The earth is home to a huge number of plants that are grown for their edible, nutritious fruits. The juicy fruit, the apple, has a wide variety of flavors.
Numerous varieties of apple trees differ from each other in terms of ripening, fruit density and color. You can find fruits for every taste : sour, sweet, sour-sweet, sweet-sour with candy, honey and tart aftertastes. The whole secret of the variety of options lies in the ratio of sugars and acids in fruits - this is the so-called sugar-acid ratio.
In order to obtain the desired result in terms of yield and fruit quality for a particular variety, it is important to read the description of the variety and follow the recommendations for the care and maintenance of apple trees. If the recommendations for breeding any variety are not followed, the apple tree may become sick, the fruits may become smaller, or fruiting may stop altogether.
Apple tree Honey
Apple trees belonging to the Honey variety are dessert species . This variety has a second name; in the literature on gardening you can find the name - Lungwort. The breeding of apple trees of the Medovoe variety was carried out by breeders from the Moscow Humanitarian University named after V.M. Lomonosov.
When breeding the variety, the main emphasis was placed on high productivity in summer and frost resistance, so that it would be possible to grow apple trees in different climatic conditions.
Important! Apple trees of the Honey variety can easily survive short-term frosts of up to 40 degrees.
The best place for the development of these apple trees is the south of Russia. There it shows its best qualities in terms of fruiting, which begins several years after planting at the end of summer, the peak being in August.
The fruits ripen together throughout the tree. The harvested crop retains its freshness and beneficial qualities for several months.
The honey tree is large in size and has a wide pyramidal crown shape . The root system is highly branched and resistant to groundwater, which can pass close to the roots.
Honey crunch
Honey Crisp is the second name for the Honey Crisp apple tree. The variety has become actively widespread in Canada and the USA. The bulk of the harvest is harvested in mid-October. The crispy fruits of the apple tree of this variety are large in size, elongated-conical, the pulp is juicy and sweet.
By the color of the skin on apples, they are easily recognized by their scarlet-red blush and cream-colored flesh. The skin on apples is thick and smooth. Apples remain fresh for up to seven months in cool rooms.
Honey crunch.
The Honey Crunch apple tree is compact in size with a narrow oval crown, resistant to diseases , even scab and powdery mildew. Winter-hardy qualities allow the variety to be grown in all areas where industrial gardening is practiced.
The following apple tree varieties participate in the process of pollination:
- Idared;
- Everest;
- Golden Delicious;
- Askold;
- Granddaughter;
- Ruddy climber.
Idared.
Everest.
Golden Delicious.
Askold.
Granddaughter.
Ruddy climber.
The apple tree grows relatively quickly and begins to bear fruit four years from the moment it is planted in the garden. The fruits of the Honey Crunch variety tolerate transportation well.
Honey ranet
The Honey Ranet apple tree is an autumn variety because the fruits are harvested from early September to mid-October . At the time of full ripening, the fruits are recognizable by a waxy coating on the skin; the apples are plump, juicy, and sweet. Decent taste characteristics are observed already in August.
Honey ranet.
The apples are elongated in shape, pale yellow with a blurred blush. The pulp of the juicy fruits is white. Apple trees of this variety are winter-hardy plant species.
Advice! Often representatives of the Honey Ranet variety suffer from codling moths, and therefore preventive measures must be taken.
Agricultural technology
Work on growing this ornamental plant should begin with a careful selection of seedlings. When purchasing, carefully inspect the roots - they should not be dry or damaged. They also carefully inspect the above-ground part - there should be no growths or stains on it.
The stem under the bark is bright green. The seedlings should be without foliage, and the buds should preferably not be swollen.
You need to buy two-year-old seedlings - in this case they will tolerate transplantation well and will not take long to adapt to new growth conditions.
Time to plant young trees:
- in the spring - until the third ten days of April (if frosts are no longer expected);
- in the autumn - until the second half of October.
In the second case, the planting time is calculated so that at least 1.5 months remain before the onset of cold weather. Only in this case will the plants have time to take root properly.
The place where these apple trees will grow should be well lit by sunlight, since in the shade or partial shade the color of the foliage will be less intense. As a result, the decorative effect of the plant will be partially lost.
Should be planted in a sunny area
The soil should not be too dry or waterlogged, so sandstone or heavy clay soil is not suitable for the Royalty apple tree. The best soil for planting is loamy or soddy-carbonate. The close occurrence of crushed stone, limestone and groundwater also negatively affects the growth of the root system.
Seedlings should also be prepared - their root system is placed in a bucket of water a day before. All damaged areas of the underground and above-ground parts of the tree should be removed, and the cut areas should be sprinkled with coal dust.
