Daughter of melba - summer variety apple trees, derived from Melba, therefore, in many respects similar to the latter.
However, Melba's Daughter It is more frost resistant and less prone to scab.
In this article we will take a closer look at this variety of apples from the point of view planting, cultivation and storage of fruits.
What kind is it?
As was said, Melba's Daughter - summer varietyor rather, it is an apple tree of late summer maturation.
Most often cultivated on Northwest region of the Nonchernozem zone of RussiaHowever, it is suitable for cultivation throughout the Russian Federation.
This variety is different in that it has quite early consumer maturity - it comes already on the tenth day from the date of collection.
It is believed that Melba's Daughter is supposed to be kept not more than one month - at the end of this period, the fruits lose their taste and beneficial properties.
It is better to store apples in wooden boxes in a dark, dry, cool room.
For this is quite suitable cellar.
Interestingly, a young apple tree of this variety gives harvest every yearand adult is not.
In order to annually harvest this variety, gardeners additionally pollinate the tree.
Melba's daughter is characterized low self-pollination ability.
This variety is recommended to plant next to its "progenitor" - Melba.
Summer varieties include: Gorno-Altaiskoye, Gornist, Malinovka, Apple Spas, Bely Pouring, Yandykovskoe, Hero of the Day, Terentyevka, Silver Hoof, Solntsedar, Yuzhny, July Chernenko, Chudnoye, Yuzhny, Krasnoe earlier, Striped Summer, Peoples Friendship, Papirova.
Description varieties Daughter Melba
Consider separately the appearance of the apple and its fruit.
Height of adult fruit tree reaches 3 meters.
The bark is relatively dark, while the foliage has a light green tint.
Apple Tree Melba's daughter is characterized by a rather large pink-white color, sometimes with a violet glow.
Tree of this variety can be called vigorous.
In this respect, the apple tree is very similar to Melba.
Themselves fruits weigh an average of 130 grams, large, round shape, almost completely covered with blush and with stripes. The main color is light green or light yellow. The apple is also covered with small red or pink specks. Melby's daughter is valuable to her white fragrant juicy flesh.
A photo
Breeding history
Melba's Daughter Bred in the Leningrad region, on Pavlovsk Experimental Station VIR from the Melba variety. Breeders made sure that the new variety was more resistant to winter and scab.
According to the main morphological features, these apple trees not too different from Melba herself. In turn, Melba is the brainchild of Canadian breeders. She was bred in 1898 from a variety called Mac.
Since Canada and Russia are in the same latitude, all three varieties mentioned above have taken root in our country very well.
Region of Origin
Melba's daughter is great for growing almost throughout Russia, and in temperate countries.
Peculiarities of adaptation of this variety in other regions are little studied, There is evidence of lower yields in cooler regions.
However, excellent frost resistance of an apple tree makes it suitable for cultivation even in the northern regions of our country.
For planting in these regions, the following apple varieties are suitable: Pepin Saffron, Rennet Simirenko, Uspenskoye, Cliff, Young Naturalist, Cinnamon Novoe, Kvinti, Kalvil snow, Rennet Chernenko, Zhigulevskoe, Zvezdochka, Imrus, Antey, Korichnaya striped, Anis striped.
Yield
Melba's daughter can be attributed to high-yielding varieties. Tree starts to bear fruit 3-4 years after planting.
Usually yield is about 30-35 kilograms with an average tree age 9-11 years. The fruits of this variety are harvested at the end of August, the time of ripening may vary slightly depending on the region of planting.
Apples are eaten fresh, they can be stored a maximum until October. Daughter of melba fruits once a year.
Planting and care
Planting the Melba Daughter variety is done after the tree has completed the flowering or ripening process. The pit should be prepared in advance - to moisten the earth, to apply fertilizer.
The seedling must be cleaned of foliage so that it does not evaporate moisture from the soil.
It is not recommended to plant an apple tree near groundwater. If they are still present near the site, it is necessary to conduct drainage channels.
Daughter of melba usually planted in rows of 8x3 meters or 7x7 meters square.
This distance is due to the growth rate of appleand also the structural features of the tree itself.
Seedlings are recommended to plant in a fertile, preferably loamy soil. She should be also sufficiently drained.
Feed Melba's daughter varieties are usually performed in the second year after landing, organic approvals. Trees need regular watering.
Experts also advise bleach the trunk in order to protect the tree from pests. With the onset of autumn dig up the soilto maintain soil fertility as well Abundantly fertilized.
This is especially true of the young sapling.
Crown Shaping and Trimming should also pay attention. In the spring, it is necessary to cut off the old branches, but not completely, but only a part. The rest need to be shortened. This will enable young branches to more actively bear fruit. At the same time, it is necessary to prevent the greens from growing too thickly.
Spraying Apple trees are held in the middle of spring - the first time when buds blossom, and the second - when the tree begins to bloom.
Exists triple spray method - Experts say that Melba's Daughter is useful to spray the third once in 2 weeks after the start of flowering.
Melba's daughter is a relatively new apple variety and has enough high pest resistance. Proper care, spraying and timely watering significantly reduce the risk of infecting the tree.
Next, we consider the main diseases of the apple and methods of combating them.
Diseases and pests
Melba's daughter is subject to the same diseases and pests as all other varieties.
Mealy dew. It manifests itself as a white bloom on the leaves, which is easily rubbed off at first, but over time becomes denser. The leaves curl and dry. Most often affects trees that lack moisture. Powdery mildew helps spraying colloidal soda.
Monilioz, fruit rot. Transmitted by wind or insects. In order to overcome this disease, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the garden from infected fruit, including the drop of grapes. Spraying with special preparations also helps.
Vertex. The name speaks for itself - the top of the tree remains without leaves and dries. This disease is triggered by a lack of trace elements, most often zinc. Cure dry top by spraying.
Aphid. Leaf blush and curl. From aphids helps drug "aktar".
Scab. Manifested as black specks on the fruit. Melba's daughter is fairly resistant to the disease, but can become infected if the care was not thorough enough.
Freezers. Appears if the apple tree has suffered from frost. Top dressing and watering helps.
Melby's daughter is a fairly common apple variety, characterized by excellent yield and excellent fruit flavor. The wide geography of cultivation and ease of care make this type quite popular among gardeners.
Watch a video on how to prepare young trees for winter.
