The beautiful-looking apple tree of the Elena variety will give you delicious fruits

Today we will introduce you to a summer hybrid apple tree that begins to bear fruit even earlier than the White Fill. This is the Elena apple tree. The aroma of apples will be unsurpassed. In addition, the fruits of this apple tree are very sugary and sweet. Therefore, these fruits are literally eaten from the branch. In today’s article we will tell you about the main characteristics of the Elena apple tree variety, planting and care rules, advantages and disadvantages of the crop. We will also share with you the secrets of agricultural technology.

Apple tree Elena: variety description and characteristics

Apple tree Elena: photo of variety

As you understand, this apple tree is summer. Therefore, the Elena apple tree begins to bear fruit very early. This is a new variety of the new 21st century. And Elena was bred by Belarusian breeders. Its fruits are very juicy and have an excellent taste. And the aroma is simply amazing. It is thanks to these characteristics that this variety has become especially popular among gardeners in Belarus. And also the whole world. It should be said right away that this is a hybrid. Therefore, it is not worth growing new trees from seeds. Seedlings will definitely lose the properties of the mother tree.

The taste of the fruits of the Elena apple tree is excellent. It surpassed its relatives in juiciness. When apples ripen, they turn light green. Sometimes pinkish red with a slight blush on the sides. Due to the fact that apples have large subcutaneous points, the appearance of the fruit is very original. Apples themselves are not very big. The weight of one fruit is usually 150 grams. However, if the harvest is plentiful, the apples will become smaller. The pulp of the fruit is grainy, juicy, sweet and aromatic. Many gardeners note the rich spicy taste. The fruits contain dry matter, acid, sugar, and pectin. And, of course, vitamin C, which the human body needs so much. If apples are overripe, their taste is lost. Therefore, the harvest should be harvested on time.

Detailed description

The Elena apple tree has individual dendrological characteristics and botanical features , which are important to consider when choosing this variety.

A brief overview of the Elena variety apple tree, a description of the characteristics in the video:

Characteristics of wood

Compact apple trees of the Elena variety up to 3 m in height have:

• medium density pyramidal crown;
• thick, rounded shoots;
• gray-green bark, which turns brown with age, cracks and begins to crumble;
• a branched root system, which, depending on the rootstock, may or may not have a central core;
• oval-shaped foliage, intense green on top and slightly grayish on the underside, curved inward, with jagged edges pointing upward;
• white and fragrant flowers that attract the attention of insects in late April - early May.

Information ! A remarkable feature of the Elena variety apple tree is that the edges of the branches are densely strewn with leaves, but they are completely absent closer to the trunk.

This is how the Elena apple tree looks in the photo:

Fruits and their taste

The variety is valued for its universal-purpose dessert fruits, which differ:

• flat-round shape without ribbing;
• light green skin with a spectacular pink-red blush, occupying the main part of the surface of the fruit and with numerous subcutaneous dots of gray color;
• green-white pulp with red veins of moderate density, fine-grained structure, with a balanced taste that harmoniously combines sweetness and acidity;
• an average size of 90-100 g (maximum - up to 150 g).

Tasters rate the taste of Elena apples as 4.8 points.

Fruit composition:

Expert opinion

Chernyaeva Tatyana Dmitrievna

Absolutely loves gardening and grows only organic vegetables

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The taste is lost when apples are overripe.

Frost resistance

The winter hardiness of the Elena apple tree is at a high level; the variety is able to withstand low temperatures in a temperate continental climate . In areas with severe frosts, trees require shelter, both at the base of the trunk and in the trunk circles near the plants.

Apple tree Elena: reviews from gardeners about the variety

Apple tree Elena: photo of variety

An incomparable advantage, based on reviews from gardeners about the Elena apple tree, is its early fruiting. Excellent presentation of the fruit. And also the unsurpassed taste of the fruit. Gardeners also note the increased winter hardiness of the Elena apple tree. As well as resistance to major diseases and pests. If we talk about the disadvantages of the variety, then we should say right away: if you do not harvest on time, the apples may fall off. Therefore, all work in the garden must be carried out on time.

