The Bogatyr variety is valued for fruitfulness and the taste of fruits sweet and sour. More information about the variety, its characteristics, yield, types, planting and care rules, as well as about the features of cultivation in different regions and much more useful information - more.
The variety "Bogatyr" lives up to its name
Variety apples
The fruits of the apple trees of the Bogatyr variety are stored for a long time, which only pleases
Origin
This variety was bred by Chernenko Semen Fedorovich - a famous breeder. He crossed the popular "Antonovka" and the West European variety "Renet Landsberg". Bogatyr inherited excellent cold resistance and adaptive abilities from the first parent, and the large size and tasty fruit pulp from the second.
"Bogatyr" was approved by Michurin himself.
Description and characteristics of apple trees
The tree matches its name. It is high - up to 6 m. The crown is not inferior in width to its height, it is very spreading, conical or round. Its inner part is bare, “transparent”, because new branches do not grow back. The branches are thick, strong, flexible and well adhered to the trunk. Bark of olive color. The leaf plates are oval, serrated, on the underside there is a slight pubescence.
In spring, the apple tree is covered with white-pink flowers. The main share of fruits is formed on the shortest rosette shoots - ringworms, less often - on fruit rods.
The fruits are easily recognizable by their flattened shape and large size - average weight is about 160 g; specimens with a maximum weight of 400 g are found. The surface of apples is smooth, without roughness, wide-ribbed. Removable fruits are light green, ripe, reaching consumer ripeness - yellow. Barrels of fruit, where the sun's rays hit, are covered with a bright blush. The transportability of apples is excellent, thanks to the rough skin.
The pulp has a fine-grained structure. It is dense, crunchy, white and fragrant. The taste is sweet and sour. Compared to Antonovka, in Bogatyr the concentration of acids is lower, therefore the fruits are sweeter.
This variety is recommended for cultivation in the Central Black Earth, Volga-Vyatka and Central districts, but gardeners of the North-West region and Siberia did not stand aside and gladly cultivate Bogatyr in their gardens.
Fertility, fruiting and productivity
Bogatyr requires a company of pollinator assistants. Several apple varieties are planted next to it:
- Zhigulevskoe;
- Melba;
- Sinap North;
- Strefling.
An overview of these and other best varieties of apples with photos and descriptions is here.
The first fruits appear in the fourth year after planting a two-year-old seedling. If you were vaccinated with an eye (budding), apples can only be tasted for 6-7 years.
Yield indicators depend on the age of the apple tree - the older it is, the more kilograms of fruit you can collect. So, from a 9-year-old they remove up to 60 kg, from a 16-year-old tree - 80 kg or more. Fruiting is annual, but periodically yield decreases.
Apples are eaten fresh, they are great for urinating and stewed fruit, when cooking jam they remain whole, do not boil.
Ripening dates for apples, storage
Fruits keep well on branches, do not crumble. The peduncle is thick and short. Since this is a late winter variety, the fruits ripen after harvest. Removable maturity occurs in mid-September. However, experts advise not to rush to harvest, as this is bad for their appearance and quality. Fruits taken early have the peculiarity of cringing during storage.
You can’t eat these apples immediately, they must lie down and reach consumer maturity, which does not occur earlier than mid or even the end of December. "Bogatyr" - this is exactly the variety whose fruits can decorate the New Year's table. With timely harvesting, apples are stored until the end of May, in some cases - until mid-June. At the same time, they do not lose their attractiveness, remain fragrant and crispy.
The video below will help you visually see the Bogatyr variety of apples:
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of the variety include:
- early and annual bearing;
- high frost resistance;
- good adaptive abilities;
- non-shattering of ripe fruit;
- beautiful appearance of the fruit;
- transportability - apples can be transported over long distances;
- great taste;
- universality;
- immunity to fungal disease - scab.
Among the disadvantages are:
- the green color of apples with removable maturity, so it is difficult to determine when to harvest;
- great rusting of the fruit.
Subspecies
There are several subspecies of this variety of apples:
- Half-dwarf. Owners of small plots in the Chernozem region plant Bogatyr on half-dwarf rootstocks. In this case, he will begin to bear fruit earlier - by 5 years, and the height of the tree does not exceed 4 meters, which makes it easier to care for.
- Dwarf. The apple tree grafted on a dwarf rootstock will give the first apples for 4 years. Its height rarely reaches 4 m. Since the Bogatyr’s crown is very spreading, annual regular pruning is required.
- Colon-shaped. This type of apple tree requires constant attention and care. First you need to properly form the root system, then constantly trim.
We recommend reading the article on how to prune an apple tree.
Tree Planting Rules
So that the trees give a rich harvest, adhere to certain planting rules.
Choosing a place and landing time
The apple tree loves well-lit sunny areas. Groundwater should be located deeper, do not allow the accumulation of melt water in the spring near the trees. If the site is in a lowland, then before landing, be sure to do drainage or water disposal. The best type of soil for it is loamy, breathable soil. Plants are planted at a distance of 6 m from each other due to the spreading of the crown.
Landings are carried out either in the spring, when the return frosts end, or in the autumn before they begin. In the southern regions, it is recommended to plant seedlings in the fall - it is long, warm and the roots manage to take root. In areas with a temperate climate, preference should be given to spring planting, conducting it before the start of sap flow.
Pit preparation
A pit is prepared for planting in the fall in 2-3 weeks, but if this procedure is planned for spring, the seats are prepared in the fall.
