Apple tree variety Modi: botanical description and characteristics of the variety, agricultural technology for planting and care, photo

Gardening » Apple tree

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Kira Stoletova

The Modi apple tree is a favorite, which, despite its short period of existence, has become widespread and universally loved by gardeners. It has a large number of advantages that it borrowed from its ancestors, and its decorative appearance when flowering makes it also a decoration for the spring garden.

Growing Modi apple tree

Description, photo

Modi is a winter variety of apple tree. The fruit crop was developed not so long ago - in 1982 by the Italian selection of the consortium of fruit nurseries CIV by crossing the well-known varieties Gala and Liberty.

Thanks to its characteristics, the apple tree has gained great popularity not only in its homeland, but also in other countries.

The variety is characterized by high frost resistance, immunity to fungal diseases and high yield.

The apples of this fruit crop have very good taste and contain a large amount of nutrients and vitamins, which makes them very valuable in retail trade and processing.

Apple tree Modi.

You can see what the Modi apple tree looks like in more detail in the video below:

additional characteristics

Advantages and disadvantages

The apple tree has many advantages compared to other fruit crops.

The positive qualities of the Modi variety include the following indicators:

Good yield;
High transportability;
Long period of storage of fruits;
Frost resistance;
Immunity to scab and powdery mildew.

The variety also has good resistance to aphids.

No significant deficiencies were identified in the fruit crop.

Dimensions of an adult tree

Medium sized apple tree . The cone-shaped crown is quite wide in size.

Annual growth

no more than 8 cm every year

The annual growth is no more than 8 cm.

Frequency of fruiting

The most important advantages of the variety include annual regular fruiting without a decline in yield even in the most unfavorable years.

Productivity

In garden plots, more than 150 quintals of fruits are harvested from one hectare; accordingly, the yield of one Modi apple tree will be about 50 kg.

The apple tree yield reaches 50 kg.

Tasting assessment

Large apples 180 – 230 gr. elongated in shape, with thick skin, light green in color, with a red blush over the entire surface. The pulp is dense, crispy, sweet and sour taste, very juicy. The tasting assessment of consumer qualities is estimated at - 4.8 points.

Apples Modi.

Winter hardiness

The variety is quite frost-resistant , has good resistance to spring frosts and sub-zero temperatures of 35 degrees. Thanks to these qualities, the tree does not freeze and the fruit buds quickly awaken from hibernation.

Immunity to scab and other diseases

Apple trees are rarely damaged by diseases such as scab and powdery mildew. Has good resistance to aphids.

Without proper care and chemical treatments, apple trees develop fruit rot and rust on the leaves.

Fruit rot.

Leaf rust.

Watch a video about fighting fruit rot:

And also a video about methods of combating leaf rust:

Description of the Modi apple tree variety

Apple trees of this variety are quickly gaining fans due to their unusual qualities, attractive appearance, and high levels of transportability. Because of the last point, they can be transported to any corner of the world without fear of losing the harvest, which is especially valued in the market. The apple trees themselves are winter-hardy, regularly produce consistently high yields, and most importantly, have stable immunity to fungal apple infections. With general indicators of crown compactness, and therefore high yield per hectare, the variety is recommended for growing in intensive commercial gardens, but such a tree will also be very useful in your own garden plot.

Apples: what it looks like

The fruits of this variety are large or even larger than large.
Their average weight ranges from 220-250 grams, but the maximum fruit can reach 280-300 grams. Their shape is predominantly regular, round or round-conical, it is symmetrical, the ribbing is not clearly expressed, but is sometimes noticeable. The funnel is medium in size and may be slightly rusty. The skin is smooth, shiny, glossy, dense, but not thick; sometimes a slight oily coating can be felt on the surface. Its main color is green, becoming yellow as it ripens, but it can hardly be seen under the integumentary blush. It is very dense, uniform, deep red or bright red in color, and occupies more than 95-98% of the surface of the fruit during the period of removable maturity. Subcutaneous dots are light, gray-green, small, numerous, clearly visible on the blush. The chemical composition is most easily assessed by the following indicators:

P-active substances (catechins) – 320 milligrams.
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) – 14.3 milligrams.
Total sugars (fructose) – 12.1%.
Pectins (fiber) – 9.6%.
Titratable acids – 0.47%.

