Apple tree Starkrimson: description and photo of an ancient variety, reviews about it

Description of the Starkrimson apple tree

The Starkrimson apple tree was bred in America, Iowa. In 1921, as a result of crossing the Delicious variety with another seedling, a tree grew, the fruits of which were significantly different from the rest in color. That is why the variety was named Starkrimson.

Later, the apple tree came to the Soviet Union, where it was cultivated in the Caucasus, in the Stavropol Territory. Now the variety can be found in gardens in the southern regions of Russia. It is impossible to grow the plant in the central and northern regions, as it does not tolerate frost well. Buds and flowers suffer from recurrent frosts and do not recover. However, this does not frighten experienced gardeners; they successfully cultivate the Starkrimson apple tree in difficult conditions.

The Starkrimson tree is of medium vigor and compact. On a seed rootstock it grows up to 4.5-5 m, on a dwarf rootstock it rarely reaches 3 m. The crown of an adult apple tree is broom-shaped, sparse, and does not require constant sanitary cleaning. Shoot formation is weak. The crown is formed from skeletal branches, which are located at an acute angle to the trunk.

The tree trunk is grey-brown. The shoots are dark brown, pubescent, heavy, and tend to break off due to the abundance of the harvest. The internodes of the Starkrimson variety are short.

The leaves of the Starkrimson apple tree are dense with a pointed tip, medium in size. The leaf shape is ovoid, the color is rich green. The Starkrimson variety blooms brightly. The flowers are large with snow-white petals. The closed bud is slightly pink in appearance.

The description states that the fruits of the Starkrimson apple tree are quite large, which can be seen in the photo. Reviews from gardeners indicate that the average weight of apples is 150-200 g. Although there are larger fruits, feeding will be required to grow them. However, in the central part of Russia the harvest is much smaller; apples yield only 80-100 g.

The apples are elongated, elongated-conical in shape with mild ribbing. The skin is dark red in color, in the southern regions it acquires a purple tint, dense, but imperceptible when eaten. The surface of the apple is covered with a waxy coating, which allows the fruit to be stored for a long time. The peduncle is of medium length.

Important! There are small and large apples on the tree. The Starkrimson variety has unequal fruits. More than 50% of the crop is different in size.

Growing in regions

Low winter hardiness and, as a result, freezing of shoots does not allow this good variety to be grown as an industrial variety in the Moscow region. Even in the Black Earth regions there are great risks. Not to mention the Volga region.

Gardeners are experimenting. But you won't find any positive reviews. There are varieties that are more reliable for growing in these places. We're not talking about the taste of apples.

If you decide to plant, take measures to protect against frost:

Choose a place that protects from winds (near buildings, fences);
Mulch the soil with humus;
Protect from rodents.

In the Krasnodar Territory, Stavropol Territory, and Rostov Region, it was zoned . But farmers have already found a replacement for them.

In Ukraine, the situation with this variety is similar. Where it is warmer and the climate is milder. Also provide good watering.

The Starkrimson apple tree is zoned in Ukraine.

I can only recommend it to those who want to grow this variety in their garden. Get to know him from more than one source. Or at least 2-3. As an example:

They write that it has high winter hardiness. And he is self-fertile;
These are the sellers. We talked about these qualities above.

Pros and cons of the Starkrimson apple tree variety

From the description it is clear that the Starkrimson apple tree variety has many advantages:

compact size;
sparse crown;
precociousness;
large fruits;
long shelf life of the crop;
good taste of apples;
excellent product characteristics and keeping quality;
versatility of fruit use.

However, despite this, the Starkrimson variety has significant drawbacks. Among them:

low frost resistance;
weak immunity;
heterogeneity of the harvest;
demands on soil and care.

In addition, branches of the Starkrimson variety often break under the weight of the fruit. And apples, even with the slightest damage to the skin, will not be stored.

The variety does not tolerate low temperatures. Without additional shelter, it winters only in the southern regions of the country. If the temperature drops below -25°C for a long time, then the trunk and skeletal branches need to be insulated.

