Pepin saffron apples: detailed description of the variety, photos, reviews

Main characteristics

The tree is of moderate size, reaching its maximum in about 6 years. The crown is moderately thick and has the shape of a ball. Without sufficient pruning it may thicken. Young long stems can reach the soil. The fruits are formed on thin annual branches, whose length reaches 15 centimeters. The leaves are small, slightly oblong, matte. They are pointed at the tips.

The bark of an adult individual is colored green-gray, which gradually turns into a more saturated shade.

The variety is not resistant to drought and frost, so it is unsuitable for growing in northern or arid regions.

There are such variants of this culture:

Cultural winter . Zoned in the Middle and Central zones of Russia, the Volga region and the Moscow region. It is very picky about the chemical composition of the soil and does not tolerate high acidity.
Creeping . It copes best with difficult winter conditions and is not afraid of frost. This variety requires special care, especially paying attention to pruning.

Subspecies and options

There are several options for growing the variety depending on the region.

Cultural winter

This is a species that can live in the Middle Zone, Central, Moscow Region, Volga Region and abroad. It is important to ensure that the soil on which Pepin grows is neutral. This crop includes the Winter Saffron apple variety.

creeping

A variety that is planted at an angle and bends to the ground. This is done to make growing in harsh conditions possible. Only this variety requires special care and crown formation.

Apple tree Pepin Saffron creeping.

In addition to these types, there are also:

Volga apple tree Saffron;
Altaic;
Summer Saffron;
apple tree Ural saffron.

These varieties were bred by breeders for regionalization.

Description of fruits

The fruits reach medium sizes, the usual weight is about 90 grams, although they can reach 130. The shape is somewhat flattened and ribbed. The color is greenish-yellow, with red stripes and dots visible on it, but as it is stored the shade becomes orange. Fruit stalks often reach up to 3 centimeters in length and 2 millimeters in thickness.

The surface of the apple is smooth and the skin is dense. As for the taste of the fruit, it is sweet and sour and has a spicy aroma. The pulp is dense and creamy in color. The harvest is rich in sugars and ascorbic acid. The taste and smell are characterized by tasters as very pleasant and rich.

Apples can be eaten fresh or made into juices, marmalade, jam, purees, and so on. They are not bad as a component of salad or baked goods.

Apples tolerate transportation well. Shelf life is 200 days, sometimes more. During storage, the taste characteristics improve, while the presentation is not lost.

Pepin saffron apple tree

The Pepin saffron apple tree is more common in private gardens, having proven itself best as a late-ripening winter variety. It is grown in such regions of Russia as:

Eastern and Western Siberia;
Middle Volga region;
North Caucasus;
Volgo-Vyatsky district;
Central and Central Black Earth region;
In neighboring countries: Georgia;
Armenia;
Kazakhstan;
Belarus;
Baltics.

Such a wide zoning is the key to unique popularity, however, it should be noted that the need for zoning arose precisely because the vast majority of gardeners in different parts of our country and not only dream of Pepin’s fruits appearing on their table.

Pepin saffron apple tree.

Advantages and disadvantages

If we talk about the main advantages of the variety, it is worth noting the following:

Precociousness;
High yield;
High quality fruits, good transportability and commercial properties;
Pest resistance.

Among the disadvantages are:

Poor resistance to scab;
Demanding on soil growing conditions;
Harvest heterogeneity.

Morphology

In height, the Pepin saffron apple tree variety can be classified as a medium-sized tree , it can reach a height of 3 m , the crown has a spherical shape , is formed from thin drooping branches of a rich green color with a gray coating, one of the distinctive features is the strong pubescence of the shoots.

The leaves are a rich emerald color with a grayish coating, elliptical in shape, pointed at the end, heavily pubescent, wrinkled.

Flowering of Pepin saffron.

The flowers are snow-white, small, abundantly covering the tree in June .

The fruits are medium and small, weight can range from 90 to 130 g, round in shape, slightly flattened in the center. The skin is thin, but quite dense, smooth, yellow-green in color with a crimson blush throughout the fruit, attached to the fruit twigs and spears with a thin long stalk.

The pulp is a pleasant creamy color, dense, with a sweet and sour taste and a subtle spicy aroma. The tasting rating of the fruit is high.
Important! Apples are high in ascorbic acid and sugars.

