). It is juicy and dense. The taste of apples is sweet with a slight sour aftertaste. The aftertaste is long and rich. The variety has high yield and frost resistance.

Sokolovskoye

Sokolovskoye A new breeding product that finally ripens in mid-December. The fruits are flat-rounded and large. The peel is greenish-yellow, becoming dark red as it ripens, covering almost the entire surface of the fruit.

The fruit pulp is creamy, fine-grained, quite dense, but at the same time very juicy. The taste is excellent. The taste is sweet and sour, the aftertaste is pronounced and pleasant. The variety is universal in use: consumed raw and processed. Ideal for making preserves, jams and compotes.

It has a high yield and is classified as a “natural dwarf”. It does not like excessive heat and cannot tolerate cold (not to mention frost). In order not to freeze, it needs to cover the trunk for the winter. It is also advisable to insulate the first skeletal branches.

Early sweet

Early sweet Low tree with a flat-rounded crown. According to reviews, it bears fruit annually, while maintaining stability in quantitative yield indicators. The fruits are medium in size and yellowish in color. The pulp is white, with a slight creamy tint. The pulp has a sweet taste and virtually no aftertaste.

Despite the excellent winter hardiness of the variety, the fruits are not stored for a long time. They should be consumed within 1-2 weeks after harvest, which occurs in August. Due to its early ripeness, it can be grown even in rather harsh regions of the Urals and Siberia.

mundane

Down-to-earth The peculiarity of this low-growing variety is its vegetation. Starting from a certain point, the branches of the tree grow almost horizontally, and then bend slightly upward. The shape of the fruit is round, almost regular. However, their sizes are only slightly larger than average.

The main color is greenish-yellow, but as it ripens, which occurs already in mid-autumn, it changes to a contrasting red blush, completely covering the entire surface of the fruit.

The pulp is also greenish in color, it is very dense, rich and juicy. The taste of the fruit is sweet and sour, they have universal use. Ideal for preservation (making preserves and preserves).

The frost resistance of the plant is very high. Even in winters with little snow, the apple tree survives frosts down to -40°C, while maintaining annual fruiting.

Snowdrop

Snowdrop Most branches of this mid-season dessert variety initially grow in a horizontal direction. At the same time, young branches bear fruit every year. The fruits weigh slightly more than average, but among them there are real giants, weighing up to 350 grams.

The shape of the fruit is round-conical with barely noticeable ribs. The color of the fruits is yellowish; as they ripen, they acquire a red blush. The pulp is white, very juicy and aromatic. The taste is sweet. The fruits are universal in use and good for preservation. Ripens in early autumn; as a rule, ripening is not required; apples can be eaten fresh.

undersized

Low-growing The crown is low, the branches grow almost at right angles to the trunk. The fruits are of medium size; large ones are very rare. They have a rounded shape with clearly visible ribs.

The color of apples is yellow-green. During ripening, red stripes appear on them, which over time merge into a solid blush of rich red color. The color of the pulp is greenish, it is tender, juicy and fine-grained. The taste is sweet and sour.

According to reviews from gardeners, the variety is relatively early in fruiting and the yield is high. The plant is winter-hardy (down to minus 35 degrees Celsius). There is only one drawback of the variety - in too humid and cool summers it can suffer from scab. To counteract powdery mildew and rot, it is recommended to spray trees with Bordeaux mixture 1-2 times in the spring.

Moscow red

Moscow Red Tree is a semi-dwarf apple tree with a spherical crown. Can grow up to 3 m in height. Refers to high-yielding winter varieties bred specifically for the Moscow region. The shape of the fruit is round, regular, there are no ribs on them.

The color of the fruits is yellow, but by the time they are picked they have a rich red blush. The pulp has a yellowish color and a sweet and sour taste.

The variety has increased resistance to scab, as well as a number of other diseases. Fruits and leaves almost always remain healthy until the end of the ripening period.

