So it is arranged from above, that after earthly existence, the chance to continue to live in the memory of compatriots falls only to those who have done good deeds and noble deeds.
Such a monument to a good man was a sort of apples, derived by Vladimir breeders - "A Gift to Grafsky".
The origin of the variety and its name
Mikhail G. Grafsky lived 85 years in the most difficult times for the country, when the weak shoots of democratic changes of the Khrushchev "thaw" replaced Stalin's autocracy, and after them came decades of Brezhnev stagnation.
For a quarter of a century, he was at the helm of a large state farm of Suzdal District, he raised his farm in incredible difficulties, and in the conditions of general disorder created human living conditions for working people. The villagers paid him with love, and warmly called each other "grandfather." MGGrafsky was awarded the highest government award - "Hero of Labor".
During the life of Grafsky, in the gardens of his farm, employees of the GNU Breeding-Technological Institute conducted tests of an winter-hardy hybrid of an apple tree, obtained from the crossing of an original Russian variety Vyaznikivka (also known as Lipovka, Miron Sugar, Mironchik) and an American stock (D 101) sent to 1979 by Indiana University Breeders.
The new variety worthily passed the test, unprecedented in its severity, in the winter of 78/79, when the temperature dropped to -40 ° C, and even Antonovka, proven over the years, hopelessly froze out. In the spring of experimental apple trees delighted breeders delicate leaves and gave the first harvest.
Since 1982, the variety went to the people under the name "Gift of Grafsky" and gained its distribution in the Moscow region and Central District. And in a number of regions of the North-West region of the Russian Federation, it is recognized as a late-winter variety, which places it apart from the competition in the spring trade in fruit. Currently, the variety is cultivated even in Altai.
And the varieties grown in this region are not so many, for example, Altai Crimson and Ouspensky.
A new variety exclusively established itself in the creation of industrial gardens.
Apple tree features
The grade of an apple-tree the Gift Grafsky and its fruits differs in the following features:
- Unique commodity attractiveness of fruits. With a sufficiently large size (up to 350g.), It has a bright purple-violet color almost the entire surface.
- Winter hardiness exceeds the most resistant to Russian winters varieties: Antonovku, Grushovku, Korichnoe, Alva.
- It has a valuable quality: it is completely restored from the effects of weather surprises, has a high level of adaptation.
- Enters the reproductive phase for 4-5 years, but some of its varieties (MM 106 - on dwarf rootstocks) begin to bear fruit in the second year.
- A characteristic feature of many apple trees - same-sex, therefore, it needs a neighborhood of a pollinator tree. For the Gift of Grafsky pollinators are: Students, Moscow later, Sinap the north.
- Fruits ripen by early October, and consumer maturity comes by the end of the month; bear fruit regularly and abundantly, but with fluctuations in yield. The apple tree has no rest period. On average, it gives 200 kg / ha, and from one stem - 250 kg.
- The greatest vegetative activity occurs in the first years of life. (until the 4th harvest), then the growth reduces its intensity. Trees, if not pruned, can reach 7 meters in height.
- The variety tends to shatter ripe fruit.but this is inconsequential compared to other types of apple trees.
- Plant excellent against fungal diseases.
- The fruits have outstanding taste, good "quality" (can be stored without special tricks until May). By chemical composition, fruits (they contain chlorogenic acid) are indicated for fresh consumption for people suffering from high acidity, liver problems, an excess of oxalic acid in the body.
Indispensable for the prevention of atherosclerosis and in the post-infarction period.
It is believed that the ancient ancestor of modern apple trees grew in the mountains of Tien Shan.The short tree bore small fruits similar to the variety Paradise apple. But life expectancy exceeded many deciduous trees, reaching an age of 200-300 years.
How to choose a sapling?
Currently when in the domestic gardening, up to 300 new varieties of apple trees are common; it is difficult not to fall for the speculators of scammers who give away unvaccinated wilderness for a varietal wonder.
Therefore, the first condition for the safety of the selection of planting material is:
- purchase of plants only in specialized nurseries;
- two-year-olds should have healthy roots with a length of at least 30 cm (3 or more branches); shtamba thickness not less than 2 cm; at least 3 branches up to 60 cm long and correctly positioned; well developed growth bud;
- mechanical damage, curvature of the trunk, nodules on the root neck, dry, stiff roots are unacceptable;
- Nursery goods must be properly packed (in wet sackcloth or wrapped in moss) to preserve the viability of the plant.
Pay attention to the main taproot. If it is cut off, so that the sapling comes in the package - the life of the apple tree is considered days.
Description of the “Gift of Grafsky”
Then you will see everything in the photo, as well as learn from a detailed description of all the features of the Gift Grafsky apple trees and their fruits.
The variety has a clearly defined stem and crown in the shape of an inverted cone.
The tree is characterized by not very thick foliage with spreading branches and intensive growth in the first 10 years.
