Apples are the most common fruits that are eaten fresh, preserved and in cooking.
They contain a large amount of vitamins, nutrients and microelements that are so necessary for our body.
Many gardeners grow fruit crops not only for their own consumption, but also to replenish the family budget.
One of the most popular varieties for transportation is the Gloucester apple tree. In order to grow this fruit crop on your site, you need to familiarize yourself with all the features of the variety, planting scheme and further care.
Description
The Gloucester apple tree is the most widespread European fruit crop.
The history of the variety begins in 1951 , when in Germany German breeders crossed the famous varieties Richard Delicious and Glockenapfrel.
The Gloucester apple tree not only inherited all the positive qualities of its “parents”, but also received unsurpassed consumer qualities of the fruit and high frost resistance.
Having passed all checks and tests, the variety was released into different regions of Europe.
In Russia, the apple tree has gained great popularity not only among gardeners, but also in the processing industry .
Additional characteristics will help you get acquainted with the variety in more detail and learn all its features.
Advantages and difficulties
A fast-growing, winter-hardy apple tree that tolerates frosts down to -200 C. If the temperature often drops below, the yield can drop to critical levels. This is where the difficulties end and only the advantages remain.
You should especially be afraid of spring frosts, when buds and shoots are already emerging.
The advantages of the Gloucester apple tree can definitely be called:
- winter hardiness;
- small crown volume and tree size;
- resistance to scab, excess moisture and powdery mildew;
- excellent taste and long storage of fruits without processing.
additional characteristics
Despite the fact that Gloucester is a heat-loving fruit crop, the variety has fairly high frost resistance.
Advantages and disadvantages
Thanks to its advantages, the apple tree is gaining increasing popularity among gardeners.
The positive features of the variety include:
- Consumer qualities of fruits;
- High yield;
- Immunity to powdery mildew.
Disadvantages include strong tree growth .
Annual growth
Gloucester apples.
The variety is characterized by rapid development and strong growth. The annual growth is more than 10 cm.
Dimensions of an adult tree
The young tree has a medium dense, pyramidal crown.
With age, the skeletal branches, located at an acute angle to the trunk, grow and the crown becomes more rounded.
The height of an adult tree is above average, on average 8 – 8.5 m. You should know! The apple tree produces a very small number of shoots.
Precociousness
The first fruiting of the apple tree occurs 4 years after planting .
On a dwarf rootstock, the variety is more early-bearing; the first harvest is harvested 2 years after planting.
Tasting assessment
- The fruits are round, conical in shape, bright yellow in color, with a blurred outer blush.
- The pulp is cream-colored, dense, juicy, sweet and sour, dessert taste .
- The tasting score is 4.6 points .
Chemical composition of fruits
Fruits are enriched with a large number of antioxidants, they also contain:
- Sodium;
- Iron;
- Zinc;
- Calcium.
But despite such an amount of useful substances, the content of vitamin C in fruits is much less than that of other crops.
Productivity
The variety is characterized by regular fruiting with large fruits weighing 180 - 200 g.
If the fruit crop has not been replanted or diseased, the yield in year 10 is 75 kg of fruit per tree .
Winter hardiness
The apple tree has high frost resistance. At low sub-zero temperatures of 35 degrees, the tree is not damaged by frost .
Disease resistance
The variety has good immunity to powdery mildew and is rarely susceptible to the common scab disease, but the apple bark is very sensitive to ultraviolet radiation.
To prevent sunburn, gardeners recommend whitewashing the trunk in the spring.
Growing areas
The fruit crop can develop well and bring good yields in all regions of Russia .
The apple tree is more demanding in care in the Northern regions and in the Urals.
Description of the Gloucester apple tree with photo
The plant has a fast growth rate. Experts characterize the type of fruiting as mixed. That is, ovaries are formed on rods, rings and fruit bags.
Wood appearance
The moderately dense, pyramidal crown acquires rounded outlines in adulthood. The tops are directed towards the sky. Skeletal branches form an angle of 45-600 with the trunk. The buds are easily excitable and have low shoot formation.