Preparing the planting hole:
- dig up 7-9 days before the intended planting;
- depth not less than 0.5 m;
- a layer of humus mixed with garden soil and sand in equal quantities is poured onto the bottom of the pit;
- add 2-4 liters of water.
Then the seedling is installed, and its roots are carefully straightened along the diameter of the hole. The roots are covered with soil from above, lightly compacted and watered with a bucket of water.
If more than two seedlings are planted, the distance between planting holes should be at least 6 m.
Interesting! Landscape designers advise planting barberry, lilac bushes, and fieldfare next to the decorative apple tree. And in the foreground bushes of peonies, irises and daisies will look good.
Further care consists of regular watering, loosening the tree trunks and removing weeds. The first watering is done when planting plants - at least half a bucket of water is poured under each tree. The next watering is carried out after 3 days, and then regularly once every 7 days. You should loosen the soil and remove weeds immediately after watering.
Important! Reproduction is carried out by grafting buds or shoots from the mother tree, in which case all species characteristics will be preserved. When grown from seeds, a new plant may not retain its maternal qualities.
additional characteristics
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of apple trees of this variety include the following parameters and points:
- The fruits ripen without falling off the branches;
- During storage, all taste and honey aroma are preserved;
- The apple tree is unpretentious in maintenance;
- In cool conditions, the shelf life of apples of this variety increases.
The Medovoe variety has some disadvantages
- A strongly growing crown, there is a need for its formation and constant spot pruning;
- The root system does not tolerate prolonged stagnation of water;
- The bark of young trees attracts many rodents, especially in winter;
- Apple harvesting is possible only by hand; the fruits are firmly held by the branches.
Tree height
The height of an adult tree reaches 4-5 meters . This must be taken into account when planning and placing the apple tree on the site.
Crown width
The crown is spreading, rounded brown branches of skeletal type. The foliage of the crown is green, of an original shape with a bend in the center of the leaf plate.
Productivity
The productivity of the Honey variety is relatively high . During the season, you can collect 150 kg of fruits from one tree.
Tasting assessment
Tasting apples confirms the presence of a fresh sweet aroma and a pronounced honey taste , which allows you to consume apples both fresh and for processing into jams, juices, and compotes.
Fruits of the Honey apple tree.
Winter hardiness
Although there is a natural ability to tolerate low temperatures, this is only for a short period. Therefore, the extreme northern regions are not the best place for planting apple trees of this variety.
Disease resistance
With proper care, they are resistant to all apple and fruit diseases and pests.
Tree
Lungwort is a tall variety of apple tree; by the age of 4–5 it reaches a maximum height of about 5 m. The crown of the tree is sparse, resembling a wide inverted pyramid, expanding at the top. The branches extend from the trunk at an angle of less than 90 degrees. Fruiting is mixed, mainly on two-year-old shoots, as well as perennial ones. Young shoots are dark brown, slightly pubescent. The root system is branched.
Long, narrow leaves are formed on the shoots, have a dark green color and are strongly curved in the center. They are covered with a relief similar to wrinkles and are rough to the touch. The flowers are white, about 5 cm in diameter.
The Lungwort apple tree is distinguished by its large size and wide pyramidal shape of a sparse crown.
Reviews
Dmitriy. “Seven years ago I planted four apple trees of the Medunitsa variety on my summer cottage. I ordered seedlings from the online store and they arrived quickly. Every year we now receive large quantities of delicious apples. Enough apples to eat fresh yourself, prepare jam and compotes for the winter and sell them at the market. We have a large family, six people, all lovers of honey apples. My son and daughter-in-law bought a dacha. I also recommended my son to plant these apple trees; they are very easy to care for. Their family has also been enjoying the honey taste of their apples for two years.”
Maria. “We live in the Moscow region, we took a small summer cottage. They planted an apple orchard, in which both pears and apple trees of different varieties now grow. Three years have passed. I am ready to live in my garden, especially when the Honey apple trees bloom. After all, after flowering on the trees at the end of summer, sweet fruits quickly ripen. We pick apples from the tree with our hands, it’s convenient, you don’t have to bend over. We put them in boxes, in the cellar, and then eat them fresh for another three months. Sometimes apples reach 200 grams, as a rule, it does not depend on weather conditions. At least I didn't notice this connection. What we didn’t have time to eat, we process into jars with sand: jam, marmalade. We bake pies with apples. To ensure that apple trees feel good, I regularly remove excess branches from the crown. And it’s convenient to pick apples.”
