Apple tree Shtrifel: description, photo, growing guide

The article presents an apple tree Shtrifel: description, photo, complete instructions for growing, care, protection.

Apple tree Shtrifel: description, photo, basic information

Apple tree Shtrifel: description, photo

Apple trees are very often grown in orchards and vegetable gardens, as they do not require special attention, they only need basic care and shelter for the winter, if required. Different varieties are grown in different climates, as not every variety can be grown under these or other weather conditions. When choosing a variety, one should pay attention to the taste of the fruit, the amount of the harvest, and the weight of the fruit. Also important are properties such as frost resistance, drought resistance, as well as first fruiting.

At the moment, there are a huge number of varieties that are popular, because they have universal criteria that suit any gardener, as well as the climate. Such varieties include Shtrifel.

Apple tree Shtrifel: description, photo, appearance

Apple tree Shtrifel: description, photo

This variety is listed in the State Register of Russia, its official name is Autumn Striped, but most often gardeners call it Shtrifel. This variety has been on the official market for a fairly large amount of time, so it has various nicknames, it can be called Livonia, Obrezkov, etc.
This variety came about thanks to folk selection, so scientists could not establish from which varieties. There is an opinion that the Dutch and German varieties were used, which were crossed and a new variety was obtained. The first appearance of the variety dates back to the beginning of the 19th century, it was during this period that it began to spread in the south of Russia.

Despite its age, the variety is still popular thanks to its positive properties and criteria that suit a larger percentage of gardeners.

The state register recommends planting in the European parts of Russia, since it is in these territories that the variety grows better and gives a larger and better harvest.

Shtrifel has a peculiarity, it lies in the height of the tree. It can reach up to 8-9 meters in height, and a wide trunk is also observed near the tree. The apple tree has a dense crown, since the branches are very close, it is necessary to carry out regular pruning, which will help the tree function much better. In order for the tree to take up a little less space, it is recommended to carry out formative pruning, during which the tree is shortened by 2-3 meters.

The foliage of the tree is large, with strongly prominent thick veins, which are located on the surface of the entire leaf. Because of this, the sheet curls a little. The surface of the leaves is wrinkled, wrinkled, hairiness is observed on one side, and the other side is smooth, glossy, with shine. The foliage is at right angles to the shoot. Every year the leaves bare the base a little.

Apples Strifel: characteristics of fruits

Apples Strifel

Apples appear on small branches last year. This variety is of the mixed type, so you need to take this into account when pruning.

The stem is a very beautiful tree, so it brings not only a good and high-quality harvest, but also aesthetic satisfaction.During flowering, the apple tree is especially beautiful, since small white flowers appear on the surface of all the foliage, which adorn it. The flower petals lie freely, therefore fluffy, airy buds are formed.

The fruits are medium-sized, about 90-110 grams. The mass of one fruit directly depends on the weather in which the tree was grown. In warm weather that lasted all summer. Apples can reach 130-190 grams. The fruit is round in shape, with slightly convex sides and an elongated top. They are asymmetrical, as one side is larger than the other in size. The peel of apples is green, but at full maturity it changes to yellow-orange with small raspberry stripes or a slight blush. The skin is thin, but it is protected by a dense layer of plaque with a silvery tinge. This plaque belongs to natural wax and is necessary for the fruit to protect it from mechanical damage. On the surface, subcutaneous dots of a light green-gray color are faintly visible.

The pulp of apples is juicy, dense enough, pinkish in color. The taste of the fruit is pleasant, sweetness prevails, the fruit has a strongly pronounced aroma of flower honey. It tastes like cloves. Tasters rate the taste and appearance of the fruit at 9.2 points.

Note: Since the Shtrifel variety is popular with gardeners, scientists decided to breed varieties similar to it, so it had many clones that arose when pollinated with pollen from another variety. But, despite the successful work, scientists received apples similar in appearance, but very different in taste.

Fruit ripening

The full maturity of the fruits occurs in early September, by which time a slight blush appears on the sides. Since the petioles of the fruit are well attached to the base, the fruits are always on the tree and do not fall off.

