One of the most popular fruit trees in Russia is the apple tree; every year breeders bring out new varieties of it, improve the existing ones. They have different taste characteristics and care requirements. Therefore, everyone who wants to turn their site into an apple orchard solves a difficult problem: which variety to choose, prefer the old proven ones or try new, selective ones, how to choose the right variety of apples that meets the needs. One of the best and most versatile options is the Arkadik apple tree.

History of creation

The apple tree Arkadik is considered an early ripening variety. It became a technological improvement of the Arkad yellow and Antonovka varieties, and was also crossed with the American donor apple SR0523. This was done at the All-Russian Horticultural Selection Institute under the guidance of Doctor of Biological Sciences Viktor Kichin in 2002. The new species of apple trees differs from the “parents” in increased winter hardiness and large fruit sizes. The variety is recommended for planting in the Moscow region and central Russia.

Apple tree Arkadik

The Arkadik variety also includes:

  • apple-tree Arkad yellow or summer;
  • apple-tree sugar Arkad;
  • Arcad pink.

The differences between these subspecies are mainly in the color of the fruit, the nuances of taste and yield.

Characteristics and features of the variety

The Arkad apple tree is distinguished by its increased resistance to low temperatures during the winter period (it was on this quality of apple trees that V. Kichina worked), they survive without consequences even with recurrent frosts down to minus 35 degrees. At the same time, the apple tree can withstand a very high summer temperature: it bears fruit, however, the lack of moisture still affects the size of the fruit and yield.

Description of the variety

Apple tree Alesya

The variety is considered early maturing - the ripening of fruits begins in the second decade of July, this is much earlier than other varieties, the lead is about two weeks.

Additional Information. The specific ripening period for Arkadik apples is determined by the weather conditions of the given growing region.

Arkadik apple trees are described as partially self-fertile, i.e. they do not really need pollinating trees: if there is only one apple tree in the garden, then more than half of the flowers will still give ovaries. However, if a pollinator is available, summer or autumn varieties are desirable, but not winter ones.

Apple trees of this variety are tall and viable, their height can be more than ten meters. The crown of trees is wide, has a columnar type: branches are rare, but powerful, slightly reddish in color. Many side small shoots determine the high yield of the variety. It is characteristic that even a dwarf rootstock retains the quality of high growth.

Apple tree

The foliage has an ovoid pointed shape, the color is bright green, the leaf surface is matte and smooth. The flowers of the tree are small, pink-white in color. Active flowering occurs in mid-May.

Each apple of the Arkadik variety is of medium or large size, has a rounded-oblong shape and weighs an average of 200 grams, the largest fruits can reach 350 grams. The yield is very decent - about 300 centners per hectare (or about 200 kilograms from one tree under 10 years old).At the same time, fruiting begins already in the third year after planting a tree on the site and occurs annually without a break, which is characteristic of many apple trees, until about 30 years of age (even longer with anti-aging measures). Fruits are formed on numerous ringlets.

Apples, according to tasters, gain 4.2 points out of 5, i.e. they are delicious with a bright fruity aroma. Their taste is predominantly sweet with a slight pleasant sourness. This is due to the fact that the main chemical constituent of these apples is sugar, as well as a large amount of vitamins. The pulp of the fruit is bright white, with a reduced density, as if it were all made up of the smallest grains. There is a lot of juice in such apples, but seeds, on the contrary, are few, they are small, brown in color.

Fruit

The thin skin has a white-green color in unripe fruits, which turns into a slightly pink background, covered with dark red stripes, in ready-to-eat fruits. Apples of the Arkadik variety look very attractive, they serve as a decoration for the summer table. Due to their aesthetic and dessert characteristics, they are primarily consumed raw, as well as juices, compotes, jams and preserves are made from them. Also, these apples can be dried and dried.

