High productivity with minimal care: Red Free apple tree (Redfree)

Sometimes there are apple trees with beautiful fruits, but the taste of the apples is completely inexpressive. This type only causes disappointment and slight annoyance. In order not to experience such feelings, you should pay attention to the Red Free variety, which combines not only the attractiveness of the fruit and wonderful taste, but also many other positive qualities.

Fruit of the Red Free apple tree.

Description of the variety

One of the first varieties, immune to five races of scab, was the Red Free variety, obtained in the USA as a result of crossing the abundantly flowering apple tree (M. floribunda Sieb. 821) with a domestic (cultivated) apple tree. The summer ripening variety showed itself well in the conditions of central Russia. Biological description of the apple tree:

• medium-sized tree with a round, unthickened crown of irregular shape;
• skeletal branches grow almost at right angles to the trunk;
• leaves are medium-sized, dark green, glossy;
• white inflorescences;
• The fruits are round, medium and large in size with a bright crimson blush.

The photo shows Red Free apples.

Fruits and their taste

Pink Pouring produces fruits of universal use. They are often eaten fresh, but can also be prepared:

• jam;
• compote;
• jelly;
• juice;
• wine;
• jelly;
• confiture.

Ripe apples are characterized by a soft pink color with bright stripes. It is because of this color that the apple tree received an additional name - Malinovka. The fruits are round in shape and slightly flattened. The sizes are average and the weight is about 120-150 grams. The skin has a pleasant crunch and a slight waxy coating is noticeable on it.

Having bitten into an apple, you will find white, juicy pulp inside, which is soft and sugary. The taste is sweet, with a pleasant sourness, and apples also have a pronounced aroma, which is rare.

Characteristic

Like any representative of apple crops, the Red Free apple tree has its own characteristics.

Advantages and disadvantages

Red Free has many advantages among summer apple trees:

• genetic immunity to scab;
• high marketability of fruits;
• excellent taste;
• good transportability;
• precociousness;
• regular fruiting;
• good frost resistance.

The disadvantages of the variety include:

• instability to powdery mildew;
• poor pollen viability;
• fruit shrinkage due to overload.

Dimensions of an adult tree

The apple tree is a medium-sized variety; the height of an adult tree does not exceed four meters. The crown is not dense and has an irregular round shape. Despite its roundness, the crown is spreading.

Mature apple tree.

Annual growth

The variety is considered fast-growing: by the age of seven years the tree reaches its maximum growth.

Frequency of fruiting

No periodicity in fruiting was noticed: Red Free pleases with stable harvests without rest periods.

Productivity

An adult tree produces about 50 kg of apples per season. The apple tree begins to bear fruit at the age of 3-4 years, with a subsequent increase in the number of fruits. In maturity, the apple tree reaches its maximum yield.

Tasting assessment

Apples have a caramel aroma, the taste of the pulp is sweet and sour, dessert. The pulp is very juicy. Taste score 4.7 out of 5.

Winter hardiness

Red Free belongs to the group of medium-winter-hardy varieties. It is able to withstand winter temperatures down to -35.

Apple tree in winter.

At the same time, spring return frosts can cause irreparable damage to the apple tree, since the variety is characterized by early flowering.

Disease resistance

Red Free is a carrier of the Vf gene and is immune to leaf and fruit scab. American breeders deliberately worked to develop a variety that is resistant to this disease. However, Red Free does not have the same resistance to powdery mildew.

Methods of controlling diseases and pests

To protect the plant from pests and diseases, it is necessary to carry out regular preventive treatments with chemicals.

Red Free is resistant to typical apple tree diseases, but it can still become infected with the following:

1. Scab . Appears as olive spots at the bottom of the plant. To prevent their occurrence, it is recommended to treat it with fungicides containing sulfur or lime. If the problem has already arisen, it can be eliminated by treating the tree trunk circle with a solution of 10% ammonium nitrate.
2. Bacterial burn . Characterized by the appearance of brown spots. For prevention, fertilizer should be applied in early spring. To eliminate an existing burn, it is recommended to dilute 1 ampoule of Ampicillin in a bucket of water and spray the resulting liquid onto the tree at each stage of the growing season. In addition, you can use other drugs, such as Fitolavin, Tetracycline, Streptomycin, Ofloxacin, Gentamicin.
3. Powdery mildew. First, a white cobweb appears on the back of the leaves, then this leads to their drying out. At the same time, small black dots begin to spread on the fruits. To avoid this, it is recommended to plant trees at a sufficient distance from each other. To combat this problem, it is recommended to spray with a fungicide solution: 3–5 times throughout the summer (once every 12–15 days).

The apple tree is also susceptible to attack by the following insects:

1. Apple moth. A 6 mm long fly infects fruits by digging into the fruit, forming passages in it and violating the integrity of the shell. For active control of insects, it is recommended to use drugs such as “Atom”, “Ditox”, “Dimetoat”, “Rogor-S”, “Tod”, “Fufanon”, “Zolon”, “Sirocco”, “Pirinex”, “ Fosban" and others.
2. Apple flower beetle. The beetle eats tree buds, laying up to 100 eggs in them. The larvae grow and begin to eat the structural elements of the flower (pistil and stamens), as a result of which the buds never open. To eliminate the insect, it is recommended to attach a bunch of hay soaked in karbofos to the top of the trunk.
3. Apple sucker. The 2.5 mm long insect sucks sap from the tree through the leaves, which causes the apple tree to wilt. It is recommended to treat the tree with Decis before flowering, diluting 1 ampoule (2 ml) in 10 liters of water.