Pollinator varieties

The Pepin saffron variety can be called self-fertile , that is, to obtain a harvest there is no special need for planting pollinators, but cross-pollination sharply increases the quantitative indicators of yield. The following can be used as pollinators:

Antonovka;
Slavyanka;
Welsey;
Calville is snowy.

Antonovka.

Slav.

Welsey.

Calville is snowy.

Winter hardiness and disease resistance

Pepin is characterized by good winter hardiness and adaptive qualities.

As for resistance to the influence of pathogens, it should be noted that there is unsatisfactory resistance to scab. It is necessary to understand this and regularly carry out preventive spraying with biological preparations to combat diseases.

Important! Careful regular inspection of the fruit tree to identify primary signs of disease or the presence of pests can save your green pet. Don't underestimate the importance of visually assessing the condition of the tree!

Pollinator trees

The apple tree of this variety is, in general, self-pollinating and self-fertile. But if you use the optimal pollinator, you can increase the yield quite well. The best varieties are:

Slav;
Antonovka;
Welsey;
Caliville Snowy.

Slav

Antonovka

Welsey

Diseases and pests

Most of all, this variety is afraid of scab. For the purpose of prevention, you can use chemicals based on sulfur or copper sulfate.

In addition, saffron pepin can be affected by the codling moth. For protection, it is best to treat it with Metadione, Zolon or Tsidial 25 days after the end of flowering. The manipulation is done three times per season.

If the plant is attacked by apple scale insects, you need to use Nitrafen until the first buds appear. And to prevent the appearance of the flower beetle, gardeners recommend using Votafox and Karbofos, carrying out treatments during bud setting.

Also, various herbal decoctions or infusions are excellent against various pests; they can be made from red pepper or horsetail.

Origins and zoning

The variety was created at the beginning of the 20th century (1907-1915) by the outstanding domestic breeder Ivan Vladimirovich Michurin and is rightfully included in his “golden heritage”. Bred by crossing "Renet d'Orléans" with a hybrid seedling obtained from "Pepin Lithuanian" and "Kitaika".

The variety owes its viability and adaptability to various soil and climatic conditions to the apple trees “Pepinka Lithuanian” of folk selection (left) and “Kitayka” plum-leaved (right)

State variety trials of “Pepina saffron” have been carried out since 1939; in 1947 it was officially included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements and allowed for cultivation in almost all regions, with the exception of the Northern, Ural and Far Eastern regions due to its insufficient winter hardiness. In Siberia, the variety is recommended for cultivation in a creeping (slate) form.

Advantages and disadvantages

Gardeners highlight the following advantages of the Pepin saffron variety:

good self-fertility, especially in comparison with many other apple trees;
the yield is always stable, there are no periods of stagnation;
the presentation of the fruit is preserved for a long time;
apples easily cope with transportation without spoiling;
Fruits can be stored for 200 days or more without loss of quality;
if the apple tree has suffered from various types of damage, recovery will not take as much time as other types of wood;
Crop shedding is extremely rare.

This plant is not without its drawbacks. The main problems include the following:

the plant needs regular pruning, otherwise the apples will be small and begin to crumble;
relatively small fruits;
the variety is vulnerable to scab;
the apple tree does not like frosts and droughts, suffering greatly from them;
wood is extremely demanding to care for;
With age, the harvest may no longer be as tasty and aromatic as it used to be.

Peculiarities

Gardeners note the following advantages of the variety:

Good yield every year.
Highly resistant to frost. This provides a good opportunity to grow this variety in regions with harsh winters.
Good fruit taste.
Apples are great for transporting over long distances.
Subject to storage conditions, the fruits remain fresh until spring.

The disadvantages are its low resistance to scab. However, the advantages of the variety exceed all its disadvantages.

Saffron pepin will decorate any garden. The description and photo of its flowering crown can surprise even a sophisticated summer resident. The delicious apple harvest can be processed, canned or eaten fresh.

Landing

When caring for Pepin saffron planting, special attention should be paid. In terms of timing, it is better to do these manipulations in the fall or spring, and in the latter case the seedling will take root better, which helps it survive the winter. When planting in autumn, the plant needs additional preparation for frost. The most important thing is to pre-prepare the soil.

