Apple tree Grounded: description of the variety and characteristics, cultivation and care

Down to earth is the name of an apple tree variety that partly characterizes the plant.

This subspecies is classified as undersized and is the result of the work of a group of breeders from the South Ural Research Institute - M.A. Mazunin, V.I. Putyatin and N.F. Mazunin.

This apple tree was bred by genetically combining the complex hybrid 1-63-197 with the weeping Vydubetskaya.

Subspecies

The Prizemlennoye variety has several forms:

Natural slate.
Dwarf subspecies.

Natural slate

Natural slate is the shape of an apple tree. Its feature is a creeping crown. The branches of the tree do not rise up, but stretch along the ground. A similar option can be created manually: a young tree is bent down, secured with hooks and weights. Slate forms have many advantages:

Height - no more than 45 cm. In winter, the apple tree is better covered with snow, which prevents it from freezing.
Fruiting occurs 2 years after planting.
Slants adapt faster to environmental conditions. They are not harmed by gusty winds or drafts.

Dwarf

The dwarf apple tree grows up to 2 m. Such forms are popular because they have numerous advantages:

Trees take up little space on the site. This allows you to plant many seedlings.
Early fruiting. 2-3 years after planting the first harvest.
This shape makes it easier to collect the fruit. The branches are at the gardener's eye level.

Description of the plant

The plant is a natural dwarf, its height varies depending on the rootstock:

seed – up to 2.5 m;
clonal, otherwise vegetative – 1.5-2 m.

The crown is flat, rounded. It consists of medium-sized branches that have a nutty-greenish bark color. The shoots extend from the trunk at a natural right angle. The leaf blades are quite large, elongated oval in shape. The leaves are finely serrated along the edges and have slight pubescence.

The fruits of the Prizemlennoye tree have the following characteristics:

Small size, spherical shape, weight – 90-110 g.
The skin is dense, glossy, greenish-yellow, and when ripe a red blush appears.
The pulp is white, grainy, quite dense and crispy.

The taste of apples is sweet, the aroma is quite strong, characteristic of apple.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of the variety are its following features:

high yield values;
decent winter hardiness;
short growing season;
precociousness;
genetic short stature.

The main disadvantages of Prizemenny are the relative smallness of the fruit and the existing risks of darkening of the apple pulp in case of long-term storage.

Main characteristics

The characteristic features of the Down to Earth apple tree determine the process of planting care, a favorable region for placement, and a suitable place for the seedling.

Crown

The crown of the Earth is flat-round in shape. Formed from medium shoots. The greenish-walnut branches are located perpendicular to the central conductor. The large leaves are like an elongated oval with finely serrated edges. In some cases, the foliage is slightly pubescent.

Pollination

The variety Prizemennye is partially self-fertile. Pollinators are needed for a bountiful harvest:

Bratchud;
Carpet;
Wonderful;
Autumn low growing.

Productivity and frequency of fruiting

Fruiting of the apple tree is regular. The variety produces a harvest every year. Up to 130 kg of sweet fruits are harvested from one planting. The amount of harvest increases with the age of the apple tree.

Winter hardiness

The Grounded apple tree is considered a frost-resistant variety. It tolerates temperatures well down to -40.

Resistance to diseases and pests

Trees of the Prizemlennoye variety do not tolerate fungal infections well. They have poor resistance to a common disease - scab.

Taste qualities

The taste characteristics of the variety are highly appreciated by gardeners. Juicy fruits are considered an excellent option for dessert and sweet preservation.

Delicious and nutritious apple

Apples of the Prizemennye variety are full of useful and nutritious elements. The sweet pulp contains sugar and ascorbic acid. In order to remove sourness from the taste of fruits and make them sweeter, you need to adhere to a certain regime.

In summer, the temperature should not fall below 22 degrees.

History of selection

Breeders from the South Ural Research Institute of Fruit and Vegetable and Potato Growing worked on the development of this variety. In the period from 1969 to 1973, attempts were made to obtain a type of crop of compact size with good yield, which would be resistant to adverse external factors. And it was completely successful. The authors of the Prizemlennoye variety are the Mazunin family couple and the scientific agrobiochemist V.I. Putyatin.

The basis for it was the Vydubetskaya weeping apple tree and a complex hybrid form of culture 1-63-197. The resulting species was able not only to absorb the best qualities of its ancestors, but also to surpass them in certain characteristics. Therefore, by the mid-seventies of the last century, an application was submitted to conduct variety trials. Based on their results, the Prizemlennoye variety was included in the State Register, as it fully confirmed the declared characteristics.

Benefits and harms of eating fruits

Consumption of the fruits of the Prizemlennoye variety will bring significant benefits to the human body:

Replenish iron deficiency.
They will become a source of magnesium and potassium, which contribute to the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system.
Due to the presence of vitamin C, they are considered an excellent prevention of colds.

Apples are harmful if consumed in excess. The high fiber content in fruits can cause exacerbation of colitis when overeating sweet fruits.

Planting an apple tree: what you need to know

Planting a young seedling of the Earth is an important procedure. The further growth and development of the plant depends on its implementation.

Working with soil

The first stage is preparing the site and soil.

Choosing a landing site

The best option for the Down to Earth apple tree is the sunny side of the site. The seedling requires protection from wind and drafts. Particular attention is paid to groundwater. They should not be close to the surface. Excessive moisture can lead to rotting of the root system.

Preparing the ground

The apple tree prefers light soil, without limestone, salt, or moisture. Before planting, the area is dug up and cleared of debris. Part of the soil is mixed with organic fertilizers and humus is added.

