Variety name: Granny Smith variety

Synonyms: Granny Smith, Granny Smith

Parents: presumably Possibly French Crab x Rome Beauty

Homeland of the variety: Eastwood, New South Wales, Australia (now a suburb of Sydney) 1860

Ripening period: late, harvested in October, aged for about 3 months before consumption

General description and facts from history.

Granny Smith is one of the most famous green apples in the world. This variety has a funny and commercially successful history. The first tree was selected from seedlings that sprouted from a garbage heap. The name of the folk breeder has been preserved - Mary Ann Smith. This lady named the apple, which is still the most popular in its homeland in Australia, Granny Smith, that is, Granny Smith. Among Australians, this phrase has become synonymous with the word “apple”. To this day, in the homeland of the variety, the Gunny Smith apple festival is held in honor of Mary Smith, who ensured the prosperity of fruit growing in those places to this day.

These fruits, primarily due to their resistance during transportation and storage, became the first variety for sale in the first chain stores. It was at Granny Smith that the first techniques for selling apples in large shopping malls and promoting the variety as a special, recognizable (branded) product were worked out. Due to its unique ability to store well and its special appearance, it was soon exported by sea to America and Europe, where it became a brand of Australian fruit companies.

picture from the pomology catalog http://www.orangepippin.com , USA

Tree size: medium height

Best location: sunny, free

Rootstock: any, preferably low-growing

Soil: dry, non-flooding
Flowering time: average term

Fruiting type: on twigs

Pollinators: required

Fruit color: The fruits are large (up to 190 g), round, dark green, sometimes with a delicate cream tint, with a large number of large whitish subcutaneous dots.
If the fruits ripen in a mild climate, when the days are warm and the nights are cold, a red blush appears on these apples

Fruit shape and size: The fruits are large (up to 190 g), round. The skin is dense.

Fruit taste: The pulp is greenish, very dense, sour, pleasant, refreshing taste. The apple is perfectly stored until the new harvest. During storage, the acidity decreases and the sweet taste becomes more pronounced.

Productivity: high

Damage to diseases and pests: moderately susceptible to monilliosis, scab, rust, powdery mildew

Formation: Regular pruning required

Winter hardiness: average

Drought resistance: average

Purpose of the variety:- for long-term storage

Granny Smith apples have gained great popularity since the appearance of this variety. All over the world it is considered one of the healthiest thanks to great content in the pulp of various vitamins and microelements.

Description of the variety

This autumn-winter variety was bred in 1868 in Australia by crossing a domestic apple tree with a wild one imported from France. Several decades later, gardeners in many European countries also learned about it. To this day, the Granny Smith festival is held every year in the homeland of the variety in Australia.

The apples are large, round in shape, have a very beautiful light green color and weigh about 300 g. The dense pulp is very juicy and sour in taste, because it contains very little sugar.

The sunny side of the apple may have a yellow or even reddish color. The fruits ripen in mid-September, but they are best consumed a month after harvest. They keep well until spring.

Granny Smith is widely used during fasting days. They cleanse the body well and prevent the deposition of fat cells. Regular consumption of apples of this variety will help cleanse the blood, reduce cholesterol levels, and have a beneficial effect on nervous system. The benefits of these apples are especially great for children, the elderly and weakened people; patients suffering from vascular and skin diseases. People engaged in mental activity are recommended to eat at least 3 apples a day.

Granny Smith in cooking

This variety of apples is the most popular in cooking compared to all others. The neutral taste of these fruits and lack of aroma allows you to add them to any dish - sweet, salty, salads and side dishes. Culinary experts are attracted not only by the taste of these apples, but also by their ability to not darken after cutting.

Having appeared in America, these apples immediately found their use as pie filling. Of course, this dish has been known for a very long time. But it was after the appearance of this variety that apple pie began to be considered the national pride of America.

Granny Smith apples are widely used for desserts - jam, preserves, compote, etc. And the fermented juice is used to make alcoholic beverages.

Granny Smith apples are sour, green, and high in vitamins and minerals. Brought out in the 70s of the 19th century in Australia as a result of crossing wild and cultivated varieties. Known as the lowest calorie fruit.

Description of the fruit, energy value

Granny Smiths have dense white flesh with a sweet and sour taste. Externally, the fruit is soft green, round, with a strong skin. The part of the apple that is turned towards the sun has a pinkish tint. The average weight of the fruit is 300 g.