Positive and negative qualities of the variety

The pluses include:

1.High resistance to frost and severe frost. The tree can withstand even harsh winters without the need for shelter. The apple tree perfectly tolerates temperatures up to -40 degrees. At lower temperatures, the tree needs to be covered. Even if the tree freezes, it will survive and recover in a couple of years. At the first frost, the buds of the tree develop well and do not react in any way to frost.

2. Stable harvest. In adulthood, the tree bears about 360 kilograms of fruit, this yield level becomes regular for 3-4 years of fruiting. In order for the tree to bear fruit regularly, it is necessary to feed it and carry out basic care, otherwise the harvest will depend on the year.

3. Pleasant appearance and taste. These properties are the most important, since it is according to them that the apple variety is chosen for planting on the site.

4. Fruits perfectly tolerate transportation at any distance, so they can be used for sale.

5. The universal meaning of apples. This variety is often used in conservation, preparations: jams, juices, preserves, and so on. Also, the fruits can be eaten fresh or used in baked goods.

6. The apple tree can adapt to the climate in which it was planted.

The disadvantages include:

1. Dimensions of the tree. The apple tree is very large, so this fact makes it more difficult to perform any maintenance work, since the entire tree needs maintenance. Harvesting is very inconvenient, since the apples do not fall off and you have to get them with special devices.

2. The tree brings its first harvest 6-8 years after planting, while during the first years the yield level will be minimal, since the tree is just beginning to develop.

3.Short shelf life. After harvesting, the fruits can only be stored for 2-3 months; after longer storage, the taste and appearance begin to lose.

4. The infertility of the variety. The stem cannot produce crops on its own, as it is sterile.For a crop to appear, it is necessary to plant another pollinator nearby, thanks to which apples will appear from the flowers. This variety can be absolutely anything, only its flowering period must coincide with the flowering period of the Shtrifel.

5. The variety can only be squeezed into well-loosened soil that will carry oxygen. This is necessary so that moisture is absorbed faster, since without it the tree will begin to wither and dry out.

Preparatory work

Before planting, it is necessary to perform preliminary work, which consists in choosing a site, preparing planting material, and preparing a site.

1. Landing time.

First you need to decide on the landing time. It is usually held in the spring and fall. In regions, regions with a warm climate, any planting can be chosen. But in cold regions it is better to choose a spring planting, since during the summer period the tree will have time to take root. Develop the root system and survive the winter in the future. A young tree is not as resistant to frost as an adult, mature tree.

2. Choosing a place.

The planting site should be spacious and match the size of the tree. Usually, a site is taken that is about 2 times larger than the tree trunk circle. The tree does not tolerate drought well, so it should be planted on a small hill or flat surface. It is better not to choose a place near a swamp or groundwater. Since excess moisture around the root system will lead to root rot and death of the apple tree.

3. Preparation of the landing pit.

It is necessary to start preparing the pit for planting in the autumn. First you need to dig it 120 centimeters wide and 80 centimeters deep. It is recommended to install a small drainage system at the bottom. On top of it, place the earth with a small amount of complex fertilizer. You can also use humus, manure, phosphate or potassium, and wood ash. Before planting, you need to find out what the acidity of the soil is, since trees prefer soil with low acidity, it is necessary to add limestone to the soil in advance.

Care features

Watering.

The main step in caring for an apple tree is watering. It should be regular and done about 1-2 times in 18 days. A young tree needs 45-55 liters of water, an adult needs 90 liters of water.
Watering is necessary when the soil dries out, but drought should not be allowed.

Top dressing.

Since Shtrifel is a large apple tree, it needs additional fertilizing, which promotes the formation of fruits and flowers. You can feed it with organic and mineral fertilizers. In the spring, it is necessary to apply fertilizer with a high nitrogen content, it can be ammonium nitrate, urea or ammonium sulfate. These drugs dissolve in water, and watering is carried out. For 5 liters of water, 20 grams of powder is used.

It is recommended to carry out top dressing with copper sulfate and boric acid, they not only nourish the tree, but also disinfect and protect the apple tree well from diseases.

Throughout the year, the tree must be watered or sprayed with water with complex fertilizer. This is necessary for a large and high-quality harvest.

Note: In order for the apple tree to have constant access to feeding, you can plant a siderat plant around the trunk. They are natural fertilizers. When the green manure grows up to 20 centimeters, they are mowed and mixed with the soil.

