Content
The Pobeda (Chernenko) apple tree variety is an old variety of Soviet selection, the result of many years of work by the scientist S. F. Chernenko, who is the author of the famous “Apple Calendar”. Ripe fruits are characterized by a greenish-yellow color. When left to rest, a characteristic yellowness appears on the sides of the apples, as a result the color transforms into creamy green.
On the sunny side, a noticeable “tan” appears on the apples.
Description of the Pobeda apple tree variety with photo
The winter apple variety Pobeda has been time-tested and has been very popular among private breeders and on an industrial scale for more than 90 years. It begins to bear fruit actively and abundantly at 9-10 years of age. The yield of the crop is impressive, more than 100-110 kg of fruit from one tree.
Some 10-year-old trees can produce maximum yields - up to 100-110 kg
History of selection
The popular winter apple variety Pobeda was bred in 1927 by the famous breeder S. F. Chernenko.The basis is taken from two of the most successful varieties: “Antonovka ordinary” and “London pepin”. The Pobeda (Chernenko) sample was bred specifically for the Central Black Earth regions of Russia.
The winter apple variety Pobeda (Chernenko) is not included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of Russia
Appearance of fruit and tree
The tree and fruits of the Pobeda winter apple variety are characterized by the following features:
- crown height - up to 5-6 m;
- crown width - up to 7 m;
- crown shape - round, spherical, hemispherical;
- the trunk is strong;
- location of branches - along the entire perimeter of the crown;
- skeletal branches with a large number of ringlets;
- bark - brown (on shoots - greenish with a bluish coating);
- the shape of the leaves is ovoid, oblong, medium in size, slightly twisted with raised edges;
- the presence of pubescence on the lower part of the leaves;
- leaf color is rich green;
- average fetal weight - 200-260 g;
- the shape of the fruit is conical, flat-round;
- the color of the fruit is greenish-yellow without blush (greenish-cream when lying down);
- the color of the pulp is white, with a cream tint;
- pulp characteristics - juicy, loose;
- the taste of the pulp is dessert, sweet and sour;
- The structure of the skin is smooth, dense, of medium thickness with rounded inclusions of white color.
Some fruits of Pobeda apples can reach a weight of 400 g
Lifespan
The lifespan of the Pobeda (Chernenko) apple tree is about 35 years. Abundant fruiting occurs at 10 years of age.
The mature plant is a spreading, beautiful tree.
Taste
The taste characteristics of the Pobeda apple variety can be described as dessert, sweet and sour.Thanks to their classic taste, ripe apples of this variety are successfully eaten fresh and used for making juices, compotes, preserves, and jams.
Tasting assessment of Pobeda (Chernenko) apples - 4.2 points out of a possible 5
Growing regions
At the beginning of the 20th century, apple trees of the Pobeda variety were planted in Belarus, some regions of Ukraine, as well as in the Voronezh, Kursk, Oryol and Tula regions of Russia. Currently, the crop is cultivated with great success in the south and in the Central Black Earth region of the Russian Federation.
Since the plant is characterized by an average level of cold and winter hardiness, non-Black Earth regions are unsuitable for growing Pobeda apple trees.
To grow a Pobeda apple tree in the Non-Black Earth Region, you should provide the crop with special care during the cold season
Productivity
The yield of adult plants (more than 10 years old) of the Pobeda variety is about 105-110 kg of apples per tree. The abundance of fruiting depends on age:
- does not bear fruit until 6 years of age;
- from a 10-year-old tree you can collect up to 100 kg of fruit;
- from 12-15 year old apple trees you can harvest up to 105-110 kg.
Some gardeners noted record harvests from one apple tree - 264 kg of fruit
Frost resistance
Despite many advantages, the frost resistance of Pobeda apple trees is not high (above the average level). Plants can grow and bear fruit in the southern and central regions of Russia. To grow in the northern regions of the Russian Federation, plants require additional care in winter (effective shelter).
The crop is not endowed with the ability to regenerate tissue, so frozen shoots take a long time to recover and have difficulty withstanding harsh winters
Resistance to diseases and pests
The main goal pursued by breeder S.F. Chernenko when developing the Pobeda variety was resistance to scab. Plants of this variety are practically not affected by scab, however, during rainy summer periods there is a risk of infection with this disease. Scab appears as a brown coating on the leaves and black-gray spots on the fruits.
Modern fungicides are suitable for treating apple trees against scab.
Fruit rot, or moniliosis, also affects Pobeda apple trees in late summer. Fruit rot manifests itself as yellow spots on the fruits, which become unfit for consumption. Plants are sprayed with complex preparations.
To get rid of fruit rot, you need to spray the plants twice: the first time when foliage appears, the second time after flowering ends.
Powdery mildew affects all parts of plants. The leaves curl, dry out, and fall off. To combat the disease, fungicides, copper oxychloride, copper sulfate and liquid soap are used.
In order not to provoke infection with powdery mildew, you should review the watering regime
In addition, the apple tree can be attacked by codling moths, moths, cutworms, moths, leaf rollers, aphids, and ants. Modern universal insecticides can be used as a preventive measure.
Flowering period and ripening period
The flowering period for apple trees of the late winter variety Pobeda (Chernenko) is May. The fruits reach harvest maturity at the end of September or early October. Experts note that the taste qualities of apples are revealed with maximum strength only at the end of October or at the beginning of November. This period is called the “consumer maturity” stage.