Source: Depositphotos

Granny Smith apples are the lowest calorie and hypoallergenic

The apple is juicy. From 1-2 pieces you get 1 glass of juice. This is an autumn-winter variety that ripens by the end of September. Stored in a cool place until spring. The fruit has the best taste a month after picking.

Botanical description:

• medium-sized tree;
• cone-shaped crown;
• white flowers;
• bears fruit annually for 10 years.

In Europe, the variety is grown in regions with mild winters and warm summers. The tree does not like coolness and abundance of precipitation. This causes the apples to stretch out and become pale yellow and sour. The fruits are especially valued in nutrition. Calorie content of 100 g of product is 47 kcal. Often used to cleanse the digestive tract and carry out fasting days.

Benefits and harms

Granny Smith is used in dietary and health nutrition. They raise vitality, improve the functioning of the digestive system, and replenish the deficiency of vitamins and microelements.

The fruit contains:

• vitamins PP, K, C, B6, A and E;
• minerals (zinc, iron, iodine, selenium);
• pectins;
• cellulose;
• organic acids.

The benefits and harms of the fruit are determined by its composition and easy digestibility. Apples are used to cleanse the blood, as they help break down cholesterol and remove toxins. Improves intestinal function and cleanses the mucous membrane. Fruits are useful for strengthening gums and teeth, for gout, and anemia.

You should not eat the fruit if you have gastritis, ulcers, colitis, or irritable bowel syndrome. It is not recommended to eat apples in large quantities. This provokes thinning of tooth enamel and the development of digestive problems due to the intake of large amounts of fiber.

In cooking, Granny Smith is used to prepare salads, desserts, juices, and compotes. The pulp of the fruit does not change color after cutting, so it is used as a filling for open or closed pies. One apple a day covers daily norm in fiber by 20%. The fruit is hypoallergenic and is given to young children, nursing mothers, and the elderly to restore strength.

In retail chains, especially in large supermarkets, all year round large, green apples on sale. These fruits are produced by the Granny Smith apple tree variety.

Why grow green apples? After all, their fruits against the background of green foliage do not look as impressive as yellow or red ones. Where did the Granny Smith apple tree variety come from in our gardens?

Let's find out what its benefits and uniqueness are. Perhaps this is the variety your garden is missing.

A distinctive feature of the variety is the apples themselves - a very rich green color, recognizable at first sight. Sometimes subcutaneous inclusions appear - brownish or brownish-red.

The fruits are covered with a dense peel that is resistant to injury and damage. The pulp of the fruit is also quite dense, but at the same time juicy and tender when bitten.

Being a natural semi-dwarf, apple trees of this variety are of medium height, growing quickly in the first years and slowing down after they begin to bear fruit.

Granny Smith variety belongs to winter group. The fruits ripen by the end of September and are suitable for long-term storage.

The variety is old, widespread almost all over the world and is cultivated in all climatic latitudes where an apple tree can be grown. It is moderately demanding, although the productivity and quality of the fruit largely depends on growing conditions and weather conditions.

Granny Smith apple tree.

additional characteristics

Granny Smith apples are difficult to confuse with other varieties; they have their own characteristics and advantages.

History of creation

The history of the creation of the variety dates back to 1868. The first fruits were obtained in New South Wales. In 1935, the variety appeared in England, and in 1976 - in the USA and Canada and became known as Green Delicious.

It is believed that the parent of the variety was an Australian resident, folk breeder and amateur Granny Smith (Mary Ann Smith). She obtained the variety by pollinating an Australian apple tree with a wild French one.

The successful experiment contributed to the wide distribution of the variety in Australia and ensured the prosperity of the fruit growing industry.

The high transportability of the fruits and their long shelf life have made it possible to sell apples overseas - in Europe and America, in the largest retail chains around the world. Green Granny Smith apple is a brand of fruit companies in Australia.

Granny Smith fruits have high transportability and a long shelf life.

Advantages and disadvantages

Significant advantages:

• excellent transportability of fruits;
• long shelf life;
• high quality characteristics of fruits, their hypoallergenicity;
• early pregnancy and regularity of fruiting.

Flaws:

• average level of winter hardiness and drought resistance;
• increased requirement for moderate heat and light;
• affected by rust and powdery mold.

