Apple-tree President - a variety of domestic production. It was created in 1974 thanks to the work of the famous breeder Viktor Valerianovich Kichin. The work was carried out in VSTISP, where the varieties Vazhak and Obilnoe were crossed.

Description of the columnar apple variety President

The president refers to semi-dwarf columnar trees. The maximum growth of a tree can be slightly over two meters. The crown of the tree is small, the wood is hard and stiff. Because of this, the tree can withstand even massive harvests without problems.

The density of the root system of the seedlings contributes to the survival of the tree during transplantation. Large, obovate leaves are dark green in color and have a glossy surface. They have crenate edges and a medium length of petioles.

The apples have a rounded, symmetrical shape. Quite large in size. The average weight of fruits is from 140 to 250 g. The color of apples is slightly yellowish.

The period until the first appearance of fruits

Apple-tree columnar President

A quick fruiting period is one of the advantages of the President apple tree. Saplings begin to bloom fruitfully in the first year of planting in open ground. Fruits on an apple tree are formed during flowering even in unfavorable weather and the absence of mass pollination by bees.

Apple ripens from late summer to mid-September. With proper collection and storage of apples, they retain their qualities until the end of December. The shortest shelf life is one and a half months.

Note! The apple trees of this variety bear fruit regularly, despite the fact that the yield level can fluctuate from year to year.

Yield

From five-year-old trees, you can get about 5-6 kg of apples every year. If you maintain proper tree care, which includes timely moisture, fertilization of the soil and pruning of trees, the number of fruits can be doubled.

Taste characteristics

Fruits of the President variety have a sweet and sour taste and a distinctive aroma. The juicy flesh boasts a fine-grained structure and rich white color.

Pests and diseases

This variety differs from many others in that it is less susceptible to disease. It should be remembered that young plants are more vulnerable to disease.

Important! Prevention against scab, crayfish and mosaics should be carried out without fail.

Growing features

Planting seedlings can be done in spring or autumn. Little preference is given to the autumn period. In this case, the roots will have time to strengthen and adapt to the soil before the onset of winter. The fact that in autumn there is usually no need for self-moistening is also an undoubted advantage of this option. Planting during this period should be several weeks before the onset of frost, so that the root system has time to form in the ground.

Planting apple trees

Columnar apple tree for the Leningrad region

If the choice fell on the spring, then you should plant a young apple tree in April, immediately after the start of warming and before budding begins.

Site selection and preparation for planting

For the best choice of a place for planting seedlings, three factors must be taken into account:

  • good illumination of the site;
  • deep bedding of groundwater;
  • inaccessibility to strong winds.

A pit is prepared for planting in a few weeks so that the soil has time to settle and ventilate.

Interesting! The President variety is perfectly adapted for such regions of Russia as Moscow, Samara, Perm. The regions of the Black Earth and Non-Black Earth regions are well suited to it.

The characteristic of digging a hole depends on the type of soil. In chernozem soil, the depth and width of the pit should be about 60 cm. In loamy or clayey soil, the depth may be less, but the width is needed somewhere around 150 cm so that the density of the soil does not interfere with the free spread of roots. In sandy soil, you need to dig a hole a meter deep. Also, tamped clay should be laid at the bottom to delay the rapid leakage of moisture.

The dug hole is filled with a specially prepared fertilizer consisting of superphosphate, potassium and fertile soil.

Preparation and planting of seedlings

Saplings can be purchased at a specialty store. It is best to buy annual seedlings that have a leafless trunk and moist roots. If the roots are dry, then the young tree should be kept in warm water for about 10 hours before planting.

The seedling should be placed in the pit so that the root collar is 5-6 cm higher than the ground. After that, the pit should be well tamped with earth and watered abundantly. In order to avoid breaking trees due to strong winds, they should be tied to special plant supports.

Young seedlings in bloom

Important! The life span of the President apple tree is 15 years. After the expiration of this period, the tree should be replaced with a young seedling.

Watering and feeding

Apple tree columnar President is very fond of moisture and needs regular and abundant watering, since its roots are located close to the surface of the earth and cannot independently extract water from the depths. You need to water a couple of times a week. In hot weather and no rain, a young tree needs a bucket of water every couple of days, and an adult needs two buckets. Mulch will be a useful addition to protect the upper roots from burns, as well as long-term moisture retention.

A young tree needs periodic fertilization. As for an adult, replenishing the soil with microelements at least once a year will bring undoubted benefits to the apple tree. The choice of feeding follows from the following:

  • urea;
  • slurry;
  • nitroammophoska;
  • humus.

Pruning trees

The dwarf apple tree President does not need to be pruned. Usually it is carried out in two cases:

  1. In the first year of planting, sanitary pruning is performed.
    When it is carried out, lateral shoots are cut on two buds in order to maintain an attractive appearance of the plant.
  2. If the buds of the plant are damaged.

Note! The yield of the President's apple tree does not depend on cutting.

Winter protection

If the tree is young, for the winter it must be covered with spruce branches or wrapped in roofing material. Cover the trunk circle with a layer of needles or sawdust. After the snow falls around the tree, it is worth forming a snowdrift. For an adult tree, provided that there is no severe frost, a layer of mulch and snow is enough.

Cold protection

Advantages and disadvantages

The apple variety President has both its pluses and minuses.

Apple tree Iksha (columnar)

Positive sides:

  • attractiveness and compactness;
  • quick adaptation during transplantation;
  • high productivity;
  • rapid maturation;
  • disease and pest resistance;
  • frost resistance;
  • juiciness and excellent taste.

Negative sides:

  • dependence of characteristics on the type of soil;
  • the life span of the tree is 15 years;
  • exactingness to care.

Interesting! Apple tree President can serve as a good assistant in gaining experience for novice gardeners, since the process of growing and caring for it does not differ much from the general rules.

A dwarf apple tree called President is one of the best representatives of columnar varieties. It is worth observing the rules of planting and caring for trees, and as a result, the owner of the tree will receive very tasty and healthy apples.