The expanses of a large country have a varied climate, and gardeners in different regions want to grow apple trees that would produce a good harvest, and the fruits on them would be of high quality. Breeders do a good job with the task assigned to them. Spartak is an apple tree bred at the Samara experimental station for the Volga region, where weather conditions vary from hot summers to rather cold winters.
Apple variety Spartak.
Description
Apple tree Spartak autumn ripening. A tree of medium height with a wide pyramidal crown. Skeletal branches extend from the trunk under a sharp trunk, and this feature must be taken into account when forming the crown in order to avoid breaking the tree during fruiting. The shoots are smooth, the bark is red-brown. Flowers appear on all types of fruiting wood.
In the photo you can see the Spartak apple tree with fruits.
Apple tree Spartak: description of the variety and characteristics
Apple tree Spartak: photo of variety
The apple tree variety Spartak is an autumn crop. The apple tree was developed thanks to selection work carried out for many years. In 1934, at the experimental station in Samara, S.P. Kedrin announced that he would develop and obtain the best variety for the conditions of the Volga region.
The author tried all the methods, but still developed the “Spartak” apple tree by selecting seedlings of the “Sharopai” variety.
The Spartak apple tree variety passed all the tests and was included in the state register and zoned in the Volga region. Later, thanks to its characteristics, the culture became widespread in other Russian regions.
Characteristics
The Spartak apple tree has many positive qualities that are appreciated by gardeners, including the productivity and versatility of the fruit.
Advantages and disadvantages
There are a number of positive properties that distinguish this variety. Among the advantages are noted:
- precociousness;
- taste of fruits;
- regular and high yields.
The disadvantage of this variety is its weak immunity to scab. But with timely processing, a good result is possible.
Dimensions of an adult tree
The apple tree is of medium height, an adult tree reaches a height of 5-6 meters, grown on a dwarf rootstock - up to 3 meters.
Self-fertility
The tree is capable of self-pollination, but a pollinator is needed to fertilize more ovaries. The best trees will be those with the same flowering period.
Productivity
According to gardeners, the Spartak apple tree produces high yields. One tree can produce up to 100 kg of fruit.
Apple harvest.
Tasting assessment
The apples are round-conical in shape, light green in color, with ribs at the top and waxy skin. There is a bright red blurry blush over the entire surface of the fruit. The average weight of apples is from 120 to 200 g. The pulp is dense, white with a sweet and sour taste.
Tasters rated the taste 4.5 out of 5.
Winter hardiness
The Spartak apple tree has average winter hardiness and can withstand temperatures down to -25 degrees. But by following the recommendations for preparing a tree for winter, you can protect the tree from freezing.
Disease resistance
The Spartak variety has weak resistance to scab: with high humidity, the tree is susceptible to infection with this disease.
Other diseases, such as fruit rot and cytosporosis, affect the apple tree very rarely.
Apple tree Spartak: reviews
Alexandra, Yoshkar-Ola: “The Spartak apple tree has been living in my garden for a long time. The tree performed exceptionally well over the entire period of time. The apples are very tasty and highly marketable. The apple tree is undemanding to care. Since the tree bears fruit consistently, we reap a generous harvest every year.”
Boris Olegovich, Vladimir region: “I have been growing fruit plants for quite a long time. I learned about the Spartak apple tree variety ten years ago. When I purchased the seedling, I was expecting better results. The apple tree is constantly affected by scab and attacked by harmful insects. It takes a long time to care for a tree. I don’t remove this variety from my garden only because it bears fruit regularly, and this is unusual for other plants.”
Maria, Republic of Chuvashia: “Every autumn season I go to the market and buy apples. Some of the most delicious are the fruits of the Spartak apple tree variety. Apples are juicy, sweet, and emit a pleasant aroma. I make various preparations, preserves, and jam from fruits. The fruits also make amazing candied fruits, jelly, and I also stuff pies with apples.”
Features of planting and care
Attention should be paid to choosing a quality seedling and planting it correctly. The growth and development of the tree depends on this.
Landing dates
Seedlings can be planted in the spring, before the buds open. In different regions this period will shift by 7-10 days.
Apple tree seedlings.
In autumn you need to plant a month before frost. In regions where frosts begin early in the fall, it is better to plant plants in the spring.
Distance
For good development and fruiting, an adult apple tree needs a sufficient amount of light and nutrients, so there must be sufficient space between the trees. The maximum distance between rows and between trees is 5 meters.
Growing and agricultural technology
The Spartak apple tree is unpretentious to the soil, so following the rules of care will give good results.
After planting, it is recommended to regularly water the tree once a week, loosen and weed the weeds around the tree, and mulch the soil. Regular inspection is important to avoid disease transmission and to identify pests. It is necessary to cover the tree in preparation for winter to protect it from freezing.
Mandatory fertilizing in the spring with nitrogen fertilizers, and in the fall with mineral fertilizers.
Plant a tree according to the standard scheme:
- A hole for the seedling is dug 100 cm wide and 60 cm deep.
