Characteristics
Modern gardeners use apple seedlings with small, tart apples to grow dwarf and semi-dwarf varieties of Paradise apple. Such apple trees are distinguished by a number of advantages characteristic of this variety.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Raika variety is distinguished by medium-sized fruits with excellent taste.
Raika variety.
The advantages of this variety are:
- early fruiting;
- resistance to scab and powdery mildew;
- abundant harvests;
- shelf life of fruits;
- frost resistance.
Many subspecies are drought resistant.
This variety does not have any particular disadvantages, but some apple trees exhibit periodic fruiting.
Peculiarities
The apple tree Paradise apples has many varieties. They differ from each other:
- crown shape;
- fruit color;
- fruit shape and size;
- fruiting dates.
Almost all subspecies are distributed throughout Russia.
Dimensions
Apple trees of this variety are medium-sized, up to 4 meters. Dwarf or semi-dwarf species have a medium or decomposed crown, and their growth is much lower than a varietal apple tree.
The columnar apple tree has a narrow and low crown.
Fruit evaluation
The apples of the Paradise apple tree received a high tasting rating for their sweet and sour taste and pleasant apple aroma. These qualities are not lost until the end of the fruit’s shelf life.
Winter hardiness and disease resistance
The variety is highly resistant to diseases, especially scab and powdery mildew.
Raika's winter hardiness is high; some subspecies can withstand forty-degree frosts, while others are not adapted to cold winters, which must be taken into account when choosing a tree for planting in certain weather conditions.
History of appearance
Historically, all small-fruited varieties of this tree are called apples of paradise. Today, more than a hundred of its varieties are known. Most of all, summer residents fell in love with dwarf varieties, which are characterized by high productivity.
The basis for developing these varieties was the Nizkaya apple tree, whose distribution area is considered to be Central Asian and Southern European countries. Czech scientists made a great contribution to the selection of this species, who, based on the game, Katka and Champion, obtained a new product with excellent characteristics.
Planting and care
Paradise is unpretentious to soil and lighting; even a shaded area is suitable for it.
Apple tree planting diagram.
The tree can be planted in spring and autumn.
Attention should be paid to the choice of seedling, which should have a well-developed root system, a straight, undamaged trunk with a visible grafting site. Depending on the subspecies, the branches can be erect or curved. The buds on the branches should not be dry.
The hole for planting a seedling should correspond to the roots: it should not be large. You need to drive a stake into the middle and secure the plant, sprinkle the roots with soil and compact it. Make a hole around the trunk and water the seedling.
Crop care includes:
- watering when there is a lack of moisture;
- preventive crown treatments;
- fertilizing and loosening the soil around the trunk;
- caring for the crown during heavy fruiting;
- protecting the trunk from rodents in the fall;
- whitewashing the trunk with lime in the spring.
All these procedures are familiar to gardeners and are very simple.
Application of apples
Since Chinese apples do not have a long shelf life, they must be used quickly after harvesting. The fruits can be dried and frozen for making compotes in winter; they are used to prepare juices, compotes, jellies, jam, marmalade, wine and cider, as well as wonderful preserves.
The decorative appearance of some Chinese varieties is used for landscape design. The decorative nature of the Chinese plant with its beautiful flowering and brightly colored fruits is used in the design of areas in boarding houses, sanatoriums, and parks (both in group plantings and as a tapeworm). In addition, trees are widely used to form beautiful hedges. Chinawort, which has excellent frost resistance, is used to create new cold-resistant varieties of apple trees.
Crown trimming
The Paradise Apple tree variety has a dense, spreading crown that requires thinning.
Apple tree pruning diagram.
The first pruning is carried out in the fall if the plant is planted in the spring. The main shoots are shortened by 20-30 cm; in the next few years, branches are cut by 10 cm.
In early spring, sanitary pruning is carried out before the buds open: dry, damaged and old branches are removed.
Description of the fruit
The round, orange-colored fruit that resembles an orange is called an Adam's apple or maclura. It consists of many dry fruits, united by an inflorescence axis and having one seed inside, emits a cucumber aroma and is poisonous. Inside this plant there are gray seeds and milky juice.
The fruit grows on deciduous trees belonging to the mulberry family. It's called orange maclura. Such trees have a dense crown and thorny shoots, reaching a height of two tens of meters. You can find this plant in the south of Russia and Central Asia, although its homeland is South America.
Photo: Adam's apple fruit
Ripening and fruiting
Raika begins to bear fruit in the second or third year after planting; the apples are small or medium in size, of various colors, from red to burgundy, and with a pleasant aroma.
It blooms by mid-May; during the flowering period, the tree fills the air with an intoxicating aroma that attracts pollinating insects.
Fruits begin to ripen at the end of September, depending on the planting region and subspecies, fruit harvesting continues until the first frost.
The harvest is stored until spring, while the taste and appearance are preserved.
What does a heavenly apple look like? "Adam's Apple"
The fruit of the maclura is called an Adam's apple (less commonly, a Chinese or Indian orange). This is a large fruit, up to 15 cm in diameter, with wrinkled orange-green skin, resembling an orange in shape and color. Poisonous. When cut with a knife, a sticky liquid is released - this is a milky sap with which all parts of the plant are literally saturated.
