Apple tree variety Pink Pearl - photos, features, growing tips

Apple trees, which have unusual properties, are always very popular among gardeners. In the last century, Michurin was able to develop several varieties of apple trees that were characterized by red flesh. However, the breeder did not envisage such a goal.

The Pink Pearl variety was obtained in the USA much later than those bred by Michurin. At the same time, American scientists took advantage of his achievements and obtained red-fleshed fruits based on existing varieties.

History of apple breeding

All red-fleshed apple varieties were developed using the red-fleshed Surprise variety. As for the Pink Pearl apple tree, it was bred more than 50 years ago in California. Its creator was the American breeder Albert Etter.

The selection process took almost 25 years . After breeding the variety, Etter patented it and sent it to a California nursery for propagation. One year later, Pink Pearls were presented in catalogs of fruit crops, after which the variety quickly spread throughout the country.

The variety received its unusual name Pink Pearl due to the pinkish-red pulp of the fruit and the slight shimmering effect obtained due to the heterogeneity of color of the fleshy part of the apple.

Origin of the variety

After long and painstaking years of work, breeder Albert Etter developed the Pink Pearl apple variety in 1940. The botanist was most impressed by the aroma, taste and color of the fruit. The unusual appearance became the basis for the name “Pink Pearl”. This apple variety is especially popular abroad, namely in the states of Washington, California and Oregon. There, apples are used not only by amateur gardeners, but also by large industrial enterprises.

Apple varieties have some features, namely:

• the fruits are medium in size;
• the peel is quite tender, has white specks;
• the fruit is juicy, has a pink or often purple tint;
• the taste is very sweet with notes of grapefruit and raspberry.

This variety of apples has increased popularity among people who follow a diet. These fruits are low in calories, but high in iron and fiber. The original taste and aroma make it possible to use apples in cooking, even as an addition to meat and fish dishes.

Growing regions

Due to the fact that this variety has not undergone any testing in Russia, it is not included in the Russian State Register of Breeding Achievements. In addition, the culture has not become widespread - it is, as a rule, grown only by amateur gardeners and collectors. In this regard, there is no confirmed data on which regions are most suitable for growing this variety.

However, there is information that Pink pearls are well grown in the Moscow region, Leningrad region, Siberia, the Urals (due to good frost resistance), as well as in the southern regions (here the tree does not require special care).

Botanical description

Before deciding whether to grow this variety in your garden, you should familiarize yourself with the description of the tree itself and the characteristics of its fruits.

This is how the Pink Pearl apple tree looks in the photo:

Wood appearance

The Pink Pearl apple tree is a medium-sized tree, reaching a height of approximately 4-5 m . This crop is usually grown on a strong or medium-growing rootstock that is resistant to most diseases of pome crops and to low temperatures. However, it is also possible to use a dwarf rootstock.

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The apple tree does not have a very thick crown. The branches are geniculate or straight; at the beginning of growth, their bark acquires a light brown color with a green tint, then it begins to coarse and turn brown. In the first few years, shoot growth is 80-100 cm (every year), and after that the rate of their growth slows down to 50 cm.

Leaf structure

The foliage is medium in size, light green when young, and then becomes deep green on the outer surface. There are serrations along the edges of the leaflets, the plate is slightly raised towards the center, and is characterized by weak venation. The lower part of the leaf is slightly pubescent.

Flowers

This variety of apple tree enters the flowering phase quite early - around the beginning of May . However, this period depends on the weather and climatic conditions.

During the flowering period, the crop is characterized by increased decorativeness - the entire tree is dotted with small bright pink flowers. They have five petals with a rounded top and a saucer shape.

Each inflorescence contains approximately 5 flowers . Their sepals are light and pubescent.