The Starkrimson apple tree is poorly resistant to major diseases. Outbreaks of scab, spotting, and codling moth attacks are observed.

Advice! To avoid diseases, preventive treatments should not be neglected.

Flaws

The Starkrimson apple trees, photos of which you see here, have not only advantages, but also some disadvantages. They also need to be taken into account when planning your garden plot. Among the most important disadvantages:

intolerance to dry climates,
greater sensitivity to frost,
low resistance to scab,
There is a high risk of fruit being damaged by “bitter pitting” during storage.

But still, these disadvantages cannot stop the gardener who decided to grow this variety on his plot, since the advantages of the tree clearly outweigh it.

Optimal growing conditions

The Starkrimson apple tree variety is intended for cultivation in the southern regions of the country. However, it can also be cultivated in the central part of Russia. To do this, you need to create suitable conditions:

Protect the tree from cold winds and drafts, especially in winter.
Take care of the composition of the soil. It should be as close as possible to the Southern regions. Clayey, acidic soil, in which moisture will stagnate, is not suitable for growing.
Provide good drainage for the tree's root system. In this case, the groundwater level must be taken into account. They should not be located close to the soil surface.

In order for the tree to quickly take root and begin to grow, it is planted in early spring or autumn. It depends on the growing region. In the central part of Russia, it is preferable to plant in the spring so that the seedling has time to take root before the onset of cold weather. In the south, apple trees are planted at any time. The main thing is that the soil must be warmed up, and there are at least 14 more days left before the first frost.

Landing rules

Apple trees need sunlight

Starkrimson loves well-lit, sunny areas. Trees can be planted on a slope in a dense row, but in no case in a lowland. It is also prohibited to plant in areas close to groundwater.

Preparation

The hole for planting must be prepared in advance (2-3 weeks). It is dug to a depth of 70 cm and a width of 1 m. The soil is mixed with rotted manure, compost, and wood ash.

On dense soils, peat and sand are added. The soil mixture is poured into the hole and filled with two buckets of water.

Technology

On the day of transplantation, a hole is made according to the size of the earthen clod - the seedling is placed and watered abundantly. Then they are covered with substrate, leaving the root collar above ground level (6-8 cm).

The soil in the tree trunk soil is compacted tightly and mulched (with peat, compost or humus).

Planting and caring for the Starkrimson apple tree

The Starkrimson apple tree is demanding about the composition of the soil and does not tolerate drought at all. In order for fruiting to be stable, it needs good care.

Selection and preparation of a landing site

The amount of the future harvest depends on where the Starkrimson apple tree is planted. Choose a place that is sunny, warm, and well lit. In the shade, the fruits will not set well and the tree will slow down its growth.

The apple tree does not tolerate drafts and cold winds, so choose a well-protected place. The ideal option is near a fence or against the wall of a house. The site is prepared in advance, but no less than 2 weeks before the proposed work:

The soil is dug up and freed from weeds.
Prepare a hole for planting measuring 75 x 85 cm.
The bottom is drained with available material and covered with fertile soil.
The earth is mixed with humus and sand, dry leaves are added and the rest of the hole is filled.

The hole is covered with film and left until planting so that the earth settles and mineral fertilizers are well absorbed into the soil.

Seedling preparation

One-year-old healthy seedlings are selected for planting. If there are none, then trees 2 years old are quite suitable, but not older. They get along better. A healthy seedling is determined by its appearance:

trunk and skeletal branches without damage, growths, cracks;
there are no thickenings or peeling places on the bark;
the trunk under the bark is light green;
The roots are light, not dry, white inside.

The selected plant is transported to the planting site, carefully wrapping the roots in burlap. To prevent them from drying out, they are well moisturized. Before planting, the seedling is placed in a bucket of water for a day so that the roots are additionally saturated with moisture. The shoots and central conductor are shortened by 1/3, the roots are slightly trimmed.

Landing rules

Before planting, a mound of fertile soil is formed in the hole, but without fertilizers. The root system should not come into contact with mineral complexes. After that, the seedling is installed and covered well with soil. The soil is watered abundantly, and the tree trunk circle is mulched with humus. The seedling is tied to a support so that it does not break from a gust of wind.