Dimensions of an adult tree

Trees can be grown on various types rootstocks, but mostly they are semi-dwarfs with a height of 2.5 m to 3.5 m. The plants have a wide, dense, spreading crown that requires pruning and shaping.

Granny Smith grows up to 3.5 meters.

Productivity and frequency of fruiting

Under favorable conditions, it is distinguished by the frequency of fruiting and high productivity, although it is classified as medium productive. Trees on a semi-dwarf rootstock reach their peak yield in the fifth year - 15-20 kg per apple tree. Such apple trees bear fruit for eight to ten years.

The Granny Smith apple tree produces up to 20 kg of fruit from one tree.

Tasting assessment

Apples have a sour-sweet taste, the sweetness of which intensifies during storage. The fruit has juicy pulp, a pleasant aroma and is highly rated for taste. The variety is considered the best among green apples in terms of the composition of minerals, vitamins and nutrients contained in fruits.

Fruits of the Granny Smith apple tree.

Eating apples in moderation helps strengthen the immune system, improve the functioning of the digestive tract and reduce the risk of heart disease and colds.

Watch a video of what Granny Smith apples look like:

Winter hardiness

Granny Smith apple tree is not treated well for a long period low temperatures and have an average level of winter hardiness. The ideal climate for it is a moderate, mild climate, with long summers and short winters.

Disease resistance

It has average resistance to scab, powdery mildew and moniliosis, and is more often affected by rust and powdery mold.

The Granny Smith apple tree variety can be affected by rust.

Watch a video with methods of fighting rust:

Reviews

Svetlana. “I personally am always on a diet. That’s why the variety has a special place in my garden. There are no special problems with leaving. The harvest is good, the apples are tasty and last a very long time. I recommend."

Alexander. “At first, the sight of apples disappointed me. Since autumn they have been a dull green color. But, during storage, they proved to be excellent. And the color became more cheerful, and the taste improved. And it’s no more difficult to grow than any other apple tree.”

Olga. “Granny Smith planted her first apple tree in the shade behind the bathhouse. The result was not impressive - the apples did not ripen, and the taste was not very good. I placed another apple tree in the sun. It bears fruit well, and the apples ripen large and juicy.”

Features of planting and care

Landing

Deadlines

Seedlings are planted both in autumn and spring. The most favorable timing is when the plant is in the dormant stage and there is no frost.

Before development begins, the plant must have time to adapt to the soil and establish a root system in it. For the middle band it is:

• end of March - beginning of April;
• end of September - beginning of October.

Watch the video on how to plant an apple tree correctly:

Technology

Proper preparation of the planting pit is the key to successful survival and subsequent successful fruiting. The holes for planting are prepared in advance so that the fertile mixture added to them (humus, rotted manure, mineral fertilizers) is well compacted. The root system in the hole is placed freely, without bending. The root collar is left above the ground surface. The seedling is tied to a support and watered abundantly with water.

Planting an apple tree.

Growing and agricultural technology

Basic agricultural practices:

• watering. It is important to keep the soil moist, especially in the first year after planting. Watering is effective in dry years at any age;

Watering the apple tree.

Attention! Do not water during fruit ripening. This may cause the peel to crack.

• prevention of diseases in early spring with medical preparations. If there are signs of disease, use Fundozol, Bayleton, Bordeaux mixture and other drugs in accordance with the instructions;

Treating apple trees against diseases.

• fertilizing with organic fertilizers (compost, rotted manure) and complex mineral fertilizers;

Feeding apple trees with humus.

• loosening, mulching the soil and removing weeds.

Mulching the tree trunk circle.

Pruning and crown formation

The tree grows intensively, especially in the first years, and constant formation of the crown is required to prevent its thickening.

Crown formation begins in the second year:

• the main skeletal branches are left at a height of at least 50 cm above each other;
• remove shoots directed inside the crown and intersecting with other branches;
• Damaged branches and those showing signs of disease are also removed.

Watch the video on how to properly prune an apple tree:

Pollinator varieties

The Grani Smith apple tree variety is an excellent pollinator for other late varieties of apple trees with the same flowering dates, and is itself partially sterile. In this regard, the proximity to such varieties as:

• Ligol;
• Delicious;
• Pink Lady;
• Eliza.

