Content
The taste of Striefel apples has been familiar to many of us since childhood. And few people know that these native, juicy and aromatic apples were first bred in Holland, where they received the official name “Streifling”. Over time, the variety was introduced to the Baltic states, and then spread throughout the post-Soviet space. Today, many gardeners grow these apples on their plots and call them autumn striped apples. So, why are Striefel apples so popular, and why hasn’t a worthy replacement been found for this variety over the years? The answers to these questions lie in the characteristics of the apples and the tree themselves. In our article we will try to offer a photo, description of the Striefel apple tree and reviews about it.
Description of the variety
There are a huge number of different varieties of apple trees, but many domestic gardeners prefer the “Strifel” variety. These apples have excellent external and taste characteristics. Along with the high quality of the fruit, the tree itself is also unique. We will try to describe its features and characteristics in as much detail as possible further in the section.
Description of the fruit tree
If there is a huge, powerful apple tree with spreading strong branches in the garden, then we can say with confidence that it is a “Strifel”. Its height can reach 8-9 m. This giant with a lush crown can cover a huge territory, displacing other trees and shrubs.
Apple trees of the “Strifel” variety are unpretentious and resistant to various climatic conditions. They can be found in the southern regions and northern Siberia. Fruit trees tolerate the lowest winter temperatures remarkably well. And even if in some cases the crown is damaged, its complete regeneration is observed after 2-3 years.
Striefel apple trees actively grow greenery and young shoots throughout the entire growing season. They need to be thinned out as the fruit tree grows. Removing excess vegetation will increase the yield of the apple tree and will be an excellent preventative measure to prevent the development of various diseases.
Mature branches of the Striefel apple tree are strong and drooping at the ends. They reliably hold the apple harvest, which sometimes weighs up to 430 kg. The bark of the fruit tree is dark with pronounced lentils, slightly glossy. The buds of the “Strifel” apple tree are gray and elongated. The stalk of apples is long.
The leaves of "Strifel" are round and wrinkled. The veins clearly stand out on them. The leaf blades are covered with a characteristic fluff and curl inward. They are most densely located at the top of the shoot.
The apple tree variety “Strifel” always blooms profusely with large white or slightly pink flowers. The first fruiting occurs only in trees aged 7-8 years.
Characteristics of apples
Having planted "Strifel", it is necessary to properly form the crown and take care of the tree for several years before you can taste a tasty, ripe apple. The first harvest of several apples can be obtained 4-5 years after planting. Apples ripen in September. The average fruit weight varies from 80 to 100 g.
The apple of the “Strifel” variety itself has a regular round, sometimes slightly ribbed shape. Its color is predominantly green-yellow, but it is not without reason that the “Strifel” is popularly called the autumn striped apple. Indeed, along its entire surface you can see longitudinal, rather bright, scarlet and red stripes. They are the hallmark of the Striefel variety. You can see photos of apples in the section.
The taste of apples is wonderful: the light yellow flesh is juicy and sweet. It contains about 10% sugar and only 1% acid. Striefel apples, due to their rich microelement composition, are extremely healthy. They contain 12% pectin and a large amount of useful substances. Thus, 100 g of Striefel apples contain about 130 mg of vitamins and a lot of fiber.
It’s not for nothing that the huge “Strifel” tree will take up space on the site: apples ripen in large quantities on its huge branches, with a total yield of up to 300-400 kg. Of course, in the early stages of cultivation one cannot expect such a yield, so in the first years the gardener must give the fruit tree care and attention in exchange for the harvest of future years.
Disease resistance
Striefel apples are highly resistant to freezing, but, unfortunately, are susceptible to various fungal and viral diseases. The most malicious enemy for “Strifel” is scab. This fungal disease can affect fruits and spoil their appearance with numerous brown spots. To combat scab and other fungal diseases, it is necessary to regularly carry out sanitary pruning of trees and treat them with folk remedies or chemicals.
Transportation and storage
Having collected 300-400 kg of apples, it is unlikely that you will be able to quickly eat or process them. It will also not be possible to store Striefel apples for a long time without some preparation. This can result in the fruit rotting quickly. Therefore, if you decide to store apples fresh, then you need to remember some rules:
- You shouldn’t wait until the apples are completely ripe and fall from the tree. Pawn on storage You need slightly unripe fruit. They should be collected in early September by carefully picking them from the branch.
- “Strifel” should be stored in a wooden box in a dry, cool room with good ventilation.
- Apples with signs of disease or mechanical damage cannot be stored.
- During storage, it is necessary to regularly inspect the fruit and remove rotting specimens.
Thus, having collected a good harvest of Striefel apples, you should take care of the speedy processing of the fruit or their sale. Only the highest quality, slightly unripe apples should be stored for storage.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
“Strifel” is a rather old variety that has imperfect genetics. It is quite difficult for it to “compete” with modern varieties of apples, since it is not highly resistant to diseases, and its fruits cannot be stored for a long time. But at the same time, the popularity of the variety is the best proof that “Strifel” is unique and in demand due to its many advantages, which include:
- record high yield;
- excellent unique taste of apples;
- high resistance of fruit trees to freezing;
- good transportability of fruits;
- high taste qualities of fruits after processing.
Having decided to grow “Strifel” on your plot, you need to clearly understand its advantages and disadvantages and think in advance about how to use the huge apple harvest.
Important growing rules
It is preferable to plant a fruit tree in the spring for better survival. Before planting "Strifel", it is necessary to provide a place where this large plant will not shade important objects on the site or interfere with other fruit trees. The soil for “Strifel” should preferably be loamy or chernozem. For planting, you should make a large, spacious hole and prepare nutritious soil containing minerals and organic matter.
After planting and throughout the entire growing period, “Strifel” must be watered regularly and abundantly. In hot, dry times for every 1 m2 the trunk circle should be about 80-100 liters.water. To feed mature trees, 0.5 tbsp should be applied to the specified area. urea. Copper sulfate and boric acid can also be used as fertilizer in June. At the end of the fruiting period, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be added to the soil, which will help prepare the apple tree for winter and improve the taste of the fruit.
Every year, in late autumn or early spring, you need to thin out the young shoots on the apple tree. This will help improve the health of the plant. After 20-30 years of growing “Strifel”, as a rule, there is a decrease in fruiting. In this case, it is recommended to carry out deep pruning of the trees to completely rejuvenate the apple tree. Information on how to do this correctly can be found in the video:
Conclusion
It is very easy to get a good harvest of apples by growing the Striefel variety. During the season, many fruits can be used both for fresh consumption and for processing and sale. A tree of this variety can feed any family with healthy and tasty fruits. A generous harvest of Striefel apples will be a good thank you to the gardener for his care and concern.