Warning! During planting, the root collar is not covered with soil so that it does not get wet and begin to rot.

Watering and fertilizing

The Starkrimson apple tree requires more attention than any fruit tree. For good harvests, the plant needs careful care and watering. The variety does not tolerate drought, so the soil must be kept moist. Usually, Starkrimson is watered once every 5 days, but with the onset of hot summer the regime is changed. The soil is moistened every 3 days, while the earthen ball is soaked to the entire depth of the roots.

To prevent moisture from evaporating quickly, it is better to place a good layer of organic mulch around the tree. In addition, mulch prevents the appearance of pests and diseases and prevents weeds from growing.

The Starkrimson apple tree responds well to feeding. It is not fertilized immediately after planting, but in the 2nd year of cultivation, additional nutrition is necessary. The apple tree is fed according to the following scheme:

nitrogen is added in spring;
in summer - potassium and phosphorus;
In autumn there is enough potassium.

Fertilizers are applied in liquid or dry form. It depends on weather conditions. If it rains outside, the roots will not absorb liquid fertilizers; it is better to spread dry granular complexes around the trunk. During drought, use solutions that are prepared according to the instructions.

Advice! To avoid burning the roots of the apple tree, water it before applying liquid fertilizers.

Trimming

In order for Starkrimson apples to be large, the tree must be pruned. The photo shows how to do this correctly.

Pruning is carried out in spring and autumn. The first few years do not shape the tree; they give it the opportunity to grow freely. Then they begin pruning. First, the central shoot is shortened to restrain the growth of the trunk. Side shoots are shortened by 1/3 to stimulate abundant flowering.

In spring, the main pruning comes down to cleaning the crown. Cut out dry, damaged, broken or poorly overwintered branches. In the fall, formative pruning is done as described above.

Important! Pruning is done when there is no sap flow. In the spring before the buds open, and in the fall after the leaves fall.

Preparing for winter

The characteristics of the Starkrimson apple tree variety indicate that the tree does not winter well in regions with harsh winters. However, this does not stop gardeners; they have noticed that it is enough to insulate the apple tree before the upcoming frosts, and it can withstand the vagaries of the weather well.

The trunk and skeletal branches are insulated when the first stable frosts occur. A metal mesh frame is installed around the tree, and all free space is covered with dry leaves or humus. Agrofibre is stretched over the frame. In such a shelter, the Starkrimson apple tree tolerates temperatures dropping to -40°C. However, the tree trunk circle also needs to be mulched with a thick layer of humus.

Attention! This design will protect the tree trunk from damage by rodents and hares.

Subtleties of agricultural technology

Since Starkrimson is a southern variety, it is recommended to grow it in warm regions of the country. When trying to grow further north, it is necessary to provide protection from the cold wind in the form of a house wall, fence or tall bush with a dense crown. Soils must be leveled, oriented south, without stagnant melt or rain water and with a groundwater level no higher than 2.5 meters to the soil surface.

Landing

It is better to plant in spring. In the fall, you need to properly prepare the soil - dig with a shovel full, selecting all the weeds and at the same time, before digging, add fertilizer to the soil. Per square meter you need to add 5-6 kg of humus or well-rotted manure, 600-650 g of wood ash (an excellent source of potassium) and a tablespoon of nitroammophoska.

After applying fertilizers, the soil should be loosened and leveled. In the spring, before the buds open, the plants can be placed on the site. To do this, you need to dig a planting hole, put a couple of shovels of expanded clay at the base for drainage and pour out a bucket of a mixture consisting of equal parts (1.5-2 kg) of humus and nutrient soil with the addition of 15-20 g of nitroammophoska.

When planting, it is important not to bury the root collar; it should be at soil level. After planting, you need to compact the soil, water it and mulch it with a layer of humus a couple of centimeters thick.

Since the root system of seedlings of this variety is not very voluminous, support pegs must be installed after planting.

