Content
Apple tree Autumn Joy is a high-yielding Russian variety, successfully zoned in the regions of Central Russia. Yields 90-150 kg from one tree. Apple trees are distinguished by good winter hardiness and low maintenance requirements. Therefore, they can be grown not only in the middle zone, but also in the Urals and Siberia.
History of selection
Autumn Joy is an apple variety obtained by S.I. Isaev, an employee of the Michurin All-Russia Research Institute. Bred by crossing a hybrid from the Cinnamon Striped and Welsey series. The apple tree has been successfully tested in the Central region. The variety is mainly intended for cultivation in the middle zone.
Description of the apple tree variety Autumn Joy with photo
Autumn Joy is one of the popular varieties of apple trees, which are grown in almost all regions of Central Russia. The tree grows for several decades and produces a consistently high yield (up to 150 kg).
Appearance of fruit and tree
The tree is tall, reaching a height of 10-12 m (if not shaped). The crown is dense, reaching 2-2.5 m in diameter.The bark on the main shoot and on the skeletal branches is brown. Other shoots are dark red, quite thick, straight, and densely pubescent. Lentils are round or oval in shape, light yellow in color. The buds are gray and large in size.
The leaves of the apple tree variety Autumn Joy are small, noticeably elongated, and ovoid. The surface is wrinkled, the color is dark green. The edges are wavy, the plates are curved and pubescent. The petioles are thin and long.
The apples are medium-sized, usually weighing 115-135 g, round, with a noticeable flattening on top and bottom. The skin is smooth, golden-green in color, and when ripe it is bright red, with small stripes.
The fruits of the apple tree variety Autumn Joy are painted in golden-red colors
Lifespan
The lifespan of an apple tree of the Autumn Joy variety reaches 30-35 years. It is influenced by care, soil fertility, regular preventive treatments against pests, as well as weather conditions.
Taste
The pulp of the fruit is light and creamy. The density is medium, the consistency is tender, quite juicy. The taste is balanced, sweet and sour, dessert. The aroma is refreshing, spicy. There is an increased concentration of sugar. Tasting scores are quite high - about 4.3 points out of 5.0.
Percentage of main components (% of total mass):
- dry matter (total) – 12.5%;
- sugar – 10.3;
- acids – 0.4%.
Growing regions
The apple tree variety Autumn Joy is zoned in the regions of Central Russia - the Volga region, the Chernozem region, the middle zone, the south.Due to its high yield, it is cultivated in almost all horticultural farms.
Productivity
The apple tree of the Autumn Joy variety begins to bear fruit 4-5 years after planting. The yield is quite good - on average 90 kg per tree, and it reaches its peak fruiting at 20 years of age. At this age, subject to proper care and favorable weather, you can collect up to 150 kg of fruit from 1 apple tree.
Frost resistance
It has good winter hardiness, not inferior to Cinnamon Striped. In the middle zone and Altai, it can be grown using classical agricultural technology, like most other varieties.
In other regions, where there can be frosts of up to 30-40 degrees in winter, it is not recommended to grow this apple tree. But you can try to grow it by wrapping the branches and sprinkling the trunk circle with a large amount of humus every autumn. Another option is to make a rootstock for slanted (creeping) apple trees. It is convenient to cover them for the winter with agrofibre or burlap.
In the Urals and Siberia, shoots of the Autumn Joy variety can be grafted onto Slate apple trees
Resistance to diseases and pests
It has good resistance to scab, a fungal disease that leads to damage to the leaves and fruits of the apple tree. Immunity to other diseases and pests is satisfactory. Preventative treatments are required in spring and summer.
Flowering period and ripening period
It begins to bloom in May. The lower the temperature, the longer flowering lasts. The first fruits appear in late August - early September, peak ripening occurs in the first autumn days. Therefore, the apple tree variety Autumn Joy belongs to the early autumn variety.
Pollinators
Apple trees of this variety are pollinated only by insects.Therefore, there is no need to plant trees of cross varieties.
Transportation and keeping quality
The fruits have good shelf life - they retain their taste and presentation for 1-1.5 months after harvest (if stored in a cool, shaded place).
Even with minimal care, the Autumn Joy apple tree produces good harvests
Advantages and disadvantages
The Autumn Joy variety is quite well known to both amateur summer residents and professional farmers. Among its advantages the following advantages are often mentioned:
- Consistently high yield.
- Large fruits with good taste and presentation.
- Immunity to scab.
- High winter hardiness, the ability to grow in any region of Central Russia.
- Pleasant taste of apples.
- Good keeping quality and transportability of fruits.
- Does not require cross-pollinators - pollinated only by bees, butterflies and other insects.
There are also some disadvantages:
- Skeletal branches diverge at sharp angles.
- Branching is weak.
- The seedlings have fragile wood.
Landing
It is recommended to purchase seedlings only from nurseries or other trusted suppliers. Planting is carried out in spring or autumn. The optimal time is considered to be the end of March or the first half of April (in Altai and other regions of Siberia it can be a little later).
To place the seedling, choose an open, well-lit, possibly elevated place. The soil must have a neutral, slightly acidic or slightly alkaline reaction. On highly acidified soil, the Autumn Joy apple tree grows poorly. Therefore, it is advisable to neutralize the soil with slaked lime in an amount of 100 g per 1 m2.
The landing algorithm is standard:
- The area is cleared and dug up.
- Prepare a planting hole 60 cm deep and 1 m wide.
- Place rotted manure, 2 tablespoons of superphosphate and potassium salt (or complex mineral fertilizer) on the bottom.
- Fill the hole with water (1-2 buckets) and wait 10-15 days.
- The apple tree seedling is placed in a bucket of water at room temperature a day before planting. First you need to trim off all damaged, broken roots.
- Then they are planted in the center of the hole, covered with earth, and compacted.
- The tree trunk circle is mulched with peat, straw and other available materials.
Diagram of the planting hole and trunk circle
Growing and care
In the future, caring for the apple tree is standard:
- Water a young seedling regularly - 2-3 times a month, an adult tree - only during drought (3-4 buckets of water every 2 weeks).
- It is not necessary to fertilize in the first 3 years. At the beginning of summer, after the ovaries fall off, you can give complex mineral fertilizer. In July, organic matter is used - chicken droppings or slurry.
- At the beginning of June, it is necessary to spray with fungicides and insecticides. Secondary processing - as needed.
- In the fall, at the end of September, the trunk is whitened and the tree trunk is saturated with superphosphates and potassium salt. In Siberia and the Urals, trees (young seedlings) must be covered.
- Pruning of the Autumn Joy apple tree is carried out the next season after planting. The crown is formed annually in early spring. Usually small, strongly protruding branches are shortened by a quarter, due to which side shoots develop well.
When pruning the Autumn Joy apple tree, only the smallest (outermost) shoots are cut off
Collection and storage
The fruits of the Autumn Joy apple tree are harvested from late summer to mid-autumn, depending on weather conditions.Maturity is determined by appearance (rich golden color with red stripes and strokes). They also check the condition of the skin - you need to press it well. If the dent does not form, you need to wait a few more days. If the skin breaks easily, this is a clear sign of overripeness: such apples can be used to make jam.
Only undamaged fruits can be stored. Each apple is wrapped in paper and kept at temperatures up to +5 ° C, in a dark place with high humidity up to 90%. If the apples are damaged, they are sent for processing.
Conclusion
Apple tree Autumn Joy is a good option for beginning gardeners. This is an undemanding tree that is easy to grow in almost any area. It is characterized by high winter hardiness, good immunity and stable yields. The fruits are large and tasty, have a pleasant aroma.
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