Dwarf trees are very popular. They do not take up much space, so they are well planted in small areas. Also, small apple trees are convenient to care for and collect fruit. Their harvest is not worse than that of tall trees. In this article we will discuss the variety of dwarf apple tree "Wonderful".
Inference history
This variety was bred by A.M. Mazunin, working in the Chelyabinsk Scientific Research Institute of Horticulture and Potato. By crossing the old-looking Eliza Ratke and the Ural North x 11-20-12 hybrid, a frost-resistant Wonderful variety has been produced, which bears fruit throughout the summer. This species is well suited for areas where the climate is not very favorable.
Did you know? In the world there are about 7 thousand varieties of apples. 100 varieties are grown for sale, and the rest are used for decorative and technical purposes.
Description and distinctive features of the variety
Consider the description of varieties of apple "Wonderful".
Trees
The tree is low. On dwarf rootstocks, it grows up to 150 cm, and on high-growth ones - up to about 200-250 cm. The crone is large, spreading, and practically reaches the ground. The branches are dark green. They can travel along the ground under the weight of large apples.
Fruit
The apples are large, have a weight of 140-200 g. They are round, slightly flattened, green-yellow. Barrels can be rosy, with reddish strokes. The flesh is juicy, fine-grained. The taste of the apples in question is sweet, sour.
Such varieties as “Bratchud” and “Currency” can be attributed to the dwarf apple tree.
How to choose seedlings when buying
High-quality seedlings are best purchased in a proven nursery. But if there is no such possibility, then when choosing planting material, some features should be taken into account so as not to confuse the desired seedling with wild:
- on the dwarf stock should be a clear protrusion between the root of the neck and the trunk;
- A 2-year-old sapling should have at least 4 developed branches with large buds, and the height of a trunk should be no more than 0.5 m. The wild bird has many branches without buds;
- roots of dwarf apple trees of small size and elastic, and in the wild - taproot.
Important! After purchasing the planting material, its roots must be wrapped in wet material - they will not dry out and will not suffer during transportation.
Choosing a place on the site
The considered grade prefers places on the sun or slightly shaded. The variety is sensitive to drying out of the ground, as the roots are close to the surface, so the place must be protected from the winds. In winter, due to drafts, snow deflates, and because of its lack of plantings can freeze. The tree grows well in the lowlands, on the slopes and in places with close location of groundwater. The best soils are light loam or sandy, fertile, breathable and moist.
Preparatory work
Most of the roots of the apple tree "Wonderful" is in the upper layer of the soil, so the variety is picky about the fertility of the land. Therefore, the soil must be prepared in advance. About 10 kg of humus or rotted manure and 20 g of potash and phosphorus fertilizers should be applied per 1 square meter for digging. If the soil is heavy, then add sand or peat, and if acidic - add lime.
Step-by-step process of planting seedlings
The trees can be planted in the spring: in the period after the thawing of the ground and before the start of bud break. Also, an apple tree can be planted in the fall: it is recommended to start from the end of September and finish one month before the frost.
Important! The main thing is not to be late with the landing dates, as this negatively affects the survival of trees.Step-by-step process:
- If several dwarf trees are planted, the holes must be dug at least 3 meters apart. Their depth should be 50 cm, and width - 70 cm.
- In each hole poured into a bucket of water.
- The dug earth should be mixed with compost and covered with a slide at the bottom.
- Then the plant is established on a hill, its roots finish.
- The vaccination site must be at a height of 2 cm from the ground.
- Sapling asleep the remaining earth and ram.
- The sides are made around the trunk so that the water during the irrigation does not spread.
- Trees are watered using a bucket of water for each.
Seasonal care features
Observing all the rules of planting, you can be sure that the tree will take root. But in order to get a good harvest, it is necessary to provide high-quality care for the apple "Wonderful".
It will also be interesting to read about dried and frozen apples.
Soil care
The roots of the tree are in the upper soil layer, and it dries out very quickly. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly water the plant in drought. In the first years after the landing, it is recommended to wet the ground every 7 days. After each procedure, the earth in the near-wellbore circle should be loosened so that no earth crust is formed and the air enters the roots. We also need to carry out weeding around the tree as weed appears. To preserve moisture in the soil, you can mulch the area around the trunk peat or humus.
Top dressing
The roots of the apple tree “Wonderful” are small, and the tree brings many fruits, so it is necessary to feed the apple tree with a solution of mullein or chicken droppings, using a bucket for each plant. Complex mineral dressings are carried out for apple trees that are more than 2 years old. To do this, 40 g of fertilizer is dissolved in a bucket of water. In the summer, foliar nutrition can be done - leaves are sprayed from both sides with a complex nutrient solution. The procedure should be carried out in dry weather in the morning or evening. A positive result will be after spraying the tree with urea. The main thing - to make a solution that does not burn the leaves. In autumn, it is recommended to feed trees with fertilizers, which include potassium and phosphorus. Nitrogen is better to exclude, since it allows new branches to grow, and this delays the preparation of the tree for the winter.
Preventive treatment
For insects and fungal diseases, the apple tree should be sprayed with Bordeaux liquid or Nitrafen. The procedure is recommended in the spring, before the kidneys swell. With the same purpose, you can use a 7% solution of urea. The main thing is to carry out processing before the start of sap flow. If you do this later, you can burn the kidneys, which are already opening. In the autumn, after the leaves have fallen down, prophylaxis should be carried out using Bordeaux liquid or Nitrafen.
Did you know? A fresh apple does not sink in water, since the fourth part of its mass is air.
Pruning
A rich harvest can be expected only in the case of the formation of the correct crown. The main thing is that the tree grows evenly in all directions. It should not have bare spots, as well as thickening. Pruning apple "Wonderful" is recommended twice a year. Pruning is done in the spring, before the movement of the juice begins. The procedure is to remove diseased, damaged and growing inside the twigs. In the first year of life, the tree should form a crown. To do this, cut it to 0.5 m, making a cut on the kidney opposite to the inoculation.
By the end of the season, the apple tree will have about 5 shoots. Growing vertically at the very top will continue to be a guide. In the following years, it is cut by 0.2 m, while doing a cut on the kidney opposite to last year's cut. An adult apple tree should thin out the twigs. In order for fruit-bearing branches to grow horizontally, they must be cut to a growth that is directed downwards. In the autumn, the second pruning. During the procedure, it is worthwhile to remove the damaged, broken, lost branches and those that grow in the wrong direction.
Protection against cold and rodents
Since the roots of the apple tree "Wonderful" are located superficially, they can freeze in winter. In order to prevent this, it is necessary to cover the okolostvolny circle with humus or compost, and put the spruce branches up. After the snow falls, it is recommended to remove the lap branches, and to draw a snowdrift around the apple-tree. The most active pests of the apple tree are mice and hares. They are attracted to the bark of trees. You can protect the apple tree with the help of fir branches. They should be tied to the stem so that the needles looked down. You can also use roofing material, iron mesh, fiberglass. Covering material you need to wrap the trunk, deepening 10-20 cm into the ground, as nimble mice can easily make a dig. Some use nylon tights. They should be wound high on the barrel and soaked with kerosene or diesel fuel.
Gardeners recommend to use sawdust impregnated with creolin to protect against rodents - they need to mulch the tree trunk. Hares are very shy, so it is enough to tie black rustling bags on the branches. The animal will be afraid of such a "black monster" and will not come close to an apple tree. If the hares were bold, you must install a chain-link around the trunk or put an old galvanized bucket on it without a bottom, cutting the wall. If you provide the “Wonderful” apple tree with quality care, it will definitely thank you for a rich harvest.
