Review of winter varieties of apples stored until spring

The season for fresh fruits “picked from the tree” is short in Russian climatic conditions. Planting apple trees with a long shelf life can extend the life of fresh apples.

Winter apples are able to retain freshness, juiciness and vitamins until June.

In this article we will look at the main winter varieties of apples stored until spring and their characteristics.

Advantages and disadvantages of late ripening apple trees

Gardeners note the following positive qualities of late apple trees:

1. Avoidance of spring frosts due to late flowering.
2. Greater yield than early ripening apple trees.
3. Apples are not damaged during transportation due to their dense skin.
4. The taste and aroma of apples intensifies during storage.

The disadvantages include the low taste and nutritional value of the fruit immediately after removal from the tree. The winter variety apple acquires its characteristic taste and aroma 1-2 months after harvesting.

You will find a lot of useful information about storing apples Here.

List of the best ones that can withstand long-term storage (all winter)

Breeders divide winter varieties of apple trees into three groups:

• winter early (fruits are stored until the end of January);
• winter (apples do not lose their quality until March);
• late winter (the harvest will last until the beginning of summer).

Antonovka

1. Height: up to 5 m, spreading tree.
2. Disease resistance: affected by scab.
3. Time of removal for storage: third ten days of September.
4. Color, fruit shape, taste: smooth, round, light yellow apples, weighing up to 180 g; the taste is sweet and sour, very aromatic.
5. Shelf life: until the end of December.

The old Russian variety of apple trees Antonovka is the standard variety of late varieties of apple trees. It is an excellent pollinator for other apple trees.

The variety has high plasticity, adapting to grow in different climatic zones. Winter hardiness is high.

The yield of Antonovka can reach 100 kg per tree. Periodicity in fruiting is observed only in old plants.

The fruits are ideal for pickling, soaking and fresh consumption.

Bogatyr

• height: 3-5 m;
• disease resistance: successfully resists scab and unfavorable climatic conditions;
• collection time: end of September;
• color, shape and taste: smooth, spherical, dense greenish-pink apple, weighing up to 240 g; taste sweet and sour;
• stays until the end of May.

The Bogatyr variety is becoming increasingly popular due to its consistently high yields, regardless of weather conditions. During storage, apples retain their juiciness and do not lose turgor.

Renoir

1. Height: up to 4 m.
2. Disease resistance: does not suffer from scab and powdery mildew.
3. Apple harvest time: early October.
4. Color, shape and taste of the fruit: heart-shaped greenish-yellow apples with a red blush, weighing 140 g; the taste is sweet.
5. Storage duration: until mid-spring.

Renoir has a distinctive feature that is not typical for late apples; its fruits can be eaten immediately after picking.During storage, their taste does not change.

Kandil Orlovsky

• height: 3-5 m, can be grafted onto a dwarf rootstock;
• Disease resistance: resistant to scab;
• removal period for winter storage: after September 15;
• color, shape and taste: smooth, oblong, conical fruits, weighing 110-130 g; color green with red blush; taste sweet and sour;
• the harvest lasts until mid-February.

The variety is characterized by high productivity and unpretentiousness. It can be grown throughout Russia.

Golden Delicious

1. Height: up to 5 m, but the seedling can be formed into a short one.
2. Disease resistance: has high immunity to powdery mildew and scab.
3. Rental date: end of September.
4. Color, shape and taste of the fruit: heart-shaped yellow apples, weighing 120-160 g; The taste is sweet, the juiciness is high.
5. Shelf life: until March.

Golden Delicious is one of the most delicious and well-stored varieties of foreign selection that are grown in Russia. Apples are distinguished by their attractive appearance and high content of vitamins.

Red Chief

• height: 2-3 m;
• disease resistance: average;
• rental period: mid-September;
• color, shape, taste of the fruit: slightly ribbed elongated apples, rich red; weight up to 200 g; the taste is sweet and sour, the aroma is strong;
• Shelf life: until the end of April.

The winter hardiness of the variety is average, up to -29 degrees. Requires a pollinator: Golden Delicious, Gloucester.

Ligol

1. Height: no more than 4 m.
2. Disease resistance: high immunity to bitter pitting, gleosporium rot, scab, can be affected by fire blight.
3. Harvesting time: early October.
4. Color, shape, taste: round-conical yellow, with extensive red blush; weight 120-150 g; The taste of apples is rich and sweet.
5. Shelf life: until the end of March.

Flaws:

• the variety needs a pollinator (Lobo, Empire);
• demanding on soil fertility;
• does not have high winter hardiness.

Moscow winter

1. Height: 3-4 m.
2. Disease resistance: resistant to scab and temperature changes.
3. Apple harvesting: end of September.
4. Color, shape and taste of the fruit: round, smooth yellow apples with red stripes; weight 130 g; the taste is sweet with a slight sour note.
5. Shelf life: until April.

The tree is perfectly adapted to harsh winters and is unpretentious to growing conditions. The harvest forms annually, subject to regular fertilizing.

The taste and aroma of apples inherent to the variety is acquired 30-40 days after being picked from the tree.

Beautiful

• height: 3-4 m, can be grown in semi-dwarf form;
• Disease resistance: may be affected by scab;
• rental period: second half of September;
• color, shape and taste of the fruit: green oval apples with a purple blush, weighing 120 g; the taste is sweet, with a slight sourness;
• Shelf life: until mid-March.

