An apple tree that produces tasty, he althy fruit should grow in every garden.Even for the smallest plot, we can easily buy a tree that takes up little space, for example, low-tree or columnar, and it fruits abundantly.The best are varieties that are less troublesome, characterized by high resistance to common diseases, such as mildew or apple scab. They will bear he althy, wholesome fruit for many years without the use of chemical protection agents.
Today, breeders are more and more willing to return to the good old varieties. Often they are suitable not only for fruit crops, but also for gardens as home trees.'Boskoop', 'Gravensteiner' ('Grafsztynek'), 'Cortland' or 'Holsteiner Cox' apple trees are most often run in the form of low or high-growing trees.Very little space is taken up by low-growing trees, grafted on medium- or weak-growing rootstocks, with a small spherical crown, as well as slender columnar apple trees.In this way, not only new varieties ('Rubinola') are produced, but also valuable older ones, such as 'Złota Reneta'.
Apple trees are not self-pollinating plants.This means that a good yield is obtained from pollen from flowers of another variety growing at a distance that can be walked by bees.Remember also that fruits of different varieties can differ significantly in many characteristics. Early varieties such as 'Alkmene' or 'Rubinola' taste best right after being picked from the branch, but can only be stored for a few weeks.
Fruits of winter varieties, incl. rich in vitamin C, 'Rote Berlepsch' reach full maturity only 4 weeks after harvesting, but stored in a cool cellar, they will remain fresh and juicy until February.The 'Winter Banana' apples - the variety from 1860, also popular today - retain their delicate banana aroma even until March.
Apple trees are best planted in autumn or at the beginning of winter in dry, frost-free weather. The soil at the bottom of the hole dug for the plant should be well loosened and mixed with compost. Place the trees in containers in a bucket of water for 30 minutes before planting.The top surface of the root ball should be finger-width higher than the ground.Do not cover it with soil. Soak trees with bare roots in water for 6-12 hours and plant them immediately afterwards.
Which varieties for allergy sufferers
Some proteins found in apple flesh can cause allergic reactions after eating the raw fruit and sometimes even touching the skin.The severity of the allergic reaction depends on the concentration of the allergenic substances.This applies to both new and traditional varieties. The allergenic protein content may increase during longer storage of the fruit. Allergy sufferers will not be harmed by the fruits of varieties, including 'Santana', 'Baya Marisa', and the varieties 'Gala', 'Jonagold', 'Braeburn', 'Golden Delicious', 'Red Delicious' are not recommended.
Valuable fruit of ornamental apple trees
The ornamental apple tree is a very valuable garden tree. Some varieties, e.g. 'Red Sentinel' are universal pollinators for large-fruit apple trees. In the spring, decorative shrubs or small trees are covered with countless flowers.Small fruits decorate the branches for several weeks in autumn and winter.They are edible and suitable for preserves. Left on shoots, they save many birds from starvation.
