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The Legend apple tree is an early winter variety that is suitable for growing not only in the south, but also in the middle zone, the Volga region and the Black Earth region. Produces very large apples, weighing up to 200 g. The taste is sweet, caramel, with a pleasant fruity aroma. The fruits are stored for up to 3-3.5 months, suitable for fresh consumption and processing.
History of selection
The Legend apple tree variety was bred in 1982. Several breeders took part in the work, the group was headed by Professor V.V. Kichina. We took two varieties as a basis - Lingonberry and Fuji (Japanese variety). The crossing work was successful - Legend surpassed both parent varieties in its characteristics.
The variety has spread widely in different regions of Russia and neighboring countries. The crop was included in the register of selection achievements in 2008.
Description and characteristics of the columnar apple tree Legend
The description of the Legend apple tree variety says that it is a semi-dwarf. The trees are small in size, the crown is compact, so it does not take up much space. This is especially important for growing on an industrial scale for the purpose of selling apples fresh and for processing.
Wood appearance
The tree is a semi-dwarf type, reaching a height of 3-4 meters. The crown is round, compact, very dense. The internodes of annual shoots are shorter than many other honeycombs. The shoots themselves are small, round in shape, gray in color. Located close to each other. The leaves of the Legend apple tree are dark green in color, ovoid in shape. The dimensions of the sheet plate are small, the surface is smooth.
Description of fruits
The semi-dwarf apple tree Legend produces very large fruits. Each apple weighs on average 180-200 g or more. It has the shape of a truncated cone, the ribbing is weakly expressed. A characteristic feature is that the fruits in the mass are uniform in size and shape.
The stalks are small in thickness, medium in size, saucers are moderately wide, the calyx is open or semi-open. The crater is deep, and slight rustiness is noticeable. The seeds are large, dark brown in color.
The Legend apple tree is low, with a compact, dense crown
The color of apples is greenish-yellow, with a red blush occupying a significant part of the surface. On many fruits of the Legend apple tree, dark red short stripes are noticeable, which are evenly distributed over the entire surface. There are also cover points. The skin is smooth, shines in the sun, and is quite dense, making the fruits shelf-stable and transportable.
The taste of Legend apples is very pleasant, with pronounced sweetness and caramel notes.Dessert type, universal purpose - for fresh consumption and for preparations. There is a pronounced fruity aroma. The pulp is cream-colored, granular in structure, very juicy, chipping type. In tasting tests, the Legend variety invariably receives high scores of at least 4.2 points out of 5.
When and how does it bloom
The Legend apple tree begins to bloom in mid-May. If the spring is cool, the first buds may appear in early June. The flowers are quite large, attractive, white in color with a greenish tint. The aroma is pronounced. The total flowering period is 7-14 days, slightly less in rainy weather.
Apple tree pollinators Legend
To maintain good yields, it is recommended to plant at least one pollinator. You can choose from varieties with similar flowering periods: Ranet, Bratchud, Charovnitsa, Alesya, Garlyanda, Rozhdestvenskoye, Imrus, Spartan.
Ripening time for the Legend apple tree
The Legend variety begins to bear fruit in September, less often by the beginning of October. They have time to ripen on the branch and do not fall off, so there is no need to rush into collecting them. But it’s also not worth letting it get to frost. During the collection period, it is important to carefully monitor the weather forecast. Fruiting is annual, apples are formed on ringlets. Yields may vary depending on weather conditions and care.
Productivity
The Legend apple tree can be grown at home, as well as in farm fields, as it is characterized by high yield. Fruiting begins at the age of two, with full production observed from the sixth or seventh year. From one mature tree, 90-100 kg are collected, which corresponds to 30-40 tons per hectare. Such indicators are associated with a large mass of fruits and high productivity of the crop itself.
Productivity reaches 100 kg per tree
Frost resistance of apple tree Legend
The frost resistance of the Legend apple tree is very high, although there is no data on cultivation in Siberia and the Urals. Drought resistance is average. Therefore, to obtain a good harvest, the tree periodically requires abundant watering.