Due to the fact that this variety is a summer one, its fruits do not last long. Therefore, it is best to immediately process the product or consume it fresh. Some gourmets note that apples taste a little bland. However, all sweet hybrids have exactly this taste. Do not forget that the sweetness and juiciness of the pulp does not last so long. As a rule, apples are stored for no more than 3 weeks. And then the fruit becomes tasteless, and the aroma and juiciness are lost.

And usually the fruits ripen completely right on the branches. Red dots appear under the skin, which give the fruit an unsurpassed sweet and sour aroma. So the taste of apples is excellent. The trees are usually low-growing and compact. They grow no more than 3 meters in height. The crown is spreading, however, the shoots are not formed so intensively. The shape of the crown is pyramidal.

History of selection

Selection work to obtain this species was carried out in 2000 by Belarusian scientists E. A. Semashko, Z. A. Kozlovsky, G. M. Maruno. The Elena hybrid was obtained by crossing 2 varieties of apples - Discovery and Early Sweet .
Having successfully passed all the tests, in 2007 the early summer variety Elena was added to the State Register as proposed for cultivation in the North-Western and Central regions of Russia, as well as in all regions of Belarus.

Apple tree Elena: features of the variety

Apple tree Elena: photo of variety

The tips of the branches point upward, the bark is usually grayish green. The leaves are oval in shape and have a smooth surface. There are small serrations on the sides, and the foliage is always a rich green color. But on the inside the leaves are paler. It should also be mentioned that closer to the main trunk there are not so many leaves. This apple tree variety does not require additional pollinators. Therefore, the harvest is always consistently high. Moreover, it is annual.

The Elena apple tree blooms in early spring, attracting many insects. As a rule, very often these apple trees are grown on an industrial scale. Moreover, up to 25 tones of ripe product are obtained from one hectare. The apple tree variety Elena is considered winter-hardy. Therefore, the apple tree tolerates winter normally. There is no need to additionally insulate the root system. The Elena apple tree is also resistant to diseases and pests. It is especially important to emphasize that trees still sometimes suffer from fungal infections. Therefore, do not forget to carry out preventive examinations and treatments. Sometimes the apple tree also suffers from powdery mildew.

Advantages and disadvantages

Planting and care

To get a high and abundant harvest, you need to choose the right place for planting. And, of course, properly care for the plant. If the Elena apple tree blooms actively, it will attract many insects. Therefore, many ovaries are formed. Trees are often fed with organic fertilizers in the spring. And in summer and autumn - mineral. This also stimulates fruiting.

Apple trees of the Elena variety are planted in the fall, after the leaves have fallen from the trees. Usually the root system has time to strengthen before winter. And even before spring it will recover. However, you must follow the rules of agricultural technology. And also provide the plant with the necessary conditions for growth. If you decide to plant an apple tree in the spring, it is best to do this before the sap begins to flow. Therefore, planting work should be carried out very early. Don't forget about abundant watering. Because during planting, young plants really need moisture.

It is best to plant apple trees on loamy soil, chernozem. Because on such soil fruiting will be most active. The apple tree Elena does not like acidic soil. Therefore, if necessary, you will need to add wood ash to the soil. This also helps structure the soil. The earth becomes softer. It is important to ensure that the culture has enough nutrition. It is especially important to monitor the nitrogen that plants need to grow green mass. And that means for the development of the tree. Apple trees should not be planted where old trees have recently grown. Because in such places the root systems are usually intertwined. This means that new plantings will lack nutrients and beneficial microelements.

Apple tree Elena: planting rules

The planting hole, as a rule, has the shape of a cube with a side of 80 cm. Organic fertilizers should be placed at the bottom of the hole. For example, humus. The hole should be dug in advance. Approximately two weeks before the planned date of planting seedlings. The pit should warm up well during this time. Then organic fertilizers will begin to work. Frosts should completely recede. Otherwise, the root system may die. Do not forget about the distance between seedlings, it should be at least 3 meters, the apple tree should be provided with good lighting, the free space around the trunk contributes to more intensive root development.