When selecting a planting site, you need to take into account the following nuances: it will not be possible to replant the seedling, it does not tolerate it well, and you should also choose a place with solid soil that is illuminated by the rays of the sun. Low amounts of light cause the apple to shrink in size and affect the taste. The most optimal soils are: floodplain, leached black soil, loam.

When planting an apple tree in the fall, you will have to worry about preparing the soil in August. For fertilizer in this case, 40 grams of potassium salt, 50 grams of superphosphate, 5 kilograms of manure or compost are used. The fertilizer is carefully distributed throughout the entire area. Then the soil is dug up to mix with the prepared fertilizer.

If planting is planned for spring, then the pit is prepared in the fall. A pit is formed with a depth of about a meter and a diameter of about one and a half meters. The soil is dug up, adding 7 kilograms of compost, 450 grams of ash and 250 grams of azofoska. The prepared pit is covered until spring.

Before planting, the roots of the young plant are moistened with an insecticide solution. This will save the apple tree from parasites.

Step-by-step planting instructions

Make a hole 80 centimeters deep and 1 meter wide.
Organize a small slide at the bottom.
Immerse the apple tree there and dig it in.
Compact the ground with your feet.
Drive a couple of stakes along the edges of the hole and tie up the tree.
Fill the ground with a bucket of water.

Preparation of planting material and propagation

The Pepin saffron apple tree for planting should be selected according to the description of its appearance. Before purchasing a seedling, you can look at photos of healthy and diseased trees to visually orient yourself in the quality of planting material.

What a gardener should consider before purchasing:

Manufacturer's reputation. Seedlings are purchased from nurseries, and not from random traders.
The type of rootstock - this affects the time of the first harvest and the size of the tree. If the seller cannot answer this question, it means that he does not have good knowledge about apple trees, and therefore you should not purchase seedlings from him. Pepin saffron belongs to a medium-sized rootstock.
Time of year to plant. If a seedling needs to be planted on a plot in the fall, then there should be no leaves on the tree. For spring planting, the buds on the seedling must be closed. If the shoots are sold in a container, and there are leaves on the branches, then they are planted in the ground in the spring, provided there is no frost.
Age of the tree. If the seedling is 1 year old, then after planting it will grow well and adapt to the conditions around it more easily. However, they may not tolerate winter well. A two-year-old tree bears fruit earlier, but is more suitable for autumn planting. In the spring they take root worse.

A visual check of the seedling will allow you to assess its health. For example, low and weak young trees indicate a small amount of fertilizing, late application of nitrogen fertilizers to the soil or overwatering. This is also evidenced by a too tall seedling with immature shoots.

It is also necessary to inspect the roots of the seedling (if possible). The fibrous system is present in a clonal rootstock propagated by cuttings. If the roots are strong and branched, then the apple tree grew from a seed - a seed rootstock.

The difference between them is as follows:

Clonal rootstock - allows you to get good fruiting in a short time after planting in the ground. A medium-sized rootstock begins to bear fruit 3-4 years after planting on the site.
Seed rootstock - the tree will bear fruit for more than 20 years. However, you should wait for the first harvest only 6 years after cultivating the crop. But such seedlings tolerate adaptation well and are resistant to diseases.

It is worth paying attention to the form in which planting materials are sold. If the roots are open, then they should not be brittle, moistened, and wrapped in a wet cloth. When the seedling sits in a container, its roots should fit tightly to the soil.

It is enough to pull the tree out of the container and evaluate it: the earthen lump should not crumble, but fit tightly to the sprouts. This means that the tree has mastered the soil mixture well.

The trunk of the purchased seedling must be free of growths or compactions on the bark. There should be no damage, scratches or chips on it. If there are weeping spots, this may indicate the presence of a disease.

The inner layer of the trunk should be visible from under the bark. The color of a healthy seedling will be bright green. Seedlings are purchased before planting, and preferably with an open root system.

Autumn planting

Pepin saffron is an apple tree (the description and photo instructions for autumn planting help novice gardeners), which is planted in central Russia from the second ten days of September until mid-October. In the northern regions - until the beginning of October. In the southern regions this period is extended until mid-November.

As soon as the seedling has dropped its leaves, planting begins. It must be completed before the soil begins to freeze. It can be difficult to predict the weather, and therefore you can rely on a preliminary forecast or personal signs.