Alexander. “We bought a house in the village; there were three apple trees on the property. We found out that two of them are of the Honey variety. We cleaned the crown and cut off everything unnecessary. The apple tree brought 80 kg of apples in gratitude that same year. And at first they thought that they would have to uproot it; they wanted to use the place for other plantings. Now we are preparing to plant four more Honey apple trees in the spring. The honey taste and aroma of apples left no one indifferent. When the trees were harvested, the apples lay on the veranda in baskets; all the months until the New Year, the taste remained the same unique honey. The main thing is that no special conditions for maintenance are needed; I read literature on this variety from experienced gardeners.”
Beneficial properties of apples
Honey apples contain a large amount of vitamin C. There are 20 mg of it in 100 g of pulp. The vitamin helps strengthen the immune system and restore the strength of a weakened body.
The acids found in apples of any variety prevent the processes of decay in the intestines. A large amount of fiber helps regulate the activity of the digestive tract.
In order for the heart to perform its functions as long as possible, it needs potassium. Apples contain almost 300 mg of this element per 100 g. Iron found in apples takes part in the formation of red blood rings. There is chromium, magnesium, manganese.
The amount of nutrients depends on the variety of apples and the conditions in which they ripened. But in any case, there are much more of them than in other fruits.
Features of planting and care
If you approach planting apple trees correctly, you are guaranteed to get active growth, a branched crown will form correctly and high yields will ripen.
Landing
Deadlines
Planting apple trees of the Honey variety is done in spring or autumn. Be sure to pay attention to the lighting of the place . There should be enough sun for the tree itself and for the fruits to fully ripen.
Watch the video on how to properly plant apple trees in the fall:
And a video on how to plant apple trees in the spring:
Technology
The crown of the tree will eventually be wide, so a distance of at least five meters is immediately placed between the holes for future plantings. The pits are prepared two weeks before planting. The width is dug twice as wide as the width of the roots of the seedling.
The bottom of the pit is lined with a nutrient substrate, placing it in a slide. The seedling is immersed in the hole so that the root collar remains 10 cm above the soil level ; it cannot be covered with soil.
For the first two years, be sure to install two level supporting pegs on both sides in a spacer and tie up the seedling . At the time of planting, pour several buckets of water under the seedling.
Features of cultivation
The rules for caring for the Honey apple tree are simple and for novice gardeners their implementation will not be difficult . Watering is required only during long dry periods; the rest of the time, the root system copes with this task on its own, reaching groundwater flows.
Attention! Overmoistening of the soil has a negative impact on the well-being of the tree.
In the spring, mandatory fertilizing is carried out by introducing liquid fertilizers (sodium humate) into the soil at the root. In the fall, it is recommended to apply phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. Nitrogen-containing fertilizers are useful to activate development.
Agricultural technology
Agricultural technology for caring for an apple tree includes its preparation for the winter period.
Five weeks before the expected onset of frost, dry fertilizers are laid out near the trunk at a distance of 10 cm.
When snow falls, a pile of snow is thrown around the trunk.
Pruning and crown formation
As the snow melts, they move on to the next necessary procedures. Around March, when the buds open, sanitary pruning of the crown is carried out , forming neat skeletal branches.
Attention! After spring pruning, only point cuts of individual branches are used.
Watch the video for a detailed description of how to prune apple trees:
Beginning of fruiting
In the fourth or fifth year after planting, you can expect maximum apple yields.
Deadlines
Blooms
The Honey variety tree blooms in May-June with very beautiful fragrant flowers.
Fruit ripening
Next, the flower petals leave the tree together, and fruit set begins.
As a rule, ripening occurs immediately on the entire tree and apple picking can begin as early as August or early September .
Fruit storage
The harvested crop for several months , preserving the aroma and taste. The lower the temperature, the longer the shelf life. At 5 degrees, the crop is stored for up to 7 months in unchanged quality.
Features of fruiting
A good harvest is due to plenty of sun. In partial shade or shade, ripening will be gradual.
Technology of planting young seedlings
The main task of the farmer at the initial stage is to choose the right planting material and carry out pre-planting preparation. The rate of plant survival on the site, and, accordingly, the level of productivity in the future will directly depend on this.
Did you know? In an hour, planting trees on an area of 1 hectare absorbs the same amount of carbon dioxide that 200 people emit in the same period of time.