Planting and care

The Red Free apple tree variety is unpretentious, so it does not impose any special requirements for planting and care.

Timing and scheme

Planting dates are generally accepted, suitable for any apple trees grown in a particular region. The planting pattern is as follows: the distance between trees is 2.5 meters, between rows - 4 meters.

Agricultural technology and cultivation

For proper cultivation, you only need to comply with the standard requirements required for the cultivation of apple crops:

• choosing the right place for planting: non-acidified soil, sunny place, no drafts;
• groundwater occurrence at a depth of 2.5 meters;
• preparing a planting hole 60 cm deep and 100 cm in diameter a month before the planned planting of the seedling;
• if planting is carried out in the spring, the seedling requires regular watering;
• mineral fertilizers and organic matter begin to be applied to the tree trunk in the second or third year after planting;
• preventive treatment with fungicides and insecticides;
• To avoid chopping apples, it is necessary to standardize flowers or ovaries. This procedure is carried out only once, then the apple tree itself begins to regulate the formation of fruit ovaries.

Apple tree planting scheme.

Pruning and crown formation

Red Free's crown is not thickened, so it practically does not need formative pruning. It is only necessary to monitor and prevent the growth of branches into the crown. The apple tree tolerates anti-aging pruning well.

Pollinator varieties

The viability of Red Free's pollen is weak, so it is necessary to plant an apple tree with a similar flowering period nearby and attract pollinating insects to the area.

Features of growing Red fries

Landing

Basic conditions

• The soil suitable for the variety is saturated, fertile, air- and water-permeable. If the area has loam or sandy loam, then it should be fertilized, but heavy and rich black soil is better diluted with clay and sand.
• You should choose sunny, open places so that the sun's rays fall on the apple trees most of the day; trees will die in the shade.
• Apple trees should not be exposed to drafts, but it is also not recommended to allow stagnant air in the crowns, as this will cause fungi to multiply.
• It is customary to leave approximately 2-2.2 meters between trees, and up to 3 meters between rows. This way, in the future, they will not conflict with their crowns and roots.
• They dig holes in advance, making them up to 60-70 centimeters in depth and the same in diameter. Fertilizers are placed at the bottom (except for manure and nitrogenous complexes, which reduces survival rate), sprinkled with soil, drainage, filled with water and left in the open air.
• Trellis or slats for tying are dug into the holes immediately, otherwise wind and bad weather may uproot them and they will fall. If you place the trunks on the south side, then such supports will additionally protect you from the north wind in winter.
• When planting, the root collar must be left above the surface horizon so that the roots do not appear higher. Otherwise, all properties of the rootstock are neutralized.
• Drainage or soil is raked in the center of the hole, the tree is placed there, carefully straightening the roots, sprinkled with soil, tamped with hands. The whole thing is watered on top with 15-25 liters of water and mulched so that the mulch does not touch the bark.

Disembarkation dates

The variety is quite tender, especially when young, so it is worth choosing a spring planting option, when the earth has completely warmed up. The optimal time would be a warm and dry day in April or May before the buds begin to open. It is advisable to make sure before this that return frosts are no longer expected.

Tree care

Protection from frost and pests

After harvesting Red Free, it is not recommended to add moisture before winter, otherwise the tree will not have time to prepare for wintering. Young trunks or those grown on a low-growing rootstock can be wrapped in a tent method using agrofibre, burlap, spongebond or even tarpaulin. If the dimensions no longer allow this, then simply wrap the trunks with suitable materials, and throw spruce branches, dry grass, and straw onto the near-trunk area.

Whitewashing the lower part of the trunk with ordinary lime helps against insects. This way they will not settle in cracks in the bark. You can repel rodents using industrial products or ordinary animal fat, the smell of which will also prevent them from gnawing on bark and young twigs.

Loosening the soil, watering: proper agricultural technology

You will have to dig at the trunks regularly to provide the rhizome with a high-quality air flow and access to moisture. Twice a year (Vienna-autumn) a half-bayonet shovel will be enough; you need to be extremely careful not to damage the surface root system. The rest of the growing season, you can simply hoe the soil lightly, for example, after each watering the next day. At the same time, weeds and debris are removed from under the trunk, which is also very important in the prevention of fungal and parasitic diseases.

Red Free needs to be watered quite often, especially in hot and dry years. The easiest way is to ensure that the earthen lump near the tree never dries out completely. At a young age, an apple tree needs more moisture, and at a mature age a little less. It is very convenient to apply fertilizers with water, pouring them along the perimeter of the crown projection.

If you water trees during the period of fruit ripening, they may well crack, after which they will only be suitable for urgent processing. This also happens if it rains frequently. You will have to carefully monitor this, otherwise the entire harvest may be lost.