The keeping quality of the fruits of the Arkadik apple tree, like most summer species, is small - the period is no more than three weeks in warm conditions and a month and a half in a basement or in a refrigerator. In the apple tree sugar and yellow Arcade, the description says about their high resistance to various woody diseases, especially to scab, and they also perfectly resist insect pests.

Agricultural technology of cultivation

Before laying an apple orchard from trees of this variety, you need to choose the right place. The Arkadik apple tree is considered unpretentious to the composition of the earth, but it is undesirable to plant it on rocky or swampy areas. It is best to place a young tree on loose sandy loam or loam, while during the previous years this place should have been empty. Berries can be planted nearby: raspberries or black currants, however, the distance between them and apple trees should be about one and a half meters, each tree requires about five meters of "its" space.

Apple orchard

Apple tree Rock

It is also necessary to estimate the area that will be required to comfortably accommodate the root system of the tree. It is about twice as large as the crown, and the depth of occurrence is up to 0.6 meters (sometimes it reaches 5 meters). With shallow groundwater flow, the site is not suitable for planting Arkadiki. If the water passes above the level of three meters, you can put a piece of slate at the bottom of the planting pit, then the roots of the tree will grow vertically without going into the depth.

On a note! The correct timing for planting trees is no less important for the survival of seedlings: this is done in the autumn, in the last decade of September and the first of October, or in the spring (end of the third decade of April).

The seedling is placed in a 70 cm square planting hole, each side of which must be at least one meter long. The top layer of the earth must be mixed with humus - this will help to feed the young apple trees, facilitate air access. A garter peg should be placed in the center of the pit, to which the seedling is neatly tied, while the root system must be carefully straightened. After that, carefully cover everything with earth and make a small mound. Planting is watered abundantly with clean water. It is necessary to ensure that the root base rises above the soil level by at least five to six centimeters. After some time, the earth will shrink in the planting pit, then it is necessary to make up for this difference.

Watering the apple tree

Caring for a young tree includes, first of all, regular moistening in the amount of about three buckets: in the first year at least a couple of times a month, then once a month (in a hot period, the period is reduced to 3 weeks). If the soil on the site is light, you can also water adult apple trees twice a month.

Note! The application of moisture should be stopped three weeks before harvesting, otherwise the peel on the apples will crack. After the procedure, it is advisable to mulch the ground under the tree with a peat mixture.

Pruning is an important element of growing a strong and abundant tree. After spring planting, it can be carried out even in the first year, subject to the strength of the seedling, otherwise it is postponed for a year. The central trunk is cut into three to four buds, and branches, whose growth is directed towards the trunk, young excess ringlets and damaged shoots are removed.

On a note. Do not forget about regular loosening of the soil and weeding in the root zone of the Arkadik apple tree.

To obtain a friendly harvest and increase winter hardiness, trees must be fed with organic matter (manure - mullein, compost mixture) or mineral fertilizers (nitrogen-containing and potassium-phosphorus preparations, ammonium nitrate).

Trees need to be fed organic

For insect pests, it is useful to carry out preventive spraying with chemical and bio-preparations based on copper sulfate.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Apple tree Amber

The apple tree Arcadia in the description of the variety has a list of advantages and disadvantages.

Pros of the variety:

  • high resistance to frost, which makes it possible to grow in relatively cool areas;
  • good yield indicators;
  • unpretentiousness to soil, moisture and growing conditions.

Harvesting

This wonderful variety has almost no drawbacks. The only requirement is the need to harvest quickly: until the moment when bulk apples begin to crumble almost simultaneously and spoil the presentation. Arkadika's bedding period is short - according to gardeners, a maximum of a month. Another drawback - with insufficient insolation, apples will come out smaller and sour in taste.

The characteristic of the breeding variety of apple trees Arkadik is such that more and more gardeners in many regions of Russia prefer to grow these summer early-ripening tasty and aromatic apples. Observing simple agrotechnical requirements, you can get an excellent harvest of vitamin and beautiful fruits.