Unpretentious apple tree Gift to Grafsky: description, photo

Apple tree Gift to Count

A gift to Grafsky - the owner of excellent taste and product characteristics. The history of the creation of this late-winter variety and the giving of its name is interesting.

In the 1970s, specialists from the All-Russian Selection and Technological Institute of Horticulture, based on the old domestic Vyaznikovka and the elite D101 from the USA, developed a new variety of apple tree endowed with outstanding properties.

Harsh winter 1978-1979. devastated the garden of the variety testing station, and apple trees of traditionally frost-resistant varieties perished. The new, as yet unnamed seedlings survived, and in the summer they produced a good harvest of large, tasty fruits.

Breeders V.P. Yagunov, V.V. Kichin and N.G. Morozov dedicated their brainchild to Mikhail Grigorievich Grafsky, the legendary director of the state farm in the Vladimirov region, where the experimental station was located. The variety was included in the State Register for the Central Region in 2001.

Apple tree Gift to Grafsky - a vigorous standard . Without pruning, it grows up to 7 meters in the first 10 years of the tree's life.

The crown is obverse conical, spreading, medium dense, medium leafy. The branches are medium in thickness and length, light gray. The variety is characterized by high growth energy.

The leaves sit on a short, strong petiole, are short, wrinkled, densely green, with a jagged edge. Blooms profusely, white-pink flowers are small in size.

The fruits are large, often gigantic: the average weight is 250-300 grams , often up to 350. The shape of the apples is round-conical, the fruits are unequal. The skin is medium thick and hard, light yellow. The blush is blurry or has frequent stripes, dark red, with a well-defined purple tint and a waxy coating, covering the apple almost completely.

Apple tree fruit Gift to Grafsky on a branch.

The pulp is medium-juicy, medium-firm, yellow, almost fine-grained, with an apple aroma.
ATTENTION! When properly stored, apples retain excellent taste and beautiful presentation until April, and in particularly favorable conditions - until May-June.

Story

A group of young breeders worked at the station, led by Viktor Valeryanovich Kichina. It was he who proposed combining the well-known Russian Vyaznikovka with the American hybrid D-101. The breeders had one goal - to create a late-winter variety that could withstand a significant drop in temperature. Scientists have succeeded in achieving their goals to the fullest.

The variety received its name in honor of the director of the state farm where the apple tree was tested, Mikhail Grigorievich Grafsky.

REFERENCE! The gift to Grafsky was included in the state register only in 2001.

Regions of distribution of the variety:

• Crimea;
• certain northern regions;
• central Russia;
• North Caucasus.

additional characteristics

Gift to Grafsky belongs to traditional varieties. The apple tree is characterized by both typical characteristics of northern varieties and those that distinguish it from others.

Advantages and disadvantages

The undoubted advantages of the variety include:

• Frost resistance;
• High resistance to diseases and pests;
• Unpretentiousness, excellent adaptability to regional and local characteristics;
• Regular fruiting;
• Ability for long-term storage without loss of taste and commercial properties.

The Gift has no obvious shortcomings, only sometimes they note:

• Slight shedding of fruits after ripening;
• Low drought resistance.

Tree height

By the fourth year from the beginning of fruiting, the apple tree reaches its maximum height: without pruning it grows to 7-7.5 meters.

Crown width

The crown of an adult tree grows up to 4 meters in diameter.

Apple tree Gift to Count.

Annual growth

The variety is distinguished by intensive growth, which can be 1-1.2 meters per year.

Productivity

Gift to Grafsky bears fruit every season , the yield is high and varies from year to year. An adult tree produces 250 kg of apples ; in industrial orchards - up to 20 tons per hectare.

The Gift to Grafsky apple tree has good productivity.

Self-fertility

The variety is not self-fertile ; pollinating apple trees are required for fruit set.

Tasting assessment

Expert assessment of apples Gift to Grafsky 4.2-4.3 on a 5-point scale. Apples are medium juicy, sweet and sour, dense. The taste of the fruit is very good, dessert-like.

Ripe fruit Gift to Grafsky.

Winter hardiness

Apple trees of this variety can withstand temperatures down to -42 degrees . Gift to Grafsky is zoned for the Central region, suitable for growing in northern gardens; the apple tree shows good results in Siberia and the Urals.

Disease resistance

The variety is highly resistant to scab and fungal diseases.

Qualitative characteristics of fruits

The fruits of the “Gift to Grafsky” apple tree are real giants. Their average weight ranges from 250 to 300 g, and some specimens can reach 350 g. The light yellow skin, densely covered with a dark red striped blush with a purple tint and a faint waxy coating, has medium thickness and density.

Fruits reach technical maturity at the end of September – beginning of October; they are distinguished by high marketability

Medium-sized funnel and saucer, closed cup. The fruits are distinguished by a small number of small brown seeds.