Legend

Legend The variety belongs to the early winter variety. The crown of the tree is dense and spherical. The shoots are arranged compactly. The variety is large-fruited. Its fruits are slightly ribbed and have a cone shape.

The color of apples is yellow-green. As it ripens, the entire surface becomes burgundy. In some cases, crimson stripes appear on the skin.

The pulp is white, with a creamy tint. It is juicy and fine-grained. The aroma is rich, the fruits themselves are sweet and tasty, with caramel notes. The variety is frost-resistant. Has immunity to most diseases.

Melba

Melba It is considered a semi-dwarf variety that can be recommended for cultivation in the Ural regions. One of the first varieties to gain recognition in dwarf form. It is characterized by high yield (up to 150 kg of fruits per tree). The skin of apples is thin, yellow with a crimson blush.

The pulp is white, tender and aromatic. It has a sweet taste and strong aroma. Average disease resistance, particularly vulnerable to scab.

Arbat

Arbat A variety that is dwarf and columnar at the same time. The crown, which takes up little space, makes it possible to significantly compact the plantings, placing the holes very close to each other (up to 1.5 m).

Has high resistance to disease and frost. It is recommended to grow it in the northern regions. The fruits are elliptical in shape and have a thin shiny pink-red skin. The pulp is creamy and aromatic. The taste is sweet, the sourness is practically not felt.

Disadvantages of the variety include the shrinking of fruits with age and a short period of fruiting. After just 14 years, yields are significantly reduced. It can be extended for 3-4 years if you carry out proper pruning: in the spring, cut off too old branches and woody shoots.

Bogatyr

Bogatyr The variety was developed about 100 years ago by crossing Antonovka and Ranet. It has large fruits (record figures - up to 300 g) with greenish-yellow skin covered with a reddish-orange blush. The pulp is quite dense and crispy. It has a strong aroma and sweet and sour taste.

The variety is not self-fertile; it is best to plant pollinators: Melba, Zhigulevskoe, Strefling. The yield per tree is 70-80 kg. It has excellent frost resistance and scab resistance.

Candy

Candy A cold-resistant, early-ripening variety obtained by crossing Korobovka and Papirovka. The color is yellow-orange with a red blush. The pulp is tender and juicy, with an excellent taste.

The variety is universal, suitable for consumption raw and canned. Apple juice is brown in color due to the large amount of iron it contains. It is considered one of the best varieties for making cider.

Moscow necklace

Moscow Necklace A relatively new variety with large fruits. The shape of apples is spherical. Covered with thin, red-wine colored skin. The structure of the pulp is juicy, but at the same time fragile. The taste is sweet and sour, with a slight sour aftertaste.

The variety has high yield. It has good resistance to scab and tolerates frost and drought. To increase productivity in the garden, you should plant pollinating apple trees. The best option for this is the Macintosh and its hybrids. The disadvantage is the relatively short fruiting period - up to 15 years.

Autumn striped

Autumn Striped A very ancient variety, bred about 250 years ago in Holland. One of the names is Streifling. It has a rounded apple shape with a slight taper. The color of the fruit is yellow-green, the blush appears in the form of red stripes, which, as they ripen, merge into a solid spot, which later covers the entire surface. It has a high and stable yield, but has a short shelf life. The taste is sweet and sour with light wine notes.

The fruits have universal uses. Frost resistance and disease resistance are high.

Glory to the winners

The variety is still a Soviet selection, obtained in the first third of the twentieth century from Mackintosh and Papirovka. It has light green fruits with a reddish blush. The skin is smooth. The pulp is dense, greenish in color, has a sweet and sour taste and a very strong aroma.

It has high yield and frost resistance. It is the ancestor of many new varieties grown in both southern and northern regions. Average resistance to scab. The disadvantage of the variety is the excessive density of the crown and a large number of branches. The tree needs regular sanitary and formative pruning in spring and autumn.

