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In a small garden it can be difficult to find a place for a spreading apple tree, but this does not mean that owners of modest garden plots should abandon the idea of growing fruit trees. There are many varieties of low-growing apple trees, which have a compact, decorative crown, do not require much space and delight with a good harvest. When choosing such a tree, you need to pay attention to its main characteristics, such as winter hardiness, productivity, early ripening, and fruit taste. For example, in this article we will talk about which varieties of apple trees should be preferred for the Moscow region and central regions of Russia. After reviewing the information provided, everyone will surely be able to choose a suitable fruit tree for themselves.
Variety of dwarf varieties
The climate of the central region of Russia is characterized by low temperatures and unstable weather conditions, in which not every variety of apple tree can fully grow and bear fruit. However, many dwarf fruit trees demonstrate high resistance to the Moscow region climate, which does not negatively affect the yield and quality of fruits. Dwarf apple trees in the Moscow region are good take root and do not require enhanced protection from freezing.
In addition to high resistance to unfavorable climate, dwarf apple trees have some other advantages, which include:
- Compact and decorative crown. Its diameter can reach 2 m.
- A dwarf fruit tree will fit successfully even in the smallest garden.
- The high height of the dwarf tree allows you to harvest without any problems.
- Unlike most common varieties, dwarf apple trees bear fruit annually.
- The high quality of the fruit is not inferior to the fruits of tall apple trees.
- Dwarf apple trees tolerate frost well and do not require extensive care.
- The well-developed root system of dwarf trees can spread at a depth of up to 1 m over an area of up to 8 m2. It successfully nourishes the apple tree and ensures good plant productivity.
It is thanks to these characteristics that many gardeners give preference to dwarf plants. apple trees. Proper selection of such varieties for the garden allows you to collect fresh fruit throughout the summer-autumn period, and then put aside a certain amount of fruit for the winter for long-term storage. To get this opportunity, it is necessary to simultaneously grow apple trees of different ripening periods in one garden: early, mid-ripening and late varieties. We will try to describe some of them in detail further in the sections of the article, so that the gardener, having read the information, can make the right choice for himself.
Early varieties of low-growing apple trees
The first fruits of the apple trees proposed below can be tasted by the end of June. These first fruits are the most valuable because they ripen at a time when other varieties of apple trees are just forming ovaries, and buying apples in a store still “costs a pretty penny.” Among the early dwarf apple trees, 3 of the most successful species should be distinguished:
"Melba"
This variety is very productive; its apples are distinguished by excellent external and taste qualities. Thus, each fruit of the Melba variety weighs more than 200 g. The fruits have a flattened round or slightly elongated shape. The skin of these fruits is bright green. By the time it ripens, a yellow tint appears on it, and on the sunny side of the apples there is a pink blush. The taste of the fruit is excellent: the pulp is very tender, juicy and sweet, its aroma contains caramel notes.
To evaluate the external quality of early Melba apples, you can view the photo below:
"Candy"
The “candy” apple ripens a little later than the fruits of the “Melba” variety proposed above. In terms of the taste of fruit, these two types of apple trees compete with each other. “Candy” fruits are not very large, weighing up to 120 g. Their shape is round. The fruit is covered with a matte, light yellow skin with small scarlet stripes. They taste very juicy and aromatic. The pulp of “Candy” apples is dense.
"Wonderful"
Apples of this variety ripen in mid-summer. You will be able to taste the first harvest of dwarf apple fruit already in the 4th year of growing the crop. The fruits of the “Wonderful” apple tree are medium in size, weighing up to 150 g. Their taste is dessert, the pulp is juicy and sweet. It has a bright fresh aroma. The fruit is covered with delicate skin, yellow-green in color, sometimes with a bright blush.
The apple varieties listed above should be planted on the south side of the plot in early spring. This will ensure successful survival of the crop and contribute to the rapid ripening of the crop in the future.