Fruit characteristics

The fruits of the Pink Pearl variety can be characterized by the following parameters:

1. Appearance .
   The fruits have a round-conical or simply round shape. They may be slightly flattened or have ribbing. Apples have thin but dense skin, with a glossy surface, but without an oily or waxy coating. Only ripening apples are colored green or light green; over time they acquire a yellow color. The illusion may be created that the skin is transparent, but this optical illusion is caused by a slight blurred pale pink or crimson blush.
2. Weight . The average weight of one fruit is 180 grams. However, this variety’s apples can be either very small (weighing about 70 grams) or very large (weighing up to 350 grams) - it all depends on the conditions in which the tree is grown, soil, lighting, etc.
3. Pulp . Pink Pearl apples have crisp, fine-grained flesh that is juicy and prone to cracking. It is characterized by an unusual color - dark or light pink, reddish, and may even have a purple tint.
4. Safety . The collected fruits can be stored (under proper conditions) for up to a month (according to other unconfirmed data - up to 3-4 months).
5. Taste . The main taste of apples is sweet, however, the aftertaste leaves a characteristic sourness. If you taste the fruit well, you can feel some notes of citrus fruits or raspberries and strawberries. Their taste is harmonious, balanced, dessert. According to the tasting assessment - average.
6. Compound . 100 g of Pink Pearl fruit contains: 19 mg of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), 268 mg of P-active substances, 0.8% titratable acids, 11% pectins, 15% sugars (fructose).

Frost resistance

This apple tree variety is characterized by average resistance to low temperatures. If the tree is provided with proper care and shelter for the winter, it can withstand frosts down to -22..-25 ̊C . However, it is worth understanding that in the event of sudden temperature changes, apple trees can suffer significant damage.

If in the growing region the frosts in winter are not severe or short-lived, then the fertilizer applied in the fall will be enough for the tree to survive the cold period.

Do you cover the Pink Pearl apple tree for the winter?

Not really

Pollination

The Pink Pearl apple tree is a self-sterile variety, which means that if there are no suitable apple trees within a radius of 50-100 m, it will not be able to produce a harvest. In this regard, as experienced gardeners recommend, other summer varieties should be planted next to the crop in turn to ensure cross-pollination. In addition, this will ensure free access for pollinating insects to fruit trees.

The following varieties can be planted as pollinator trees::

• White filling;
• Candy;
• Melba;
• Celeste;
• Mantet;
• Moscow Grushovka.

Growing conditions

The apple tree needs sufficient lighting, so choose the sunny side of the site for planting.

It’s good if the apple tree is protected from the north wind by a building or a high fence.

Groundwater passing close to the surface can spoil the roots and lead to rotting and disease of the apple tree. Therefore, choose an area with a groundwater depth no closer than 2.5 m to the surface.

The soil in the area where you plan to plant an apple tree should be loamy, with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. A clay or sandy bud is prepared in advance for planting an apple tree.

Productivity

There are no official data on the yield of this variety in Russia . However, you can rely on the information provided by amateur gardeners. According to their information, an adult tree approximately 10-12 years old can produce at least 70-90 kg of apples. This is a relatively good result, especially for summer (early autumn) apple trees. However, if the variety has suffered from frost, the number of fruits will decrease.

This is a fast-growing variety that can produce a harvest after 3 years of life. However, it is better to immediately cut off the first flowers that appear on the tree during this period. Then, by 4-5 years, you can already remove 5-15 kg of fruit from the apple tree.

The harvest takes place at the end of August . But due to the fact that the fruits stick well to the stalk and do not fall off the tree, they can be picked around mid-September.

Such a wide harvest range (6-8 weeks) has a positive effect on the taste of apples, and if the fruits are harvested in September, they will become more sugary, pleasant and less tart.

The culture is characterized by the periodicity of fruiting - every other year.

Harvest storage

Despite the fact that apples can last a long time on the tree after ripening, after harvesting they begin to quickly deteriorate. So, they can be stored for about 30 days; after the 5th week of storage, apples completely lose their taste , juiciness, and the pulp becomes loose. In this regard, it is better to eat them immediately or process them into jam, jam or juice within the specified period.

In order for the apples to last for several weeks in their original form, they should be placed in a cool room where the air temperature will be +3..+5 ̊C and the humidity level will be average. The fruits tolerate transportation well.