Another drawback is fungal diseases, in particular powdery mildew. In rainy summers, preventative treatment against fungi should be carried out with a solution of vitriol or Bordeaux mixture. Spray the plants in the spring before the buds open.

Antonovka

Antonovka is considered by many gardeners to be the best variety, but this assessment cannot be considered objective, since growing conditions and climate play an important role. The fruits, depending on the variety, can have a shape from round-flat to perfect spherical. The skin is slightly oily, yellow-green in color. The pulp is yellowish, juicy, granular. The taste is sweet with a slight sourness.

Winter hardiness, depending on the variety, is high or medium. The variety has a high but irregular yield. Good resistance to scab and pests. The variety is partially self-fertile; in the northern regions it requires planting of pollinators.

White filling

White filling One of the earliest ripening varieties, which determines its popularity. It has large white or whitish-yellow fruits with juicy and granular pulp. The taste is sweet and sour. The crown is pyramidal, highly thickened due to a significant increase in annual shoots. Therefore, the plant must be constantly pruned. It is best to carry out this procedure before wintering. Damaged and dried branches should be removed regularly.

Thanks to the huge number of inflorescences, the yield is high (up to 200 kg per tree 7-12 years old). In case of a large number of ovaries, the fruiting branches of the tree will need additional supports. A long fruiting time, 35-30 years for white filling is not the limit.

Good frost resistance and scab resistance. The variety is self-sterile; pollinators should be planted next to it . But its main drawback is not this, but the shelf life of the fruit (no more than 3 weeks).

Grushovka, Moscow region

Grushovka Podmoskovya An early ripening variety, second in terms of ripening time only to White filling. It is considered a variety of natural selection. A distinctive feature of the variety is that even in a dwarf form it can bear fruit for up to 50 years. The fruits are small in size, but have excellent taste and aroma. It is zoned not only in the Moscow region, but also throughout the central zone, even taking root in Western Siberia.

The color of the fruit is yellowish-white with reddish blush stripes that cover the entire surface of the fruit as it ripens. The pulp is dense and grainy. The use of fruits is universal.

It has unsurpassed unpretentiousness. Resistant to freezing. It has high resistance to most diseases making it one of the most popular varieties in summer cottages. The variety is self-sterile; Antonovka, Papirovka and Korichnoye are used as pollinators. The main disadvantage is the very short shelf life of the fruit, no more than 2 weeks.

Zhigulevskoe

Zhigulevskoye is a natural dwarf. It has round fruits of a greenish-yellow color, which, as they ripen, become almost completely covered with a crimson blush. The pulp is coarse-grained, cream-colored with a sweet taste and barely noticeable sourness.

A high-yielding tree with average resistance to scab and low temperatures. In northern regions, it is recommended to insulate the lower part of the trunk to a height of 40-50 cm from the root collar. It survives particularly poorly against return frosts, which can destroy generative buds. Immunity to pests, in particular insects, is average. The plant is often attacked by the codling moth.

In this regard, preventive treatment (spraying) of foliage on fruiting branches with a solution of insecticides is recommended. If this procedure is performed in a timely manner, most problems will be avoided.

The variety is not self-fertile. For pollination, it is recommended to use varieties Kuibyshevsky, Spartak, Antonovka.

Delight

Uslada A fast-growing variety with round, sometimes oval, fruits. The skin of the fruit is thin, pink, and the color is uniform. A universal variety, used raw and canned.

The plant has high frost resistance, resistance to scab and fungi. Gives stable yields throughout almost the entire lifespan. Requires pollinators: Bogatyr, Grushovka, President.

Lungwort

Lungwort One of the latest ripening varieties, approximately coinciding in time with Simirenko (since it is actually its hybrid). The crown of the plant is pyramidal. The fruits are slightly flattened and large. The color is yellow-green, becoming covered with burgundy stripes as it ripens, later merging into blush.

It has high frost resistance and good resistance to fungal infections. It resists scab well. Disadvantages include vulnerability to codling moths (which will require treatment with insecticides) and excessive crown density. Pruning of this variety is carried out regularly in spring and autumn.