In trees on a low-growing rootstock, fruits appear in the 2nd - 3rd year of life, but these will be single fruits. At 4-5 years, full fruiting begins.

The first fruits on the apple tree appear in 2-3 years.

Deadlines

Blooms

The variety is winter and blooms late, coinciding with the flowering of other late varieties. Flowering is friendly, abundant, of medium duration. Large, white, saucer-shaped flowers are collected in inflorescences.

Blooming Granny Smith apple tree.

Maturation

Removable ripeness of the fruit occurs at the end of September, and in some regions - at the beginning of October.

Fruit ripeness occurs at the end of September.

Fruit storage

Apples are stored until the new harvest. To do this, it is necessary to remove them correctly, avoiding damage to the peel, wax deposits and squeezing. The fruits are, as it were, unscrewed from the branch, carefully examined, fruits are removed even with minimal signs of disease.

Granny Smith apples can be stored until the next harvest.

Important! Immediately after picking, apples are stored in dry rooms (cellars, basements or specialized storage facilities) at a temperature of 0 to +2 degrees. If space allows, it is better to lay out the apples in one layer.

Regionalization in Russia

The Granny Smith apple tree grows and bears fruit safely in various regions:

• Central;
• Central Black Earth;
• Volgo-Vyatka;
• in the south of Russia.

Granny Smith grows well in many regions of Russia.

In unfavorable years with insufficient warm days, apples have difficulty ripening by the end of autumn and their taste may not reach the best levels.

Growing in the Moscow region

The average level of winter hardiness allows you to grow the variety in the Moscow region. The apples have time to ripen and accumulate a sufficient amount of minerals.

Advice! For winter, apple trees need to be insulated:

• mulch the soil;
• tie the trunks of young trees.

sadsezon.com

Granny Smith - history and characteristics of the variety

Swarm of Bees Honey Plants Apple Tree

Apple tree 5075 0

Granny Smith, a variety of green apples named after Granny Smith, has won the hearts of gardeners and gourmets around the world. This apple tree is distinguished by its durability and unpretentiousness in cultivation, and its fruits are used to prepare delicious desserts and pies. This article offers a description of the advantages and disadvantages of the apple tree and its photos.

Granny Smith apples are widely used in cooking.

One apple a day and the doctor is out the door.

Brief historical background

The path of this wonderful variety from all sides begins in 1868, in the land of kangaroos and dingoes. We are talking about Australia, one of the provinces located in Eastwood. Here, in the named year, a woman named Anna Maria Smith, an elderly lady passionate about selection, crossed two apple trees - an overseas French wild apple and an Australian one. The fruits of her labors became the hero of this article, who immediately after his appearance began an inexorable march up the ladder of popularity.

This variety first began to gain a reputation in New Zealand

The variety began successfully gaining a reputation in New Zealand, in 1930 it found new fans in Great Britain, and in 1976 the apple tree reached the United States and Canada. Nowadays, there are few stores that do not sell granny apples, and in Australia festivals are held in honor of the creator of the variety.

Features of the variety

Granny Smith belongs to the group of winter varieties, since the time for its fruits to ripen is in the fall - late September or early October. Sometimes an apple tree ripens earlier or later, it depends on the climatic characteristics of the area in which the trees are grown. So, if warm weather a rare guest in the region who leaves “in English” soon after his arrival, the harvest will ripen only by winter, and the taste and usefulness of the fruit will be significantly less than expected.

Granny bears fruit regularly and quite abundantly. The fruit-bearing tree is classified as “medium-productive”. The apple tree produces a harvest within eight to ten years, and the peak yield occurs in the fifth or eighth year of growth. In the fifth year, up to 15 kilograms of green fruits are collected from just one apple tree.

The apple tree in the photo looks amazing in reality, with its lush, spreading crown. The trees are medium-sized, grow quickly when young, and slower when they reach the fruiting period. They reach a height of 3-3.5 meters.

The variety is undemanding to the extent that this allows it to be grown in gardens around the world, but it is very sensitive to environmental conditions.

Trees become capricious when the weather changes. Depends on the condition appearance fruits, their shape and size, taste characteristics. Overall ideal for apple trees environment is a climate with mild winters and cool but long summers.

