Content
The Korobovka apple tree is a very old variety, which was well known already in the 19th century. Produces small but very tasty apples. In appearance, they are unattractive, so they are grown mainly for their own use. The trees live up to 50 years, bear fruit abundantly, bearing up to 60-70 kg of tasty and aromatic apples.
History of selection
Korobovka is one of the ancient apple tree varieties of folk selection, the origin of which is not known. It was first described in 1855. Moreover, the name Korobovka was introduced into circulation a very long time ago. Most likely, it is due to the fact that the fruits were sold in boxes, and not individually.
Korobovka does not belong to the varieties of large-fruited apple trees; on the contrary, the fruits are small in size. Therefore, the variety is not included in the register of breeding achievements in Russia and has not passed the appropriate tests.
The Korobovka apple tree variety also has other names, for example, Skorospelka and Medunichka.It is valued for its frost resistance, which makes it possible to cultivate the crop in different regions. It is known that in Poland the variety is included in the collection of the biological reserve (Warsaw), and in Estonia - in the register of ancient varieties of apple trees.
Description of the Korobovka apple tree with photo
In the description of the Korobovka apple tree variety, special attention is paid to the characteristics of the tree, height, crown characteristics and appearance of the fruit. The most important parameters are presented below.
Wood appearance
The Korobovka apple tree produces medium-sized trees, their crown has an unusual broom-like shape. The shoots are dark brown in color. The height of the tree is up to 4-5 m. The leaves are small in size, sometimes small. They have a rounded shape, with smooth edges and large teeth.
The surface of the leaf plate of the Korobovka apple tree is quite dense and leathery, the edges are slightly raised, the color is rich dark green. The leaves shine in the sun, have slight wrinkles and slight pubescence. The bases of the leaves are rounded, the petioles are thin. The stipules are small in size, their shape is narrow, lanceolate.
Description of fruits
The fruits of the apple tree are small pods, reaching 4 cm in diameter, and weighing from 30 to 50 g. They are flat in shape, not always symmetrical, and have no ribs. The color is dirty green or yellow, with dull red-orange stripes visible. The skin is thin, moderately dense, smooth.
The fruits are small but very sweet
Funnels with rustiness. The fruit saucers of the Korobovka apple tree are wide, small, the tubercles are strongly swollen (near the sepals). The calyxes are large. The seed chambers can be closed or semi-open, the hearts are bulbous. The seeds themselves are medium and small in size, brown in color.
Characteristics of the variety
Among the characteristics of the Korobovka variety, the taste qualities of the fruit, their ripening period, yield and winter hardiness are of particular importance. These and other options are described below.
Taste qualities
Despite their small size, the taste of Korobovka apples is very good. It has a pronounced sweetness, virtually no acidity, a honey aftertaste and a pleasant aroma. The pulp is yellowish in color and moderately dense.
Ripening time
In terms of ripening time, the Korobovka apple tree is an early ripening variety. The fruits are formed already at the end of July, and around the same time they can be harvested. They stick well to the branches, so they can be collected until mid-August. However, the fruits are not stored for a long time - they can be kept in cool conditions for no more than three weeks. At the same time, transportability is very good.
Productivity
The productivity of the Korobovka apple tree variety is high and amounts to about 60-70 kg per adult tree. They begin to appear 6-7 years after planting. At the same time, the yield increases year by year, until peak values are reached. After 20 years, the fruit appears, sometimes more, sometimes less, but over time they become even smaller. Fruiting lasts a very long time: the trees produce apples for 50 years.
Frost resistance of the Korobovka apple tree
One of the advantages of the Korobovka variety is its high winter hardiness. Thanks to this, apple trees can be grown in different regions, including those with harsh winters.
Pollinators of the Korobovka apple tree
The Korobovka variety is self-sterile.Therefore, to obtain a harvest, it is necessary to plant varieties with similar flowering periods. For example, China Saninskaya, White filling and Papirovka, as well as Cinnamon striped, are suitable.
Where is it grown?
