Apple-tree Robinovka

The robin is not only a wonderful bird, but also an amazing variety of apple trees. Moreover, it should be noted that this genus of apple trees is quite old, gardeners have been growing these plants for a long time. Apple tree Robin has many benefits, which we will talk about in our article. If you grow the apple tree correctly, the harvest will be simply excellent. Therefore, be sure to read the entire article, in it we will tell you not just about the varietal characteristics of this apple tree, but also about the rules for cultivating a plant. We will share with you the secrets of preparing a planting pit, correct pruning, and much more. Let's start.

Apple-tree Malinovka: variety description and characteristics

Apple-tree Malinovka: photo of the variety

You will be surprised, but how the decorative Malinovka apple tree, or rather this variety, came into being, is not known for certain. It is believed that initially these trees spread throughout the Baltic States, where, imagine, the apple tree has been growing since the 18th century! The first time about the Malinovka apple tree was mentioned in 1845. According to another version, this apple tree originated from France, where it was previously mixed with some kind of Persian culture. Currently, this apple tree is grown not only in our country, but also on the territory of other states. In Russia, it is best to grow these apple trees in a temperate climate, therefore, the Malinovka apple tree received a special prevalence in the middle zone of our country, as well as in a number of other regions. Gardeners have always enjoyed cultivating these plants and always get a great harvest.

Ornamental apple trees of the Malinovka variety have a fairly high growth and development rate, which is why the plants are able to reach a five-meter mark in height. However, this indicator depends on the conditions in which the apple tree grows, so that in different regions the height of the trees is different. Since these apple trees have an average rate of development, their bark is being formed moderately actively. It is spherical in shape, the branches are raised upward, the bark on them is usually dark. On each shoot, beautiful foliage is formed, which is of medium size, dark green in color. In shape, the leaf plates are round, rather thick. Each leaf has slight wrinkling and medium omission, the leaf plates are glossy. Irregularities and jagging are formed along the edges. The petioles of the foliage are short, however, the leaf plates are attached to them quite well, therefore, when shaken, the foliage does not fall off.

Interesting fact! If you eat seeds from one apple, then replenish the daily supply of iodine for your body, so the fruits are very useful.

The Robinovka apple blossoms quite actively, usually in the second half of May, the inflorescences have a white-pink color, and a lot of flowers are formed. A huge amount of ovaries is also formed, so fruiting in the apple tree is quite active. The fruits of this apple tree are of average size, often even below average. The mass of one apple is usually no more than 160 g. Moreover, their shape is not always correct, round, the fruits are also heterogeneous in size, but the color of the fruits is always excellent, the same. At first, the apples turn green and then yellow, before harvesting, beautiful red stripes, pinkish, form on the apples. Therefore, the fruit always has a pleasant color.If we talk about the peel, then it is not very thick, a weak waxy coating is often formed on it, the peel is also shiny, its subcutaneous points are green, and the flesh has a beautiful snow-white color, however, directly near the peel, the color of the flesh changes to pink. The structure of the pulp is quite tender, has a very pleasant taste, sweet and sour, the juiciness of the fruit is good, it also contains fine-grained inclusions. If we talk about family chambers, then they are medium in size, flat in shape, the seeds are dark brown. The peduncles are slightly depressed, not very large. If we talk about the yield of this variety, then it is average, but regular and abundant. It should be noted that trees begin to bear fruit at the age of 3, if you take good care of the plant, then from one tree you can collect up to 80 kg of ripe and aromatic apples.

Choosing seedlings for planting

Apple-tree Malinovka: photo of the variety

Before planting trees, you need to choose the right seedling. It is best to plant annual apple trees or seedlings at two years of age. Plants must be young, they recommend purchasing planting material only from trusted persons, you can buy a seedling in an appropriate nursery, and it is best to do this in the same region where you live. The fact is that such seedlings will be perfectly adapted to your climatic conditions, so the trees will grow well on your site. Before buying a plant, carefully examine the appearance of the specimen. Pay special attention to the roots of the tree, they must be alive, fairly moist. The length of the roots should be at least 15 cm, a well-branched root system provides the seedling with good survival in the area. Do not forget that the trunk and shoots of the tree, of course, and the root system should not have any defects or damage, but if you notice signs of the development of any disease, then buying this seedling is risky, since the tree may not take root on your site, he will have big problems with adaptation.

Apple-tree Robinovka: planting

At the beginning, we promised to tell you how to plant plants correctly. Planting the Malinovka apple tree variety must begin with determining the optimal time for planting a tree, as well as preparing the planting pit and seedling for this procedure. Apple trees can be planted both in autumn and spring, but many gardeners cannot decide which season is best to carry out planting work. It depends on what kind of seedling you will plant, as well as on the climatic conditions of the zone where you live. In temperate latitudes, it is best to plant plants before winter, they usually do this in October, so that the seedling has time to adapt before the arrival of stable cold weather.