The area of power of such a plant is a circle in diameter of 20-25 meters. The stem should be free of plantings and weeds. Fruits are often tied to last year’s branches.
Dark green, slightly pointed leaves have an oblong shape and medium size. They are characterized by a light waviness and finely toothed edge.
At the time of flowering white and pink color dominates the crown, closing the appearance of leaves. Flowers of medium size, typical for apple-shaped forms, with five petals, fused with pistils and anthers towering above the flower plate.
Fruit size is above average., irregular shape, apples are not calibrated, with a skin that is noticeable in thickness, with a pronounced color of the color (purple-violet with a yellow lumen). Seed chambers closed, few seeds; the pulp is dense, juicy, aromatic, creamy. Taste is memorable, with a predominance of sweetness.
Among the varieties of apple trees that are particularly beneficial to health are also worth mentioning: Orlinka, Young Naturalist, Aromatny, Kandil Orlovsky and Orlovsky Sinap.
A photo
What is the key to high yields?
It is not trivial for perception: in the choice of time, place, quality of planting material and the system of care.
The optimal time for planting an apple has long been tested by our ancestors.:
- in the spring, before sap flow;
- late autumn.
And autumn is the best option: tree roots have time to adapt. Do not have time to plant in the fall time - dig and cover until spring, and in early April, before the buds swell, land in the ground at a permanent place.
The place for the apple should be chosen well lit, on a dais, covered from constant winds by a wall of a house or by other landings. In the lowlands, seedlings can freeze in the period of unexpected frosts, or suffer from excess moisture. The proximity of groundwater is also not to the taste of this plant. If there is such a problem on the plot, then it is better to plant the tree on an artificial hill (50 cm), having strengthened the “bed” with stakes dug into the ground.
Suitable land for an apple tree - deep loam, but this does not mean that with this quality of soil it is not necessary to feed the sapling with organic and inorganic fertilizers up to 4 times per season, at each stage of vegetation.
Apple varieties of Gift Grafsky do not require special technology of planting:
- the same dimensions of the pit (d100, h70);
- harvesting the pit a week before planting (or even from autumn);
- nitrogen fertilizer application;
- strengthening of the trunk with a garter to a peg;
- plentiful watering after planting.
The variety has no resistance to drought, lack of moisture.. therefore we must not forget about the obligatory 5 abundant waterings per season, and in dry, hot summers and more often.
What is included in the care system?
A system is a set of elements, in this case, measures that form the unity of impact on the intensity of growth and development of a plant. It aims to:
- reduction of time to reproductive readiness;
- the formation of the morphological structure of the tree, capable of abundant fruiting;
- maintaining varietal uniqueness;
- yield increase;
- pest disease and exposure prevention;
- resistance to weather and climatic anomalies;
- obtaining fruits of excellent presentation;
- 100% safety of the harvest.
The care of any fruit tree includes the obligatory types of work:
- loosening and watering;
- radical feeding;
- pruning;
- pest and disease control.
For each of these types of work there is a mass of detailed instructions with the cast of the algorithm of actions, formulations of nutrient compositions and timing of their introduction. All of them are fully effective for the variety Gift Grafskogo.
But the characteristic strength of the tree focuses gardeners on pruning, which is performed for the following purposes:
- sanitary pruning (after winter or extreme weather);
- formation of a trunk (in a seedling, when the tip is cut by 10 cm);
- formation of skeletal branches of the crown;
- increase in yield (cut off branches of the last season);
- crown availability for care and harvesting;
- rejuvenation of the tree;
- preparing for the winter season.
However, mechanical thinning of the crown is sometimes insufficient and manual removal of the fruit ovary is required, leaving no more than two adjacent flowers. This allows you to get the fruits of a commercial type and size.
Pruning should not exceed one quarter of the mass of the branches, in order to avoid the stress reaction of the tree.
How to save the fruit?
Industrial storage of apples in sealed chambers of refrigerators at 0 ° C temperature, constant humidity and gas composition ensures the safety of fruits until July.
But in a private farm, you can only rely on the cellar, in which the temperature is maintained from 0 to 4 ° C.
To ensure the fruit "lezhkost" without loss should provide the following procedure:
- preparation of boxes (washing with a brush, drying in the sun);
- sorting the fruit with the preservation of the stem;
- transferring (with minimal traumatic impact) into wooden boxes laid with clean paper without cracks;
- in case of double-layer storage, pouring apples with dry chips or wrapping them with clean paper;
- upholding of fruits (up to several days) in a cool place;
- re-sorting;
- installation in storage in the cellar at a constant humidity within 90%.
Do not store apples in the basement next to the roots, so that they do not lose their flavor.
Rational harvesting of an apple orchard at the same time with summer, autumn and winter varieties, and compliance with the rules for storing fruits, allows you to provide your apple dessert with a family year-round. And the dietary characteristic of apples Podarok Grafskogo distinguishes them into a highly demanded group.
