Description of the Krasa Sverdlovsk apple tree variety: photos of apples, important characteristics, yield per tree

The Krasa Sverdlovsk apple tree is a winter self-sterile variety bred by Sverdlovsk breeders in the 70s of the last century.

It was first presented by the authors to breeders and gardeners at the All-Union Seminar in 1979, along with dozens of other new varieties.

The taste turned out to be so outstanding that Krasa Sverdlovsk eclipsed the new products of the traditional apple southern and western experimental stations, and
was recognized as the best .
In the next decade, the Ural variety spread widely throughout domestic gardens.

Now the Krasa Sverdlovsk apple tree variety is cultivated in different forms in :

Uralsk,
Povolzhsky,
Central regions,
Lower Volga region,
Siberia,
in Altai,
Northern Urals.

Very beautiful apples of the Krasa Sverdlovsk variety.
Apple tree Krasa of Sverdlovsk:

The tree is of medium height , sometimes slightly taller.
The crown is sparse, uniform, rounded.
The skeletal branches are slightly curved, the ankles are almost perpendicular to the trunk.
The leaves are short, heart-shaped, with a pointed tip. Dark green, shiny, with a slightly wrinkled outer part of the plate.
The flowers are large , white and pink. The color of the unopened buds is noteworthy: they are dark pink, almost burgundy, which is typical of wild species.
The fruits are round, some with a conical top. Smooth, dry, creamy skin with a bright red outer color that gives a beautiful blush. Average weight – 140-160 g, large specimens – 240 g.

This is interesting! The variety is characterized by good immunity, winter hardiness, and regular fruiting. Pollinator varieties are required.

External characteristics

You can distinguish the Krasa Sverdlovsk apple tree from other varieties by the following characteristics:

The height of the tree reaches 5-7 m, its crown is not dense, has medium foliage, and has a rounded shape.
Large skeletal branches are covered with brown bark. They extend from the main trunk at an angle of 70-80 degrees.
The surface of young shoots is covered with small fluff. They are painted brown, slightly faceted.
The leaves are glossy, dark green, large and round, with a wrinkled surface.
The emerging buds are burgundy-pink. As the flowers bloom, the petals acquire a white-pinkish tint.

Burgundy buds are considered the main distinguishing feature of wild apple trees. Krasa Sverdlovsk is one of the few cultivated varieties with buds of such an unusual color.

Fruits and yield

The fruit size is larger than average, weighing 160-200 g. With proper care, an adult tree can produce apples weighing up to 280 g. They are distinguished by a beautiful, round shape, have a flat, smooth surface and glossy skin.

The color of apples during harvest is greenish-yellow with a red side. When stored they turn a creamy orange color. The blush becomes brighter and more blurred. The length and thickness of the stalk is average, the funnel is not deep, and is covered with rust of a beautiful golden-pink color.

The pale cream flesh is slightly grainy, dense, juicy. The apple has a pleasant sweet and sour taste and a delicate aroma with a slight hint of spice. 100 g of fruit contains more than 30 mg of vitamin C.

Regular and full fruiting begins 6-7 years after planting a young tree. Compliance with the rules of care will allow you to collect about 200 centners of crop from a plot of 1 hectare. An adult tree can produce up to 90 kg of apples.

Collection and storage

The harvest is harvested in September. Since the variety is winter, the fruits are stored until May without losing their taste, aroma and marketable appearance.

For storage, it is recommended to use a cellar with a temperature from 0 to +4˚С and an air humidity of 75-80%.

In September, apples that are not fully ripe are picked from the trees and sent to storage unripe. At this time they are still sour and hard, have a greenish-yellow color and a starchy taste. Gradually the fruits ripen, become sweet, soft and juicy. During storage, they acquire a beautiful color with a bright crimson-red blush and a pleasant aroma.

Description of the variety

This variety has a 25-year history. It was obtained by specialists from the Sverdlovsk Experimental Station - Kotovoy, Vengerova and Dibrova. Soon, a new type of apple became widely known and began to be cultivated in the Southern and Middle Urals and Upper Volga region. As practice has shown, such apple trees grow well in Western Siberia and the stanza culture of Altai.

The description of the variety should begin with a description of the tree itself. It is medium-sized and has a rounded crown. The main branches, or rather the bark with which they are covered, are brown. Fruiting always occurs on long and shorter fruiting rods and branched ringlets. The foliage of the crop is dark green.