When the Robinovka apple tree overwinters, with the first rays of the sun it will begin to grow and develop intensively, so this option is considered a winning one. But you can plant apple trees in the spring. During the summer, they also perfectly adapt to their surroundings. It is best, of course, to plant apple trees with a closed root system, and it is recommended to do this in the fall, but if you bought an apple tree, on the contrary, with an open root system, then it is best to plant plants in spring, they do it either in March or in April. But do not forget to properly prepare the soil before spring planting, add the necessary organic and complex mineral fertilizing to the soil. This will help the plant to better adapt to new conditions, and in the future to actively grow and develop.

If you plant plants in the fall, then pay attention to the fact that early frosts may come during this period of time, so take this factor into account.The apple tree needs about a month of heat for the plant to adapt, so if recurrent frosts are possible in your region, it is better to plant the apple tree at the end of September. Once you have decided on the timing of planting, you need to choose the right place for planting the plant.

For a decorative apple tree of the Malinovka variety, it is good to choose illuminated areas, far from any tall buildings. The site should also be well protected from the wind, since the apple tree also does not like drafts. If we talk about the type of soil, it is better to plant plants on black soil or on loam. Do not forget that before planting it is necessary to add organic matter and complex mineral fertilizing to the soil. Keep in mind that additional pollinators must not grow within a radius of half a kilometer in order for your plants to actively bear fruit. The planting pit itself is recommended to be prepared in advance, about a couple of weeks before the planned date of planting the seedlings. This is necessary so that the soil has time to settle, which means that the seedling has a good support. The planting hole should be about 70 cm deep and up to 1 m in diameter, but the size of the seedling root system should also be taken into account, simulating the size of the planting hole. Be sure to lay a drainage layer on the bottom; sand, gravel and crushed stone can be added to the planting hole, as well as some branches, humus and compost. After that, it is necessary to mix the top dressing with the soil, the root system should not directly come into contact with the fertilizers. Wood ash and sand are often added to the planting pit in order to improve the structure of the soil. If the acidity in your area is increased, then add a little chalk or limestone to the dressing. And if you plant plants on loam, then pay attention to superphosphate fertilizers. If, on your site, the content of sand in the soil is increased, then pay attention to lime, which enriches the soil with magnesium.

Do not forget that the size of the planting pit can be either slightly increased or decreased, it all depends on how branched the root system of the seedling is. If you will be planting several plants at once, then pay attention to the distance between them. For normal development, you need to retreat at least 4 m from the tree.

Apple-tree Malinovka: photo of the variety

Before planting a Malinovka apple tree seedling, it can be treated with any insecticidal solution, potassium permanganate, in order to disinfect the root system. Plants are placed in the center of the planting pit, the root neck must necessarily rise several centimeters above the soil surface. Do not forget that next to the plant it is imperative to install a wooden peg and in the future tie a seedling to it, this will be a support for the tree. Fill the planting hole with soil mixture gradually, compacting the soil around the seedling. Upon completion of the work, it is imperative to water the plants, it is best to do this along the edge of the outer line of the hole circle. It is recommended to pour about 2 buckets of water under each seedling. In order for moisture to be better retained in the ground, mulch the near-trunk circle; for this, gardeners often use peat, straw, and other organic residues. In this way, you delay the growth of weeds and retain moisture. Planting plants, in general, is not difficult, the agrotechnical rules are quite standard.

Apple tree Robin: care

It is more difficult to care for a young ornamental Robinovka apple tree than for adult trees. Trees need to be fed regularly, pruned in time, and the soil of the trunk circle must be cultivated. And first of all, you need to take care of the regular feeding. The first years, seedlings must be fertilized as follows.During flowering, gardeners usually add compositions containing nitrogen to the soil, since it is this element that favorably affects the formation of buds, buds, and the growth of green mass. So, you can add ammonium nitrate or another solution to the soil. It is best to apply fertilizers containing fertilizers into the soil by the root method, namely, pour the solution into the soil while loosening the soil. Usually, a week or two after the application of these fertilizers, it is necessary to re-feed the plants, this time it is necessary to use manure or chicken droppings for application to the soil. Usually 5 kg of these substances are dissolved in 10 liters of water. Sometimes gardeners in the same period add compositions containing iron, superphosphate to the soil.

When fruit ovaries form, usually in June, you can use both foliar and root methods of feeding. It will be possible to add nitroammofosku, sodium humate, as well as complex mineral fertilizers to the soil. Most often, certain substances are dissolved in a liquid and poured into the root of the plant. If you use the foliar feeding method, then it is best to spray the crown of the tree with urea, dissolving it in water beforehand. At the age of three, apple trees can no longer be fed so often, during this period of time they begin to apply fertilizers to the soil once a year, this is best done in the spring, but if your soil is poor enough, you can feed the plant more often. Do not forget about the timely care of the near-trunk circle. It is necessary to loosen it in time, as well as remove weeds from the site, and it is best to loosen the soil after watering, as soon as the top layer dries up. In order for moisture not to evaporate, and weeds do not make their way to the surface, it is necessary to mulch the soil. For this, peat, sawdust are suitable. It is especially important to do this in the first years of a tree's life, since it is during this period that the roots especially need air, as well as moisture, so weeds will interfere with the development of the plant.