After harvesting, it is necessary to carry out the final dressing using complex or organic fertilizers. Humus, manure or wood ash are often used.

Trimming.

The crown of the tree is dense, this is due to the close arrangement of the branches to each other. The branches are sprawling, thickened enough, grow quickly, so they need regular pruning. The pruning makes the tree young, as it relieves it of excess load and unnecessary parts, and the yield of the tree also improves.

For the crown of the Shtrifel, a tiered-sparse method is used. Sometimes the crown is created in the shape of a bowl.
Formation should take place from a young age. In order to form a longline crown, it is necessary to select 4 tiers and 5 skeletal shoots. The branches of the 2nd and 3rd generation will be located at the top. Then you just need to maintain such trimming by trimming off excess parts. This pruning is necessary to shape the apple tree and reduce its density. You need to start trimming skeletal branches only 4 years after planting, otherwise pruning can be detrimental to the plant.

Also, not molded, but sanitary pruning can be performed. It consists in removing weak shoots, dry leaves, thin branches, as well as infected parts of the tree. It helps to prevent the appearance of diseases, various insects and pests. After pruning, all leaves, shoots, and parts of the tree should be burned.

Apple tree Shtrifel: description of protection against diseases

The Shtrifel variety is quite resistant to the appearance of insects and pests, so it is extremely rare to see them on the tree, but different situations happen, so you need to know how you can completely protect the apple tree. The most important enemy of the variety is fungal diseases, which often attack the tree.

Most often, Shtrifel gets sick with scab. It appears during the period of rains, cold weather. The scab begins to devour the leaves, goes to the branches and trunk. Burgundy spots begin to appear on the foliage, the apples begin to darken and become unpleasant to the touch. This disease is spreading rapidly, so action must be taken quickly. Otherwise, all the fruits will fall off, and the gardener will be left without a crop. Timely treatment will help preserve the fruit and save the tree.

To cure the scab, it is necessary to carry out pruning, in which all infected parts of the tree will be removed. Then it is necessary to carry out treatment with fungicides or preparations that fight the fungus. Urea solution (10 grams per 10 liters), copper sulfate (5 grams per 10 liters), Bordeaux liquid 3% are often used. These drugs work great with scab.

In order not to treat the tree, it is easier to carry out prophylaxis that will protect the tree. For prevention, mustard powder and water are used, everything is diluted in a ratio of 1:10 and watering is carried out. Processing should be carried out 1-2 times a month.

Harvest

Since the variety has a short shelf life and the fruits cannot be stored until the beginning of the winter period, you can try by all means to increase the shelf life.

1. Harvesting should only be done in dry weather, when the weather will be sunny.
2.Can be harvested 2 weeks before the fruit is fully ripe. So they can be stored for a month longer.
3. Fruits should be stored in a basement or in a dark, cold place.
4. Before storage, it is necessary to sort the fruits. In the process of sorting, it is necessary to remove all cracked and broken apples, as they will contribute to spoilage of other fruits.

Preparing for the winter period

The variety has a high resistance to frost, but before the onset of the winter period, it is recommended to insure and provide shelter. It must be carried out for young apple trees, since their resistance to frost is weak, and they are just beginning to develop. To prepare the tree, it is necessary to carry out sanitary pruning and apply fertilizer to the tree trunk circle. Then you need to mulch with peat. The trunk must be whitewashed, as whitewashing protects the tree from rodents. Whitewashing can be bought in a specialized store or prepared independently, it will require 5 liters of water and 1.5 kilograms of lime, 500 grams of clay, glue and 5-10 grams of copper sulfate.

Conclusion

The rod is an excellent variety with increased frost resistance. In the European parts of Russia, it is very popular and is considered a strong competitor among other varieties.This variety brings a large harvest, about 370 kilograms per tree. It can be grown in different regions, with different climates. When planting in hot climates, it is necessary to monitor watering, as the variety does not like droughts. The tree is large, it bears a high-quality harvest.

The variety is appreciated for all its positive qualities. It is often grown in many gardens, gardeners prefer it, despite the presence of negative qualities.

The main feature of the tree is its taste, which has an interesting aftertaste of cloves, as well as a wonderful aroma of flower honey. This scent spreads around the entire tree.

Apple tree Shtrifel: description