Advantages of autumn planting:

The seedlings grow into the soil and strengthen the root system. With the arrival of spring, the tree actively begins to grow. It is worth considering that rhizomes develop until the soil temperature drops below +4°C.
No watering required. It is enough to moisten the tree after planting, and then the autumn rains will do it.
The cost of seedlings is lower than in spring.
During the dormant period, the tree grows roots well.
The planting date can be delayed. If, after purchasing, it was not possible to plant a tree, then it is enough to keep it in any cool place without fear of buds opening.

The disadvantages of this method are:

A weak seedling can be destroyed by frost.
It is not always possible to predict the weather, and therefore a sudden cold snap can destroy a tree.
Sometimes a young tree can be destroyed by rodents. The roots will be a good treat for them.

You can plant trees in the fall, but you should be aware of the weather conditions. They are the decisive factor in the survival of the seedling.

Spring planting

In the northern region, planting is done immediately after the ground thaws. In the southern region - until the buds on the branches bloomed. Otherwise, there is a risk of getting a diseased tree with poor adaptation.

Advantages of planting in spring:

The risk of death from frost is minimal.
A container seedling can be visually assessed by its blossoming leaves. If they are healthy and beautiful, the planting material is good.
When planted in soil moistened with melt water, seedlings actively begin to develop.
Over the summer period, the seedling adapts well to the new place and gets stronger. This will allow him to have a good winter.

The disadvantages of spring sowing include:

A sudden frost can destroy young buds and flowers. This will pose a risk that the seedling will die.
Limited selection of planting material.
Trees need regular watering. Winds and sun dry out the soil, and given the tree's small root system, this becomes a problem. Constant watering helps solve it.

Only taking into account the local climate and individual capabilities can you choose the planting time.

Care

In the future, the apple tree will require careful care. It needs to be regularly watered, fed, the soil loosened and weeds removed. Watering is carried out according to the following scheme: 10 liters per adult from spring to autumn, starting from the budding stage, taking into account the weather. These events are held on average twice a week.

Loosening and clearing weeds is extremely important. Loosening is carried out the day after watering, and weeds are pulled out as they grow. In the autumn, the tree needs to be whitened and the damage treated (with garden varnish).

You cannot make beds under apple trees, since an adult tree lowers its branches almost to the ground, especially if a lot of crops have formed.

Frost resistance

Pepin saffron apple tree is considered a frost-resistant variety , but this quality must be maintained by competent agricultural technology and proper preparation of the tree for the winter. Under such conditions, the apple tree tolerates frosts down to -38°C well. If a tree is damaged by frost, then in the spring the crown of the apple tree will certainly recover.

Preparation for winter is important not only for successfully overcoming harsh weather conditions, but also for protecting the apple tree from possible diseases.

Proper preparation includes the construction of a shelter. For young apple trees, special covering material or paper is suitable.

First you should tie the branches and then wrap the plant. An adult fruit tree needs to be wrapped around the trunk down to the branches. You will also need to mulch the soil around the trunk. For this you can use peat or manure.

Feeding

For fertilizing, it is recommended to use organic matter in the fall and mineral preparations in the spring. The principles are as follows: nitrogen content is applied over the frozen soil, and phosphorus-potassium is added from the moment the budding begins until the apples are filled. Frequency – once every couple of weeks. Fertilizing begins when the plant is 2-3 years old.

Trimming

The Pepin saffron apple tree is pruned in autumn and spring. In the autumn, it is required to get rid of diseased and weak shoots, which can provoke the spread of viruses and fungi in winter.

In the spring they do formative pruning. They do this for about 4 years from the moment of disembarkation. They get rid of old branches that are no longer capable of producing ovaries, branches injured during wintering, as well as branches growing inside the crown, thereby shading the harvest in the summer.

Please note: when performing these manipulations, you need to remember that you cannot cut off more than a quarter of the crown mass. If you ignore this rule, you can simply kill the apple tree.

History of variety selection

The Pepin Saffron apple variety was created in the Tambov province (now the Ryazan region) in 1907. Russian biology and selection specialist Ivan Vladimirovich Michurin contributed to this. Pepin Saffron has the best qualities, which were given to him by a couple of varieties such as Renet Orléans and a hybrid descended from the Chinese apple tree and Pepin Lithuanian. The scientist collected the first fruits from the hybrid plant in 1915.