The right choice of seedlings
When choosing seedlings, follow the following rules:
Planting material should be purchased at sales points that offer plants zoned in a specific area. Select seedlings that are 1-2 years old - they take root on the site faster, unlike five-year-old specimens. Carefully evaluate the condition of the trunk - it should be smooth, with uniformly colored wood. One-year-old plants consist of a main conductor; two-year-old plants already have skeletal branches located in relation to the main trunk at an angle of 45° to 90°. If the purchase is made immediately before planting, it is better to give preference to bare-root seedlings (they are dug up before sale and then packaged in bags for transportation). If you cannot plant a seedling right away, it is better to buy a plant with a closed root - they are sold in the container in which they were originally grown. Always meticulously inspect the root collar - it is located 5 cm above the central taproot. In this place the trunk is slightly bent, and a healed wound or stump from the cut rootstock is clearly visible on the surface. If this wound is fresh, then you should not buy the plant, as it will not take root well. If possible, the condition of the root system should be assessed - it consists of several thick stem shoots and a large number of additional roots. Colored evenly, light gray
The length of the root should not be less than 30 cm. Pay attention to the description on the tag - it indicates the name of the variety, the name of the rootstock, the date of grafting and the regionalization of the plant
Optimal time and place for landing
Planting time depends on the region of planned cultivation:
- in areas with a cool climate - before buds open, in April - mid-May, depending on the weather;
- in areas with mild, warm weather conditions - in September - early October, but no later than a month before the expected frost.
The planting site should be open, well lit, but protected from drafts. The plant does not develop well in shade and partial shade. The crop is demanding on soil quality. Grows well on chernozems, loams or meadow soils. Sandstones are not suitable for this variety.
If the soil is poor, then six months before planting, 10 kg of peat and sand, 20 kg of fresh manure and 500 g of superphosphate are added to each square meter of digging to a depth of 30 cm. If the level of the fertile layer is 15 cm, then there is no need to fertilize it additionally. It will be enough to carry out deep loosening 2-3 times.
Landing technology
A month before planting, the soil is loosened to a depth of 30 cm and disinfected with a 3% solution of copper sulfate. A week later, they begin to prepare a planting hole measuring 60x80 cm.
The top half of the soil is mixed with:
- 20 kg of compost or rotted manure;
- 300 g nitrophoska.
After this, pour 30 liters of warm (+30°C) water and leave for 3 weeks. Similar holes are dug for pollinators.
Important! A distance of at least 7 m must be maintained from the Modi apple tree to any other fruit crops.
The distance between trees and in rows is calculated based on the type of rootstock:
- vigorous - 6x6 m;
- dwarf - 4x3 m;
- plum/tall cherry - 5x4 m;
- plum/cherry low-growing - 3x3 m.
Subspecies and options
Columnar
Sometimes this variety is called "Medoc" . Apples of this variety ripen in late summer or early autumn . These are natural semi-dwarfs , medium-sized columnar-shaped trees up to two meters high. The entire crown grows compactly around a single trunk, its width is up to 25 cm.
The first fruits may appear as early as a year after spring planting. At five years, maximum yields are up to 9 kg from one apple tree.
Nectar.
A strong root system allows you to replant an apple tree painlessly both in autumn and spring. The fruits are large, up to 250 grams, round with thick skin. The apples are white-yellow in color, the flesh inside is white, juicy with a faint aroma and honey taste. They can be stored for a maximum of one month.
Important! The frost resistance of the columnar honey apple tree is high and can withstand frosts up to 42 degrees.
Winter
The fruits are medium-sized, yellow with a blurred blush on the skin. The harvest ripens late in the fall, around November. The aroma and taste are the same as honey, like all representatives of the honey apple line. Apples can be stored successfully until spring in a cool room.
The quality of winter hardiness and frost resistance of representatives of this variety is high, but during frosts it is recommended to wrap the trunks with burlap to prevent rodents or hares . Representatives of the variety are resistant to scab.
To protect against rodents, the trunk should be wrapped in burlap.
Ural
Two to three years after planting, stable fruiting begins, up to 200 kg per tree. Fruit ripening occurs at the end of September . The apples ripen sweet.
The phases of ripening are noted and the purpose of collection is divided:
- The first harvest is used to make juices;
- The second collection is consumed fresh;
- The third harvest is used for jam and marmalade.
Belorussian
This variety was developed in Belarus. The apple tree is medium-sized, with regular fruiting without interruptions. The excellent tasting qualities of the fruits have made the variety popular among gardeners.
The variety is frost-resistant (withstands up to -36 degrees), the fruits ripen in the second year after planting. At five years old, you can collect up to 35 kg of apples . The apples are large, round, greenish-yellow, sometimes with a pink tint, and have delicate, sweet flesh.
Belarusian honey.
The tree grows up to 3 meters , the crown is sparse. It is important to collect apples on time, otherwise storage will be reduced to 2 months.