The Gloster apple tree variety has high shelf life and can be transported over long distances without the use of stabilizers.
Description of fruits
The skin is bright crimson, the flesh has a delicate creamy tint. At the time of collection it has a yellowish-green flank. The fruit is large, reaching a weight of 140-200 g.
Conical rounded shape with pronounced ribbing at the top. The skin is strong, glossy and smooth. Multiple light-colored subcutaneous dots are visible. Recessed closed cup.
The funnel can be wide or narrow. There may be rustiness. The subcup tube is in the shape of a medium-sized cone. The peduncle is strong and medium in size. Heart-shaped center with oval seeds.
Medium sized axial cavity
Reviews
Veronica. Sevsk. “Even though I do gardening myself, I still buy apples at the store in winter. I really like Gloucester apples. They have an attractive appearance and very sweet, juicy pulp . You can find them in almost all markets and stores. I would like to add that they can be stored for a long time without any processing and are harmless when consumed.”
Dolgikh. S. Astrakhan region. “For a long time I have been growing only one variety of apple trees, Gloucester. I have about 12 trees growing . I settled on this variety only because the apples are very transportable and in demand; I bought them after I studied the description of the photo. The trees are also easy to care for and do not take much time. I carry out only spring and autumn treatments. In summer, during droughts, I irrigate using the rain method.”
Mashkova S.V. Abinsk. “When I purchased a Gloucester apple tree several years ago, I did not even expect such a yield. From one tree I remove about 50 kilograms of fruit . Apples with a beautiful presentation have very tasty pulp. In the autumn, my housemates line up when I bring them home from the dacha. Sometimes there isn't even enough for everyone. I would like to add that the apple tree itself is developing well and does not cause any additional trouble.”
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
- Gardeners value this variety for the following advantages:
- excellent keeping quality of fruits;
- precocity;
- stability of yields;
- apples tolerate transportation well;
- beautiful presentation of the fruit;
- excellent taste;
- good disease resistance.
- Commonly recognized disadvantages:
- vigorous growth;
- lack of heat affects the taste of the fruit;
- During the rainy season, scab damage occurs.
Features of planting and care
Landing
Feeding.
For good development of the tree, the planting site must be sunny , protected from northern winds and with fertile soil.
You should know ! A 2-year-old seedling is selected for planting.
Deadlines
The apple tree takes root well in both spring and autumn. In spring, planting is carried out after the soil has warmed up well.
In autumn, planting work is carried out 20 days before the first frost.
Distance
Before planting, you should pay attention to the fact that an adult tree has a fairly wide crown .
To ensure that the apple trees do not interfere with each other during growth, they have enough nutrients and a sufficient amount of light; a distance of 5 m is taken into account between them.
Scheme
Having correctly selected the site for planting, they begin to work.
Although the apple tree is an unpretentious plant, planting a seedling should still be done according to the following scheme:
- Before planting, inspect the roots . If the roots are dry, soak them generously in water. Broken or too long roots are carefully trimmed with pruning shears;
- Dig a hole 70 cm deep and 100 cm wide. to the bottom and dug into the soil;
- a peg is driven in next to it , which will serve as a support for the seedling;
- On the south side of the peg, a young tree is placed on a mound. Next, carefully distribute the roots in different directions and carefully bury them with soil so that the root collar is 3 cm above the ground .
After the work is done, a hole is formed near the trunk and watered abundantly with water.
Growing
In order for the apple tree to begin bearing fruit in a timely manner with high yields, the soil should not be allowed to dry out .
Watering the tree is carried out 3 times a month, adding 2 buckets of water. In some regions, in order to avoid freezing of the crown and root system, the apple tree is covered with covering material in the autumn.
Agricultural technology
The first feeding of the seedling is carried out the next year after planting.
Watering the seedling.
- In early spring, nitrogen fertilizers are applied to the tree trunk.
- In summer, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are applied.
- In late autumn, feed with mineral complexes.
Pruning and crown formation
To stimulate growth and strengthen the lateral branches, the central conductor is cut by 1/3 immediately after planting.
To prevent the adult tree from becoming too dense, the crown begins to be formed in tiered order the following year.