The pulp of apples of this variety is yellow in color, has medium hardness and juiciness, a fine-grained structure and a sweet and sour taste, rated by experts at 4.2-4.3 points (out of 5). Many gardeners, in reviews of the “Gift to Grafsky” apple tree, note the wonderful, strong aroma of the fruit.

Harvest and storage

Due to the fact that the tree bears fruit abundantly and the fruits are quite heavy, it is necessary to control the ability of the crown to withstand the load. Experts recommend removing some apples from the branches in mid-late September and placing them in a dry, warm place where they ripen without loss of quality. The apples remaining on the tree will become ripe without causing harm to the branches.

It is recommended to selectively remove large apples, even when they are not ripe, to reduce the load on the branches

It would be useful to use supports to prevent the fragility of young thin branches under the weight of a large number of fruits. It is better to store the harvested crop in dry, cool rooms, protected from drafts. Under such conditions, apples retain their marketable and consumer qualities almost until the end of spring.

Reviews

Gardeners and fruit lovers speak so highly of the Gift to Grafsky.

Galina. Nalchik. “I tried the apples, a gift to Grafsky. I was amazed by the size of the apples - they are huge! Very tasty and fragrant! The taste is pleasant sweet and sour. They say, and they stay there for a long time, almost until next summer. I will definitely plant this apple tree.”

Lidia Yakovlevna. Nakhodka. “My Gift to Grafsky has been bearing fruit for 5 years. By the fourth summer, about 10 apples were harvested, and by the seventh, there were already 4 buckets. Until April they lie perfectly in an ordinary basement, unlike others, they do not become “woolly”. They don't spoil at all! I recommend it to everyone, a very worthy apple!”

Anna Pavlovna. Saratov. “I heard about a new variety, looked at the description, photos and decided to plant it myself. My gift to Grafsky has been growing for 9 years. In winter it tolerates frosts of 40-45 degrees perfectly. It doesn't hurt anything, there are no pests either. Fruits every year. The apples are large, 200-250 grams each. I collect at the end of September, it could be later, but we have early frosts. They will definitely last until March, there are only a few of them yet, and by March we will already eat them. The preservation is excellent, they remain just as juicy and tasty.”

Reviews from gardeners

All reviews about the variety prove once again that this is one of the best apple tree options for growing in regions with unfavorable climatic conditions:

• Vladimir, Nizhny Novgorod: “I am completely satisfied with the variety. I reap a good harvest, regardless of winter and weather conditions in spring and summer. The taste of the fruit is also always at a high level.”
• Natalya, Ivanovo: “One of my favorite varieties. I get a good harvest even with minimal tree care. The fruits are tasty and juicy. Diseases are rare in the variety.”
• Anatoly, Yekaterinburg: “I experimented with different varieties for a long time, but settled on this one. Apple trees develop quickly and produce high yields. The fruits are juicy and aromatic. I recommend this variety to all gardeners.

Features of planting and care

To grow a healthy tree and receive abundant harvests every year, you need to follow the rules of planting and care.

Landing

Deadlines

They practice spring and autumn planting of seedlings:

• You should start planting in the spring May and June plantings are more difficult to take root.
• Experienced gardeners believe that the best time is in the fall, 3-4 weeks before the onset of frost. In this case, the seedling gets time to take root, grows quickly in the spring, and fruiting occurs earlier.

Watch the video on how to plant an apple tree in spring:

This video shows planting an apple tree in the fall:

Technology

For the Podarok Grafsky apple tree, choose sunny areas protected from cold winds . For tall trees, hills and places with deep groundwater are suitable: their standing should be no higher than 2.5-3 m, and better - 3.5 meters.

IMPORTANT! Apple trees need to be planted on loamy, fertile, moist, but well-drained soils. They should not be located in lowlands where melt or rainwater stagnates and cold air accumulates.

The pit is prepared 3 weeks before planting in the fall, in September for spring planting. The width of the seat is 80-100 cm, depth 60-80.

A tall, strong stake is driven into the center, which will become a support for the young seedling. Drainage, mineral fertilizers, 2 buckets of rotted compost or manure are placed at the bottom of the hole, and fertile soil is covered on top.

A seedling is placed on the resulting mound, straightening the roots. Cover with soil, gently shaking the tree to compact the soil around the roots.

Apple tree planting diagram.

When planting is completed, the soil around the seedling is lightly compacted , a circle around the trunk is arranged, and it is framed with a side. The planting is watered abundantly with two or three buckets of water.

Watch the video on how to properly prepare a planting hole:

What is the key to high productivity?

No matter how trivial it is to perceive: in the choice of time, place, quality of planting material and care system.

The optimal time for planting an apple tree has long been tested by our ancestors:

• in spring, before sap flow;
• late autumn.