Care

Further care consists of watering during drought (2-3 buckets under the tree every 3-4 days), removing weeds (the first 3-4 years, then you can simply mow the weeds), loosening the soil and applying fertilizers. In the spring, it is necessary to add a tablespoon of nitroammophoska under each tree, during the flowering period, a teaspoon of superphosphate and potassium salt, and in the fall, 500 g of wood ash.

It is necessary to carry out normalization, that is, thinning the ovary, otherwise if the tree is overloaded with products, the apples may become very small and lose some of their taste.

Starting from the fifth year of life on the site, approximately once every two seasons, it is necessary to carry out sanitary cleaning of the crown, removing all broken shoots, those that grow deep into the crown and competing shoots. Skeletal branches need to be cut once a year into a pair of buds; it is advisable to shorten the central conductor to the same length.

Considering that the skeletal branches extend from the trunk at sharp angles, which reduces the yield, starting from the third season of the apple tree’s life on the site, it is necessary to bend them with stretchers. This technique allows you to increase the angle of branches and increase the yield.

This apple tree also requires annual treatments during the period of bud formation and flower opening with Bordeaux mixture, which protects against scab.

When grown closer to the center of Russia in the autumn, before winter, the tree trunk strip should be mulched with humus with a layer of 7-8 cm. Protection from mice is required in the form of a plastic mesh, which should be secured around the trunk at a height of up to a meter.

Pollinators

Starkrimson is self-fertile, so it needs pollinators to produce a full harvest. Suitable pollinators: Golden Delicious and Jonathan. Pollinators should grow no further than two kilometers from the pollinated apple tree.

Productivity

The Starkrimson apple tree variety begins to bear fruit early. A tree on a dwarf rootstock produces fruits already in the 2nd year of cultivation. For seed - after 2-3 years. A young apple tree bears fruit abundantly; up to 30 kg of fruit can be collected from a tree. The yield of an adult plant is up to 180 kg.

The type of fruiting of the Starkrimson apple tree is ringed. Most of the harvest is formed on ringlets of different ages. The fruit formations are densely located, so the variety’s productivity is high. It is often grown for sale.

Features of the variety

The variety belongs to the spur species of apple trees - plants with shortened interbud distances.
In such apple trees, despite being more than modest in size, fruit ring branches are formed abundantly, capable of vigorous flowering and generous fruiting.
This feature guarantees high annual yields. The intensity of the dense green color of the leaves of spur apple trees characterizes the activity of the photosynthesis process. Spur varieties can be successfully grafted onto any seedlings that can impart frost resistance to the plant.
Starkrimson did not escape the peculiarities of many trees of his species - self-infertility. For systematic fruiting and marketable appearance of fruits, it needs pollinators that meet the following conditions:
- community of cultivation region;
general ripening times for late autumn varieties.

Two such pollinating varieties are recommended for Starkrimson: Jonathan, Golden Delicious.

Remember: The main pollinators of apple trees are bees . The radius of “action” of such a natural pollinator is 2 km. Here is the circle in which the pollinator variety trees should end up.

Fruiting in Starkrimson begins in 2-3 years, and every year the number of apples on the tree increases. During the reproductive peak, up to 300 centners are harvested per hectare.

With an abundant harvest, overloading the apple tree threatens to lose its presentation and taste. Do not forget to thin out the ovaries during the flowering period!

The harvest lasts 2 weeks from the end of September.
The fruits finally ripen only after a month, reaching consumer maturity. When apples are harvested early, they become flabby. By being late in harvesting, you can waste time - the apples will become overripe, losing their taste.
Starkrimson is stored until April, in accordance with the general requirements for storage conditions.
The variety is equally sensitive to frost and drought. For normal development, the tree needs at least 600 mm of precipitation per year. Additional watering replenishes the lack of moisture.
The variety is characterized by polygenic resistance to powdery mildew, but scab continues to be a threat to the plant.
The exclusivity of the marketable appearance and decorative nature of the fruits, their exquisite sweet taste with a slight bitterness, make apples a generally recognized dessert for consumption mainly fresh, although the variety is also recognized for its versatility of use (dried, heat-treated, gelled and liquid).