During the growth of the apple tree, cut off all dry, damaged branches.
Pollinator varieties
Gloucester is a self-fertile crop, but to obtain high yields it requires additional pollinators .
For this role, the best varieties are:
- Gala,
- Spartan,
- Jonathan,
- Idared.
Agricultural technology
The yield and immunity of the crop depend on correctly performed agrotechnical measures.
Landing
Trees that are 2 years old are planted. Purchase seedlings from plant nurseries or garden centers from reliable sellers.
Landing season
Young trees are planted in open ground in spring or autumn. The first option is preferable for regions with a temperate climate. In warm areas, planting in the fall is allowed.
Preparation of seedlings
The root system of the apple tree is placed in a container with warm water. To prevent diseases, you can add a few crystals of potassium permanganate. If there are damaged areas, they are cut off and disinfected.
An apple tree is planted in open ground as follows:
- dig a hole 60 centimeters deep, 1 meter in diameter;
- pour fertile substrate;
- A seedling is placed in the middle, the roots are straightened, and covered with earth;
- water abundantly, mulch;
- A stake is driven in next to the seedling.
READ MORE: Tomato purse characteristics and description of the variety, yield with photos
Important! The root collar should be buried no more than 2-3 centimeters.
Watering rules
The Gloucester apple tree is watered in stages. For the first time in a season, the ground is irrigated before the buds open. The tree is then watered 20 days after flowering. The third time the procedure is carried out 2 weeks before harvest. Depending on the age, plants use from 30 to 120 liters of water.
Top dressing
Fertilize the soil in the 3rd year after planting the apple tree. In spring, nitrogen is added to promote the growth of vegetative mass. Then, before and after flowering, complex mineral fertilizers are used. In summer you can carry out foliar feeding.
To stimulate the growth of side shoots, the top of the main stem is shortened in the first year. Then dry, diseased, frozen branches are removed. Every year, shoots that thicken the crown are cut off.
Shelter for the winter
In the southern regions, winter shelter for the Gloucester apple tree is not required. In colder areas, the tree is wrapped in agrofibre. The tree trunk circle is mulched with humus.
In early spring, to prevent diseases, preventive spraying is carried out with a solution of Bordeaux mixture. To prevent the appearance of insects, trees are treated with Karbofos and Nitrophen according to the instructions.
Features of ripening and fruiting
Knowing all the peculiarities of fruiting, gardeners will not make mistakes in the transportability of fruits.
of the Gloucester Apple tree not only have high taste, but also a very attractive, marketable appearance .
Fruiting
Start
The first harvest of an apple tree is formed in the 4th - 5th year.
Peculiarities
Thanks to its fruiting characteristics, the apple tree has gained not only great popularity in gardening, but also in industrial production .
The best fruiting indicators include:
- No fruit shedding;
- Regular fruiting;
- Yields are increasing every year.
Deadlines
Fruit ripening
The fruit ripening period occurs in autumn. The fruits are harvested from mid-September to early October.
Fruit storage
The advantages of apple trees include not only high fruiting rates, but also long shelf life.
The uniqueness of the Gloucester variety is that the longer the apples lie in a cool place, the more their taste improves.
Long shelf life with high transportability allows the fruits to be consumed fresh until May.
Important! Apples last much longer in the refrigerator.
Harvest and storage
This variety is characterized by long-term strong growth, which moves the appearance of fruits to a later time. You can start collecting fruits from late September to early October. Apples become ripe after the New Year holidays. The fruits need to sit for a certain time for their taste to improve and develop.
Did you know? Among the Slavs, the exchange of apples between a couple was a symbol of reciprocity. During matchmaking, the girl accepted the fruit of an apple tree from the guy, which meant consent to marriage.
If properly stored, Gloucester apples do not lose their quality until February. They can stay on the refrigerator shelf until May. Apples are great for eating in winter and spring. They are also suitable for processing: you can make juice, jam, jam from them, or make drying.