Moreover, autumn is the best option : the roots of the tree have time to adapt. If you didn’t have time to plant it in the fall, dig it in and cover it until spring, and in early April, before the buds swell, plant it in the ground in a permanent place.

It is permissible to deviate from the spring planting dates if, after the snow melts, the ground is swampy (apple trees do not like excess moisture). But delaying planting until May-June is also risky.

You need to choose a place for the apple tree that is well lit , on a hill, protected from constant winds by the wall of the house or other plantings. In lowlands, seedlings may freeze during unexpected frosts, or suffer from excess moisture. The proximity of groundwater is also not to the taste of this plant. If there is such a problem on the site, then it is better to plant the tree on an artificial hill (50 cm), strengthening the “bed” with stakes dug into the ground.

Suitable soil for an apple tree is deep loam , but this does not mean that with this quality of soil you will not have to feed the seedling with organic and inorganic fertilizers up to 4 times per season, at each stage of the growing season.

It is worth taking into account the natural “fatigue” of the soil, and not planting a young tree in the place of an old garden.

Apple trees of the Podarok Grafsky variety do not require special planting technology:

• the same pit dimensions (d100, h70);
• preparing the pit a week before planting (or even in the fall);
• application of nitrogen fertilizers;
• strengthening the trunk with a garter to the peg;
• abundant watering after planting.

The variety is not resistant to drought or lack of moisture. Therefore, we must not forget about the mandatory 5 abundant waterings per season, and more often in dry, hot summers .

Features of cultivation

When growing an apple tree Gift to Grafsky, some features are taken into account:

• The soil around the trunk should be loose, free from weeds and other crops;
• It is necessary to generously water the apple tree 4-5 times per season; during dry periods this should be done more often - 2-3 times a month.

Agricultural technology

When growing the variety, standard agrotechnical practices for apple trees are used:

• Sanitary and formative pruning in autumn and spring;
• Root and foliar feeding with mineral and organic fertilizers;
• Regular abundant watering;
• Weeding the tree trunk space, loosening the soil, mulching;
• Protection from pests and diseases.

Pruning and crown formation

In early spring, before the sap begins to flow, sanitary pruning . Remove weak, broken, damaged branches, and excess young shoots.

During the season, cut off broken and damaged branches and the current year's growth.

In autumn the crown is formed. Get rid of branches that grow towards the trunk or parallel to the central conductor. Shorten annual shoots by 25-30%.

In the video below you can see a detailed lesson on pruning apple trees:

Pollinator varieties

The Podarok Grafsky apple tree variety is not self-fertile, so pollinating apple trees should be placed next to it. The following varieties are considered the best:

• Sinap northern;
• Student;
• Moscow later.

Northern Sinap.

Student.

Moscow later.

Disease and pest control

The variety has fairly good immunity. But it can suffer from fungal, bacterial infections and other diseases. For prevention, it is recommended to follow the watering norm, do pruning on time, remove foliage and other plant debris from the site. Also, every spring and autumn it is necessary to treat trees with fungicides:

• "HOM";
• "Fundazol";
• "Bordeaux mixture";
• "Strobe."

Insecticides are used to control insects:

• "Karbofos";
• "Fufanon";
• "Spark";
• "Aktara".

Important! Processing is carried out late in the evening. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the waiting period - the minimum number of days from the moment of the last spraying until the start of harvesting.

To prevent pests and sunburn, the trunk of the apple tree must be whitened annually.

Features of ripening and fruiting

Beginning of fruiting

Grafsky's gift gives the first significant harvest in the 4-5 season after planting the seedling . This is an average indicator of early pregnancy.

ADVICE! Selecting a seedling on a weak-growing rootstock will allow you to bring fruiting closer; in this case, the first harvest is harvested 2-3 years after planting.

The fruits are placed on perennial ringlets, sometimes formed on two-year-old wood.

Deadlines

Blooms

Podarok Grafsky apple trees bloom in May . The exact timing depends on the regional weather conditions and microclimate of the site.

Fruit ripening

Harvesting maturity occurs in late September or early October . In a month, consumer maturity sets in.

Gift to Grafsky apples ripen in September-October.

Fruit storage

In a dark, dry room at a temperature of 0 to +5 degrees, Gift to Grafsky apples are stored from October to April. In industrial storage facilities in a special gas environment, the fruits last well until May-June. Podarok Grafsky is superior to other late-winter varieties in terms of shelf life.

Plant characteristics, productivity potential

This is a vigorous tree, which without regular pruning can grow up to 7 meters in height, adding about 100-120 cm annually, has a spreading, reverse-pyramidal crown of medium density and is characterized by good foliage.

