Rozhdestvennoe apple tree: variety description, planting and care

Today, there are quite a few varieties of apple trees that can be grown in private gardens and for industrial purposes.Among the fruit crops can be found plants of natural origin and apples, obtained by breeding. The latter include the hybrid variety Rozhdestvenskoe, which has become widespread.

Apple tree is the result of the work of domestic scientists and breeders. The culture appeared more than thirty years ago by crossing the American variety "Welsey" and another hybrid of fruit culture. The main advantage of the obtained variety was excellent immunity to scab, but this quality is not the only positive feature that has led to the popularity of the plant.

The Rozhdestvennoe apple tree can compete for winter hardiness with a frost-resistant variety like Antonovka. In addition, this culture is notable for its regular and large yields, as well as its precociousness. The fruit of the apple stand consumer appeal, dessert taste and good keeping quality. But at the end of the storage period, the apples may deteriorate the taste, which will also adversely affect the appearance of the harvested crop.

The variety "Rozhdestvenskoe" pleases gardeners with small fruits. As a rule, the weight of one fruit is about 150 grams. However, the plant in different seasons can produce different in size apples. In general, the fruits ripen evenly and the same size.

The shape of the apples is somewhat flattened, the peel is of medium thickness with a glossy sheen, as regards the color of the fruit - the predominant color is yellow with a greenish tint. Cover staining is widespread throughout the fruit, the spots are predominantly red, but there is also a cherry tinge. Seeds are medium-sized, brown in color and ovoid.

The flesh is white, it is distinguished by an average density with a sweet-sour taste, the aroma is mild. The peculiarity of the variety is the dependence of the taste characteristics and composition of apples on the climatic features of the region in which the plant is cultivated. The average chemical composition of fruits is as follows: the level of sugars is 10%, acids is 0.5%, pectin is 14%. Trees varieties "Christmas" are characterized by an average height, but rather rapid growth rates. In the early years, a young sapling can gain about one meter in height for a season. The pyramidal form of the crown of the culture develops with good landscaping, the branches of the apple tree are large, forming at an angle. The bark is gray with peeling.

The foliage is egg-shaped, with wavy edges and a sharp end. There is slight pubescence on the green mass. Culture blooms buds, uniting on average about five flowers. They have an unsaturated pink hue. For most gardeners, a very important point is the resistance of apple to scab, which facilitates the cultivation of the variety. However, often damage to the crop and the plant cause pests, most often the apple tree suffers from attacks of aphids, mites and moths.

Like most apple crops, the hybrid acquires the ability to bear fruit at the age of four. With mass planting, there is an opportunity to harvest fruit from one hectare, which is about 150 centners. For mid-latitudes, the period for harvesting falls on the second half of September. Fruit ripening is marked by duration, therefore the consumer use phase of apples of this variety begins in October. As a rule, with proper storage, the variety can be found on the shelves until February.

Selection work with the culture, in the course of its breeding, included conducting tests related to resistance to negative temperatures. During the experiments, the resistance of the plant to lowering the thermometer to -40ºС was noted. In addition, it was found that the correct agricultural practices, in particular, irrigation, affect the frost resistance of the plant. Drought adversely affects the development of the apple tree.From a lack of moisture, the growth of shoots slows down, there is a fall of leaves and fruits; in addition, harvest volumes are sharply reduced. The culture also needs regular watering due to the peculiarities of the root system, since it is superficial in the hybrid.

The variety needs planting at a site where pollinating crops will grow nearby. As the practice of growing apple trees shows, the best neighbors for it will be the Antonovka, Papirovka or Melba varieties. Good results regarding yields are observed in the central regions of the country, where in winter there can be a significant decrease in air temperature, but too much of a serious fluctuation in these values ​​does not occur. Apple tree feels great in Siberia and the Urals. As for the landing of “Rozhdestvennoe” in the Moscow region, it is recommended to shelter an apple tree for wintering, since in these latitudes there is a high probability of significant jumps in air temperature. Such fluctuations adversely affect the health of the plant. The Volga region is the most suitable region for a hybrid.

The variety "Rozhdestvennoe" is endowed with the following features, which make it stand out among the rest of apple crops:

• the main advantage is absolute resistance to scab, not only for green mass, but also for fruit;
• fruits have a high consumer appeal;
• the taste qualities of apples stand out among the other fruits belonging to the dessert type;
• the crop is amenable to transportation due to good keeping quality;
• adult crops are notable for large and regular harvests provided competent agricultural practices.