Apples
Lungwort apples are usually medium in size, the average weight of an apple is 120-130 g, the maximum can reach 180 g, but in addition there may be apples weighing 90-95 g. The apples are round in shape, but closer to the stalk they become flatter or take on the shape of a cone . There is ribbing on apples, but it is weakly expressed, and in apples collected from young trees it is completely absent.
According to the description of the variety, the surface color of the apples is yellowish-greenish, there is a blush, it is quite blurry, pink or bright pink in color, most pronounced on the southern side of the fruit. The coloring of fruits by professionals is ranked as speckled and striped. The skin is very dense, smooth, and feels good when consumed fresh, so it is recommended to remove it.
The flesh of the apples is creamy, becoming lemon yellow closer to the skin. The granularity of the pulp is clearly visible, its high juiciness and pleasant, spicy-honey aroma are noted. The taste of the fruit is pleasant, has a honey flavor. Tasters rate the taste at 4.2-4.3 points, the attractiveness of appearance at 4.5-4.6 points out of 5 possible.
The seed chambers of apples are closed, the seeds in them are small. The stalk is of medium length and thickness, usually detached from the shoot along with the apple. The calyx is wide and quite deep.
The photo shows the so-called version of the “northern” Lungwort: the pigment dots are more pronounced, the blush does not occupy the entire surface of the apple.
Nutrient content
The chemical composition is well described: Lungwort contains up to 14% sugars, less than 0.4% acids, more than 30 mg/100 g of vitamin C, up to 160 mg/100 g of P-active compounds and up to 8% pectin.
Features of cultivation in the regions
The Honey apple tree variety was specially bred for the territories of Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia. The southern regions are the most favorable for its maintenance, although frost resistance allows it to grow safely in the central regions and even closer to the north.
The tree has good adaptive abilities to new conditions.
In the north-west of Russia and in the Moscow region, the Honey apple tree variety and all its varieties are recommended for cultivation.
The middle zone and the Urals can be a good place to keep an apple tree . It should be noted that the Siberian climate has a bad effect on apple trees of this variety.
In all regions, apples have time to ripen and become sweet and honey-like. Apple trees of the Honey variety survive winter collisions well and are resistant to diseases and pests.
History of creation
The apple tree is a fruit tree grown in both northern and southern regions. The first cultivated trees began to be grown more than five thousand years ago. The most common varietal variety of this plant is the Domestic apple tree.
1935 is the date of development of the Honey variety. The author of the project is S.A. Isaev, biologist specializing in plant breeding. The material used to obtain the hybrid was two varieties: Welsh and Brown Striped. The main task of breeding was to develop a variety capable of growing in conditions of -38°C air temperature, as well as bearing fruit abundantly. The first seeds were planted in 1936 and harvested in 1944. Despite the fact that this variety is suitable for cultivation in any climatic zone of our country, the southern climate is considered the most favorable.
Ripening time
In order to constantly provide the body with valuable elements and substances contained in apples, you need to extend the period of their consumption longer. For this purpose, trees of different ripening periods are planted.
All varieties of apple trees are divided:
- For summer ones, ripening in July - early August. Apples of these varieties are eaten immediately after ripening. They can lie for about a month. The shelf life can be extended slightly by storing them in a cool place.
- Autumn varieties of apples ripen in late August - early September. They can be stored for no more than 3 months.
- Winter apples are removed from the branches at the end of September. They are stored in a cool place until February.
- Late winter varieties ripen at the end of October. They are removed before they ripen and stored. Gradually they reach a state of ripeness, as evidenced by a change in color and consistency. They can be stored until the end of March, or even April.
Harvest
You can harvest up to 80 kg of apples from each apple tree, but this is only possible if all agricultural rules are followed. For the first 10 years, the apple tree does not rest and bears fruit annually, then cyclicality appears in fruiting. Apples will be stored well and for a long time only if they are collected according to all the rules. You should start picking apples from the lower branches. In this case, you need to try to be careful; damage to the skin is unacceptable. Harvesting is not recommended during rainy periods. Some people prefer to shake the apple tree to harvest. The fruits collected in this way will definitely not last long.
Apples are best preserved in the cellar, placed in wooden boxes. Of course, the conditions in the refrigerator will be even more optimal, but the entire harvest is unlikely to fit in the refrigerator. For storage, you should select only intact fruits without signs of disease.
Pollinator trees
The Lungwort apple tree is a self-fertile variety, however, experienced gardeners recommend planting pollinator trees with the same flowering period nearby in order to increase the yield of this fruit tree.
The best pollinators in this case are:
- Anis Sverdlovsky;
- Kerr;
- White filling;
- Brown tabby;
- Chernenko's victory.