The surface of the leaves is shiny and the shape is round. The flowers are quite large in size and have a basic white color with a pink tint. The fruits of the variety weigh on average about 160 grams. Some specimens can tighten up to 240 grams. They are covered with a shiny skin with a characteristic waxy coating. When harvested, the fruit is greenish-yellow in color.

If we talk about the chemical composition, then it includes sugars in the amount of 15.1%, dry soluble substances - about 18.9%, ascorbic acid - approximately 18-31 mg per 100 grams, catechins - from 301 to 406 mg per 100 grams . Fruits are healthy. Doctors advise people with hypertension and those with a lack of vitamins to use them in their pure form.

Krasa apple tree growing regions of Sverdlovsk

The Krasa Sverdlovsk apple tree variety grows well in the central regions of Russia, in the Southern Urals and the Volga region. It has an average level of winter hardiness, which does not allow the crop to be grown in the northern regions.

However, some gardeners successfully grow this variety in Altai and western Siberia, provided that it is grown using the stale method: as the tree grows, it is tilted to the north. As a result, the soil on the southern side is better warmed by the sun's rays, which fall at this latitude at a slight angle. A tree growing in a vertical position will not be able to receive enough heat and light, which will lead to a significant reduction in yield.

Preparing for winter

When growing such an apple tree in the Urals, it should be tied with unnecessary rags, and the trunk and base of the shoots should be wrapped in tow. When cultivating in Perm and the region after which the variety is named, as well as regions of Siberia, it is recommended to form the crown so that it is of the stale type. Then in winter the tree will be covered with a layer of snow.

How to form a crown in this way yourself? To do this, in the middle of summer, attach the branches of the crop to the surface of the ground using reliable pins and hooks. After harvesting, from an annual tree that is bent to the soil and secured with stakes or poles, the central conductor must be cut off, leaving a shoot of no more than 40 cm above the side bud. If apple cancer is detected, it is necessary to remove damaged branches and bark, and treat the tree with copper sulfate. If golden silkworms or moths appear, you need to use Entobacterin. A bioinsecticide will help against aphids. The drug “Healthy Garden” is effective against codling moths and sawflies.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The description of the Krasa Sverdlovsk apple tree in the register of varieties (in the document it is numbered 8905983) contains information that the crop is relatively resistant to fruit rot, scab and powdery mildew.

Most gardeners note that trees have good resistance to pests, which is due to the climatic characteristics of the regions in which they are grown.

To avoid poor growth and disease, trees must be planted in areas where there is no groundwater.

In some cases, before planting, it is advisable to take care of arranging the drainage system. Also, you should not water apple trees too much or too often.

Further care

The productivity and health of the apple tree depends on its care.

Watering and fertilizing

The apple tree does not need frequent watering. The first watering is carried out in early spring, before the buds swell. Then the soil is irrigated 2-3 times a week until the ovaries form. Afterwards you can water the soil once a week. One tree should require about 40 liters of water. For irrigation, only water heated in the sun is used. Stop watering several weeks before the onset of cold weather.

To increase productivity, fertilizing is applied regularly. The first fertilizing is applied after the buds appear. During this period, the apple tree needs nitrogen-containing fertilizers. This can be sodium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride.

In the second half of the growing season, phosphorus and potassium are added to the soil. For example, diammophos, superphosphate, phosphorite flour. Of the potash minerals, potassium magnesia, nitroammophoska, and potassium chloride are used.

In addition to mineral fertilizers, it is important to apply organic fertilizers. Once a month, the soil is watered with a solution of bird droppings.

Before each watering, the soil can be sprinkled with wood ash. In autumn, the soil is dug up along with rotted manure.

Trimming

The formation of the crown is carried out immediately after planting the seedling in open ground:

The top of the trunk of the seedling is cut off. Leave 3-4 large branches. Weak branches are cut off.
The next year, the tops of the remaining branches are cut off, leaving 3-4 buds on them.
In the third year, a few more large branches are left, the rest is cut off.
By the fourth year, the crown of the apple tree will be completely formed.

Thinning pruning is necessary if the crown is very thick and the apples growing in its depths do not have time to ripen due to lack of sunlight. This type of pruning is carried out in mid-summer. Cut off thin, non-fruiting branches.