Despite the many positive qualities of the variety, it has such disadvantages as:

• the variety is prone to non-ripening fruit;
• because of the errors associated with the care of the culture, it can fall off the apples;
• long-term storage of the crop adversely affects its taste.

Hybrid does not stand out with special requirements in terms of planting dates, usually rooting of seedlings at the site is carried out in the spring or with the onset of autumn. To choose the right time for work, it is necessary to take into account a number of nuances.

• First of all, the time for planting an apple tree is selected taking into account the climatic conditions of a particular region. Experienced gardeners recommend working in the autumn period only in those latitudes where winter is not characterized by severe frosts. Conversely, in areas where the predominant majority of the winter months there is a serious decrease in temperature, young trees root in the spring, before the beginning of the movement phase of the juices in the plant.
• It is also necessary to take into account the availability of free time at the gardener, to ensure the required conditions relating to the care of the seedling varieties "Christmas". If the crop is planted in spring, it will need regular watering throughout the summer, otherwise the apple tree will lag behind significantly.

Apple rooting technology is a set of standard agrotechnical measures. The main point when planting is to maintain a certain distance of the culture from other plants or structures, timely introduction of fertilizers, as well as ensuring a good level of soil moisture. Gardeners note the following requirements, which will help to root the Christmas tree correctly:

• the optimum distance between cultures in the garden is three meters;
• the diameter of the hole for seedlings should not be less than one meter;
• planting is carried out with the deepening of the seedling at least 0.5 meters;
• fertilizer should be added to the bottom of the planting pit; it is best to use compost, peat and superphosphate for this purpose, as well as potassium salt;
• alumina for good air exchange diluted with sand.

The process of planting itself consists in placing the tree in the center of the planting hole. After straightening the root system, the trunk is tied to a support, and the rest of the pit is covered with soil. A roller is formed around the circle of the tree near the ground, after which it is necessary to water the plant well. It will be better to use about 2-3 buckets of water.

After planting a culture, she will need competent care. In the first place, “Rozhdestvennoe” will be better developed with properly executed top dressing with appropriate compositions. The scheme of fertilizer is as follows:

• in the first year after rooting, the plant will be enough of those fertilizers that were introduced into the hole just before planting;
• in the second season, already in the autumn, digging up the soil is carried out together with organic substances, humus will be a good addition, the optimum ratio will be 10 kilograms per 1m² of land, phosphorus-containing or potassium compounds are needed in the amount of 200 grams per 1m²; as for the spring period, at this time it is necessary to apply nitrogen-containing fertilizers before the flowering phase of the apple tree, while introducing the compounds into the ground should be no more than 15 centimeters;
• in the third year of the culture’s life, it is possible to use the same substances on the plot, but to deepen them into the ground by half a meter, with a distance of 1.5 meters from the tree circle.

Watering is an important component of care for the variety. In this matter, it is necessary to comply with the measure, since excessive watering can cause rotting of the roots, and drought will adversely affect the yield. Practice shows that 2-3 buckets of water for culture at a time will be enough. However, loosening the soil after the introduction of moisture is mandatory. The regularity of the work will depend on the weather conditions in the region of cultivation of the hybrid.

Apple tree requires pruning, usually the work on the formation is divided into such stages, separated in time, as:

• in the spring, it is necessary to set the optimum density to the crown of the crop in order to increase the yield;
• during the autumn months, sanitary pruning of the branches is performed, such work is necessary to prevent diseases.

Taking into account the good immunity to scab, quite often an apple tree is attacked by pests. Bark beetle, moth, leafworm and mite can be especially harmful for fruits and plants. For the prevention and control of insects, culture is sprayed with shoplining.

According to most gardeners, the variety Rozhdestvenskoe during the cultivation fully justifies the description given to the hybrid. Therefore, the cultivation of apple trees allows you to get regular and large yields of apples. As for the fruits themselves, their taste and appearance provide them with high demand. The demand for fruits is observed both among private gardeners engaged in apple cultivation for personal purposes, and among large entrepreneurs who cultivate apple trees for industrial purposes. However, errors associated with the technology of tree care, can cause serious damage to the crop, which lies in dropping fruits that were not collected on time.

More information about the variety of apple trees "Christmas" you will learn from the following video.