Chemical composition and beneficial properties

Everyone knows about the healing properties of apples. But the Pink Pearl variety is special. Anthocyanins, which determine the original color of apples of this variety, are not synthesized in the human body, however, they are extremely necessary for the human body. For a healthy person, their daily intake is 200 mg, and for a sick person – 300 mg. Anthocyanins do not have a cumulative effect, that is, they cannot be accumulated for future use; foods containing them must be consumed daily. Anthocyanins have an amazing ability to help with many diseases:

• being strong antioxidants, they restore cell membranes, thereby preventing many diseases, including cancer;
• strengthen the immune system and fight harmful bacteria thanks to its bactericidal properties;
• strengthen the walls of capillaries, including those located in the eyeballs, therefore useful for diabetic retinopathy;
• help reduce intraocular pressure, helping in the treatment of glaucoma;
• can improve the condition of connective tissues, and there are many of them in the human body.

Pectins, which are abundant in the Pink Pearl apple variety, remove harmful substances from the human intestines, improving the condition of the digestive system.

But for these apples to be useful, the trees need to be properly cared for.

Landing technology

To get a strong and healthy tree capable of producing large, tasty fruits, you must follow all the rules for planting a seedling.

Selection and preparation of seedlings

First you need to select and prepare a seedling. Due to the fact that the Pink Pearl apple tree is not very popular in Russia, it is recommended to buy planting material in a nursery rather than on the market .

If a tree with an open root system was purchased, it should be planted in the fall.

The optimal age for a seedling is 1-2 years. It is better to give preference to planting material that has a closed root system or a significant earthen lump on the roots. If you can see the roots, then they need to be examined thoroughly so that the rhizomes :

• were more than 30 cm in length;
• had many ramifications;
• looked healthy.

It is also worth choosing those trees whose trunk diameter at the bottom is approximately 2.5 cm.

Before planting, the seedling must be prepared . To do this, for a tree with an open root system, you need to fluff up all the roots well so that they better adapt to the new soil. There is no need to free the seedling from the soil clod. It is also a good idea to place the plant in water (or a growth stimulant) for several hours immediately before planting.

Selecting a location

This crop is not entirely picky about soil (there is evidence that it can bear fruit on clay soil). However, it is still better to plant the tree on loamy soil with a slightly acidic or neutral reaction. If sandy or clayey soil has been chosen, it must be prepared for planting in advance.

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It is worth choosing windless places, well lit by the sun. Also, at the proposed site, the groundwater level must be at least 2 m below the ground surface. Because the roots of the Pink Pearl apple tree do not like stagnant water.

When planting several trees, it is worth calculating the area so that the distance between each plant is approximately 4 m.

Deadlines

The best time to plant an apple tree of this variety is spring (you should wait until the soil warms up well). If you plant a tree in the fall, you need to do it before the onset of frost.

Disembarkation rules

To understand the size of the planting hole, you need to measure the diameter of the earthen ball on the roots of the seedling . After this, you need to dig a hole twice as large as the lump of soil (usually it is 90-120 cm in diameter and 60-80 cm in depth).

This must be done at least a week before disembarkation - then it will have time to settle. For acidic soil, wood ash can be used to reduce the reaction. 250-300 g is enough for one pit.

When digging a hole, the top fertile layer of soil must be set aside.

Now you need to prepare a fertilizer mixture consisting of turf soil, humus (or manure) and complex mineral fertilizers (added according to the instructions on the package). You should fill a third of the space in the recess with it, forming a slide.

If manure is used as fertilizer, it should not be fresh. Otherwise, it can injure young roots.

Then you need to drive a peg into the center of the hole, which serves as a support for the seedling , and place the tree itself on the mound. The roots of the plant need to be straightened and covered first with the top layer of soil, and then with the bottom. As the hole is filled with soil, it should be carefully compacted.

The neck of the tree should be at a distance of 7 cm from the surface of the ground.

After planting, the plant needs abundant watering - approximately 10 liters of water should be poured under the seedling. It also doesn’t hurt to mulch the tree trunk circle with sawdust or tyrsa.

