Apple Macintosh: variety description and cultivation

The Canadian Macintosh apple variety has proven itself not only at home but also in Russia.This plant with a high yield has long been known to gardeners, but, despite the appearance of new and interesting varieties, it does not give up its positions. It is also successfully used to create breeders of new fruit trees.

Apple Macintosh refers to varieties that ripen in autumn. Fruits appear quite late. Interestingly, it was not targeted by breeders, but was accidentally found by a Canadian farmer in the garden. Due to its high yield and long lifespan, the tree became further spread among gardeners.

The virtues of the Macintosh apple tree are as follows:

• fruiting during the whole life period;
• excellent taste of the fruit;
• apples are good for transportation;
• sufficient winter hardiness.

The culture also has some drawbacks:

1. yield decreases with age;
2. affected by scab and powdery mildew;
3. apples ripen non-simultaneous.

A prominent feature of the MacIntosh apple tree is a pyramid-shaped crown. By this she looks like a cypress. The branches are very sprawling brown-brown in color, the leaves are large yellowish-green. Another interesting fact is that apples on a tree grow chaotically, they are of various sizes and colors. The apple tree is medium-grown and in adult form reaches 6 m in height. There are instances up to 8 m.

The yield of the fruit tree depends on the year and does not differ in frequency. On average, the weight of an apple is 200 g, and up to 200 kg of fruit can be harvested from one apple tree. There are apple-record holders with a yield of 350 kg per tree, but these are exceptions to the general rule.

The fruits have the shape of a slightly compressed oval, the surface of them with subtle edges. The flesh of apples is fine-grained, quite juicy, with a sweet caramel flavor. Tasting assessment, which is set for the Macintosh variety - 5 points.

The variety is characterized by moderate frost resistance. When the temperature drops in winter to -20 ° C, fruit shoots may die. This subsequently affects the yield. However, in general, according to gardeners, the MacIntosh apple tree tolerates winters well.

The most common diseases in this variety are the same as in all fruit trees of this species - scab and powdery mildew. Also, the apple tree is subject to attacks by aphids and moths.

Basically, gardeners leave good reviews about Macintosh apples, noting their high yields, tasty fruits that can be stored for a long time. They also talk about the good merchantability and transportability of apples. A positive quality is that they can be used both in raw form and for the preparation of jams, compotes and other preparations. The care, which consists in pruning old branches and timely watering, is liked by summer residents by their simplicity.

Planting apple seedlings "Macintosh" carried out in early spring, when the buds have not yet blossomed, or in the fall. During the autumn planting, it is important to catch a month before the onset of frost. The pit for planting should be about 50 cm deep and 1 m wide. Humus and peat are put on its bottom in equal proportions. Then put a support and tie a sapling to it. After the ground is laid in the pit, they trample down and pour 3 buckets of water under the plant. It is important to ensure that the root collar protrudes a few centimeters from the ground.

The better they feed the tree, the sooner it will gain strength and start producing crops. Multivating the near-barrel wheel with nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers is carried out annually. Once every three years it is recommended to make additional feeding with mineral composition. It is recommended to weed the ground around the tree trunk regularly and thoroughly so that the roots have access to nutrients in the right amount.

Pruning crown - one of the most important activities in the care. The first time this procedure is carried out immediately after planting the seedling.All branches are cut to a distance of 5 cm below the conductor. Then annually for several years, flowers and buds are removed to enable side branches to develop.

The best time for fruiting is 6-7 years of apple tree life. At the same time, if you do not follow the number of fruit branches on the sapling, then you can get a drop in yield, so the accumulation of buds is removed and the branches are cut by about a third. The flowering of the apple tree “Macintosh” begins in May, and for the first time at the sapling it occurs at the age of 2 years. Fruits ripen unevenly, and to prevent them from falling off, the harvest is harvested several times from August to October. Apples can ripen for three weeks. At temperatures up to + 10 ° C, the harvest is stored for about 4 months, at + 3 ° C, safety is ensured for up to six months.

The MacIntosh apple is suitable for breeding rootstocks and creating new varieties. Suitable for this are related cultures.

The variety was created in Russia in 1969 by crossing the apple tree “Macintosh” and “Kulon-Kitayki”. Full ripening time is late. Gives first harvests for 5 years after planting a seedling in the ground. Apples are green, with a reddish blurred pattern on the sides. The shape of the fruit is a regular round. Inside they are juicy, having a sweet-sour taste. The tree is medium in size, its crown is wide, rounded in shape. Advantages of the variety: resistance to cold, long-term storage, high yield, dessert fruit taste. The disadvantage is weak scab resistance. Daughter McIntosh was bred for cultivation in the Moscow Region.

The variety is frost resistant and ripens late in the fall. Fruits 4 years after planting. Crohn in adult trees is sprawling, and the trees themselves are medium grown. The fruits are symmetrical in shape, their color is greenish-yellow with dark stripes of purple color. The flesh is sweet, but sour, quite juicy. Apples by weight reach 200 g. This is considered an average. Black Macintosh is resistant to overdrying.

When crossing two varieties - "Mac" and "Ben Davis" in America, this variety was obtained. Then the culture was adapted to the Russian conditions. The term of ripening apples is late. The fruits are elongated, small in size, weigh only 100 g. The crown of the tree is large and spreading. Scab resistance is weak.

The tree is not very big, it has a round crown. Apples ripen in the fall. Their color is rich red, and the taste is sweet, belonging to dessert varieties. The fruits are rich in vitamins. "American Mac" is susceptible to diseases, mainly fungi, and pest attacks.

“Macintosh” is connected to the columnar culture, the result is a straight tree with no side branches. Apples hang along the length of the trunk in small twigs. Advantages: takes up little space and is suitable for small areas, has a decorative appearance, fast fruiting, good apple taste, compact size, convenient for harvesting. The disadvantage is the short lifespan of such a tree - just over 10 years.

When growing Macintosh apples in the Moscow region, it is necessary to observe a number of conditions. Frost resistance of this tree is still average, so you need shelter for the winter. In the summer, you need to carefully monitor the condition of the soil and avoid overdrying. Watering should be regular and in sufficient volume.

The climate of the Volga region is very favorable for growing Macintosh apples. Soils are also very well suited.With the required care and regular pruning, the apple tree will produce high yields regularly. The problem of this region is a large number of aphids. Insects attack a tree, preventing it from developing normally.

If the Macintosh apple grows in Ukraine, it will often be exposed to fungal diseases. Another feature of this region is insufficient amount of snow to cover the roots. To prevent freezing, the roots of the tree are covered with compost in the fall. The harvests of apple trees are stable and large.

The Macintosh variety, which has a long history, is still growing in many vegetable gardens. In addition, it is also the source for the work of breeders and the development of more advanced varieties. Thanks to this culture, more than fifty varieties of apple trees, spread throughout Russia, have already been created.

How to cut the apple tree in the spring, you will learn from the following video.