Apples of this variety can be stored for a long time: until March-April
Pollinators
The late winter variety of apple trees Pobeda (Chernenko) is considered partially self-fertile, since it does not necessarily require the presence of pollinating varieties near the crop. Experienced flower growers agree that the abundance of fruiting and the quality of the taste characteristics of the fruit depend on the presence in one area of apple trees of such varieties as Belyi Naliv, Medunitsa, Grushovka Moskovskaya, Quinti.
The planting scheme should ensure a 6-meter distance between pollinated trees
Transportation and keeping quality
Large-fruited Pobeda (Chernenko) apples are characterized by high commercial qualities and versatility of use. Apples are picked on sunny, fine days, sorted, and placed in clean boxes for subsequent transportation. The ripe fruits of the late winter Pobeda apple tree are able to retain ideal taste and consumer qualities when stored until April.
Thanks to their fairly strong peel, Pobeda (Chernenko) apples can easily withstand long-distance transportation by various modes of transport.
Advantages and disadvantages
Among the disadvantages of the Pobeda apple tree variety are:
- a fairly high percentage of rotting of fruits infected with the codling moth;
- susceptibility to fruit rot infection;
- large tree sizes (not suitable for small areas);
- late fruiting (starting from 10 years of age);
- tendency for apples to fall off when ripe.
The advantages of this variety add up to a whole range of advantages:
- delicious, refreshing, thirst-quenching dessert taste with a sweet and sour aftertaste;
- large sizes of fruits endowed with good commercial qualities;
- high productivity;
- sufficient resistance to scab;
- long shelf life of the crop.
Apple trees of the late winter variety Pobeda are the most resistant to scab.
Landing
The timing of planting apple tree seedlings of the Pobeda variety may differ, depending on the climatic conditions of the region:
- in the southern regions, planting is carried out in the fall, presumably 1 month before the onset of the first frost;
- in the central regions, planting is carried out in the spring, before the buds open.
When choosing a place to place a tree, you must give preference to flat, sunny places, protected from the wind. The groundwater level should not be higher than 2-2.5 m. In the case of close groundwater, broken brick or expanded clay (a layer of up to 15 cm) is placed in the hole for placing apple tree seedlings to create a drainage effect.
A seedling of the Pobeda (Chernenko) apple tree should be 1-2 years old, even, tall, straight, with a thick trunk, with pronounced geniculation. The diameter of the trunk at the base of the trunk is up to 2.5 cm, the diameter of the trunk under the crown is up to 1.7 cm. The bark and root system of seedlings should not contain signs of damage by pests or diseases.
It is best to purchase 1-2 year old apple tree seedlings from specialized nurseries
Apple tree planting algorithm:
- A few weeks before the expected time of planting seedlings in open ground, planting holes are dug up to 60 cm wide and up to 45 cm deep.
- The soil removed from the pit is divided into 2 parts (surface and low-lying layers) and mixed with compost, lime, superphosphate and potassium chloride.
- A drainage made of expanded clay or broken brick is placed at the bottom of the planting hole.
- A supporting wooden stake is driven into the center of the hole.
- The soil around the seedling is compacted.
- The seedlings are watered abundantly, at the rate of up to 10 liters of water per plant.
The hole is filled with the prepared soil mixture to ½ size.
Growing and care
Caring for a Pobeda apple tree is the implementation of generally accepted complex measures related to watering, fertilizing, sanitary pruning and pest control.
During the growing season, watering young apple trees (up to 5 years of age) should be regular and quite abundant (6-7 times per season). Starting from the age of 5, apple trees need more modest watering (3-4 times per season).
To water each apple tree you need up to 2 liters of water
Fertilizers are especially necessary for young apple trees of the Pobeda variety in the spring. These can be nitrogen-containing preparations, urea solution, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. Older trees need organic matter. Compost used to border the tree trunk at the end of autumn before wintering is suitable.
Spraying with liquid mineral complexes containing phosphorus, calcium, potassium helps improve the taste of apples
Sanitary pruning and crown formation are mandatory spring activities, during which broken, dried, frozen branches and non-fruit-bearing shoots are removed, lichen and moss growths on the bark are eliminated, and the trunk is whitened.
Removing non-fruiting shoots in early spring will allow the apple tree to direct all its energy to fruit formation
Collection and storage
Harvesting from late winter Pobeda (Chernenko) apple trees is carried out at the end of September or at the beginning of October, in sunny weather.
Under favorable conditions, apples retain their taste until March-April. The ideal conditions for storing crops are a dark, cool room without sudden temperature changes and without exposure to high air humidity.
The average shelf life of Pobeda apples is 3 months.
Conclusion
Giving preference to newfangled trends in domestic and foreign selection, gardeners often forget classic varieties that can surprise and delight with the decorative properties of trees, the taste of fruits and record yields. The Pobeda apple tree variety (1927), bred by the famous breeder S. F. Chernenko, is worthy of the attention of modern gardeners.
Reviews
I have two trunks of the Pobeda Chernenko apple tree. One is grafted onto the Anise Gray apple tree (it began to bear fruit in the 10th year), the second on the Cinnamon apple tree (fruits appeared in the 6th year). The garden is located in Yoshkar-Ola, Mari El Republic. I took the scions from two of my friends, who have been growing these apple trees for about 25 years. The tree winters well (our climate is by no means a black earth zone), and is not affected by scab. Apples, after 2 months of storage in the basement, are superior in taste to the famous Antonovka and are stored very well until March. It is not at all clear why this apple tree variety is not included in the State Register of the Russian Federation.