Pit size on loamy soils:
- depth - 80 cm;
- diameter - 80 cm.
On sandy loam soil, a pit is made larger because they are poor in nutrients, and you have to fill up a lot of fertile soil. On clay, an apple tree is planted only on a dwarf stock in a mound.
If necessary, fill the drainage bottom with expanded clay, expanded clay, stones, broken brick or wood trim. On sandy soils, on the contrary, a water-retaining layer of clay, meadow land or silt is laid.
Topsoil mixed with organic fertilizers. A bucket of rotted manure is poured into the pit, and the same amount of prepared topsoil, 1 kg of wood ash. They mix everything well with a pitchfork, make a mound and leave it alone so that the earth is enriched with useful substances.
Landing stages
When landing, adhere to the following instructions:
- When buying a seedling with an open root system, it is placed in water a day before planting. Then the roots are thoroughly examined, rotten and damaged - cut off. Place the sections sprinkled with chopped charcoal to prevent decay.
- A peg is driven into the center hole.
- The seedling is placed so that the root neck is 30-35 cm from the soil surface.
- The roots are covered with prepared fertile soil, rammed.
- Pour 1 bucket of water.
- Top with soil, adding 150 g of phosphate fertilizers to it.
- Make a hole and pour another 1 bucket of water.
- The earth is mulched, the tree is tied to a stake with a noose - “eight”.
- The aerial part is cut off.
Apple care
Care for the apple tree consists in the timely and proper organization of watering, feeding, preventive work from pests and diseases, pruning and preparing for wintering.
Watering
A young seedling needs regular watering - 1 time per week. After 2 months, the frequency of watering is reduced. Mature trees are watered during the spring and first half of summer 4-5 times, in the dry period up to 8 times.
Moisture should soak the soil to a depth of 50 cm. 2-3 buckets are poured under each tree.
Top dressing
It is not necessary to fertilize the crop in the first year after planting, if the soil has been properly prepared. Then the trees are fed with nitrogen fertilizers in spring (30 g of urea is dissolved in 10 l of water).
In autumn, ash and phosphate fertilizers are introduced, or manure or humus is introduced.
Prevention and spraying
From pests and diseases, spraying is necessarily done in several stages:
- in the spring, before the buds open, they are treated with Inta-Vir, Strobi or Fury;
- repeated spraying is done with the same drugs during budding;
- during flowering, the garden is treated with a solution of boric acid;
- repeat the procedure after a week.
The treatment of trees with drugs is carried out in dry, calm weather, strictly following the manufacturer's instructions on the packaging. In autumn, trees protect against rodents by setting a variety of traps and wrapping ruberoid, lapnik around the trunk.
Pruning
In the spring, before the sap flow begins, formative pruning is performed. Cut all the shoots that grow inside the crown, thickening it. Old branches are removed, but we must remember that the fruits are formed on 4- and 5-year-old shoots.
In autumn, only sanitary pruning is necessary. It consists in removing broken, sick and weak shoots.
Wintering
After harvesting, the tree must be prepared for winter. The trunk circle is thoroughly cleaned of plant debris, foliage, and fallen fruits. Dig the soil, loosen it, mulch it. If there is little rainfall in autumn, then the earth around the tree is watered weekly.
Trunk, skeletal branches whiten. Whitewashing will protect them from sunburn and pests.
As soon as snow falls, it is raked to the trunks of apple trees. Snow is the best insulation. But in the spring it must be removed in a timely manner.
We recommend that you read an article that tells how and what to whiten an apple tree.
Features of growing in different regions
In different regions, there are certain nuances of growing this variety:
- Moscow region and the middle lane. These regions are recommended by specialists for cultivating the Bogatyr variety. Here, the optimal climatic conditions for its normal growth and development. The apple tree gives a stable harvest every year and does not require additional procedures.
- Ural. Here, the soils are not suitable for growing this crop. Therefore, when planting seedlings, they must be fertilized with organic matter. Carefully care for the near-stem circle, loosen and water the soil in a timely manner. In the fall, they must be mulched to protect the roots from early frosts. With age, the tree adapts to frost.
- Siberia. Despite the harsh winter, the variety is cultivated in both Eastern and Western Siberia without any special restrictions. The main thing is to observe agricultural technology and insulate trees for the winter.
The best varieties of apple trees grown in the suburbs are described here.
Reviews
Gardeners speak mostly positively about the Bogatyr variety, but there are those who do not like the variety:
Anna, 35 years old, Moscow region.In my garden there are 2 apple trees of the Bogatyr variety, they are already 10 years old. We collect apples in buckets. Not only are they large and beautiful, but I also like the taste. Antonovka is much more acidic.
Nikolay, 65 years old, Ural.My grandfather also planted a hero when he received the plot in Soviet times. Now it, of course, is already old, but still bears fruit, however, it has apples at its very top. And given the height of the tree more than 5 m, there are problems with their collection. The apples taste great, and big ones. I ate and ate one.
Antonina, 47 years old, Moscow Region. I don’t like the grade. Appearance is spoiled by rust, very large in size, I prefer small apples more. You can’t eat them right away, they are as solid as oak. They must be allowed to lie down, then they become yellow, softer, but still I do not have enough juiciness. In general, an amateur grade.
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The yield and unpretentiousness of apple trees of the Bogatyr cultivar, the relatively early fruiting, the ability to transport, the shelf life and excellent taste make it one of the most beloved and grown in our country.