Apple tree on a semi-dwarf rootstock - what is it?

A semi-dwarf apple tree is formed after grafting onto a special rootstock onto a specific vigorous variety. Such plants reproduce by clonal (vegetative) method. In this case, the most optimal rootstock for this crop is MM-106.

Semi-dwarf rootstock refers to fruit-bearing trees whose height does not exceed 2 m. The crown diameter varies from 1.5 to 2 m. Despite the compact growth, these plants are quite capricious and capricious. The depth of occurrence is small, 0.1-0.4 m.

Please note! The lifespan of apple trees on a semi-dwarf rootstock, subject to all care rules, is no more than 15 years.

Other varieties of low-growing dwarf apple trees Mazunin (with photo)

Here you will find a description of other varieties of dwarf apple trees grown by breeders Mazunin and their colleagues.

The dwarf apple tree Snowdrop is a winter variety bred by the South Ural Research Institute of Horticulture and Potato Growing. Obtained from seedlings from free pollination of the weeping Vydubetskaya. Authors: M. A. Mazunin, N. F. Mazunina, V. I. Putyatin. Distributed and regionalized in the Ural and West Siberian regions of Russia.

This is a natural low-growing dwarf apple tree of the Mazunins with a flat-horizontal crown. The height of trees on seed rootstocks is up to 1.5-2.0 m, on vegetatively propagated clonal rootstocks up to 1.2-1.5 m. The bark on the trunk and main branches is light brown. Fruiting occurs on all types of fruit wood; it often bears fruit on last year’s growths.

The shoots are greenish-brownish, not thick. The leaves are large, oblong-rounded, dark green, heavily pubescent, with finely crenate edges.

The fruits are medium-sized, round-conical, slightly ribbed. The skin of the fruit is smooth, dry, shiny, light yellow; most of the fruit has a diffuse red blush. The peduncle is of medium length and thickness, erect.

The pulp of the fruit is white, dense, juicy, fine-grained, sweet and sour, of excellent taste. Storage duration is 120 days.

The fruits are suitable for fresh consumption and technological processing into compotes, jams, preserves.

The best pollinating varieties: Kovrovoe, Sokolovskoye, Prizemlennoye.

Trees begin to bear fruit 3-4 years after grafting. In the first years, fruiting is regular, then fruiting is slightly periodic. Productivity up to 80 kg per tree. The winter hardiness of the Snowdrop variety is high.

Advantages of the variety: natural dwarf, good ecological adaptability of the variety, productivity, high taste and commercial qualities of the fruit.

Disadvantages of the variety: with prolonged high summer temperatures and dry air, the quality of the fruit decreases.

The dwarf apple tree Carpet is an autumn variety selected by the South Ural Research Institute of Horticulture and Potato Growing. Obtained from seedlings from free pollination of the weeping Vydubetskaya. Authors: M. A. Mazunin, N. F. Mazunina, V. I. Putyatin. Distributed and regionalized in the Ural and West Siberian regions of Russia.

The tree is a natural dwarf with a flat-horizontal crown. The height of trees on seed rootstocks is up to 1.5-2.0 m, on vegetatively propagated clonal rootstocks up to 1.2-1.5 m. The bark on the trunk and main branches is brown. Fruiting occurs on all types of fruit wood; it often bears fruit on last year’s growths.

The shoots are brownish, not thick. The leaves are large, oblong-rounded, dark green, pubescent, with finely crenate edges.

The fruits are above average in size, flat-round. The skin of the fruit is tender, smooth, slightly oily, greenish-yellow with a bright dark red blush over most of the fruit. The peduncle is of medium length and thickness, oblique. The pulp of the fruit is creamy, low-juicy, coarse-grained, sweet and sour, of excellent taste.

The fruits are used for fresh consumption and technological processing. The best pollinators for the variety are Snowdrop, Sokolovskoye, and Prizemlennoye.