It is best to plant Elena apple trees in a well-lit area. Because in such places the crop bears fruit more intensively. And the fruits ripen faster. You can plant other apple trees nearby. Because this variety gets along well with other related crops. And sometimes, next to such neighbors, the apple tree bears fruit even better. It is best to plant Elena on loamy soil, chernozem. If you have heavy clay soil on your site, then you should add peat and rotted compost. As well as coarse river sand to improve the soil structure. If groundwater lies very close to the surface of the earth, then planting plants in such areas is undesirable. Choose elevated places for apple trees.

How to care for the variety?

summer pruning apple orchard, Indian Garden farm Bridgewater Lunenburg County Nova Scotia

Very often, supports are installed near adult plants so that the branches do not break under the weight of the fruit. The shoots of this variety grow quite actively. Therefore, you will need to regularly shape the crown and trim the plants. All old and diseased branches will also need to be removed over time. Because they take away strength. But fruits do not form on them at all. The plant does not need additional pollinators. Because this apple tree is bisexual.

Flowers actively attract insects with their scent. Therefore, there are usually no problems with pollination. As you remember, these apple trees bear fruit every year. The harvest, as a rule, is always consistently high. A lot of fruit is set. Usually the first apples ripen already in the second or third year after planting. Peak fruiting occurs at the age of five. However, the activity of ovary formation largely depends on the region of growth. And also on the peculiarities of caring for an apple tree.

The tree blooms in April or May. The flowers are usually white, slightly pinkish. Gathered in small groups. The harvest begins to ripen in July. Therefore, this hybrid is considered early ripening. Because apple trees begin to bear their first fruits quite early. In August, the crop already finishes bearing fruit. Store food in cool places for no more than a month. If you want to get larger fruits, then the flower stalks should be thinned. It is in this case that the apples will be large. As a rule, fruits ripen together. They are approximately the same size.

Advice from experienced gardeners

If you are going to plant the Elena variety for the first time, the following tips from experienced gardeners will be useful to you:

1. Coniferous crops are a bad neighbor for an apple tree, as they acidify the soil and their resins harm the root system. For the same reason, you cannot mulch the soil around the apple tree with pine sawdust.
2. Elena blooms profusely and pollinates well, and multiple ovaries lead to overload of branches and shrunken fruits. Gardeners recommend thinning out the inflorescences by hand. The ratio of ovaries to leaves should ideally be 1:25, and the distance between future fruits should be 10–25 cm.
3. It is better to harvest this variety slightly unripe, since the fruits quickly ripen on the tree and fall off, losing their taste, and when stored in the cellar, on the contrary, they gain flavor.

Video: Apple tree variety Elena

The Elena variety is popular among gardeners, which is not surprising: the delicious fruits ripen much earlier than other dessert apples. In addition, the variety is very productive and does not burden summer residents with complex care. If you follow the recommendations given in the article, the apple tree will delight you with fruits for many years.

Growing in different regions

Apple tree Elena: photo of variety

In different regions, this hybrid adapts differently to growing conditions. Apple trees grow best in temperate climates. Namely in central Russia. It should also be said that this plant grows beautifully in Belarus. Because this hybrid was bred there. The fruit ripens in these latitudes in July. However, this culture thrives in other conditions.

The yield even in harsh climatic zones will be slightly less. But the crop will also bear fruit annually and consistently. Due to the fact that the soil freezes strongly in Siberia, the soil loses nutrients and microelements. Therefore, in these regions special attention should be paid to fertilizing. In order for the crop to bear fruit, you need to enrich the soil with nutrients. And also microelements that are so necessary for the plant.

Usually, before wintering, the soil is mulched so that the root system does not freeze. And the snow cover formed more intensely near the tree trunk circle. In the south there are practically no problems with this culture. Apple trees there bear fruit even earlier and more abundantly. Make sure that the soil does not dry out too much. Moisten the soil in a timely manner. The ovaries can sometimes fall off in extreme heat. Therefore, monitor the air humidity in the area and temperature conditions. The soil dries out very quickly in hot conditions. Therefore, nutrition becomes difficult. Sometimes this causes the flowers to fall off. And the fruits are not formed at all. Therefore, in southern latitudes, plants need to be watered intensively. But in a temperate climate, plants have enough natural precipitation.

