Perhaps the most mysterious and extraordinary variety of fruit trees in the world is the apple tree “Aport”, about which we will grow and care for this material.
History of origin
The history of the variety "Aport" goes far back in antiquity, and to this day there is no 100% confirmed information about its true origin. 
There are several nebulous versions:
- some believe that the original apple tree began to grow on the territory of present-day Ukraine, approximately in the XII century;
- others - that “Aport” is a Polish fruit, since similar apples mentioned in church diaries for 1175 were originally brought to Poland from the Ottoman Empire;
- and only a few adhere to the third version, which states that this species came to us from Turkey.
As early as the beginning of the 19th century, the variety was spotted in France, Belgium and Germany, only wearing different names in these countries.
For example, in Germany this apple tree was called “Russian Emperor Alexander”, in Belgium - “President of beauty”, and the French people called the type as “President Napoleon”.
In addition to the above countries, the apple tree became widespread in English cities (1817), then came to the Kazakh Almaty (1865), where it became the subject of special observation and study. 
Alma-Ata breeders began to cross the "Aport" with local wild varieties, resulting in "Vernensky" and "Alma-Ata Aport", which were famous for the huge 500-gram fruits.
Today, a very unusual apple variety can be found in the southern and middle regions of Russia, but because of the capriciousness and unpredictability of the variety, trees are grown only in specially equipped greenhouses.
Did you know? Based on the latest genetic studies conducted by British pomologists (in 2000), it was found that the cultivator of the Aport variety is the wild apple of Sievers.
Description and Features
The trees and fruits of "Aport" are significantly different from other popular varieties, and therefore their description is very interesting. 
Trees
Trees, as a rule, are vigorous, have a spreading, flat-rounded, non-crowded crown and a small number of skeletal shoots with a small number of brown lentils. The diameter of the trunk varies from 8 to 10 m.
Check out also such varieties of apple trees as "Royalties", "Rozhdestvenskoe", "Ural bulk", "Krasa Sverdlovsk", "Orlinka", "Orlovim", "Zvezdochka", "Kandil Orlovsky", "Papirovka", "Screen" , "Antey", "Rudolf", "Bratchud", "Robin", "Red Chief", "Glory to the Victors".The branches of the plant are very strong and move away from the column at a sufficiently large angle. Foliage has a rounded shape and dark green, rich color.
Fruit
The appearance of the fruit of this apple is striking in its beauty and gigantic size. The average weight of an apple is about 300-350 g, however, the weight of some fruits may well reach 600 and even reach 900 g. 
The shape of the apples is flattened-conical with a barely noticeable ribbing. In color, depending on the variety, a variety of bright shades are combined: yellow-green, with a dark red, pronounced, streaky blush, which occupies approximately half the area of the fruit.
The peel covering the apple has a moderately thick dense structure with a slight oily and glossy sheen.
Also present are a pronounced waxy coating and numerous large subcutaneous spots, which have a pale green or white color. The flesh of the fruit is white, of fine-grained structure, with a delicate greenish tinge and a sour-sweet, spicy and crumbly taste.
Important! The removable ripeness of fruits in the territory of the Russian central zone occurs, as a rule, in the second decade of September. For eating apples can be used within a month after harvest.
Varieties
The variety “Aport” has existed for over 200 years, during which time a great number of varieties of these cultivated apple trees have been bred from different countries, of which the most popular are: “Blood-Red Aport”, “Aport Dubrovsky”, “Zailiysky” and “Alexandria ". 
Today, in special markets, one can meet all the mentioned varieties, get to know their detailed description and the nuances of agricultural technology for proper cultivation and maintenance.
Rules for the selection and purchase of seedlings
If you chose the large-fruited "Aport" and are already going to purchase seedlings for planting an unusual varietal tree, before buying, first of all, make sure that the selected "material" meets some important features and criteria:
- It is necessary to buy seedlings only in specialized firms or proven garden organizations with a good reputation.
- The age of the seedling should not exceed 2 years. The he is younger, the better it will take root and grow. Determining the age of the plant is not difficult - just look at whether the seedling has developed branches (if not, the material is one-year). A biennial plant has 2 or 3 additional branches that stick out in different directions at an angle of 50-90 °.
- Inspect the "material" must be carefully: at the roots and the stem should not be any damage and growths, and under the crust of the plant should be bright green.
- The root system should be moist to the touch, but not rotten, and the roots should also have an elastic and non-fragile structure.
- The length of the roots should be about 40 cm.
- It is not recommended to purchase seedlings on which several leaves have already sprouted.
Choosing a place on the site
This variety must be planted in a sunny, wind-protected area. It should also be borne in mind that the root system of apple "Aport" is suitable only for places where the groundwater level is no higher than 1 meter.
If the water comes closer, it is advisable to drain the bottom of the pit with a layer of broken bricks and stones, and raise the plant itself slightly above the level of the soil.
Preparatory work
Before planting a seedling, its roots should be soaked in water and kept there for at least a day. To stimulate the growth of additional roots, you can use solutions "Kornevina" or "Heteroauxin".