Mid-season varieties
Mid-season varieties of dwarf apple trees in the Moscow region they bear fruit in early autumn, smoothly replacing the harvest of early apple trees. There are quite a lot of low-growing, mid-season varieties suitable for the Moscow region, but the following are recognized as the best of them:
"Zhigulevskoe"
This apple has been known to experienced people for many years. gardeners. The variety begins to bear fruit already in the 3-4th year of cultivation and is highly resistant to winter frosts, diseases, and pests. “Zhiguli” fruits are large, weighing up to 350 g. Their shape is round, slightly flattened, the skin is golden-red. The taste of the fruit is sweet and sour. The apple pulp is tender, with a coarse-grained structure.
"Strifel"
The variety “Strifel” is one of the most famous in the central regions of Russia, including in the Moscow region. It can also be found under the names: “Autumn Striped”, “Streifling”.
The harvest of the Striefel variety ripens in September. Its quality is high: the weight of apples varies from 150 to 200 g, the shape of the fruit is slightly elongated, the skin is green-yellow, with bright longitudinal stripes over the entire surface.The taste of the fruit is rich and harmoniously combines acidity and sweetness.
To prevent freezing, fruit trees must be insulated with burlap.
"Mundane"
Apple trees of the “Zemlednoe” variety tolerate wintering well and are very rarely damaged by even the most severe frosts, which means they are excellent for growing in the Moscow region. The taste of such fruits is sweet and sour, the aroma is very bright. The color of the fruit is greenish-red. Already in the 3rd year after growing the seedling, the gardener will be able to taste the first harvest of large fruits. It is worth noting that the number of fruits ripening during the season is large and stable from year to year.
In addition to the listed mid-season varieties, it is worth noting the Sokolovskaya apple tree, which also successfully survives wintering in the Moscow region and produces a good harvest of very tasty fruits. Their weight is average, about 90 g, and their color is yellow-green.
Late varieties
Apples of late varieties have excellent keeping quality. They can maintain their freshness at temperatures +3-+60Until the start of the new season. Moreover, the taste of such fruits only improves as they are stored. Among these late-ripening varieties, the following types of dwarf trees can be noted:
"Grushovka Podmoskovnaya"
The history of this winter variety has been around for many decades, but still remains relevant, primarily due to the high resistance of apple trees to adverse external factors.
Fruiting of this variety is slow and occurs only in the 5th-6th year of growing the crop. Apples of this variety are relatively small, weighing up to 90 g.Their shape is round, slightly elongated. The surface of the fruit is covered with a tough skin, colored yellow with a bright blush on one side. The taste of the Grushovka Podmoskovnaya fruit is excellent, sweet and sour. As apples are stored, the acidity in their taste almost completely disappears. The aroma of the fruit is bright and fresh.
"Bogatyr"
The late-ripening variety “Bogatyr” is distinguished by the highest resistance to fungal and bacterial diseases and extremely low winter temperatures. The Bogatyr apple tree produces its first harvest in the 5th-6th year of cultivation. Its fruits are relatively small, weighing no more than 100 g. Their shape is round, slightly flattened. The color of the fruit is yellow-green, with a slight pink blush. The taste of apples is sour, similar to the taste of the notorious fruits of the Antonovka variety.
More information about the Bogatyr apple variety can be found in the video:
"Moscow Necklace"
This low-growing apple tree can become a real decoration of the garden, because its fruits are painted in an original dark red or purple color, which can be seen in the photo below:
These unique apples ripen in mid-October. The yield of the crop is average, the taste of the fruit is excellent: large fruits are very juicy and sweet, they are stored in special conditions for 6-7 months.
Along with the listed late varieties of apple trees for the Moscow region, it is worth noting the fruit trees of the varieties “Arbat”, “Carpet”, “Snowdrop”, “Bratchud” and some other types of crops.
Conclusion
By growing apple trees with different fruit ripening periods on his plot, the gardener will be able to receive a regular flow of fresh, healthy fruit for his entire family.And late varieties will allow you not only to enjoy the harvest during the season, but also to preserve it throughout the winter. In the article, we proposed several types of apple trees with different ripening periods, which are excellent for the Moscow region, since they are characterized by the highest resistance to adverse external conditions and freezing. After studying the information provided, everyone will be able to make an informed choice and successfully grow wonderful dwarf fruit trees on their plot.