The pulp is dense, fine-grained, crispy, slightly prickly, but more tender, of a pleasant consistency, extremely juicy. It has a strong characteristic aroma, the taste is considered dessert, harmonious, balanced, sweet and sour, but more inclined to sweetness with sourness in the aftertaste. Professional tasters give these apples 4.8 points out of 5 for taste and appearance.

Apple tree Modi: characteristics

Crown and root system

The tree is considered medium-sized. It can grow to a maximum height of approximately 3.5-4 meters , but owners usually limit it to 2.5-3 meters for ease of harvesting and care.
It would be logical to call Modi a natural (natural) semi-dwarf. The crown has a pronounced pyramidal or cone-shaped shape, which makes shaping much easier; over the years it can become broadly oval. The runs are strong, of medium thickness, long, fruiting is concentrated on the ringlets. The leaves are large, dense, slightly elongated, glossy, shiny, with delicate nerves. They are short-pointed, finely crenate, and the edges can be folded into a boat. They are rich green in color, can be dark green or emerald, and have slight pubescence on the reverse side. The root system is superficial, branched, and may or may not have a central core, depending on the rootstock.

Productivity and pollination

The variety is classified as high-yielding, which is unusual for such a compact size tree.

From one trunk you can collect 65-80 kilograms of very tasty and beautiful apples per season. Thus, with a small occupied area, one hectare of an intensive garden will produce approximately 200-220 centners of fruit.

Modi is considered completely self-fertile, that is, to produce apples it does not need other varieties with a suitable flowering period. However, gardeners recommend planting these apple trees interspersed to maximize fertility. It also doesn’t hurt to spray the trees with sugar or honey syrup during the flowering period.

Winter hardiness and disease resistance

The apple tree has very good resistance to frost, but it does not really like sudden changes in temperature. Modi can tolerate -25-27°C without any problems and bear fruit as before, if they last no more than 3-4 weeks in a row. In any case, it doesn’t hurt to properly protect the trees from frost for the winter; this will protect them from death during the cold period.

The variety has immune protection against scab, powdery mildew and some other fungal infections. Therefore, there is no need to worry about getting sick from them. The plant is not very afraid of attacks from aphids and other insects, but it is better to treat it with insecticides regularly and in a timely manner. Other diseases abundantly affect the apple tree, so prevention will not hurt.

Rootstocks and subspecies

There are no subspecies or variants of the Modi variety. Therefore, if the seller offers you some kind of Modi early or Modi red, it is better to refuse the purchase. Apple trees are grown on a wide variety of rootstocks, which is why the compactness, shape and spreading of the crown and root system can vary.

Reviews

Stepan. Vologda Region. “The Modi variety ended up in my garden plot quite by accident.
A neighbor bought two seedlings and gave one to me in a friendly manner. For several years now, these two apple trees have been growing across the fence from each other and every year they delight us with their fruits. The apples are of excellent taste and commercial quality and are among the very first to be sold at the market. And at home we eat them for quite a long time, almost until spring. My wife makes good preserves and preserves from them.”

Julia. Ivanovo. “I am a lover of all varieties of apple trees, but I give the greatest preference to the Modi variety. These are very beautiful, tasty fruits, with very aromatic and juicy pulp. I don’t know why, but it’s very difficult to find them on the shelves of our stores.”

Catherine. Krasnodar region. “Having planted the Modi apple tree on my plot, I have not regretted my choice of this variety. But this is not surprising, because before purchasing I spent a long time studying the photo and description of the variety. The tree is unpretentious in care, adapts well to weather conditions, and is not susceptible to fungal diseases and aphids. The variety is quite high-yielding, which allows not only our family, but also our neighbors to eat the fruits fresh until May. The apples are large, sweet and sour taste, juicy and dense.”

Features of culture

Modi, a hybrid of Liberty and Gala varieties, is a winter variety. The apple tree itself is medium in size with a wide, cone-shaped crown. The flowering period occurs in late spring. At the same time, the flowers are quite resistant to spring frosts.

Modi's description of apples notes that the fruits set easily and grow quite large. The average weight of one fruit is about 200 grams. The apple is slightly elongated, has a rounded shape and is slightly truncated at the bottom. Notable for its bright coloring: the apples are uniformly colored in a rich red color.