Growth stimulators also include “Bud”, “Charm”, “Kornerost”, “Chunky”, “Etamon”, “Vympel”, “Energen”, “Zircon”, “Stimulus”.The pit for the "Aport" is prepared six months before the designated planting: its depth and diameter should be 1 m. It is recommended to mix the removed soil with sand (1 bucket), compost (1 bucket), wood ash (800 g) and special mineral fertilizers .
Step-by-step process of planting seedlings
The trees "Aport" belong to the late, winter varieties, therefore, it is preferable to plant these plants in the autumn period for good and fast survival. The landing process itself is divided into several stages:
- Pit digging based on the size of the roots. As already indicated above, it must be prepared six months before disembarking, and before planting, the excavated soil must be fed with a special compound.
- The prepared mixture forms a mound, in which the purchased seedling is then placed.
- With an open root system, the roots are straightened down in the direction of the hillsides.
- After disembarking, the pit must be filled with soil, firmly holding the trunk with a hand and periodically shaking the plant to prevent the formation of voids between the roots.
- After planting the tree should be poured abundantly, until the water retains on the surface, and the stem should be well mixed with a mixture of humus and peat.
Seasonal care features
As with other apple trees, “Aport” requires painstaking and careful seasonal observation, as well as proper and careful care.
Soil care
Soil care should include such activities:
- Watering - it must be timely and regular, especially in hot weather. Water (several buckets) should be brought under a young plant 1 or 2 times a week. Be sure to after abundant watering is the procedure of loosening.
- Weeding the soil around the tree should be carried out as the weeds spread.
- To better develop the seedling and to maintain the correct level of moisture in the soil under the apple tree, mulching should be done from time to time. But on the condition that the mulch will be lined with a 5 cm layer and will consist of a mullein, manure, sawdust or mowed grass of cereals.
Top dressing
Top dressing "Aport" is carried out in the spring and autumn season. During these periods nitrogen-containing mineral fertilizers are introduced into the soil.
Important! Fertilizers that contain nitrogen must be made no later than September. It is better to do this at the beginning of the month.
Tips for properly done feeding:
- during flowering, make 5 liters of manure, 2 liters of chicken manure, 100 g of phosphate and 70 g of potassium, previously diluted in a 10-liter capacity;
- after flowering it is good to use 500 g of nitrophoska, 10 g of sodium humate mixed with a bucket of water;
- in the autumn (to protect the plant in winter) - 30 g of potassium, 60 g of double superphosphate and 30 g of calcium should be diluted in 10 liters of water and put this composition in the soil.
Prophylactic spraying
Without periodic spraying of apple trees, complex care cannot be called complete. 
This must be done so that plants are as little as possible affected by various diseases and not attacked by pests.
For the first time, an apple tree should be treated in spring and preferably before bud break, then preventive spraying is periodically carried out during and after flowering.
Treatment of "Aport" is recommended only with proven, high-quality means: urea, Bordeaux liquid, copper and iron vitriol.
Formative, sanitary and anti-aging pruning
Pruning apples of this class is carried out with sanitary, rejuvenating and, most importantly, formative purpose. 
The first manipulation is carried out on the 2nd or 3rd year after planting a tree, always in spring, in warm and dry weather: first of all, the shoots that grow inside the crown are cut, then the old branches, on which new ovaries will not form, and old processes.
Separate sanitary pruning is carried out in case of unexpected damage of trees by fungal diseases (withered branches, bark in some places, black dots on the trunks).
It is necessary to get rid of such diseased areas on the plant as quickly as possible “surgically”.
Anti-aging pruning is always aimed at improving the fruiting of the apple tree, as well as the extension of its life. It can be done only during periods of rest, but in no case in the spring, when the process of sap flow begins in the trunk. 
The procedure itself should begin with pruning the largest dead branches, then you should begin to cut the rest.
All broken, dried and improperly growing branches should be removed from the trunk itself, and be sure to follow the principle “it is better to remove a couple of large branches than many small ones”.
Protection against cold and rodents
Unfortunately, "Aport" is not famous for its high resistance to frost, therefore, initially, it is necessary to plant this variety of apple trees on winter-hardy varietal rootstocks.
As for protective manipulations, heating furnaces, burners, briquettes and lignite bring excellent results, which are burned in areas before dawn and create a heating smoke screen from hard frost. 
To protect the apple tree from rodents (mainly hares and mice), apply such effective methods:
- drawing metal mesh with 20 mm cells;
- laying under the plant odorous deterrent herbs, for example, mint;
- wrapping post nylon products - old stockings or pantyhose; rodents do not eat them;
- placement on the branches of black paper (hares are very afraid of it);
- coating the pillars with a mixture of mullein and clay;
- wood treatment with copper sulphate or bordeaux liquid.
Did you know? Archaeological excavations have shown that humankind uses the fruits of apples since 6500 BC. er
Growing large and tasty fruits of the sort "Aport" in their area is not easy. However, with the observance and implementation of these tips and taking into account the capricious nature of this variety, it is quite possible to get an excellent result. Especially since he absolutely justifies all the most daring expectations.
