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When forming a garden, it is important to choose the right varieties of apple trees. So that not only the seedlings take root well and develop, but also the harvest pleases the summer residents. Apple trees of the Kovalenkovskoe variety are an excellent choice for lovers of truly sweet fruits.
Description of the variety
The Kovalenkovskoe tree is a medium-sized and fast-growing species. The crown forms a dense round shape (the so-called reverse pyramidal type). Powerful skeletal branches grow slightly curved. The brown bark of the trunk and main branches has a slight gloss. Dark red shoots are located quite compactly. The leaves grow medium-sized and create a dense foliage on the crown.
The Kovalenkovskoe apple tree blooms early. The inflorescence is formed from five large white flowers.
The fruits of the Kovalenkovskoye apple tree ripen large in size (some weigh approximately 210 g) and have a regular round shape (as in the photo).
A distinctive feature of the color is a dark red blush that covers almost the entire surface of the fruit. An interesting feature of the Kovalenkovskoye variety is that in areas of excellent illumination, fruits with a bright and rich range of colors ripen, but in the middle of the crown and near the trunk, the apples are no longer so elegant.
The white pulp of the Kovalenkovskoye apple has a fine-grained and juicy structure. The taste of the fruit can be considered absolutely sweet, as there is not even a slight hint of sourness. The fruits are excellent for consumption fresh and in processed form (jam, juice, marmalade, preserves).
The advantages of the Kovalenkovskoe variety include:
- early fruiting - ripe fruits begin to please gardeners after two to three years;
- stable yield;
- excellent frost resistance;
- good drought resistance;
- The Kovalenkovskoe apple tree is moderately affected by diseases.
Some disadvantages are: the extended harvest period, the variety's predisposition to thickening the crown and the short shelf life of the fruit.
Growing an apple tree
Well-lit areas, protected from strong and harsh winds, are suitable for growing apple trees of the Kovalenkovskoye variety. This variety prefers loamy soils, and the soil should be sufficiently moist and drained.
Planting seedlings
As a rule, seedlings can be planted in the spring, when the soil has thawed and warmed up, or in the fall (several weeks before frost). The planting hole is dug in advance. Its parameters are determined by the size of the roots of the Kovalenkovskoe seedling, but not less than 0.7-0.9 m in diameter. And the depth should be 10 cm greater than the length of the root.
Some gardeners recommend planting in the fall so that the Kovalenkovskoye apple tree has time to take root. And then in the spring fresh shoots appear.But this recommendation applies to regions where there are no severe frosts, otherwise the seedling of the Kovalenkovskoe variety may not take root in severe cold.
Planting stages:
- A drainage layer is laid at the bottom of the planting hole (gravel or expanded clay can be used). A stake is driven in, to which the seedling is then tied.
- Pour out two buckets of nutrient mixture (from complex fertilizer, compost). Pour a layer of fertile soil.
- The Kovalenkovskoe apple tree seedling is placed in the center of the hole, the roots are placed freely. The hole is filled with earth.
A hole is formed around the trunk, the soil is watered abundantly, and the Kovalenkovskoe apple tree is tied to a support.
Watering and fertilizing
Usually during the season it is necessary to water the Kovalenkovskoye apple tree at least three times. This will be enough for the tree to fully grow, provided that the water wets the soil to a depth of at least 70-80 cm. But it is also important to take into account climatic conditions and soil quality.
The trees are watered for the first time during the flowering period. The next time watering is carried out during the ripening of Kovalenkovskoe apples (approximately the end of June - beginning of July). It is recommended to water the apple tree for the third time on the eve of frost (at the end of October). Autumn watering will protect the tree's roots from frost and help the Kovalenkovskoe apple tree to overwinter.
The watering rate is determined by the age of the tree. For a seedling, 4-5 buckets per watering is enough, and an already mature tree will require at least 7-10 buckets per square meter of the trunk circle. And during the ripening of the crop, this norm increases even more.
In order for the soil in the tree trunk to remain loose, the soil must be regularly cleared of weed and loosen.Such measures also help improve the breathability of the ground.
To fertilize the soil in the spring, use nitrogenous fertilizers at the rate of 3-6 g per square meter of the trunk circle of the Kovalenkovskoe apple tree.
At the beginning of July (as soon as the excess ovary falls off), a nitrogen-potassium mixture is added. This feeding will promote the growth of the remaining ovary of the Kovalenkovskoye apple tree.
And in the fall you can use phosphorus, potassium or organic additives. Fertilizers are applied when digging the soil in September.
Apple tree pruning
Thanks to regular pruning of branches, it is possible to form a beautiful crown and stimulate the proper development of the Kovalenkovskoye apple tree, making harvesting easier.
Basic pruning techniques:
- shortening - only part of the branch is cut off;
- cutting - the branch is cut off completely.
The first stage of work is crown thinning. In this case, the center of the tree is exposed, as the upper part of the trunk (with branches) is cut off. Thanks to this technique, the entire crown is illuminated and the height of the Kovalenkovskoe apple tree is reduced.
Next they work with particularly dense areas. Moreover, unnecessary large branches are removed first. To avoid the formation of stumps, the cut is made along the bead ring.
It must be borne in mind that pruning the Kovalenkovskoe apple tree in order to form a crown is carried out in the spring, and it is recommended to remove damaged and old branches in the fall.
Harvest
According to the ripening period of apples, the Kovalenkovskoe variety is classified as late. The first fruits can be picked in the second half of August. The ripening period cannot be considered simultaneous, so the harvest is somewhat extended over time. And in some regions (Moscow region), the Kovalenkovskoe apple tree can generally be classified as a late autumn variety, since ripe fruits begin to be collected in the second half of September. But it’s convenient that the fruits don’t fall off and stay firmly on the tree.
Apples do not have a long shelf life: in a cool room the fruits can be stored for about a month, and in the refrigerator the fruits last for about two months. It is noteworthy that the most pronounced flavor notes appear in fruits that have been stored for at least two weeks.
Preventative treatment
The Kovalenkovskoye apple tree variety is characterized by average disease resistance. Therefore, it is important to carry out preventive measures in the form of spraying. In the spring, trees and soil are treated with Fitosporin-M solution or preparations based on karbofos to prevent infection with fungal diseases. Treatment must be carried out in dry weather, otherwise rain will wash off the composition. The same preparations can be used before flowering and after harvesting.
The apple tree of the Kovalenkovskoye variety has already fallen in love with many summer residents for its pleasant sweet taste and elegant appearance of the fruit.