Maclura milky juice contains many cyclic triterpene alcohols in the form of fatty acid esters. This class of biologically active substances, widely distributed in the plant world, includes sterols, bile acids, and saponins. The total content of triterpenoids in maclura fruits during the period of milky ripeness reaches 4%. The chemical composition of the fruits is very diverse, but many substances are similar to substances from mulberry fruits. However, the fruits of maclura are inedible. The fruits contain a lot of sugars, pectin substances up to 10%, and the leaves contain almost 13% citric acid. Seeds - small nuts located inside the fruit, contain almost 30% fatty acids. But flavonoid compounds can be considered the most valuable substances in maclura. This group of substances is similar in structure to vitamin P. In fact, these are powerful antioxidants with anti-sclerotic and anti-carcinogenic properties. It contains the largest amount of flavonols - up to 1.2%. It is these substances that have a yellow-orange (orange) color. Fruits also contain large quantities (about 6%) of isomeric flavonoid compounds - isoflavones. Of these, most are accounted for. Like many polyphenols with P-vitamin activity, they strengthen blood vessels and capillaries. At the same time, osain is much higher in efficiency than the known one. A phytoproduct of flavonoids isolated from maclura fruits is a potential raw material for creating an effective cardiovascular drug.
Subspecies and options
Apple trees of this variety have many varieties of rootstocks, which will differ in the size of the fruit and the frequency or regularity of fruiting.
The columnar variety has an early flowering period: late April - early May. The compact plant looks good in group plantings, especially during the flowering period.
Columnar apple tree.
The winter subspecies of Paradise resembles a columnar one, but over time the crown becomes spreading, and the height of the tree reaches 5 meters, and the crown up to 4 meters in diameter.
Winter view of an apple tree.
Czech Rajka is resistant to fungal diseases and winter cold. The fruits of this apple tree weigh up to 150 grams, collected in clusters. The tree produces abundant annual harvests.
Czech Rajka.
The red subspecies is distinguished by the color of its skin. The fruits are completely red, juicy and aromatic. A tree can have different types of crown. Red fruits grow on columnar, weeping and semi-dwarf varieties.
Red subspecies of apple tree.
The yellow subspecies has lighter leaf color and warm yellow apples. This variety tolerates partial shade well.
Yellow apple tree.
The variety of subspecies makes it possible to grow apple trees in different regions.
Young trees are used as rootstock for many fruit trees. Not surprising, because they have very good stability qualities.
Paradise apples Wikipedia. “Apples of Paradise”: leading actors
The film tells about the difficult fate of Carmen. The girl grew up without parents and constantly suffered humiliation from her aunt, who raised her. The girl met Pavel at the market, who bought heavenly apples from her. This love story turned out to be very difficult and ultimately tragic.
The main character was played by Olga Filippova. The actress was born in 1977. Before filming films, Olga worked in the modeling business and even became the face of an aircraft manufacturing company. She began her acting career in 2002, starring in the film “The Mixer.” This was followed by roles in “Carmen” and “Soldiers”.
The actress gained popularity after the TV series “Apples of Paradise” and “You Can’t Command Your Heart.” The civil marriage with Vladimir Vdovichenkov, which lasted 10 years, did not work out. Now the actress is absorbed in work and raising her daughter.
The role of Pavel Naumov was played by Alexander Pashkov. In the film, Pavel was the only son of wealthy parents. His father worked as a surgeon and was very talented. The parents wanted to see another girl next to their son and did not accept the relationship with Carmen.
Alexander Pashkov has more than 85 projects behind him. Since childhood, the actor has raved about the theater. With the money he earned, he bought tickets to various performances. Alexander came to Moscow and began to build a career on his own. At first there were practically no offers to act. The young actor worked part-time as a loader and press seller.
Fame came to the actor after starring in the TV series “Apples of Paradise”, “Love on the Asphalt” and “Tycophs”. After these films, the actor received offers to film and participate in various shows.
For both young people, “Apples of Paradise” became decisive in their careers. The actors gained popularity and received many offers to star in other films.
Growing in regions
The Paradise apple variety can be grown in different regions.
Almost all types of this representative of the fruit crop can grow in the Moscow region. On fertile soils, apple trees will delight with decorative flowering and abundant fruiting. When planting a seedling in this region, it is important to lay drainage at the bottom of the hole.
In Ukraine, Raika has proven itself well, but special attention needs to be paid to pruning the rapidly growing crown. When the fruits ripen, you need to bend the branches to avoid cracking the tree.
In Kazakhstan, the apple tree needs additional watering on hot days, additional fertilizing and loosening of the soil around the trunk. Otherwise, tree care is normal.
Beneficial features
Paradise apples may be small, but they are a whole pharmacy!
- Pectin is a natural sorbent that cleanses the intestines. Also, by removing excess cholesterol from the blood, it helps avoid atherosclerosis and heart attack, strengthens blood vessels
- Antioxidants slow down the aging of the body, remove toxins and waste.
- These fruits contain vitamins and 28 microelements: zinc, nickel, copper, manganese, iron, cobalt, etc.
- The amount of biologically active substances in them is ten times higher than in large-fruited apple varieties.
- They normalize blood pressure by removing excess salts and water from the body.
- Mineral salts that help with rheumatism, kidney and liver diseases, and skin diseases.
- Apples of paradise are useful for dysentery and colitis, as they contain a lot of fiber.
- Thanks to the polyphenols contained in the pulp and, especially, in the skin of the fruit, the appearance of cancer cells in the liver and intestines is prevented.
We invite you to read about pruning grapes for beginners
