One of the most common varieties of apples in Europe is grade Elena.
The variety Helen is not whimsical in growing and has good fruit characteristics.
He gained wide fame thanks to the taste of his fruits.
Bright juicy fruits of this variety will decorate a well-groomed tree and give you an unforgettable taste and aroma. Description of the variety and photos in the article.
What kind is it?
This variety refers to early summer variety apples.
This feature allows us to consider the apples of this variety among the very first summer apples.
Their early term fructification - a feature that will balance the period of the harvest period.
Apples of a grade Elena very juicy and sweetdue to such an abundance of nutrients store them for a long time will not succeed.
IMPORTANT: Do not store apples in plastic bags. Air does not get into them, and during storage moisture accumulates, which contributes to the process of decay.
Maximum shelf life - 2 months, the most comfortable conditions will be storage in a dark, cold place.
Summer varieties include Melba, Gorno-Altai, Gornist, Malinovka, Apple Spas, Bely Naliv, Yandykovskoe, Yubilyar, Terentyevka, Silver Hoof, Solntsedar, Yuzhny, July Chernenko, Kvinti, Korobovka, Chudnoe.
Pollination
Apples of this variety are among the types of apples that pollinated by insects.
When flowering apple emit very sweet aroma which attracts insects. therefore do not fear for enough pollination this variety.
Description varieties Elena
The apple varieties of Elena are similar in structure to the others, but they also have several features.
Trees of this variety not tall reach a maximum of 3 meters in height.
Crown them pyramidal shape, medium densityslightly raised up.
Shoots sredneopushennye, fresh dark green. Leaves densely cover the entire apple tree.
They are predominantly oval in shape, underpowered, green.
The sheet plate is bent inward, with notches directed upwards along the edges of the sheet.
Fruits of this variety beautiful red, rarely - green. An Apple - medium size (about 150 grams) with a smooth skin.
The shape of the fruit is spherical, the saucer is pronounced. The hollow is not deep, often with a green tinge on the rim.
The flesh of apples of the Helen variety is juicy, elastic, white in color with red patches. The apples of this variety are fine-grained, with a pleasant sweet-sour taste and sweet aroma.
A photo
Breeding history
This variety was obtained in Belarus in the walls Belarusian Research Institute of Horticulture in 2000. He was brought out by such Belarusian breeders as E.V. Semashko, Z.A. Kozlovsky, G.M. Marudo
Crossing was carried out by the method of Russian scientists.
Hybridization of this variety occurred on the basis of varieties. Discovery and Early Sweet.
For the mother tree was taken grade Earlier sweet, for the experience were selected trees aged at least 10 years.
After the first successful pollination, pollen for repetition was taken from 10 experimental trees.
Subsequent pollination was also successful, and breeders managed to get seeds for planting a hybrid variety.
Before planting the seeds were stratified, it took about 4 months.
Further development of the hybrid variety took place without serious problems, care for him was carried out using a mentor technique.
Natural growth region
The region of natural growth of the variety Elena is territory of Belarus. Exactly temperate continental climate is ideal for growing this variety of apples.
Sort Elena is enough winter-resistantthat facilitates its adaptation to regions with low temperatures.
When adapting in cold regions, fertilizer is necessary for successful tree development.
Soil freezes, and for the successful flowering of the apple you need to accumulate a certain stock nutrients in the spring.
Therefore, for the successful growth of this variety need to feed the apple trees in the spring.
For the good development of apple varieties of Helen in hot and dry conditions, requires abundant watering.
From overdried soil, the tree will not be able to absorb the necessary nutrients and minerals, thanks to which the successful flowering and ovary of the fruit will later pass.
Yield
The yield of this variety is quite high. - about 25 tons from 1 hectare. The tree begins to bear fruit already 2-3 year after landing. Medium sized fruits weighing about 150 g
The fruiting period falls on the end of July - the beginning of August. Fruiting apple varieties of Helen - Once a year. The fruits of this variety are very juicy and sweet, because of such qualities they remain bad.
Also high yields are different varieties: Welsey, Stroyevskoye, Sokolovskoye, Sunny, Ural bulk, Phoenix Altai, Uralets, Lobo, Daughter of Pepinchik, Kuibyshev, Lyubava, Antey, Korey, Kovrovoe, Uslada, Isetskoe later, Imrus, Amazing, Rossoshansk.
Planting and care
Proper planting and care play an important role in the further growth of the apple tree.
The variety Helen is quite unpretentious to the place of growth. But still the best would be to plant an apple tree in an open, sunny place.
IMPORTANT: This variety of apples can be combined with other apples. Due to its sweet aroma during the flowering period, the apple tree will attract many insects.
Before disembarking, you need to make a series of preparations. A week before the landing, it is necessary to prepare a place, dig a hole no more than 90 cm deep and fertilize it.
For a week, the ground in the pit will reach the optimum temperature for the seedling. Planting in the open ground of trees should be made from late March to late April.
But only if the sapling with a closed root system.
For seedlings with an open root system the optimal landing period will be in the fall (from late September to mid-October).
For good harvests, for apple trees should be carried out comprehensive care. It must begin from early spring and continue until the end of autumn.
Proper care for apple varieties of helen includes certain sequence of actions:
- Every spring care should begin with the inspection of the tree.
- If wounds are found on the tree, they must be healed.
- Regularly need to pruning dry and damaged branches.
- The soil around the tree must be given to breathe, it must be loosened and cleaned of weeds.
- With the threat of invasion, the apple must be sprayed from pests.
Diseases and pests
Apple varieties of Helen rarely affected but if the problem arose, then it should be treated.
The fight against fungal diseases such as: scab, milky luster, powdery mildew.
It includes a set of measures:
- In autumn it is necessary to burn all the damaged leaves.
- Shoots and branches affected by powdery mildew must be removed.
- In the spring, before the period of appearance of the leaves, it is necessary to spray the tree with a solution of urea.
- After flowering, the tree should be treated with a mixture of calcined soda and soap.
Diseases of branches and root cancer must be fought as follows:
- Destruction of trees with large growths at the root.
- For trees with minor damages, growth and disinfection.
- Compulsory soil fertilization with potash and phosphate fertilizers.
With cytosporosis it is necessary to cut off the damaged branches, and subsequently disinfect the affected area.
The main pests of apple trees are hawthorn, codling moth, green aphid.
Take countermeasures:
In the fight against green aphids in early spring it is necessary to spray the tree Bordeaux liquid.
With the active reproduction of aphids, a karbofos solution will help, or a popular method such as decoction of dandelion or wormwood.
In the fight with the hawthorn, it is necessary to remove its nests. And in the period of launching the caterpillars, spray the apple tree with an atellik.
Fighting codling moth includes a whole range of measures.
The first step is to clean the damaged ovary. The next step will be the destruction of its habitat (removal of the old bark). Subsequently, it is necessary to spray the tree with Enterobacterin.
Summing up, we can say that Helen apple trees are not suitable for industrial cultivation. First of all, this is due to the short shelf life of ripe fruits.
And for growing in house farms it is suitable for almost any territory, and with all its unpretentiousness it will please you with juicy, early fruits.
Watch the video about the apple of the Helena variety.