So, the main advantages of Gloucester apples are that they have a marketable appearance and are perfectly stored all winter. This variety is recommended for the southern regions, and in the middle zone it needs insulation for the winter. To obtain high yields, standard agrotechnical measures are needed for apple trees - timely watering and fertilizing, pruning and shaping, protective and preventive work.
Subspecies and options
The Gloucester apple tree variety acts not only as a source material for breeding new varieties, but is also grafted onto other crops.
With the help of rootstocks for low-growing crops, Gloster has additional advantages of the variety.
On a dwarf rootstock
The Gloucester apple tree on a dwarf rootstock is a low-growing crop; the tree reaches a maximum height of 2.5 m with a crown width of 3 m.
This rootstock is valued in gardening for the following reasons::
- Early fruiting;
- Resistance to spring frosts;
- Ease of care.
The dwarf apple tree has a root system located at ground level, which requires regular watering and shelter before the winter period.
Advice! To make a dwarf tree more stable, it needs to be supported.
Columnar
Gloster on a columnar rootstock is a semi-dwarf variety.
The tree reaches no more than 2 m in height, with a dense crown, which can significantly save space on the site.
The columnar apple tree has a number of advantages , which include:
- Good survival rate;
- Fruiting 2 years after planting;
- High yield;
- Decorative look.
disadvantage of this variety is that the fruiting period is short.
After 15 years, the apple tree should be replaced on the site. When caring for columnar crops, you should take into account that the succulent bark of the tree attracts rodents.
Pollination and pollinators
Gloucester is a self-pollinating variety , so you can get an apple harvest even without other fruit trees on the site.
As practice shows, under such conditions up to 60% of ovaries are formed. In order for the tree to bear fruit to its full potential, other apple trees are still needed. The most suitable varieties include:
Pollen from them is carried by pollinating insects. Bees and bumblebees play a significant role in this process.
Growing in different regions
The Gloucester apple tree has its own development characteristics in different regions.
In outskirts of Moscow
The peculiarity of growing apple trees in the Moscow region is regular watering in the summer .
Timely fertilizing will contribute to high yields.
In this region, the apple tree tolerates low temperatures well in winter and does not need additional shelter.
In Siberia
Siberia is characterized by long winters with severe frosts.
To ensure that the Gloucester fruit crop does not suffer in winter, the apple tree must be prepared in the fall. For this:
- The tree is covered with covering material,
- The tree trunk circle is insulated with 5 cm of humus.
Advice! To avoid rodent attacks in winter, the tree trunk is wrapped with spruce branches.
In the Urals
In order for the Gloucester apple tree to take root well in the Urals, before planting it is necessary to add the following to the soil:
- Sand,
- Compost,
- Organic fertilizers.
After planting, the seedling must be tied to a support, which will prevent damage to the tree from strong winds.
In the Urals, trees are often damaged by sunburn both in summer and winter. To avoid this, whitewashing of the tree trunk is carried out 2 times a year, in spring and autumn.
In Belarus
Apple variety Gloucester.
The Gloucester apple tree has successfully passed all tests for growing in Belarus. But still, in this region, plants and fruit crops are often affected by scab .
To prevent damage to the apple tree from fungal diseases, it is necessary to regularly inspect the tree .
Timely treatment at the initial stages of the disease will prevent a decline in yield and death of the plant.
In Ukraine
In Ukraine, the soil is poor in nutrients.
Before planting Gloucester apple trees in this region, it is necessary to add organic and mineral fertilizers to the soil in equal proportions.
You should not plant the plant in valleys and near forest belts, as in these places there are high night frosts that the seedling may not be able to cope with.
Disease and pest control
The Gloucester apple tree is relatively rarely affected by diseases typical of the crop, having a genetically “built-in” immunity. The exception is scab. Its prevention needs to be given special attention.
Scab, even in the most severe cases, most likely will not destroy the apple tree. But this pathogenic fungus has a very negative effect on productivity. The fruits, before they have time to ripen, become smaller, deformed and turn black. Those that do ripen have practically no taste and their keeping quality is sharply reduced.