The Korobovka apple tree variety has good winter hardiness, so it can be grown not only in the middle zone, but also in the Urals and Siberian regions. In this case, it is better to vaccinate against columnar varieties. In frosty winters, the top of the plant may freeze, so it must be trimmed in the spring.
Due to its good winter hardiness, the Korobovka variety is grown in different regions
Disease resistance
The immunity of the Korobovka variety is satisfactory. The apple tree is moderately resistant to scab. May suffer from other fungal diseases, as well as from the codling moth. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out fungicide treatments in early spring. In summer, spray with insecticides as necessary. During the fruiting period, it is better to treat with biological preparations or folk remedies.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Korobovka apple tree has a very pleasant taste and aroma. Despite the fact that the fruits are small and not suitable for sale, they can be eaten fresh. You can also make delicious compote and jam from the fruit.
The harvest from an adult tree reaches 60-70 kg
Pros:
- very good taste;
- pronounced aroma;
- high productivity;
- early fruiting periods;
- culture lives for 50 years or more;
- undemanding to soil;
- satisfactory immunity to scab.
Minuses:
- apples are small, becoming even smaller over time;
- fruits cannot be stored for long periods of time;
- Pollinators are definitely needed on the site;
- not suitable for sale.
Planting an apple tree Korobovka
It is best to plant an apple tree of the Korobovka variety in the fall at the end of September in order to have time 3-4 weeks before the first frost. But in regions with frosty winters (Ural, Siberia), it is better to start work in the middle, second half of April, when there is no longer a threat of return frosts. Seedlings are purchased in advance from nurseries or from trusted suppliers. They must have healthy roots and branches.
The landing site must meet several criteria:
- well lit, without shadow;
- without high groundwater (distance to surface no more than 1.5 m);
- without stagnation of melt water, precipitation (not in the lowlands);
- as far as possible from rowan and large trees.
The Korobovka apple tree is not picky about soil, although it grows best on fertile and loose soils. On the eve of autumn or spring, it is worth preparing the soil - digging it up and adding a bucket of compost or humus per square meter. If there is a lot of clay in the ground, you should apply 3-5 kg of vermiculite, sand or compost to the same area.
During landing, proceed as follows:
- Mark holes at a distance of at least 4 m.
- Dig holes with a depth and diameter of 70-80 cm.
- Place a wooden peg in the center.
- Pour a layer of small stones.
- Then the seedling is placed and sprinkled with soil so that the root collar remains 7 cm above the ground.
- Water with settled water and lay mulch. If planting was done in autumn, the height of the protective layer should be at least 10 cm.
Care instructions
The Korobovka apple tree is not too demanding to care for. To obtain consistently high yields, you will need to regularly water and feed the trees. Seedlings are given water every seven days, adult trees - once every 2-3 weeks. The liquid must be settled.
The fruits ripen at the end of July
Fertilizing is applied in the spring directly over the melted snow - granules of urea or ammonium nitrate are scattered (20 g per 1 m2). During the budding period, the Korobovka apple tree is given superphosphate (40 g per 10 l) and potassium salt (25 g per 10 l). After harvesting, you can feed with wood ash 200 g per 10 liters.
After watering, be sure to loosen the soil and periodically remove weeds. To keep them as small as possible, in the summer straw, hay, pine needles and other types of mulch are placed in the tree trunk circle. In early spring, pruning is planned, as well as treatment with fungicides to prevent fungal infections.
Collection and storage
Korobovka apples are harvested from the last ten days of July to mid-August. Store the fruits in the basement, cellar or refrigerator. The place should be dark, cool (2-6 degrees Celsius) and moderately humid (70%).
The fruits can be placed in wooden boxes and kept for no more than three weeks. Since the harvests are often large, a significant part of the apples is used for processing - making compotes, jams and other products.
Conclusion
The Korobovka apple tree is one of the best varieties among small-fruited crops. The fruits are tasty and aromatic, the flesh is dense and grainy. Ripening begins already in the last ten days of July. There are usually a lot of apples, so they are mainly used for preparations.
Reviews from gardeners about the Korobovka apple tree
