Silver Hoof Apple Tree: variety description, planting and care

Apples are considered one of the most delicious and healthy fruits.Today, they can be grown in different varieties, which differ not only in the time of fruit ripening, but also in taste. The Silver Hoof apples received good reviews, they are undemanding in their care and give a high yield, so even a novice gardener can grow them.

"Silver hoof" is considered a common variety of apples, which is most common in the northern regions of the country. The summer variety of apple has earned its popularity due to its resistance to cold and good fertility. It was bred as a result of crossing varieties such as "Snowflake" and "Rainbow", so it can fully grow in drought zones with unstable climatic conditions and, unlike other species, is less susceptible to diseases. Pollination of the tree occurs during the flowering period, and its fruits are ideally stored for more than two months under the right conditions of detention.

Apple tree grows a small tree, whose height often reaches 3 meters. The crown is small, slightly rounded and unbranched. The main characteristic of the variety is strong and strong branches that form an angle of 90 degrees with the trunk. The trunk is covered with a bark of a light color with a yellowish tinge; in young plantings it is reddish.

Fruiting in this species is mixed, the fruit buds at the place of their formation are divided into:

• last year increments;
• collars;
• spear

They are characterized by an oval shape, slightly pointed at the ends. Light green buds with a matte surface are attached to the branches with petioles, after which they form toothed leaves at the edges. As for fruits, the apples of the Silver Hoof are medium in size, their weight depends on the growing conditions and the quality of the soil. If the soil is fertile, then fruits weighing more than 110 g can be harvested, while planting trees on scanty and depleted soils - 80 g

Apples are distinguished by roundness and a thin “wax” coating on the skin, their color is creamy with a striped or diffuse red blush. There are also fruits on which the blush completely covers their surface. Inside the apples, a seed heart is formed with small and open nests, seeds of medium size brown or black. The flesh of the “Silver Hoof” is characterized by a juicy structure, it can be either cream or light green.

Apples are not only tasty, but also useful, they include the following components:

• from 10.2 to 13% sugar;
• from 12 to 17% of dry matter;
• 12.5% ​​/ 100 g ascorbic acid.

Fruits are versatile in use, they can be eaten fresh, and you can also make jams, juices, or dry them. Thanks to the sweet-sour taste and moderate aroma, excellent compotes are obtained from apples. Crops from trees are usually harvested in August, but if the seedlings grow in the western and southern regions, the fruits ripen much faster. When ripe, they are not showered from the branches and when ripe they become slightly transparent and filled with juice.

Initially, the Silver Hoof variety was developed for cultivation in the Urals, but today it has successfully “taken root” in northern Kazakhstan, Udmurtia, and even western Siberia.

The popularity of this apple variety is explained by a number of its advantages, namely:

• increased resistance to cold and frost;
• good transportability;
• early ripeness and pleasant taste of fruits;
• presentable appearance;
• universality in use.

As for the shortcomings, they also exist. This variety requires planting pollinators in gardens, as it is barren without them. Apples are resistant to various diseases, but can be affected by fruit rot and scab. In addition, the level of yield and dimensions of the fruit are directly dependent on the quality of tree care and agricultural technology.

The yield of the Silver Hoof, like any other varieties, is determined by the quality of the planting material. Therefore, in order to get a strong and healthy tree and be confident in its varietal "purity", it is necessary to purchase seedlings in the nursery. They must be present labels indicating the type, as well as the name and address of the company that grew them.

The main criterion in the selection of apple trees is the state of foliage and roots. In the case when there are defects on the roots in the form of rot lesions and other signs of damage, it is better to refuse seedlings. You can not buy apples and wilted, dry roots, which do not hold earthen lumps, they can be weak and will not be able to please in the future with fertility.

In addition, before planting it is necessary to pay attention to the foliage of the seedling, checking the plates from the bottom and top. A quality tree is considered to be covered with leaves of a rich shade, on which there is no plaque, holes, and other signs indicating damage by pests or diseases. Also under the foliage can hide aphid, because of her leaves on the planted apple tree will begin to dry and curl, then you will not have to talk about a high yield.

Before purchasing a seedling, you must also determine the place and time of disembarkation. The Silver Hoof requires a well-lit area. It is best to place it on the territory where there are pollinating varieties from the leeward side of the apartment building. Areas with close groundwater flow are not recommended. If there is no other place for cultivation, then you will need to create additional bulk ridges (hills).

A huge role for plantations plays and soil type. The ideal option is air-permeable, slightly acidic or neutral soil; it should be dug up beforehand and it is necessary to add mineral fertilizers and organic fertilizer to the hole where the seedling is planned to be planted. On clay earth, drainage from gravel or broken brick will be required. It is possible to improve the structure of the earth by using peat and sawdust from hardwood.