Harvesting and storage

It is better to harvest the crop at the stage of technical maturity, since the shelf life without loss of gastronomic characteristics is no more than 3 weeks, subject to the following basic conditions:

• cool room;
• low humidity;
• storing fruits in wooden boxes or cardboard boxes sprinkled with sawdust or river sand.

After a short storage period, the juiciness and taste of apples disappears, and the fruits become tasteless.

Rules of agricultural technology

Apple tree Elena: photo of variety

As you remember, you need to care for the Elena apple tree, observing all the rules of agricultural technology. Therefore, you need to carefully inspect the plant throughout the growing season. And also carry out certain procedures and activities in a timely manner. In early spring, you will need to inspect the tree's crown to identify any damage. It is no secret that it is in early spring that many pests wake up and attack weakened plants. So you should not forget about preventative treatments.

Also, not all shoots overwinter successfully, so many branches become damaged and become diseased and dry. Therefore, they will need to be trimmed or treated in time. In spring, sanitary pruning should be carried out to remove all diseased shoots. However, do not forget to treat the cut areas with any antibacterial drug. Either crushed coal or garden pitch. Don't forget to remove fallen leaves from the garden. And also remove weeds that interfere with plant development.

In order for oxygen to better reach the root system and moisture to remain in the soil longer, the soil around the trunk should be loosened. If necessary, the ground should be mulched. Sawdust and straw are used as mulching material. And also dry grass. Young seedlings will also need to be watered intensively in the fall so that the plants enter the dormant state the most protected. If the apple tree blooms too much, you will need to remove the flower stalks. So that the fruits do not become smaller over time, and the load on the branches is distributed evenly. For the winter, you should not forget to cover the tree trunk circle with the help of various insulation materials. Sometimes the top layer of soil is covered with humus or compost. So that the plant can overwinter better.

Features of cultivation

In general, caring for the Elena apple tree is not much different from other varieties of apple trees. You just need to remember some of the nuances associated with the characteristics of the variety.

• Since the Elena apple tree can be classified as a semi-dwarf variety, to plant it it is necessary to choose a place where the groundwater comes no closer than 2.5 meters to the surface for the full development of the roots.

• Since trees of this variety are prone to overload with ovaries and fruits, it is advisable to ration the ovaries after flowering.
• It is better to eat the fruits directly from the tree and regularly collect them and process them into compotes, juices, etc.

Apple tree Elena and diseases

It's no secret that disease is easier to prevent. Therefore, do not forget to treat trees from garden pests in a timely manner. To prevent fungal infections from affecting the branches and leaves of plants, you will need to trim off all diseased parts in a timely manner. And also burn them. Sick trees are recommended to be treated with urea before sap flow begins in early spring. After the apple tree has finished blooming, gardeners recommend spraying the trunk and branches with a soap solution containing sodium carbonate.

What is soap for, you ask. Everything is very simple. This substance helps sodium carbonate to attach to the surface of the bark and leaves. And also does not wash off for a long time. If you notice signs of cytosporosis on a tree, you will need to disinfect the branches. Trim damaged parts. And also treat the cut areas with antibacterial drugs.

Don't forget about fertilizing. In summer, it is recommended to apply phosphorus fertilizers to the soil. It is best to water the trees after incorporating fertilizer into the soil. So that beneficial substances penetrate into the deep layers of the earth. If your tree is completely affected by any disease, then in order to avoid infecting neighboring crops, you will need to dig up the plant and burn it.

Tree diseases and their control

As already mentioned, the Bylina apple tree is highly resistant to scab. But still, like many fruit trees, it can be subject to some other diseases and pest attacks

Nowadays there are many products on sale that can eliminate the occurrence of these problems, so it is important to notice their occurrence in time and take the necessary measures in a timely manner.