Sanitary pruning is carried out in the fall, after harvesting. It is necessary as a preventive measure against diseases. When the harvest is harvested and all the leaves have fallen, dry and damaged branches are cut off.

To carry out any types of pruning, you need to use only sharp pruning shears that do not leave creases. It is also first wiped with alcohol. The cut areas are treated with garden varnish.

Tree trunk care

Several times a month, before watering, the soil in the tree trunk circle is weeded. Loosening the soil has a positive effect on productivity. Together with water, the apple tree receives a sufficient amount of oxygen. Weeds are also regularly pulled out. It is undesirable for the tree trunk to become overgrown with weeds.

Preventative treatments

In early spring, trees are sprayed with Bordeaux mixture or copper sulfate. In the fall, you need to dig up the soil and carry out sanitary pruning. During the summer, constantly pull out weeds.

How to protect an apple tree from frost in winter

The soil in the tree trunk circle is mulched. Straw, peat and sawdust are used as mulch. Subsequent work on covering the tree for the winter continues in November. The lower part of the bark is wrapped in several layers of burlap. Then wrap 1-1.5 m of the trunk length with spruce branches. When the first heavy snowfall falls, you need to rake as much snow as possible to the tree.

Choosing a landing site

Due to their not very high winter hardiness, it is recommended to plant trees on the south side of a tall building or a place protected from the north wind.

The best place to plant Sverdlovskaya Beauty is the southern part of the garden, where mature apple trees of other varieties grow. The distance between trees should be at least 3-4 meters. It is recommended to maintain the same distance when planting crops near buildings.

Thanks to its compact, non-spreading crown, the tree does not take up much space, so it can be easily placed even on a small estate.

Soil requirements

When studying the features of planting and caring for the Krasa Sverdlovskaya apple tree variety, it should be taken into account that very heavy and too light soils are not suitable for it. Clay soil prevents the penetration of moisture and air into the root system, while sandy soil is not able to retain water and supply it to the roots from the lower layers.

Therefore, if there is soil on the site that is not suitable for a given variety, it is recommended to prepare a garden pit 1-2 years before planting the apple tree.

When growing crops, it is also necessary to take into account the following features regarding soil requirements:

The plant prefers soil with neutral acidity. If it is high, the required amount of lime is added to the ground before planting.
The beauty of Sverdlovsk grows poorly in soil that is too salty. To normalize this indicator, experts recommend plastering 1-2 years before planting a tree.
The plant does not tolerate too high soil moisture. This indicates the need to avoid planting it near groundwater.

Subspecies

There are several varieties of the Krasa Sverdlovsk variety. The differences lie primarily in the characteristics of the tree. Depending on the type of tree, the growing region and planting site are selected.

creeping

In the Northern Urals and Siberian regions, this type of tree is grown in the stale culture. In winter, the tree must be covered with spruce branches.

Stambovaya

Traditional type of formation of the Krasa Sverdlovsk variety. When growing a standard variety, you need to think about covering the tree for the winter. It is best to plant a tree in regions with warm or moderate winters.

Dwarf

The main advantage of the dwarf variety is the compactness of the tree. If the area is small, it will still fit several trees that will not interfere with each other. The tree begins to bear fruit early, 2-3 years after planting. The crown is not thickened, thanks to which the apples ripen evenly, and there is no need for thinning pruning every summer.

Features of agricultural technology

It is known that the Krasa Sverdlovsk apple tree can withstand up to -30 degrees, provided there is low air humidity and additional plant protection measures are taken. To prevent freezing in the Ural gardens, the tree trunk and branches of the first order are tied with insulation.

When growing in the Perm, Sverdlovsk regions and Siberia, it is very important to pay attention to the correct formation of the crown. It is formed using the slate method, due to which in winter the plant is completely covered with a layer of snow.

Due to poor awakening of buds on growths, young seedlings should be pruned in early spring during the first 5 years of their life. Pruning last year's growth in the spring and pinching out new side branches above 3-5 leaves will create a compact crown and maximize yield.

Since the crop is self-sterile, if there are no other varieties of apple trees nearby, its flowers will not be able to be pollinated. Therefore, to ensure good ovaries and fruits, Krasa Sverdlovsk must be placed near other trees. They will provide her with high-quality pollination. It is necessary to select varieties of pollinating apple trees in such a way that their flowering coincides with the flowering of the variety in question.