Digging a hole

Before forming a pit, take into account the characteristics of the variety . The roots of an adult tree are several times larger than its crown. The main part of the root system goes 60-50 cm underground . The planting hole should be 70-80 cm deep, with a diameter of 100 cm.

At what distance from each other should trees be planted?

The distance between seedlings depends on the form of their cultivation. Slate requires a large space around. The second tree is planted after 3 m. Dwarf varieties are placed at a distance of 1.5-2 m from each other.

Selection of seedlings

A seedling for planting must have a healthy root system. The same color and uniform structure of the roots is a sign of quality. It is important that the shoots of a young apple tree are flexible and not dry.

Best time to plant

The period for planting a seedling Prizemennye depends on the region. In the southern regions, the plant is planted in the fall. The tree will have time to adapt before the onset of cold weather. In regions with harsher winters, planting is done in early spring.

This will prepare the apple tree for cold weather and will strengthen the root system in a new location.

What and why to do when planting seedlings

When planting an apple tree, you need to follow a simple algorithm:

Choose a seedling.
Choose a place to place the tree.
Prepare the soil.
Dig a hole.
Lower the cutting into the hole, straighten the roots, sprinkle with soil, and tamp down.
If necessary, a peg is installed next to the seedling for additional fixation of the young planting.
The tree is watered abundantly.

The root collar of the apple tree remains on the surface. This will prevent the bark from rotting.

Growing the mundane

The Prizemennye variety grows quickly. The first fruits are harvested in the 3-4th year after planting. It is important to take into account the characteristics of the species to provide the necessary care.

How to care for a tree

Caring for the Mundane apple tree is simple: watering, pruning, fertilizing, preventing plant diseases and insect pests. Correct, timely implementation of procedures is the key to a healthy tree.

Crown trimming

The crown of the Prizemlennoye variety is formed in several stages:

Before bud formation, the main conductor is shortened by 20% of the total length.
Subsequent pruning is repeated according to the same parameters.
In the warm season, dry, damaged branches are removed before sheltering for the winter.

Care during flowering

During the flowering period, apple trees support the plant with nutrients and provide timely, regular watering. It is not recommended to trim branches or spray the tree with chemicals.

Irrigation works

The Prizemlennoe variety is watered from May to October. The reason for the first moistening is the beginning of the flowering period. An adult tree requires abundant watering once every 2 weeks. The young seedling is moistened as the soil around the trunk dries.

Disease Control

The Prizemlennoe variety is not resistant to a number of fungal diseases. A number of measures will minimize the risk of disease or cure the affected plant:

Before flowering, the apple tree is sprayed with a solution of Bordeaux mixture. It will rid the tree of scab and moniliosis and will be an excellent preventive measure.
The use of iron sulfate before the buds open will also prevent scab and moniliosis.
In case of acute development of the disease, it is recommended to use commercial chemicals.

Pest protection

The apple tree is harmed by caterpillars, lichens, and aphids. An excellent folk remedy for insects is ash. The plant is watered with an infusion of this component.

Fertilizing the apple tree

An excellent fertilizer for the Grounded variety in the spring is ammonium nitrate. At the stage of flowering and fruit formation, the tree is fertilized with phosphorus nutrient mixtures. Before the onset of cold weather, organic fertilizers are applied.

Fruiting period

The variety Prizemennye is considered early-fruiting. It bears the first harvest 3 years after planting.

Care

Moistening is carried out from the spring season until the end of the autumn season; it must be started during the bud formation season and, depending on the weather, most often, every fourteen days for an old apple tree. For young planting material - as the first layer of soil around the trunk dries.

In the spring season, fruit-bearing trees are fertilized with ammonium nitrate, and in the season when buds begin to form, before the crop ripens, it will be useful to place fertilizers with phosphorus under the roots.

In the autumn season, it is necessary to apply natural fertilizers and fertilizers with phosphorus and potassium, as well as mineral ones. This allows you to increase the level of cold resistance of the fruit-bearing tree and to withstand the winter season well.

Note! Fertilizers with microelements for greenery show a good indicator. This gives a favorable result in the form of harvest and grass immunity

Harvesting

Apple trees regularly produce abundant harvests. Every year its volumes increase.

Collection

Apples ripen by the end of September. Ripe fruits are harvested immediately after reaching maximum ripeness.

Storage

The fruits of the Prizemlennoe variety have a long shelf life - up to 60 days after picking. Please note: long-term storage will negatively affect the apple pulp.

Transportation

Apples must be transported over long distances. Thanks to their long shelf life, they can be transported without compromising their appearance or taste.

Cooking and other uses of apples

The fruits of the variety are used for cooking compotes, preserving preserves, jam, jam. Fresh apples are considered an excellent dessert option.

About growing regions

The numerous advantages of the variety make it possible to cultivate fruit and berry crops in many regions of the country.

Siberia

The high level of winter hardiness allows the tree to be grown at low temperatures in Siberia without the use of measures to insulate the plant.

Ural

The Prizemlennoye variety was bred in the Urals with a focus on growth and development in this region. The apple tree adapts perfectly to environmental conditions.

Frequency of fruiting, self-fertility and pollinating varieties

The variety Prizemennye belongs to the relatively self-fertile subspecies.
However, to increase harvest volumes, it is desirable that the following pollinating varieties grow nearby:

Wonderful;
Bratchud;
Autumn low growing;
Carpet.

The plant bears fruit annually - the yield is not lower than average.