Disease resistance
The Legend apple tree has good resistance to major diseases and pests. In this case, it may suffer from fungal infections and insects. Therefore, plantings are periodically inspected and, if necessary, treated with folk remedies, as well as special preparations.
Advantages and disadvantages
The dwarf apple tree Legend has several tangible advantages. It is valued for its very large apples with excellent taste. The fruits are juicy and aromatic. The yield is very high, which makes cultivation economically profitable.
The fruits are large and have an attractive presentation
Pros:
- pleasant sweet dessert-type taste;
- universal use;
- high productivity;
- the tree is compact and does not take up much space;
- good winter hardiness;
- long shelf life;
- transportability;
- immunity to diseases and pests.
Minuses:
- short lifespan (up to 15 years);
- drought resistance is average;
- the yield indicator may fluctuate depending on the season;
- the crown is dense and requires regular thinning pruning;
- The presence of pollinators is a must.
Planting an apple tree Legend
It is better to plan the planting of seedlings in the fall - from the end of September to the first ten days of October. Although the spring period is also allowed - the second half of April, the beginning of May. The place chosen is dry and well-lit, without close groundwater. The optimal soil type is light and fertile loam.
For planting, holes are dug with a diameter of 100 cm and a depth of 80 cm at intervals of 4 meters. Small stones are placed at the bottom, the seedling itself is placed in the middle, and fertile soil is sprinkled on top so that the root collar remains 5-7 cm above ground level. Then it is watered and mulched with straw, hay, and sawdust.
Apple tree care Legend
To grow a beautiful apple tree of the Legend variety in the Moscow region and other regions, as in the description and in the photo, summer residents in reviews recommend adhering to the following care rules:
- Watering - in the summer, an adult tree is given 4 buckets 2 times a month (if there is no rain or it is rare).
- Fertilizing - in April they give urea (30-40 g per tree), during budding and after 2-3 weeks - superphosphate (80 g) and potassium salt (40 sh).
- The soil is periodically loosened and weeded.
- In spring and autumn, formative, sanitary pruning is done.
Disease and pest control
The Legend apple tree has good immunity, but can suffer from the following diseases: powdery mildew, cytosporosis, scab.
Also dangerous are insects: codling moth, leaf roller, aphid, flower beetle, hawthorn.
For prevention, it is necessary to carry out treatments and whiten the trunk
To combat fungal diseases, it is necessary to do several preventive sprays in the fall (after harvest) and early spring. The following fungicides are used:
- "Bordeaux mixture";
- "Fundazol";
- "Ordan";
- "Skor";
- "Tattu" and others.
Insecticides are used to control insects:
- "Fitoverm";
- "Decis";
- "Match";
- "Vertimek";
- "Biotlin" and others.
At the fruiting stage, it is advisable to use biological preparations (Vertimek, Fitoverm, Respecta 25%, Fitosporin and others).
Collection and storage
Legend apples are harvested in September and October, allowing the fruits to ripen on the branches for as long as possible. They are placed in wooden boxes with small slits in two layers, with the stalks pointing down. Standard storage conditions:
- temperature 2-10 degrees Celsius;
- humidity 60-70%;
- darkness;
- periodic ventilation.
Apples are harvested in early October and stored until early January.
If you follow the described rules, the fruits are stored without loss of taste and presentation for 90-100 days. For example, if you lay apples in early October, they will last until the New Year. The fruits are inspected periodically. If signs of mold and rot are detected, the affected specimens are immediately separated from healthy ones.
Conclusion
The Legend apple tree is a fairly well-known variety, reviews of which are mostly positive. It is characterized by high productivity and large fruits. They ripen rather slowly, but have a very sweet taste and pleasant aroma. The crop can be grown both in personal plots and on farms for commercial purposes.
Reviews from gardeners about the columnar apple tree Legend