Planting an apple tree and subsequent care for it

As a rule, experienced gardeners emphasize that the Krasa Sverdlovsk apple tree requires all standard planting and care procedures, so the agrotechnical requirements here do not have any supernatural indicators. But at the same time, it is still worth remembering that any variety has its own individual characteristics, and therefore you cannot simply ignore them. Because of this, problems may arise in the survival of the tree, its development and subsequent fruiting.

Saplings of the Kras Sverdlovsk apple tree are planted either in the spring or in the fall. In the spring, it is recommended to plant them even before the buds wake up and begin to swell. As for planting a tree in the fall, this should be done exactly before the very first frost occurs. Then the seedling will have a better chance of adapting to new conditions, in order to have time to take root and get used to open ground conditions. Of course, you should pay special attention to the technology of planting this variety, which we will talk about in more detail now.

To plant an apple tree of the Krasa Sverdlovsk variety, it is recommended to choose protected and well-lit areas. These may be hills that are located near fences or walls of houses. The soil must be very fertile and moist. As a rule, apple trees take root well on loamy soils; these are the most suitable conditions for them, which perfectly reveal all the varietal characteristics of the plant.

It is best to prepare a hole for planting in advance; to do this, you need to dig a fairly wide and deep area. Humus and compost, which has already been rotted, are added to it. Manure is also suitable for adding organic matter, wood ash and some complex mineral mixtures are added, which saturate the soil, making it more fertile and suitable for tree growth. It is worth immediately paying attention to the fact that it is best to plant apple seedlings together. The seedling is placed in a hole, the root system should be very carefully straightened. A peg is installed nearby, which will become a future support for the seedling. The roots are sprinkled with soil and compacted a little to avoid the formation of air pockets directly next to the roots. The tree trunk circle is formed independently, and it is also framed with a small roller to be mulched later. The seedling is secured to a support, but in no case should you tie it too tightly - over-tightening can lead to the plant not feeling comfortable enough and, accordingly, the tree may begin to hurt, which will negatively affect its further growth and subsequent development . In order to moisten the soil for the first time, you will need at least thirty liters of water, and the water must be settled and not too cold. Ice water can cause a shock reaction in the seedling and, accordingly, it may not take root in the soil at all, which will negatively affect subsequent fruiting.

Apple trees of the Krasa Sverdlovsk variety are distinguished by the fact that they can have a vigorous rootstock. In this case, it is recommended to be very careful about maintaining a distance between plantings - the distance should be at least five meters. If the rootstock was dwarf or semi-dwarf, then the distance here may be less - about three meters. There are also experienced gardeners who say that low-growing plants do not grow too aggressively, and in this case it is necessary to leave a distance of one meter between them - this will be completely normal and adequate, and the plants will feel quite comfortable.

It is necessary to remember some conditions that should be observed so that the plant feels as comfortable as possible and produces normal growth and development of an excellent harvest. These conditions include the following:

the trunk must be very carefully insulated, and this also applies to some skeletal branches. It will be much easier for them to survive severe frosts, which can be observed in some regions
apple trees of the Krasa Sverdlovsk variety need to be watered regularly, especially if suddenly the region where it grows experiences a very dry summer or a dry autumn
In order to get a good and abundant harvest, as well as large Kras Sverdlovsk apples, you need to very carefully and competently trim the crown. Summer shoots should sometimes be pinched and the ovaries thinned out. There may be slightly fewer fruits than originally expected, but they will still be very tasty and large
You can pick Kras Sverdlovsk apples from September to October, since at this time the apples reach maximum ripeness. They are light cream in color and can ripen after being picked from the tree. Sometimes, when ripened in specially created conditions, they are filled with even greater sweetness, for which they are valued even more.

Apples Krasa Sverdlovsk: photo of variety

As a stanza crop, the Krasa Sverdlovsk apple tree is grown in Western Siberia, as well as in the Altai Territory. To do this, the central conductor of the tree is deliberately shortened at a young age, leaving it about forty centimeters long, no more. As for the skeletal branches, they need to be firmly pressed to the ground and also secured with wooden pins so that if something happens they do not lift back up. When the very first frosts occur, right before the onset of winter it is worth covering the tree with agrofibre or spruce branches, and you can also additionally sprinkle the seedling with snow so that it survives this period more comfortably and successfully.

