Apple tree "Gift of Grafsky": description and composition of fruits, cultivation varieties

Large fragrant apples of crimson color with a sweet-sour taste ripen on apples of the Grafsky gift.The hybrid derived by domestic breeders has a large number of advantages and a very small number of disadvantages. The apple tree withstands the harsh Russian winter and unpredictable weather, and in the summer it pleases with a big crop.

The cultivation of the variety began in 1979. At this time, American breeders sent a stock “D 101” to Russia. He was crossed with the Russian variety "Vyaznikovka" and received a new hybrid variety. With the consent of the director of the state farm, Mikhail Grigorievich Grafsky, the first tests of this winter-hardy apple tree were carried out on the territory of the gardens of his farm. The grade passed the exam with dignity and tolerated frost well to -40 degrees in 1978-1979. and in the same summer gave the first harvest.

In 1982, the variety was named the Gift of Grafsky as a token of gratitude to Mikhail Grigorievich.

If an apple tree is not pruned, its height can reach 7 meters. The crown is spreading, with dark gray branches. Green dense leaves with a jagged edge are located on a short petiole. In May, fragrant white and pink flowers bloom.

The variety is not self-fertile, so for fruiting the apple tree needs the help of pollinator varieties. On the plot next to the tree, you can plant a “Northern Sinap”, “Student Apple” or “Moscow Late” variety. If there is an apiary in the garden, the yield also increases.

For the first time the crop ripens at 4-5 years of plant life. Further, the apple tree bears fruit every year in early October. Ripened apples removed from the tree for several more weeks.

Ripe fruits are very large, weighing up to 350 grams each. The milky yellow flesh is protected by firm skin. The fruit itself is a crimson color, with a blurred blush and wax bloom. The taste of the "Gift of Count" apples is sweet and sour and very juicy. The fruit contains a large amount of chlorogenic acid, which helps fight excess weight and prevents cell aging.

On a five-point scale, the tasting score of this variety is 4.3 points. Responses of gardeners about this variety are mostly only positive.

To improve the yield and slightly change the appearance of the tree can be when using semi-dwarf or dwarf rootstock.

The tree on the semi-dwarf rootstock has a compact crown, reaches 4.5 meters in height. Fruits for 25-30 years, the first harvest can be obtained already for 2-3 years.

A tree on a dwarf rootstock gives a good harvest for 1-2 years, fruits up to 15-20 years. It grows up to 2.5-3.5 meters.

Apple trees on these rootstocks lose part of their winter hardiness, so they need to be “warmed” - humus, fallen leaves, compost, sawdust or rotted manure can be mulched pristvolny space. In winter, under the apple tree form a snowdrift. If groundwater is low on the site, the tree will dry up, so it is important to correctly assess the possible risks.

The advantages of the Grafsky Gift variety prevail over deficiencies, of which there are only two - slight shedding of fruits after ripening and low drought tolerance.

But the list of advantages is impressive. These features include such features as:

• high winter hardiness - the apple tree is experiencing cold to -42 degrees;
• unpretentiousness to the conditions;
• easy adaptation;
• regular mass harvest;
• high "immunity" to diseases and pests;
• good fruit taste;
• increased content of beneficial chlorogenic acid in fruits;
• long shelf life of ripe apples.

Despite the fact that the Gift of Grafsky is unpretentious and easily adapts to any conditions, it is important to follow all the recommendations when planting and growing a tree.

As soon as the decision was made to plant an apple tree on your site, it is necessary to determine the time of planting. You can plant a tree in the spring, but the spring seedling takes root more difficult. The best time for planting is autumn, when 3-4 weeks are left before the first frosts.

In gardening, there are also cases of fraud: instead of this varietal tree, the buyer receives an unvaccinated wilderness.

To avoid cheating, you need:

• purchase a seedling in the nursery;
• know the desired characteristics: the plant must have healthy, branched roots with a length of 30 centimeters, correctly located branches up to 60 centimeters in length, the lower portion of the trunk from 2 centimeters thick;
• choose a seedling without mechanical damage, with a smooth stem, without sagging on the root neck;
• roots should not be dry, stiff;
• to pay attention to the packaging - the right packaging for the seedling - wet sacking or moss, and if for the sake of the package the taproot was cut off, the plant has no chance to survive.

The right place to grow an apple is light and sheltered from the wind. In order to avoid water stagnation, it is better to choose a hill. Black soil, sandy loam or loam - the best soil options in which the plant will feel most comfortable.