The pulp of the fruit is very dense and juicy, which makes the variety suitable for making juice. The characteristic taste is sweet and sour. Large white subcutaneous dots can be observed on the pulp. The dense, shiny skin of apples protects them well and makes transportation much easier.

The variety was developed in 1982 in Italy, where Modi apples are still grown to this day. But over time, the culture spread throughout Europe, and relatively recently it began to be successfully grown in Russia.

With proper planting, the Modi apple tree variety will bear fruit and develop every year.

Tree planting can be done in autumn or spring. The first option is suitable for planting a crop with cuttings on a site, followed by wrapping or seeds for replanting the plant in open ground.

For growing the Modi apple tree, a plain that receives sufficient sunlight is suitable. There may be some shade in place that will lightly cover the tree for several hours a day. The site must be protected from strong gusts of wind and drafts. The suitable groundwater level is 2-3 meters.

Before planting the cuttings, you need to dig holes approximately 80 centimeters deep and wide. After this, they need to be fertilized using a solution of water and bird droppings. This procedure should be carried out 1-1.5 months before planting.

When purchasing seedlings, you need to pay attention to their general condition; cuttings should not contain:

spots;
damage to the base or roots;
growths;
plaque;
traces of rotting.

1-2 hours before planting the plant, you need to soak the root system in a special growth stimulator solution.

READ MORE: Bergenia: medicinal properties and contraindications

To properly plant an apple tree cutting, you need to follow this procedure:

Mix fertile soil with humus or fertilizer.
Make a small mound of enriched soil at the bottom of the hole.
Dig a special stick to support the future plant.
Place the cutting in the hole, straighten the roots and place the seedling on a hill.
Fill the hole with fertile soil and compact the surface. The root collar should be above the ground.
Water the plant with 10 liters of slightly warm water.
Tie the cutting to a support.

Any crop can be planted next to the Modi apple tree, but only at a distance of 4-5 meters from each other. Otherwise, another plant will interfere with the stable growth of the apple tree, consuming the necessary nutrients from the soil.

Features of planting and care

Landing

Deadlines

There are two seasons for planting seedlings:

Spring before the first buds bloom;
Autumn 1 month before the first frost.

For Modi, both autumn and spring planting are possible.

Advice! For good survival of the fruit crop, planting should not be delayed.

Technology

On good soil for planting a seedling, dig a hole 60 cm deep and 80 cm wide.

Humus and mineral fertilizers are added to the hole, dug up with soil, a mound is formed and in a horizontal position .

Then the roots of the tree are carefully distributed in different directions and carefully buried with soil. After planting, a hole is formed near the tree trunk and watered with 3 buckets of water.

Distance

An adult tree has a fairly wide crown and a well-developed root system. In order for the apple tree to receive the required amount of nutrients and sunlight throughout its life, when planting a seedling, maintain a distance of 6 meters from other fruit crops.

Distance when planting fruit trees.

Agricultural technology and cultivation

Caring for an apple tree will not take much time, since the fruit crop is unpretentious in the choice of soil and has good adaptation to different growing areas. Caring for an apple tree includes the following procedures:

Timely watering during droughts;
Weeding and loosening of the tree trunk circle;
Pest control;
Fertilizer feeding.

Important! Since the fruit crop has a fairly high yield of large fruits, in order to avoid their underdevelopment and broken branches, gardeners recommend annually thinning out the ovaries and fruits.

Pruning and crown formation

Although the apple tree does not require special attention when growing, it is still worth taking more seriously when pruning and shaping the crown. The first pruning is carried out immediately after planting the seedling, shortening the branches by 1/3. With each subsequent year, all crooked, weak and diseased branches are removed.

Apple tree pruning diagram.

Pollinator varieties

The apple tree is a self-fertile crop in which pollination occurs due to wind and insects. But it is still worth planting in a plot with other varieties of apple trees with the same flowering period. This will promote a larger number of fruit sets.

Watch a video reviewing the best winter varieties of apple trees:

How to plant and care for seedlings

Without proper attention and care, this variety of fruit tree will not provide the owner with high yield annually.