Agricultural technology in relation to the Krasa Sverdlovsk apple tree variety is ensured by such processes as watering, fertilizing, pruning and loosening the soil, as well as protecting the tree from pests and bacteria, diseases that are very common in apple crops. Experience shows that a tree of this variety needs to be watered very often - approximately four heavy waterings are required in one season. The variety is highly responsive to fertilizing, especially if we are talking about the foliar application method. At the same time, the variety adapts very well to urban conditions, since it can be planted even in an urban environment, where the ecology is not always the best and most suitable. The branches may not be able to support the weight of the fruit, so it is recommended to install supports. If this is not done, the branches will break, and the not yet ripened harvest will not have time to be enriched with all the necessary properties - as a result, injury to the tree itself and the lack of a full-fledged and tasty harvest. If the tree is planted in regions where unstable temperatures and frosts are observed, then in this case it is worth forming stlants - we have already discussed this a little higher in this same article.

As for pruning, it is best to do it in the spring, and it should also be both formative and sanitary. Pruning must be done before sap flow begins, otherwise there is a risk that the tree will react incorrectly to it and, as a result, outbreaks of diseases will begin to be recorded and the immune system will noticeably weaken. It is worth pruning old and diseased branches, as well as branches that have broken or been damaged for any reason. It is also worth removing those branches and shoots that grow inside the crown, because they can cause thickening of the crown, and this will prevent the gardener from harvesting, and diseases or fungal outbreaks can form in the thickened crown. It is recommended to form a cut round crown and give it the necessary appearance, since only then will it respond well to such manipulations.

We have already said above that the Krasa Sverdlovsk apple tree is a self-sterile variety, therefore, in order to get a harvest from it, it is necessary to also place apple trees that belong to other pollinating varieties in the same area. At the same time, the apple tree, if all the necessary conditions are created, is famous for its very abundant and, most importantly, very good harvest. The first fruits can be obtained approximately in the fifth season after the seedlings have been planted. At the same time, initially the fruits are not tasty and large enough, but after a couple more seasons the tree reaches its peak and produces the most delicious, ripe and sweet fruits that weigh quite a lot. To increase productivity, it is recommended to shorten annual shoots annually, and young shoots should be pinched periodically. It is also worth thinning out the apple ovaries in the summer so that the apples do not turn out too small and sour.

The Krasa Sverdlovsk apple tree blooms in the month of May, but it is difficult to say more specific dates, since much depends on the region in which this variety grows. For example, in the south, flowering, of course, begins much earlier, but in a more unstable climate, flowering may occur a little later and, accordingly, the timing of fruiting will also shift, which will become a completely logical indicator. The fruits are harvested in September, sometimes in October, when they have not yet reached full technical maturity. It is best to store them in a dark, cool place, where by mid-winter they will have accumulated enough sugar and the flesh will become a little grainy. The skin will change from light green to a ruddy hue, which will signal that the apples are fully ripe and ready for the gardener to eat fresh or process in accordance with his ideas and needs. Full consumer maturity of this variety occurs around January, which is why the variety is classified as a winter species.

Apple tree Krasa Sverdlovsk: photo of variety

Apples of the Krasa Sverdlovsk variety are stored until April, and sometimes until May. Usually the period can stretch up to two hundred days, and this is indeed a very respectable indicator. At the same time, the apples do not spoil at all - they still have an attractive appearance and, accordingly, are still very tasty and healthy. Depending on the region in which this variety will be grown, you can choose different methods for growing the Krasa Sverdlovsk apple tree. The most popular are dwarf, standard, and creeping forms of cultivation. The choice depends on the preferences of the gardener himself, as well as on the growing area, its temperature conditions and indicators, and climate stability.

In general, the Krasa Sverdlovsk apple tree variety has already been recognized as the best among many other apple varieties. It is ideal for growing in some regions of our country, even those where the climate is not particularly stable and is not diverse. At the same time, if the gardener follows all the above tips and also complies with agrotechnical requirements, then he will receive absolutely magnificent and very tasty apples of the Krasa Sverdlovsk variety, which will be perfectly stored and have a universal method of use and processing. It is enough just to water regularly, feed the tree if necessary, and carefully prepare it for the winter. It is important to trim the crown of the Krasa Sverdlovsk apple tree, shape it or carry out sanitary treatment in order to get rid of painful and dry branches that can thicken it.