The distance between the apple tree and other trees should be 5-6 meters. The diameter of the food area for the plant is at least 20 meters.

The pit is dug in width from 80 to 100 centimeters and up to 70 centimeters in depth. A wooden stake up to 1.6 meters high will serve as a support for the young seedling: it is driven into the center of the depression.

The bottom must be dug 10 centimeters deep, then lay down the drainage layer, mineral fertilizers, manure or compost. Cover up with fertile soil.

A sapling with straightened roots is planted in a mixture of soil and fertilizer, then sprinkled on top of the soil. The soil will lie more densely at the roots if the seedling is slightly shaken while it is covered with earth.

The tree is tied to a support. Landing should be watered with two buckets of warm water. Cold water can not be used: it provokes diseases and death of the planted tree. Subject to the recommendations on growing the tree successfully takes root and gives a massive crop.

The Grafsky gift apple variety requires several conditions for comfortable development.

• Sufficient watering. Especially important for tree watering in July and August. This is the time of fruit ripening and the formation of the next year's fruit buds. The frequency of watering - 4-5 times a month. Young trees will be enough 2-3 buckets at a time, with age you need to increase the portion. After moistening the soil, it is loosened to improve the ventilation of the root system.

• Top dressing. After a year has passed since planting, you can make the first dressing in the form of humus. In the period of flowering and fruit set, the plant will support fertilizers with potassium and phosphorus in the composition. When the crop is harvested, apply fertilizer without nitrogen.
• Soil mulching. To insulate the root system, protect against weeds and preserve the looseness of the soil, the trunk circle must be mulched. To do this, needles, straw, rotted compost, peat or humus will do.
• Care of the crown. Periodically dense crown must be thinned. For the formation of the crown cut the curves and weak shoots. In the spring, the branches of the past season are harvested, and in the fall, after harvesting, dry and damaged branches are also removed.

• Weeding The weeds growing next to the apple tree threaten its well-being, so you need to constantly weed the soil in the tree trunk circle.
• Whitewashing bole. To prevent freezing and protection from pests, an apple tree must be whitened before the onset of winter. Whitewashing is applied to the lower part of the trunk to the first branches.
• Pest and disease control. Although the tree has good resistance to diseases and pest damage, attention should be paid to the appearance of any abnormalities in the development of the plant. If the tree has been exposed to fungi or pests, timely treatment with fungicides or insecticides will help. Apply chemical products should be in accordance with the instructions, and in some cases it is permissible to replace them with folk remedies.

At 4-5 year old apple tree begins to give the first harvest. In late September - early October, the fruits can be removed from the tree, but then they will need a few more weeks to ripen. Apples reach full (consumer) maturity towards the end of October. If the stem is easily separated from the tree, then the fruit is ripe. Before harvesting, you need to prepare a place for storage and provide conditions for good “keeping quality” of the fruit.

Apple storage boxes are prepared in advance: they are well washed and dried, treated with an antiseptic. Then their bottom is covered with clean paper. If you plan to store apples in two layers, dry chips should be used as a layer.

The best place for storage is the cellar, where the temperature is maintained from 0 to +5 degrees and humidity up to 80-90%. The room should be well ventilated.

Packed boxes must be put in the selected place. It does not recommend the neighborhood with potatoes, beets and carrots, otherwise the apples will lose their flavor.

After the fruits have settled down a bit in a cool place, you need to sort them out again. Regular sorting is needed throughout the entire shelf life to screen out damaged fruit.

If all storage recommendations have been followed, the apples retain their freshness and taste until April-May. In such a packed form, the fruit can be easily transported.

The use of the “Gift of Grafsky” is indicated for people with increased acidity of the stomach. Also, the fruits are useful in the recovery period after a heart attack, with liver damage, for the prevention of atherosclerosis.

Apples of this variety are made desserts for baby food. Also, the fruit can be dried, canned. In any form, they retain their taste.

Grade "Gift Grafsky" - a winter-hardy unpretentious hybrid that adapts easily and is able to withstand diseases and pests. Its fruits have a highly appreciated taste, easily stored and transported. If you follow simple guidelines for the care of the tree will delight the harvest for many years and will not give the gardener any problems.

About Apple "Gift of Grafsky": a brief overview, a description of the characteristics, where to buy seedlings, see the following video.