- A mixture of fertile soil, humus or compost is poured into the bottom, a stake is driven in and the plant is placed there.
- The roots are straightened and covered with soil, compacted, the tree is tied up and watered with plenty of water.
- Make sure that the root collar is 6-7 cm above the ground.
- The soil around the trunk is mulched with peat or compost.
Apple tree planting diagram.
Pest protection
It is not recommended to use chemicals to control pests, as they remain on the fruit. There are a number of folk methods for successful struggle.
To combat aphids, a decoction of black henbane is used. One kilogram of dry grass is boiled in two liters of water for one hour, after the decoction has cooled, it is diluted with 10 liters of water and sprayed on the tree. Places where ants accumulate are watered with boiling water.
For leaf-eating insects and caterpillars, use a decoction of tomato tops. Infuse one kilogram of tops in 10 liters of water for 5 hours, then boil for about 3 hours, cool and strain. We make a solution for spraying 1 to 3, treat the trunk and branches with it.
Timely identification of pests gives more chances for more effective control of them.
Pruning and crown formation
To avoid breaking branches, you need to correctly form the crown of the apple tree. They begin to prune the tree in the first year after planting.
Apple tree pruning diagram.
All shoots are removed from the seedling, 4 main skeletal branches are left, and I shorten them to 3 buds. In subsequent years, all branches that are weak and growing at right angles to the trunk are cut off.
Sanitary pruning of dry, cracked branches is carried out annually. The sections are lubricated with garden varnish.
Pollinator varieties
The Spartak apple tree is self-fertile, but cross-pollination with other varieties is required for full pollination. Gardeners noted the following varieties: Idared, Umanskoye, Rubinovye Duki.
Ripening and fruiting
A high yield and some fruiting characteristics that you need to become familiar with will be useful in order to collect the fruits on time and preserve them longer.
Beginning of fruiting
Spartak is a fast-bearing apple tree; fruiting begins 3-4 years after planting. On a dwarf rootstock, the first fruits appear even earlier.
Peculiarity
This variety has rapid shoot formation and high bud awakening, so the apple tree bears fruit every year.
Ripe fruits.
Deadlines
The Spartak apple variety begins to ripen in early September. But the fruits do not all ripen at the same time, so the harvest lasts 2-3 weeks.
Maturation
The normal color of apples is yellowish-green, with a slight red blush, but as soon as the blush on the fruit turns bright red and covers them completely, this is the best time to pick.
Fruit storage and harvesting
Apples can be stored for up to two months without losing their taste and tolerate transportation well. With high yields, gardeners are advised to process the fruits in a short time. After two months of storage, apples begin to taste bitter.
Harvest and storage
Spartak is a table variety of autumn ripening type. Apples reach ripeness at the end of August or beginning of September.
The fact that it is time to remove the fruits from the branches is indicated by an intense red blush spreading over most of the apple - if the blush remains striped, then perhaps the apples need another 1-2 weeks to ripen. The fruit consumption season lasts from mid-September to the end of November. Despite the fact that apples can be preserved in the cold until the New Year, it is better to consume them during this period, since after this period there is a deterioration in taste. The marketability of freshly picked fruits is quite high, they are well transported and suitable for sale. The purpose of apples is universal - they are suitable for consumption and processing.
Kinds
Dwarf and columnar apple trees are different from each other, and to avoid mistakes, it is important to know the difference.
On a dwarf rootstock
The Spartak apple tree on a dwarf rootstock reaches a height of up to 3 meters, with a spreading crown and has a number of advantages. Among them:
- precociousness;
- high productivity;
- small stature makes it easier to care for;
- decorativeness of the plant.
Apple tree on a dwarf rootstock.
Dwarf apple trees have a fibrous root system that is located at the soil surface, so they can be planted in areas with high groundwater levels.
Columnar
There is no columnar apple tree of the Spartak variety.
This apple tree is distinguished by the fact that it has a powerful trunk with short side branches. The fruits are located along the trunk. This apple tree is very compact and takes up little space on the site.
Growing in regions
Knowing the peculiarities of growing the Spartak apple tree, you can protect the tree from weather conditions that are dangerous to it.
In outskirts of Moscow
In this region, the apple tree needs to whitewash the trunk with lime twice a year: in spring and autumn.
In autumn, to protect the tree from winter frosts, the soil around the trunk is mulched with humus. The plant itself is covered with burlap to avoid freezing.
In central Russia
The Spartak apple tree takes root quite well in this region. To prevent scab damage to the tree, preventive spraying should be carried out.
In the Southern regions
In this region, in order for the seedling to take root well, it needs to be fed with urea and sodium-containing fertilizers. It needs support so that the central conductor does not break if the soil settles.
In the Urals
The soil in this region is quite hard, and it needs constant loosening, enriching the roots with oxygen. Regular inspection of the tree will help to identify diseases in a timely manner and carry out spraying against scab and other fungal infections.
In the Kirov region
The soil structure in this area needs improvement, so creeping bentgrass is sown around the trunk. To prevent the soil from drying out, cover it with humus or compost.