Trees begin to bear fruit 3-4 years after grafting. In the first years, fruiting is regular, then slightly periodic. Productivity up to 60 kg per tree. The winter hardiness of the variety is high.

Advantages of the variety: natural dwarf, productivity, high taste and marketable qualities of the fruit.

Disadvantages of the variety: with prolonged high summer temperatures and dry air, the quality of the fruit decreases.

Landing

To obtain a good harvest, it is recommended to plant semi-dwarf varieties in soils such as chernozem, soddy-podzolic, sandy loam and loamy chestnut.

Important! You cannot plant such varieties of crops in brackish soil, where there is a high content of chlorides and sulfate salts.

Planting a fruit tree on a semi-dwarf rootstock is no different from planting apple trees on a dwarf rootstock. Therefore, before planting, in the same way, you need to prepare the planting site and the seedling itself several days in advance, placing it in water with disinfecting components.

Growing seedlings: grafting onto a dwarf rootstock

The seedlings are grown in the fields of the nursery or in a specially designated area of the home garden. The traditional method of grafting is budding. In the spring, layerings of dwarf rootstocks of the first and second grade are planted in the 1st field of the nursery. Unlike vigorous rootstocks, they can be planted more densely, with a depth of up to 20 cm. Plants should not be hilled up to avoid the formation of roots in the budding zone. Shoots are removed in a timely manner to a height of 15-20 cm. Budding is carried out from late July to mid-August “with an eye on the bark.

Budding is possible with the eye in the butt. To increase the yield of oculants, grafting is carried out with two eyes, placing them towards the row to reduce breakdowns during soil cultivation. The eyes are tied with PVC tape. For deeper planting of seedlings in the garden and better fixation of them in the soil, budding is often carried out at a height of 20-25 cm. In these cases, seedlings are grown with a spike.

The method of winter desktop grafting onto a dwarf rootstock has found wide application in practice. It is carried out by cuttings from November to April inclusive. Various methods of grafting are used - improved copulation, butt, side cut, split. A cutting (scion) of the variety chosen for grafting, 5-7 cm long with 2-3 buds, is grafted at a height of 20 cm from the base of the layer. Before grafting, the rootstock and scion are stored in the basement in plastic bags at a temperature of about +3°. PVC tape is used as a binding material. When tying, tighten it slightly and make sure that it does not twist. The ends of the scion cuttings are coated with garden varnish or waxed. Place the grafted plants in boxes with sawdust or in plastic bags. Stratification is carried out at a temperature of +30° for 5 days, then at +5...+ 10° for 4 - 5 days, after which, before planting in the field, they are stored in the basement at a temperature of +3... + 50. The grafted plants are planted in 1 -th field under the slot cutter in the same way as layering.

Using winter grafting, it is possible to carry out double simultaneous grafting for growing seedlings with the insertion of a weak-growing rootstock. Dwarf, difficult-to-root rootstocks, as well as semi-dwarf, easy-to-root forms are used as inserts. During grafting, cuttings of a weak-growing rootstock 20 cm long are cut and a cultivated variety is grafted into the upper end, and a seed rootstock into the lower end. In a nursery, double grafts with easy-to-root inserts are planted with full depth, and with difficult-to-root inserts, up to half-depth. Inserting an easy-to-root rootstock in the nursery will root, and after digging up the seedlings, the lower seedling rootstock can be removed.

In the 3rd field of the nursery a crown is laid. Annual growths on a dwarf rootstock are cut at a height of 55-60 cm, on a semi-dwarf rootstock - 75-80 cm and on a vigorous rootstock - 85-90 cm. In the trunk area for dwarfs at a distance of 40 cm, for semi-dwarfs - 50 cm and for vigorous growth up to 60 cm remove side shoots and wild growth. Digging of seedlings is carried out in the fall using a VPN-2 digging plow

Seedlings with fragile root systems should be removed from the ground and transported carefully