"Silver hoof" is characterized by certain terms of landing. Therefore, if the seedlings are planned to be planted in the fall, then this should be done from late September to October, and in spring - in April. At the same time, experts recommend planting in the autumn, thanks to this, the sapling takes root better and begins to fully develop in spring. The tree layout is simple: they make a distance of 5 m between rows, and the spacing between plantings should not exceed 3 m. Such a “dense” planting is possible due to the compact size of the variety.

The hole for apple trees is prepared in advance, its size should be chosen so that the roots are conveniently placed in width and depth. Standard recess has a size of 60x70 cm, but in areas with dense ground, it is done more. It is advisable to prepare a seat a few weeks before buying the trees.

Planting seedlings is carried out as follows:

• at first, ash is poured into half the pit, usually a 0.5-liter pot is spent on one place;
• then they wait a little for the soil to settle and fill the ground;
• the roots of young apple trees are well straightened and placed in a hollow, sprinkling the mixture with humus.

During planting, it is important to ensure that voids do not form in the ground, for which the seedlings are slightly shaken.

Many gardeners plant a garden in spring, planting during this period is similar, but fertilizers containing chlorine, potassium salt and phosphorus are additionally poured into the soil. Each apple tree requires up to 150 g of mineral components. Upon completion of the work, the roots of the trees finally fall asleep with soil and carefully trample it near the near-stem circumference. Then the apple tree is watered with two or three buckets of water and set up for support from the southern side of the stem of the peg.

For each tree in the process of its growth and development, proper care is needed; the Silverhoof apple is no exception. In the spring gardeners need to perform the obligatory pruning of branches, without it, the fruits may decrease in size. Sanitary pruning allows you to form a beautiful crown, it is recommended before the start of sap flow. This procedure is carried out according to the principle of the bush pruning scheme, leaving only a few main shoots and side branches. The result will be a compact spray form, which will be well lit, aired and will positively affect the level of harvest.

For cutting the branches, you need to use sharp and clean tools, and at the end of the wound work, lubricate with garden pitch. In this case, the cut should be done correctly, directing it from the branch or trunk. In addition, to ensure healthy growth, seedlings should be treated several times a season with drugs that protect them from a possible disease. This is usually done before the beginning of flowering of the tree and before the formation of the first leaflets.

Most often, the “Silver hoof” is exposed to scab damage, after which brown spots appear on the ovaries, buds and leaves. The causes of this disease may be an excess of nitrogen fertilizers, wet weather, sour soil or thick crown.

Much less often fruit rot occurs in a variety, but if it hits trees, the damaged fruits and branches must be destroyed so that they do not spread the disease throughout the apple tree. It is possible to avoid rot by means of preventive measures in the form of spraying of copper sulphate.

Not less important point in the care is considered and watering trees. It is worth noting that Silver Hoof loves moderate humidity, so its level must be constantly monitored. When the summer is dry, when the formation of the ovary begins and flowering, watering is necessary, after harvest it can be stopped and performed only once before the onset of the first frost.

It is also good if mulch is used when caring for apple trees, it allows to significantly save water, as it is aimed at moistening the tree trunk. Mulch can be in the form of humus, sawdust or peat, it is evenly covered by the diameter of the fossa, and it not only retains moisture, but also protects the well from weed growth.

As for the fertilizer of this variety, it is recommended to carry it out from April, adding mineral elements along the entire perimeter of the planting. For the Silver Hoof, humus, urea, and ammonium nitrate are ideal. During the flowering of apple trees, you can feed with potassium and superphosphate, in the summer you should be careful with fertilizers, as in dry soil they cause root burns.

With proper observance of all conditions in the care, around mid-August, you can begin harvesting. At the same time, the period of fruit ripening depends not only on the care, but also on the climatic conditions characteristic of each region.

The universal variety of apples "Silver Hoof" managed to win the recognition of many gardeners, as it is characterized by excellent fecundity. From one tree you can collect a huge number of fruits that are suitable both for fresh consumption, and for various conservation. Among the positive reviews of the owners of dachas can be noted a long shelf life of apples, exceeding 2 months from the harvest, so that they can be used in the winter for baking or cooking fragrant compote from them. Fruits do not dry, retain all tastes and are no different from those collected in the fall from the tree.

In addition, the variety is well established and transportable qualities, so if the garden is large, you can also make good money by selling apples, supplying them to the market. Due to the pleasant aroma, beautiful and smooth form, they will not have competition. A plus of the variety is that it is suitable for cultivation in many climatic zones, therefore it is available to everyone. Young mothers, who often cook dishes for babies, the tender flesh and a little sour taste make them a favorite dessert that responded well to apples of this variety.

On the rules of planting apple seedlings and other fruit trees, see the following video.