Pruning

Apple-tree Malinovka: photo of the variety

The next most important activity for caring for an apple tree of the Malinovka variety is pruning. It can be formative, sanitary and rejuvenating. It is best to prune the plants 2 times a year, in autumn and spring, and each time it is necessary to remove all diseased and deformed shoots, as well as branches that interfere with the normal growth of the tree. In both autumn and spring, gardeners remove damaged and diseased shoots, dry branches must also be cut out in time, since they only take nutrients, and do not bring any benefit to the plant. Remember that you cannot remove more than 1/3 of all branches at a time, otherwise the plants will not tolerate pruning well. If the crown of the apple tree is quite thickened, then the formative pruning should be carried out 2 times a year, in autumn and spring. In this case, you will definitely need to choose the main new shoot, to which the entire load will apply in the future. It should be located close enough to the central trunk.

Do not forget that during a formative pruning it is impossible to delete more than one main branch.

Make sure that all the shoots are well lit by the sun, do not leave diseased and deformed branches on the tree. In this case, it is also better not to leave the hemp, cut everything to the ground. After pruning, it is recommended that the cut sites be treated with crushed coal or garden pitch, this will help to avoid infection, decay. In autumn, the remaining parts of the old shoots are usually removed, the top of the main skeletal branches is slightly cut off so that the growth of the young tree is slightly limited. At the age of two, the plant is pruned less intensively, the crown needs to be formed quite often.

Autumn pruning is not much different from spring pruning. During this period, all old, diseased and broken branches must be removed, however, if you carry out 2 pruning per year, then cut off no more than 1/4 of the total mass of shoots. Monitor the stages of development of the tree, carry out both formative and sanitary, and, if necessary, rejuvenating pruning in time.

We protect from rodents and from cold weather.

Usually, only young plants are recommended to protect from frost, mature trees perfectly tolerate adverse weather conditions, if in your region the temperature in winter does not drop below minus 20 degrees, then you do not need to cover adult trees. However, in many regions of our country, freezing temperatures in winter often reach -30-35 degrees, so you cannot do without shelter. If you do not do this, then your tree may freeze slightly. It is best to cover the plants with ordinary spruce branches, tightly tied to the headquarters of the tree. You can lay it at the base. Do not forget to protect the tree trunk from various rodents, in winter the bark is often damaged by various pests. It is possible during this period of time to periodically rake snow to the tree trunk, this natural protection perfectly saves trees from cold weather. If the winter in your area is too cold, then use a breathable material, wrap it around the trunk of the apple tree so that not a single hole is left. A fine mesh net will help protect plants from rodents. Sometimes gardeners even use deterrent smelling substances, which are sold in specialized agricultural stores. In general, you can use different methods of protecting plants from cold weather and from rodents.

A little about preventive treatments

Apple-tree Malinovka: photo of the variety

Apple tree Robin is also affected by various pests and diseases, so gardeners periodically use different drugs to combat certain ailments. The most common disease that affects plants is scab. It progresses not only on leaf blades, but also on fruits, so the yield is significantly reduced. In order to get rid of this ailment, spray the crown of the plant with urea. Another common disease is powdery mildew. She very quickly destroys the green mass, so gardeners must definitely fight this disease. For this, the crown is treated with a solution of colloidal sulfur. Fruit rot quite often massively reduces the productivity of plants, apples rot and fall off, and pathogens very quickly spread throughout the site. Therefore, all fruits must be destroyed, and the plant must be treated with an appropriate preparation. Apple tree Robin is also affected by other fungal infections, so it is imperative to inspect the plants in time and monitor the condition of the fruits. Often, gardeners use copper sulfate to combat various diseases, namely, its solution, if we talk about pests, then most often aphids, moths, and leafworms settle on an apple tree. In order to get rid of these pests, use insecticidal preparations. But if you follow all agrotechnical rules, properly care for the plants, inspect, process, cut in a timely manner, then these diseases and pests will not affect your apple trees. Therefore, preventive measures must be taken for the normal growth and development of trees.

Apple-tree Malinovka: reviews of gardeners

Decorative apple tree Robinovka: video about the variety

• Marina Vladislavovna, Samara region: “Growing an apple tree is not very difficult. Its crown can even be given a decorative form, while the yield will be quite high. I want to warn gardeners that it is absolutely impossible to put manure into the soil in autumn, otherwise, due to an excess of nitrogen in the soil, buds will begin to develop on the crop, the intensive growth of young shoots will be activated, and in case of frost it will all freeze. "

• Anastasia Viktorovna, Moscow region: “In fact, the Malinovka apple tree does not require complex care, in order to get the highest yield, you only need to perform elementary agrotechnical measures, normally cut, feed, water the plant, so if you make an effort, the result will definitely please. I was amazed by the productivity of my decorative Malinovka apple-tree ”.