Selection of seedlings

Apple tree Pink pearls are still rarely found on the fruit crops market, so when purchasing, it is better to contact trusted sellers with a good reputation. Otherwise, there is a risk of getting something completely different from what you expected. If you plan to make a purchase in an online store, be sure to check customer reviews to understand how conscientious the sellers are. Young seedlings of Pink Pearl do not have any characteristic varietal characteristics. Therefore, when choosing, you need to focus on their quality.

There are certain indicators of healthy planting material:

• A one-year-old apple tree seedling should not have branches from the trunk, a two-year-old one must have at least 2 lateral branches, for Pink Pearl apple tree seedlings - at least 3. Older apple tree seedlings take root much worse and, due to their high altitude, are not sent by mail;
• the bark of Pink Pearl apple tree seedlings should not be damaged, the color should correspond to the variety. To make sure that the bark is in good condition, you need to lightly pick it up; the green color will indicate a healthy seedling, but this must be done carefully so as not to leave damage;
• in the spring there should be no open leaves on the apple tree, and in the fall the tree should finish falling leaves;
• a very important indicator is the condition of the roots of the apple tree; they should not be overdried, but overmoistening is also detrimental for them, as it causes rotting; root length - at least 30 cm, color - light, special attention - to preserve the thin suction roots of white color;
• it is important that the Pink Pearl apple tree seedling is grown in the same region in which it will be planted; southern seedlings in the middle zone, and even more so to the north, are simply doomed to death.

Advice! The optimal choice is an apple tree seedling in a large container, and grown in it. Such a tree will take root at any time of planting.

Be careful: sometimes an apple tree seedling is placed in a container immediately before sale. You cannot buy such specimens; their root system is probably damaged. This is quite easy to understand: when grown in a container, the soil compacts a little. For a newly planted apple tree it will be loose. It is not easy to remove a tree grown in a container, since the entire earthen ball has sprouted roots. Lightly pull the apple tree by the stem; if it yields easily, refuse to purchase.

Rules of care

It is very important not only to plant the plant correctly, but also to provide it with proper care, which includes regular watering, fertilizing, and timely pruning.

Watering

In the first year after planting the Pink Pearl apple tree, you should first water the plant in the spring, before the buds swell . After the onset of stable warm weather, young trees require weekly watering.

As for adult crops, they are watered after the flowering phase at the stage of fruit set.

If the summer is dry, additional procedures should be carried out to moisten the soil. Then the fruits will not fall off.

The last watering is carried out 3 weeks before harvest. If the weather is dry in the fall, then another watering can be done in October.

The volume of water should be chosen depending on the age of the plant.:

• for an annual seedling, take water at the rate of: 2 buckets per 1 m2;
• for a two-year-old tree, 4 buckets of liquid are required;
• for a tree 3-5 years old - 5-8 buckets;
• for fruit-bearing trees over 6 years old - no less than 60 liters per 1 m2.

Loosening the soil

To provide the plant with airy soil saturated with oxygen, it is worth digging up the area around the tree trunk. In this case, fallen leaves, weeds, and shoots of other trees and shrubs should be removed. The main thing is to do this carefully so as not to harm the roots, which are located close to the surface.

Top dressing

The first year after planting the crop, it does not require fertilizer, thanks to the nutrient mixture added to the planting hole. Starting from the 2nd year of life, the tree should be fed 4 times per season :

1. In early spring, apply fertilizer with nitrogen at the root.
2. During the flowering period, use a solution of superphosphate, chicken droppings, manure, and urea.
3. After the flowering phase, add a weak urea solution.
4. In the fall, after harvesting the fruits, feed with potassium sulfate and superphosphate.

Trimming

To improve the quality of fruits and their quantity, it is necessary to correctly form the crown of the apple tree. Trees of this variety should begin to be pruned in the 1st year after planting . The most suitable time for the procedure is the dormant period of the seedling.

As a rule, this is late autumn (the main thing is that the air temperature does not drop below -10 ̊C). If pruning is carried out during severe frosts, this can lead to fragility of the apple tree and its vulnerability to diseases.

During the procedure, it is necessary to remove such branches:

• frozen;
• dried out;
• deformed.