Selection and preparation of seedlings

When choosing a seedling, you should pay attention to the root system: it should be without damage or signs of deterioration. When transporting, the seedling must be in moistened peat

Then you should shorten the skeletal roots: remove the rotten roots of a dark color. It is also worth noting that it is recommended to keep the tree in water two days before planting.

Optimal location and soil composition

The most suitable place is the sunny side, where there will be no shadow areas. The tree will develop and grow well on chernozem, meadow or loamy soil. Sandy soil is not suitable for this variety.

Disembarkation scheme and timing

The disembarkation date is adjusted based on weather conditions. As a rule, this period occurs in the first half of spring or autumn (before the first frost appears).

Further care for young apple trees

After planting a fruit seedling, you should take care of the tree trunk circle. For better oxygen supply to the root system, it is necessary to clear the weeds and also loosen the distance near the tree by 30-40 centimeters. In the absence of dry weather, the young seedling is watered in April, then in May and August. And also in the first month, fertilizing will be required, which includes superphosphate and potassium chloride.

Features of ripening and fruiting

Fruiting

Start

The apple tree begins to bear fruit quite early; the harvest is formed on 1-2 year old wood.

Modi bears fruit on 1-2 year old wood.

Peculiarities

The high yield of the Modi fruit crop and its regular fruiting is facilitated by the fact that the tree bears fruits not only on the branches, but also on the trunk ringlets and spears.

Deadlines

Blooms

The apple tree blooms in the 3rd decade of May with beautiful white and pink flowers.

Maturation

The first fruits of the apple tree begin to ripen towards the end of September. Due to the fact that they hold on to the branches very tightly, eating apples is delayed until mid-October.

Modi apples ripen at the end of September.

Fruit storage

After picking, the apples do not deform for quite a long time . Due to their good transportability and keeping quality, they are consumed fresh until the month of May.

Growing in regions

In outskirts of Moscow

The Modi apple tree can grow well in the Moscow region if you follow several growing characteristics. To do this, immediately after planting the seedling, the central conductor is shortened by 2–3 buds, which helps stimulate the growth of skeletal branches. Also, during the first year, the tree is regularly watered and treated for pests.

The Modi apple tree grows well in the Moscow region.

In Krasnodar region

The subtropical climate of the Krasnodar region contributes to the good development of the Modi variety . To avoid overloading the tree with fruits, which is so typical for this region, it is recommended to remove some of the ovaries. In this case, the quality of the crop, its size and taste increase.

Modi apple grown in the Krasnodar region.

Advice! In this region, it is recommended to enrich the soil with nutrients and fertilizers.

In Ukraine

In order for the Modi apple tree to take root well in Ukraine and develop well in the future, several important points must be observed:

In the first years after planting the seedling, the tree trunk circle is kept clean, periodically weeding and loosening it: the soil near the trunk is mulched with rotted manure;
With the beginning of fruiting, these procedures are stopped and the tree trunk circle is sown with a lawn.

To avoid burns, the trunk of the apple tree is whitened with lime twice a year: in spring and autumn.

Landing technique

The favorable period for planting this crop is early spring and autumn (a month before the onset of frost). It is recommended not to delay the deadlines, as they directly affect the survival rate of the apple tree.

For a seedling you will need a hole 80 cm wide and about 60 cm deep, at the bottom of which a mixture of soil with humus and mineral fertilizers is laid out. The roots of the tree are carefully distributed over the surface of the depression and covered with soil. Immediately after planting, the apple tree needs to be pruned for the first time. The branches of the seedling are shortened by a third. Subsequent annual pruning is needed only to remove diseased or weakened branches.

READ MORE: Fertilizing scheme for feeding apple trees in summer

Also, after planting, the plant should be watered with three buckets of water. To prevent the apple tree from experiencing inconvenience, it is important to keep a distance: there should be at least 6 meters from other trees.

Modi apples are highly adaptable and unpretentious in soil choice. Therefore, they do not require a special approach. The care procedure includes the following points:

timely weeding and loosening of the soil;
regular watering during the dry season;
fertilizing with organic and mineral fertilizers;
treatment against diseases and pests.

The Modi variety is characterized by high yield, which means that agricultural technology involves annual thinning of fruits and ovaries. Otherwise, the likelihood of underdevelopment and fracture of the branches increases.