Let's look at the main diseases of apple trees:

1. Powdery mildew. You can notice the appearance of the disease by a whitish coating, which gradually acquires a brown color with dark dots. At the first signs, you need to spray with a sulfur solution, based on the ratio of 80 g of product per 10 liters of water.
2. Fruit rot. Identified by the presence of brown spots on the fruits, on which gray-white circles later appear. The apples dry out and fall off. Such carrion must be collected and disposed of. For control, treatment with 1% Bordeaux mixture is used.
3. Subcutaneous spotting. The fruits take on a deformed appearance and depressions appear on them. The tree looks like it has been damaged by a hail storm or a pest attack. The reasons for the appearance are low soil pH and lack of calcium. To eliminate the problem, you need to add lime to the soil, and also spray with calcium chloride at the rate of 3 tbsp. l. substances per 7 liters of liquid.
4. Black cancer. This fungal disease is very dangerous for the apple orchard. Signs of the disease are brown spots on the fruits, which gradually grow, the apples rot, and reddish spots appear on the leaves. Then the branches and trunk become infected, on which dark growths can be seen. The tree is gradually dying. At the first signs of cancer, you need to remove all affected parts of the apple tree and treat it with a sulfur solution.
5. Late blight. This fungal disease develops against the background of waterlogging. It leads to root rot and yellowing of foliage in spring and summer. In autumn the leaves turn purple. A good prevention of the disease is to plant a tree in light loamy soil or on a hill, reduce watering, and use a 1% solution of copper sulfate in the lower part of the tree.

To prevent the occurrence of diseases, gardeners recommend:

• loosen the soil under the trees to remove weeds;
• remove plant debris and fallen leaves in the fall;
• trim branches that are affected by diseases;
• Cover the cut areas with garden varnish;
• remove and bury carrion away from the garden;
• carry out preventive spraying with Bordeaux mixture or copper sulfate in early spring and before wintering;
• Do regular inspections of the garden to identify diseases.

Let's look at the main insect pests of apple trees:

1. Hawthorn. This is a moth with white wings. Its larvae (caterpillars) feed on the sap of leaves, causing damage to the tree. To eliminate pests, spraying with chemicals “Karbofos”, “Phosfamide”, “Metafos” is carried out.
2. Hawthorn moth. The larvae of this insect feed on leaves. To combat this pest, treatment is carried out at the initial phase of flowering with Karbofos.
3. Winter moth. The butterfly appears and lays eggs closer to the autumn period. In the spring, the emerging caterpillars feed on the flowers and leaves of the apple tree. In this case, treatment with the chemical preparation “Karbofos” will be required.
4. Mite. Identified by red spots on leaves or bark. To combat the pest, the insecticides “Karbofos” or “Kleschevit” are used.
5. Aphid. When this small pest appears, a coating appears on the leaves, they curl and dry out. It is necessary to spray with Karbofos. At the beginning of the lesion, soap or tobacco solutions can help.
6. Apple codling moth. Moths that lay eggs on the surface of fruits. The larvae that emerge from them spoil the apples by gnawing numerous holes in them. To combat them, pesticides such as “Fitoverm”, “Match” (for large plantings) or “Decis”, “Fury” (for small ones) are used.

For pest control treatments, folk remedies help well - spraying with garlic, onion, tobacco and soap solutions, tansy infusion. To combat insect pests, it is also necessary to dig up the soil, remove weeds and old peeling bark, whitewash trees, hang hunting belts and traps.

Pest varieties

If we talk about pests, the following insects spread most actively on apple tree branches: aphids, hawthorn, and codling moth. You can get rid of them if you spray the trees with insecticides in time. If there are not very many aphids on the site, then you can treat the plants with Bordeaux mixture. This substance copes well with this garden pest. If there are too many aphids, you can use karbofos or a decoction of wormwood.

Many folk remedies cope well with pests. To get rid of hawthorn, you can treat the apple tree with Aktar. Many gardeners complain that the codling moth often settles on plants. You should remove any ovaries damaged by it. And also treat the entire crown of the plant with chemicals. Therefore, this particular pest is considered the most dangerous.

However, when fruits form on the plants, it is not advisable to spray the trees with chemicals. The plants should be treated for the first time in early spring, and the second time immediately after flowering. It is at this time that most pests wake up, so if you get rid of harmful insects in time, then in summer and autumn there will be no threat to your apple tree. After the crop bears fruit, you can treat the plants again, but don’t be alarmed, diseases and pests do not always affect plants, so sometimes it’s just enough to inspect the crown of the tree in time so as not to miss the right moment.