The Helena apple tree is a beautiful decorative tree. The homeland of the variety is Canada. It will add color to any garden and create a wonderful mood. The mesmerizing bloom and unique aroma will delight you for many years.
Apple tree Helena: description and characteristics of the variety
Like most ornamental apple trees, the variety is characterized by an unpretentious character and good winter hardiness. It is successfully used in the landscape design of regions with severe winters and lack of sun. Retains decorative effect throughout the season. The decorative apple tree Helena is suitable for creating interesting compositions in gardens, parks, alleys, and is also good for single plantings.
Apple tree Helena
The height of an adult tree is 3.5 meters on average. Moreover, it reaches its maximum height by about ten years of age. The crown is dense, rounded, its diameter can reach 3 or 4 m. The leaves of an unusual purple color also give the plant decorativeness. Fruits are small, red in color. Flowering lasts 2-3 weeks, abundant. The flowers of the apple tree are decorative, large in size, beautiful purple color with a long peduncle. The apple blossom has a delicious aroma. The scented flowers attract bees and other insects. The apple tree is a good honey plant.
The variety enters fruiting already in the second - third year after planting. In the first years, the number of ovaries is insignificant, but in subsequent years it increases rapidly. Flowering becomes abundant in the fourth - fifth year.
Ranet matures red and fine. The fruits on the tree do not fall until frost, creating a decorative effect in the garden. The apple has a firm pulp.
Fruit
Young shoots are purple in color, later turn brown. Leaves are oval, glossy, three-lobed at the tops of the shoots. Young leaves are purple in color, which then turns dark green. The apple tree tolerates winter well. Disease resistant.
The advantages of the variety:
- excellent decorative qualities;
- winter hardiness;
- drought resistance;
- resistance to pests and diseases.
The Helena ornamental Apple tree is unpretentious, but prefers fertile soil. The reaction of the soil should be preferably slightly acidic. Does not tolerate the proximity of groundwater. Regular watering after planting is one of the most important factors in the survival of a young plant. During the first month, the plant is watered 2 times a week, 10 liters per plant.
Care
It is important to maintain optimal soil moisture, the tree must not be overflowed. Top dressing is carried out from the second year (in the spring - carbamide, ammonium nitrate, or ammonium sulfate, in the fall - superphosphate and phosphate rock, potassium sulfate);
Regular loosening of the soil and weed control are necessary.
Any pruning should be started in early spring, before sap flow begins. Sanitary pruning to remove damaged and dried branches is usually done in the fall.
Particular attention is paid to disease prevention. For the winter period, it is necessary to take measures to protect against mice and hares.
Helena is not a variety for enviable yields, but it will please the eye for more than one year.