The variety was bred on the basis of Melba and Pamyat Michurin apple trees. The tree is winter-hardy. The harvest begins to form already in the 4th year, and amounts to 20-80 kg per tree (depending on the type of formation). There is no periodicity in fruiting.

Orlik

1. Height: 3-5 m.
2. Disease resistance: resistance to scab is average.
3. Rental date: end of September.
4. Color, shape and taste: red-yellow spherical apples, weighing 120 g; the pulp is juicy and fragrant, sweet and sour (score 4.5 points out of 5).
5. Shelf life: until mid-February.

A variety of domestic selection, obtained from the combination of Bessemyanka Michurinskaya and Mekintosh. The tree has a beautiful compact crown shape, which allows Orlik to be placed in a compacted pattern in the garden.

The variety is winter-hardy, fruiting begins in the 6th year. The tree produces a lot of apples, but once every 3-4 years it rests.

Renet Simirenko

• height: tree reaches 7 m;
• disease resistance: may suffer from scab and powdery mildew;
• cleaning time: September;
• color, shape and taste of the fruit: bright green spherical apples, weighing up to 170 g; taste sweet;
• Shelf life: until June.

Renet Simirenko is a form of wild apple tree cultivated for more than 150 years. The variety is undemanding to growing conditions and has good adaptability to various climatic conditions.

Due to low winter hardiness (up to -25 degrees) Renet Simirenko recommended for cultivation in regions with mild winters.

The variety needs pollinators for early fruiting. The best varieties: Idared, Golden Delicious.

Mac

1. Height: 3-5 m tree with a cup-shaped crown structure.
2. Disease resistance: suffers from scab.
3. Cleaning period for storage: September.
4. Color, shape and taste of the fruit: apples are red-violet, slightly conical, weighing 140 g; the taste is bright, sweet and sour, with a candy note, the flesh is juicy and tender.
5. Shelf life: until March.

The Canadian apple tree is successfully grown in Russia in an area where the temperature does not drop below -30 degrees.

McIntosh begins to produce a crop 7 years after planting.The annual yield is moderate. Apples look beautiful and taste great. After collection, they are suitable for consumption for 20-25 days.

Sinap Orlovsky

• height: 5-7 m;
• resistance to apple tree diseases: moderately resistant to scab and powdery mildew;
• Fruit harvesting date: mid-September;
• color, shape and taste: green round apples with a faint pink blush, weighing 150 g; the pulp is juicy, sweet and sour;
• storage: until March.

The Sinap Orlovsky variety tree needs a sufficient amount of free space for full development. Starting from the 5th year, when the apple tree begins to bear fruit, the plant must be fed with calcium. This will significantly increase the yield.

Idared

1. Height: 5-6 m.
2. Disease resistance: immunity to brown spot, affected by scab, powdery mildew.
3. Rental date: beginning of October.
4. Color, shape and taste of the fruit: flat-round yellow-red apples, weighing 180 g; The taste is sweet, the juiciness is high.
5. Shelf life: until May.

Apples do not lose their juiciness and sweetness during storage. The harvest can be processed to obtain juice and consumed fresh.

Berkutovskoe

• height: up to 5 m, rounded crown;
• disease resistance: in unfavorable years it suffers from powdery mildew;
• removal period for storage: mid – end of September;
• color, shape and taste: spherical yellow apples with a beetroot blush; weight from 160 to 230 g; the taste is sweet, with a slight sourness;
• Shelf life: until April.

The Berkutovskaya apple tree was bred in the Volga region based on the Cortland, Anisa and Antonovka varieties. It is characterized by stable high fruiting, winter hardiness and undemandingness to moisture.

Suitable for growing in dry steppe areas with strong winds.

Gloucester

1. Height: up to 7 m.
2. Disease resistance: is immune to scab; in unfavorable seasons it gets powdery mildew.
3. Rental date: end of September.
4. Color, shape and taste of the fruit: cone-shaped ribbed burgundy apples, weighing up to 180 g; The taste is excellent - the pulp is juicy, sweet and sour, with a strong aroma.
5. Shelf life: until February.

German variety, adapted for cultivation in domestic conditions. The yield is high, subject to regular fertilizing and watering during the period of fruit filling.

Martovskoe

• height: up to 7 m, spreading crown;
• Disease resistance: affected by scab;
• Deadline for harvesting fruits for storage: second half of September;
• color, shape and taste: greenish, with a pink blush, flat-round apples, weighing 160-200 g; the taste is sweet, the flesh is tender, oily;
• Shelf life: until early February.

Apples on the tree begin to set at the 6th year of life. Up to a hundredweight of apples are removed from a mature tree. There is no periodicity in fruiting.

Rozhdestvenskoe

1. Height: 3-4 m.
2. Disease resistance: absolute immunity to scab.
3. Fruit harvesting period: second half of September.
4. Color, shape and taste: spherical flattened yellow apples with a raspberry blush, weighing 120-150 g; The pulp is juicy, sweet and sour.
5. Shelf life: until February.

The variety is suitable for cultivation in central Russia, right up to Moscow. The tree is distinguished by its early entry into fruiting (5-6 years from planting) and high yield.

Conclusion

The listed varieties of late-ripening apple trees have a large number of positive reviews from domestic gardeners. By planting 3-4 of these apple trees on a plot, you can meet your family’s need for fresh fruit before the onset of summer.