The first sign of the development of the disease is small spots on the youngest leaves, slightly lighter than their main color. It is very difficult to notice them. As a rule, this occurs in mid-May, 3–3.5 weeks after the leaves bloom. Gradually they become covered with a brownish-olive coating, which then thickens and turns black. Damage in the form of gray-black round spots also appears on the fruits. Their surface cracks deeply, the flesh in these places becomes dry, as if “wooden”.
Scab on the leaves of an apple tree is usually clearly noticeable when the disease has already gone far enough
To prevent the development of scab, every year in spring and autumn, the soil under the apple tree is deeply loosened and sprayed with a urea solution (100 g per 1 liter of water). Unblown leaf buds are treated with Zircon, Horus or Skor.
Horus is used to treat unopened leaf buds
Trees that were severely damaged last season are treated with 3% Bordeaux mixture. After this, the bark takes on a bluish tint for several weeks (this is normal). The soil in the tree trunk circle can be shed with a 2% solution of ferrous sulfate.
Apple tree fruits affected by scab, even if they ripen, are practically not stored and have no taste
Folk remedies for fighting scab are good for prevention. During the summer, trees are sprayed regularly, at intervals of about 10 days. If the season is rainy, more frequent applications may be required.
- Saline solution (1 kg per 10 liters of water). The trees are treated for the first time in early spring. This slightly slows down the awakening of leaf buds, so the risk that they will suffer from return spring frosts is minimized.
- Soda ash solution (150 g per 10 liters of water). Dilute the soda with warm water and wait 30–40 minutes. To make the product stick better to the bark and leaves, add small shavings of laundry or green potassium soap (about 50 g).
- Infusion of horsetail rhizomes (2.5–3 kg of raw materials per 10 liters of water). The raw materials are crushed, infused for 3–4 days, filled with warm water, and filtered before processing.
- Infusion of sifted wood ash (1 liter per 1 liter of boiling water). The product is ready for use after 2-3 days; first you need to strain it.
Having detected alarming signs, the tree is sprayed three times with an interval of 12–15 days with a solution of the preparations Raek, Strobi, Abiga-Pik. But they cannot be used during flowering.
Excess nitrogen in the soil contributes to scab infection. Therefore, you should not get carried away with fertilizers containing this macroelement. But phosphorus and potassium, on the contrary, increase the tree’s immunity and its resistance to all kinds of pathogenic fungi.
Video: how to recognize scab on an apple tree and fight it
Of the common pests, the ones that show the greatest interest in the Gloucester apple tree are aphids, codling moths, moths and copperheads, slimy sawfly larvae and leaf rollers. For prevention, unopened leaf buds are sprayed with a 0.3% solution of Karbofos or Nitrafen. When the buds fall off, the treatment is repeated using 1% copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture. These are the most common options, although any fungicide will do (Oleocuprit, Kuprozan, Abiga-Pik, Topaz, Skor). The solution is prepared in strict accordance with the manufacturer's instructions given in the instructions.
Karbofos is an excellent remedy for preventing the appearance of many pests dangerous to apple trees.
Various herbs also have a good preventive effect if planted around an apple tree. Their sharp, characteristic aroma repels many pests. Wormwood, nasturtium, calendula, and marigolds are suitable.
Marigolds are not only cute, but also useful flowers; the pungent smell of their tops repels many insect pests
Reviews from gardeners about this variety
Most reviews from gardeners about the Gloucester variety are positive. Many people respond to the beautiful decorative appearance of apples and their keeping quality.
In late winter and early spring, when most fruits lose their quality or spoil, Gloucester fruits remain juicy and sweet. Farmers who grow them for sale try to hold the fruits until February or March to get more income.
Trees on rootstock take up little space in the garden, so they can be planted even in a limited area. They have relatively high winter hardiness. Gardeners from the middle zone and northern regions bring seedlings from the south and successfully adapt them to their plots. The bark can be sensitive to sunburn, so it is recommended to treat it with lime or special compounds.
The Gloucester apple tree variety is tasty and popular in many European countries. It adapts well to any climatic conditions and does not require much space in the garden or special care. It can even grow on clay or sandy soils, after proper fertilization.
Apples are stored until the end of April, so they will be an excellent vitamin supplement to the diet in early spring.