The height and dimensions of the tree, as well as its early fruiting, directly depend on the rootstock - according to VNIISPK, on ​​the MM106 rootstock, fruiting begins in the 2-3rd year

The shoots are straight, of medium length and thickness, dark gray, growing actively. The leaves of the “Gift to Grafsky” apple tree are medium-sized, wavy, leathery to the touch, with serrated edges. They have a slightly elongated shape and a dark green color. The petioles are strong and rather short. During the flowering period, the branches are abundantly covered with small white-pink flowers. The stigmas of the pistils are located significantly higher than the anthers. The tree is not self-fertile and requires the presence of other pollinating apple trees to set fruit. The ideal partner for him is the Northern Sinap variety.

Fruiting is concentrated mainly on perennial ringlets , but is often observed on biennial wood.

An adult tree is capable of producing up to 250 kg of apples per season , and the yield from 1 hectare of apple orchard reaches 20 tons. Moreover, the yield is regular, without frequency, but productivity indicators vary from year to year.

Subspecies and options

On a semi-dwarf rootstock, the tree grows up to 4-4.5 meters and forms a more compact crown. It begins to bear fruit 1-2 years earlier than on the seed rootstock and bears fruit for 25-30 years.

On a dwarf rootstock, the height of the apple tree is 2.5-3.5 meters , the crown is narrow. Fruiting from the first or second year, the yield is high. Productivity period is 15-20 years.

Apple trees on weak-growing rootstocks are less winter-hardy because their root system lies high.

It is worth taking care of insulating the tree trunk space; for this, mulch compounds (humus, leaf litter, compost, rotted manure, sawdust) are poured in a layer of 5-10 cm.

In winters with little snow, additional snow is poured under the apple tree.

Important! Such apple trees can be placed in areas with high groundwater.

The compact shaped apple tree reaches a height of 2.5 meters. The crown is compact. Fruit weight 120-210 g.

What is included in the care system?

A system is a set of elements, in this case, measures that form a unified influence on the intensity of plant growth and development. It is aimed at:

• reduction of time to reproductive readiness;
• formation of the morphological structure of a tree capable of abundant fruiting;
• maintaining varietal uniqueness;
• increase in productivity;
• prevention of diseases and pests;
• resistance to weather and climatic anomalies;
• obtaining fruits of excellent presentation;
• 100% safety of the harvested crop.

Caring for any fruit tree includes the following mandatory types of work:

• loosening and watering;
• root feeding;
• pruning;
• pest and disease control.

For each of the listed types of work, there are a lot of detailed instructions with an algorithm of actions , recipes for nutritional compositions and timing for their application. All of them are fully effective for the Podarok Grafsky variety.

But the characteristic vigor of the tree focuses the attention of gardeners on pruning, which is performed for the following purposes:

• sanitary pruning (after winter or extreme weather);
• formation of a trunk (in a seedling, when the top is cut by 10 cm);
• formation of skeletal branches of the crown;
• increasing productivity (cut branches from last season);
• accessibility of the crown for care and harvesting;
• wood rejuvenation;
• preparation for the winter season.

However, mechanical thinning of the crown is sometimes not enough and manual removal of the fruit ovary is required, leaving no more than two adjacent flowers. This allows you to obtain fruits of commercial appearance and size.

Pruning should not exceed one quarter of the branch weight to avoid stress reactions in the tree.

Growing in regions

In the Moscow region and in the central zone, the Podarok Grafsky apple tree has optimal climatic conditions, the variety is zoned for the Central region . Only the terrain features and microclimate of the site should be taken into account.

The Moscow region and the Middle Belt are the optimal areas for growing Gift to Grafsky.

In Siberia, this apple tree is grown in regions where winter temperatures do not fall below 40-42 degrees below zero. is known .

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The “Gift to Grafsky” apple tree is distinguished by very high frost resistance, is not susceptible to pest damage, and successfully resists fungal diseases, in particular scab.

Trees of this unpretentious variety quickly adapt to various (including unfavorable) climatic and soil conditions, demonstrating regular high fruiting.

The fruits have a good taste, excellent transportability and shelf life, and have a universal purpose.

At the same time, it should be taken into account that during field tests the following was noted:

• low drought resistance of apple trees;
• manifestation of a tendency to partial shedding of fruits at the stage of their technical ripening.

User reviews

Gift to Grafsky. Well, the Gift has arrived. In mid-September, some began to fall. After two weeks they ripened to the consumer stage (not in the cold). I thought they said it was winter? The taste is good, somewhat reminiscent of Streifling, only sweeter. How nimble! In the second year, one seedling produced 5 fruits, the other - 7, all ripened. Moreover, at the same time, the trees gave good summer growth. Moreover, the blooming garden was hit by a good frost, Antonovka and Papirovka were knocked out, but this one survived. I was surprised to learn that the variety is already 30 years old... The fruits are beautiful, elegant, and uniform in size. They will probably do well on the market.

Observer

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