What in Starkrimson’s appearance reveals the spur variety and commercial purpose.

The morphology of the tree is characterized by a small plant height with a compact crown formed by skeletal branches that form an acute angle with the trunk.
Moreover, the fruit branches extend into the inter-row spaces, making it easier to care for the tree at all stages of growth and, especially, during the harvest period. These qualities allow you to place several plants at once on any area, even with a significant slope. Based on these characteristics of trees, they are planted:
without supports in a “single-line” or “double-line” row;
supported on metal structures (trellises);
compacted row, supported by a trellis.
A distinctive characteristic of the shoots is the close internodes; the bark of the shoots is brown and slightly pubescent.
The dark green leaves have all the typical characteristics of apple trees:
fleshy plate, rough on the reverse side;
fine-toothed carved edge.
The flowers are soft pink in buds, white in an open rosette. The anthers of the stamens extend beyond the boundaries of the flower. Seed chambers are closed.
The fruits are large (up to 180 g), slightly conical in shape, firmly attached to the branch by a thick stalk;
During the growth process they are green, and by the time they are picked they acquire a dark red blush covering the entire surface of the apple. Under the dense skin hides juicy pulp , which during the ripening process changes color from light green to cream, has a sweet rather than sweet-sour taste, and high nutritional value.

In European countries, apples that fit into the palm of your hand are in demand. Large-fruited varieties are preferred only on the domestic market.

Diseases and pests

As already mentioned, the apple tree of this variety is extremely unstable to scab and other diseases. To prevent possible outbreaks, a set of measures is carried out:

The tree is regularly pruned to maintain a sparse crown shape.
Fallen leaves are collected and removed from the site so that pests and pathogens do not accumulate under them.
The trunk circle of the tree is dug up as soon as frost sets in so that the pests die.
In spring and autumn, the crown is treated with special preparations.

Treatments are done along the green cone, before flowering and immediately after it, after leaf fall. They use Bordeaux mixture, iron or copper sulfate, urea, and the preparations “Hom” and “Skor”.

Warning! In spring and autumn, prepare a 3% solution of Bordeaux mixture; after flowering, make a 1% mixture.

Reviews of the Starkrimson apple tree

Kononenko Vitaly, 42 years old, Krasnodar

The Starkrimson apple tree recently appeared in my garden. I looked for a seedling for a long time, but there was no good and healthy plant. I planted it on the south side of the plot, where the tree bears fruit well and overwinters. I don’t particularly bother with insulation for the winter; in our area, an adult plant tolerates frost well. The fruits are delicious, especially when fresh. Well transported and stored. During the growing process, I noticed that the variety requires care. It does not tolerate dry summers well, the fruits become smaller and tasteless. I solved the problem by installing drip irrigation in the garden. Now the apple tree is always watered, even if I am not at the dacha.

Filon Andrey, 31 years old, Balabanovo

Immediately after planting the apple tree, Starkrimson was confronted with its shortcomings. The tree took a long time to take root, although I planted it in the spring according to all the rules. It began to bear fruit in the 3rd year, but the apples are far from being as described. Perhaps as the tree ages, everything will change. They are juicy, but not large and beautiful. The taste of the fruit is ordinary, I didn’t notice anything special. The tree is difficult to care for. It constantly needs to be watered, which is difficult to do if you are rarely at the dacha. It winters disgustingly in our conditions, despite the fact that the trunk was well insulated. In the spring I discovered that some of the shoots had frozen. In comparison with other varieties, it gave a score of 3 points.

Fruit ripening and harvest storage

Tree productivity increases every year

Starkrimson apple trees begin to bear fruit in the third year after transplantation. At first there are not very many apples, but already in the fifth or sixth season a full harvest is harvested from the tree.

Usually the fruits ripen in the second half of September. If the summer was hot, maturity may come earlier.

Proper harvesting improves the keeping quality of fruits. You need to remove them carefully, trying not to damage them. Broken, rotten or diseased specimens are not suitable for storage.

If you put apples in a dry basement or refrigerator, they will last 7-8 months without losing their consumer properties.