Attention! Michurin bred many different varieties of apple trees, among which Pepin Saffron is considered the most successful because of its positive qualities and excellent taste.

Reviews

Georgy, Zhukovsky : I have several apple trees growing on my site, but most of all I like the saffron Pepin variety. I planted a couple of trees a long time ago, and for the past 5 years I have been collecting fairly large harvests. I like that there is no periodicity in fruiting, it always occurs consistently. Of course, you have to take care of the tree, sometimes it freezes, but every time it recovers well. The taste of the fruit is excellent, and they are also stored for a very long time. I don’t eat it myself, I sell it.

Oksana, Cheboksary : My grandmother planted the Pepin saffron apple tree at our dacha. Since childhood, I remember the pleasant taste of apples, which you simply cannot tear yourself away from. Now the tree is already old, the taste of the harvest has noticeably deteriorated, so we planted several seedlings. They recently gave us some fruits, the taste is just like the one from childhood. We live in a warm region, the plant overwinters well.

Olga, Tver : A neighbor once gave us a couple of buckets of beautiful apples. We tried it and found it incredibly tasty. They asked for the variety - it turned out it was Pepin saffron. Now we are planning to purchase several seedlings and plant them on our site.

Description of the variety and its characteristics

The hybrid Pepin Saffron was created by I. Michurin himself more than a century ago by crossing the varieties Pepinka Litovskaya, Renet Orleans and Kitayka. It successfully combines endurance to various climatic conditions, excellent taste and presentation, as well as unpretentiousness to the soil composition. The variety rightfully became a leader in all garden plots in the last century, and now its popularity is only growing.

Description of the tree

Trees of this species are very beautiful, especially during flowering and ripening of fruits:

compact, medium-sized, with a ball-shaped crown, they differ from other species in that they have an unusual, emerald color, leaves, carved along the edges, in a shape resembling an ellipse, and on the inside - heavily pubescent;
shoots lowered down are also covered with thick fluff;
trees have an incredible ability to quickly recover from frostbite and other damage;
flowers are pure white, not very large, but numerous;
Flowering begins in June and lasts 2 weeks. The trees bloom very profusely;
the trees have flowers of both male and female types of flowering, therefore, the Pepin Saffron variety is self-pollinating, however, the presence of such types of apple trees as Antonovka, Welsey or Slavyanka nearby will increase the yield of this type of fruit tree many times over;
The first fruits grow already in the third year of growth, and the apple tree begins to bear fruit fully after 6 years.

Description of fruits

Apples, like trees, have a rather presentable appearance:

the fruits are very beautiful, round, slightly cone-shaped, have a greenish color with a yellow tint, and after full ripeness they are covered with a magnificent red blush;
fruit sizes are not very large (up to 130 g each);
The apples are covered with thin, dense skin, and their pinkish-cream pulp, juicy and tender, has a magnificent sweet-sour taste and a stunning, sophisticated aroma, and the longer the fruits lie, the sweeter and tastier they become.

Usage

You can cook anything you want from the fruits of this variety. They are suitable for making jam, making jam, purees, and jams. They are juiced and candied, dried, baked and soaked. And what a fragrant compote it turns out!

Ripening and harvesting dates

The Pepin Saffron variety is a late-ripening winter variety. The first apples begin to ripen at the end of August, and their mass ripening occurs in September. At the end of September - beginning of October you can harvest.

Productivity

Pepin Saffron is characterized by high yields. Apple trees 4-6 years old with quality care produce about 80 kg of fruit, and from one tree 10 years old or more you can harvest up to 280 kg of apples.

Read also: Eggplant Epic F1: reviews from summer residents, features of cultivation and care

Shelf life and transportability

This variety of apples has a long shelf life. Moreover, the longer they are stored, the richer their taste becomes. The peak of full ripening occurs in December-January. It is then that the taste qualities of the fruits show their full potential, and the harvest can be preserved under conditions from 0 to +2 right up to the end of April.

Fruits can hang on trees for a long time without falling off and without losing their presentation and taste.

The fruits of this variety, due to their long shelf life and thick skin, are easily transported over long distances. This species is loved by not only amateur gardeners, but also farms for commercial purposes.