Tree pruning must be done annually. This should be both a sanitary procedure (removing bad and diseased branches) and a formative one (cutting off some side shoots and trimming the top).

Features of growing Pink pearls

Landing

Basic conditions

• For the variety you will have to choose very sunny and windless areas. The apple tree will not bear fruit in the shade, and in the wind in winter it will simply die. Therefore, it can be planted under the protection of taller trees, hedges, and building walls.
• The quality of the soil does not play a big role; it can be sandy loam, loam or black soil, the main thing is that it is not overly acidic.
• It is necessary to pay attention to the depth of groundwater, it must be at least 2-2.5 meters, otherwise the tree may begin to rot. An open body of water is also not the best neighborhood for Pearl.
• The holes for planting must be prepared in advance, and their size will directly depend on the lump of earth on the roots of the apple tree. On average, when harvesting in the fall, you can dig holes 80 centimeters deep and 1 meter in diameter, this is definitely enough. The top fertile layer of soil is mixed with fertilizers, returned back and filled with a large amount of water (2-3 buckets).
• The optimal distance between pits should be 3.5-4 meters, and between rows no less than 3 meters.
• Immediately before planting, drainage (10-15 centimeters) is poured into the bottom of the holes and stakes are dug in for garter. It can be made from vermiculite, gravel or broken brick.
• Apple trees are placed so that the root collar (grafting site) is approximately 8-10 centimeters above the soil surface. Otherwise, there is a higher risk of rooting, then all the properties of the rootstock will be lost, and the growth and development of the tree will slow down.
• Sprinkle the apple trees in layers, spilling a small amount of water, lightly trample the soil, pour 10-20 liters of liquid on top, mulch the trunk circle with humus, compost or chopped grass.

Disembarkation dates

Seedlings with a closed root system can be planted at any time during the growing season. For such trees it does not matter at all whether they have leaves or not. Otherwise, it is better to choose autumn or spring, when the leaves have finished falling or until the buds open.

Protection from frost and rodents

Young trees must be protected from frost, even if it is small and does not last long, as they are vulnerable and tender. To do this, it is recommended to cover the tree trunk circle with spruce branches, mats of straw or hay. The trunks are wrapped with agrofibre, burlap or nylon tights. If necessary, you can cover Pink Pearls using the tent method.

To prevent insects from settling in the tree trunk area for the winter and then spoiling the leaves, fruits and wood, the trunks need to be whitened with lime in the fall. Lubricating the trunk approximately 0.5-1 meter with rendered lard, grease, or industrial products that are easy to buy in gardening stores helps against rodents. It doesn’t hurt to regularly treat trees with fungicides and insecticides.

Tree care

Loosening the soil, watering: proper agricultural technology

All plants love airy, oxygenated soil and this variety is no exception. Therefore, you need to periodically dig up the area near the trunk, removing everything unnecessary from under it (fallen leaves, weeds, grass, shoots of bushes and trees). But this will have to be done carefully so as not to damage the roots located close to the surface.

Watering for young trees is necessary regularly, approximately once a week. Water is poured in two stages, in small quantities (10-20 liters). If it rains, the application of moisture must be stopped. You can follow the 10-day rule, that is, water only when there has been no rain for a decade. Mature trees are watered with caution, avoiding stagnation of moisture.

Pruning: simple crown formation

The tree is not very prone to thickening its crown, so pruning will be standard. The central trunk needs to be shortened by about one third, and all skeletal branches should be made lower and lower in tiers. They should initially be located far from each other.

Sanitary pruning is also necessary so that the apple tree can develop normally. They remove all dry, diseased or damaged branches. Be sure to cover the cut areas with garden varnish or water-based paint. After 10-15 years, you can carry out rejuvenation by cutting off 2-3 old branches per year to give space to the young ones.

Pollinator varieties

• Melba.
• Mantet.
• White filling.
• Moscow Grushovka.
• Candy.
• Celeste.

Reproduction

• Clones (layers).
• Grafting with cuttings or buds.
• Growing from seeds.