Pruning: simple crown formation

The shape of the tree's crown is irregular due to the fact that the branches grow at unequal speeds. After the initial formation in the form of sparse tiers, it is enough to simply maintain natural branching and trim the excess; the tree becomes overgrown inactively. Red free lends itself well to rejuvenation; for this, it is enough to simply remove 1-2 age branches from the age of 10-11, allowing the young ones to develop.

It is also worth removing regularly all dry, broken or diseased branches. They will prevent the trees from developing normally, drawing in juices that will not be used for future use, because there will no longer be fruit on such shoots. It is preferable to do this in the fall, but you can cut off the broken shoot at any time. The cut areas should be covered with garden varnish, water-based or oil-based paint, or in extreme cases, just with soil.

Pollinator varieties

• Prima.
• Sunrise.
• Pyros.
• Kate.
• White filling.
• Everest.
• Julia.
• Padding.

Reproduction

• Kidney vaccination.
• Budding.
• Layerings.
• Growing from seeds.
• Cuttings.

Diseases and pests

• Cytosporosis.
• Powdery mildew.
• Black cancer.
• Shield.
• Hawthorn.
• Green aphid.

Features of ripening and fruiting

The variety belongs to the early-fruiting and productive varieties.

Beginning of fruiting

The apple tree begins to bear fruit quite early. Already at the age of three, the first apples may appear on the tree. With age, the number of fruits increases, and at the age of seven years the apple tree begins to produce full, abundant harvests.

Peculiarities

The type of fruiting is mixed: fruit ovaries are formed on spears, fruit twigs and ringlets.

Deadlines

A variety with mid-summer fruit ripening period.

Bloom

Flowering occurs early, in May, and lasts about ten days. Friendly, but not very plentiful.

Apple tree blossom.

Fruit ripening

The apples ripen at the same time, around mid-August. Ripe fruits do not fall off.

Storage and harvesting

Apples reach consumer maturity at the same time they are harvested. The fruits can be stored in a cool, well-ventilated place for up to two months. At the same time, they fully retain their consumer qualities.

Productivity

Redfree is considered a high-yielding variety.
The tree begins to bear fruit in the fourth year after planting, and a grafted seedling in the 2-3rd season. Apples ripen almost simultaneously in the first half of August . Redfrey bears fruit every year without interruption. The harvest volume is 40-50 kg per mature tree.

It is recommended to harvest at the stage of technical maturity, which extends the shelf life of the fruit. When fully ripe, apples stay on the branches for a long time and do not fall off.

Storage conditions for apple harvest

For long-term storage of Redfree apples, a basement is suitable. But in order for the harvest to last as long as possible, you need to pick the fruits with petioles. It is important not to damage or scratch the skin. Taking this into account, collection must be carried out with gloves in dry weather.

Before storing apples in wooden or cardboard boxes, each of them must be wrapped in paper. Optimal storage conditions are temperature 0-+2 degrees, humidity about 85%.

Harvesting should be done initially from the lower branches , and only then remove the apples from the top, so as not to damage them. The collected fruits should not be kept in the sun.

Best Growing Regions

Red Free is not included in the State Register, but is grown by enthusiastic gardeners in the Moscow, Leningrad, Tver, Novgorod, Saratov regions, Tatarstan, the Southern Urals and even Karelia. Experts recommend this variety for cultivation in the Central region.

Growing apple trees in the Central region.

Cultivation is allowed in the Volga-Vyatka and Middle Volga regions. The variety also does well in the southern regions of the country.

Reviews

Mikhail, Samara region: “I planted the first apple trees at the dacha about eight years ago. Now these are already mature trees, which delight us with good harvests every summer. Apples are very tasty, very juicy and aromatic. You can eat it straight from the tree. My wife now says that Red Free is her favorite variety, because apples make wonderful preparations for the winter. The children are literally squealing with delight: they really like eating fresh apples.”

Svetlana, Kirov region: “I am a beginner gardener. One day, neighbors treated us to beautiful and incredibly tasty apples. When I asked about the variety, they answered that it was Red Free. At first I decided that during the season I would just buy apples from them, fortunately they always have a surplus. And then I thought about it and realized that I wanted to grow such a delicious thing myself. And now my apple trees are already in their fifth year. They are just gaining strength and the harvest is not so plentiful, but you no longer have to go to your neighbors for apples. We are now looking forward to summer so we can quickly pick a fresh apple and eat it straight from the tree. By the way, they are stored well and hardly lose their juiciness.”

Advantages and disadvantages

The Redfree apple tree has many advantages, which sets it apart from other varieties

But it also has certain disadvantages that need to be taken into account. The fruits of the hybrid retain their consumer qualities throughout the entire storage period

The main advantages of the variety:

• excellent taste of fruits;
• marketability;
• stable yield;
• the harvest does not crumble;
• amicable maturation;
• resistance to scab;
• suitability for transportation;
• versatility of application.

Flaws:

• susceptibility to powdery mildew;
• needs pollinators;
• average level of frost resistance;
• requirement for watering.