Diseases and pests

• Scab.
• Powdery mildew.
• Fruit rot.
• Black cancer.
• Cytosporosis.
• Leaf roller.
• Shield.
• Green aphid.
• Hawthorn.
• Codling moth.
• Flower beetle

Pest and disease control

The Pink Pearl apple tree is characterized by poor resistance to the following diseases:

• fruit rot;
• scab;
• powdery mildew.

To prevent trees from being affected by these diseases, you should:

• carefully observe the culture;
• remove moss and old bark from shoots and trunk;
• dig up the soil;
• remove weeds and young growths around the tree.

If necessary, use special chemicals (insecticides and fungicides):

1. Against powdery mildew - Topaz, Topsin, Colloidal sulfur.
2. Against scab - Rayok, Fitolavin, Discor, Horus.
3. To combat fruit rot - Bordeaux mixture 3%, Horus, Actofit.

To increase the apple tree's resistance to diseases, you can use biostimulants (for example, Epin or Cytovit).

additional characteristics

To get to know the Pink Pouring apple tree in more detail, you need to consider all its characteristics.

Features of the variety

A distinctive feature of the variety is its appearance. The tree is of medium height, with a powerful trunk. In the initial stage of development, the tree has a rather dense pyramidal crown shape. With age, the branches begin to extend at right angles from the trunk, which makes the crown round and broadly pyramidal.

Apple tree Pink filling.

Productivity

Despite the fact that the fruits weigh 120 - 150 g, Pink filling has a high yield. Up to 80 kg of apples are harvested from one 15-year-old tree.

Tasting assessment

The fruits are light green or white, with a blurred, striped red blush. The pulp is dense, white, aromatic with a good sweet and sour taste.

Fruits of the Pink filling.

Winter hardiness

The variety is considered to be quite winter-hardy. In winter, it tolerates frost well with temperatures below minus 30 - 35 degrees.

Drought resistance

An exceptional feature of the fruit crop is considered to be high drought resistance. In summer, it can tolerate heat up to 40 degrees.

Important! If there is insufficient moisture, fruiting of the variety does not decrease.

Disease resistance

The plant has strong immunity to many diseases.

However, in summer, during rainy weather, fruit rot may develop.

The tree is also often affected by the codling moth.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

• precociousness;
• average frost resistance;
• absence of fruit falling from the trees (this does not spoil the apples and makes it possible to postpone the harvest for several weeks);
• ease of care;
• good transportability;
• relatively good yield indicator;
• versatility of use in cooking.

Flaws:

• self-sterility (which requires planting pollinating apple trees);
• short shelf life of fruits;
• poor resistance to certain diseases (powdery mildew, scab);
• frequency of fruiting (every year).

Reviews from gardeners

On forums, many gardeners admire the appearance and taste of the fruits of the Pink Pearl apple tree. The tree is also delightful during the flowering period. However, not everyone likes the taste of apples.

As some forum users point out, apples are quite tart and astringent, but the raspberry notes are not particularly noticeable and they have a “regular apple taste.”

Since this variety is rarely grown in Russia, there is no information from Russian gardeners about the care and maintenance of apple trees.

Gardeners' opinions about the variety can be found here.

Harvest and storage

The tree is capable of producing a bountiful harvest if the winter was not too harsh and there were no frosts or sudden temperature changes in the spring. The variety is an early autumn variety; fruit ripening begins in the third decade of August.

The timing of harvest depends on weather conditions, but experienced gardeners who are already growing Pink Pearls advise keeping the apples on the tree as long as possible. This improves the taste and increases the sugar content, while reducing the astringency. In addition, the fruits of this variety do not fall off and make it possible to harvest in September.

The harvest can be stored for up to 4 months, maintaining its presentation and taste. You just need to observe the microclimatic indicators in the room (temperature - +1...+5°C, humidity - 90%).

Did you know? Every second fruit tree on Earth is an apple tree, and apple orchards cover an area of ​​50 thousand km², which corresponds to the territory of Slovenia.

Thanks to its amazing fruits, high frost resistance and ease of care and cultivation, the Pink Pearl apple tree variety can become popular with many amateur gardeners. And its decorative effect during flowering will decorate any garden plot.