1. The variety is resistant to frost, but does not tolerate the hot season. On especially hot and sunny days, apples begin to dry out and shrink.
2. On the other side, very coldy Apple trees don't like it either. Due to cold weather, its fruits become deformed and lose their richness. green color, turn yellow.

All about fruits

Apples, with their juicy appearance, attract the desire to immediately dig into them, even when depicted in the photo.

Granny Smith fruits are quite large

1. The fruits of the Granny Smith apple tree are large in size, each growing up to 250 - 300 grams. Round or oval apples are covered with a dense, even hard, bright green peel. Sometimes a sunny blush appears on the green surface - reddish-brown specks. Beneath the skin lies soft, green, juicy flesh.
2. Unripe fruits are unpleasant to eat; their taste is featureless, like paper. Juicy, plump apples, distinguished by their rich sweet and sour taste, are a different matter.
3. If all growing recommendations have been followed, the fruits will hold tightly to the branches and not fall.
4. The fruits easily tolerate transportation and do not spoil for a long time.
5. One apple of this variety contains 47 kcal, thanks to which this product ranks high on the list of dietary treats. It is recommended that all women who advocate for healthy image life. The content of sugars and fats in the fruit is low, but there is a lot of water, vitamins and microelements. These fruits help cleanse the intestines, which is why nutritionists advise taking at least one apple fasting day a week. Apples improve eye and skin health and have a positive effect on the respiratory, circulatory and digestive systems. Another undeniable advantage of apples is the ability to make charlottes out of them.
6. When eating apples, you should be careful and avoid overeating. A large amount of fruit eaten will damage tooth enamel and cause complications for people suffering from gastritis and peptic ulcers, and the seeds consist of hydrocyanic acid, a poison that is not advisable to enter the body.

Proper planting of trees is the first step in the long stage of their cultivation and the key to a bountiful harvest. The slightest mistake at the start will inevitably lead to troubles in the future. The main thing in this process is to choose the place and time of landing.

Young seedlings must be planted in the spring

1. Two-year-old seedlings are planted in spring or autumn, after or two months before the first frost. This period is needed for the roots to take root.
2. Planting holes are prepared in advance, at least a month before planting, so that the soil settles and does not break the young roots. Pit size: 1 meter in diameter and from 60 to 80 centimeters deep.
3. The apple tree prefers soil without excessive acidity; if it happens that the soil turns out to be too acidic, add lime to it, but a month before mineral fertilizers. Meanwhile, it is recommended to mix the soil removed from the hole with organic fertilizers.
4. Thoroughly moisten the planting site and carefully straighten the roots, lower the seedling into the hole. Dig down to the grafting site, moisten the resulting creation generously with five buckets of water. The purpose of watering is to ensure that the roots hug the soil tightly.
5. In order for apple trees to bloom as in the photo, it is recommended to leave enough space between the holes - the trees need freedom in order to grow. The best neighbors for Granny Smith are other winter varieties. But planting trees next to berry bushes, especially raspberries, is not the best solution.
6. After planting, the trees will have to be tied to pegs or wire so that they do not fall from strong winds.
7. With the onset of cold weather, the trees will have to be insulated, especially their roots - for this, the soil around the trunk is covered with manure.

Rules for caring for apple trees

Trees growing without the care of their owners will not be able to produce a rich harvest, and their fruits will not look as appetizing as they are shown in the photo.

Proper tree care is the key to a good harvest.

1. Pruning is an important part of fruit tree care. Pruning the dense crown from weak branches reduces the waiting time for fruiting and saves apple trees from overload and disease. They begin to carry out pruning activities on two-year-old apple trees before the buds swell - that is, in the first weeks of spring.
2. After planting, the tree is often watered, but do not forget about this method of care even when the apple tree takes root in its new place of residence. Watering is especially important in summer, on hot days. In the summer you will have to water the trees regularly, once every two weeks, spending four liters of water on this matter for each apple tree. When the fruits appear and begin to ripen, the amount of water and irrigation will have to be reduced, otherwise the fruits will crack.
3. After watering, it is recommended to mulch the soil. Apple trees prefer to grow on fertile soil, if not on black soil, then at least on soil enriched with mineral and organic fertilizers.

Diseases, pests and other ailments

A gardener who wants to get juicy apples and beautiful trees must learn to pay close attention to any suspicious change in the appearance of the apple trees. The change may be imperceptible, not noticeable - a scattering of yellowish spots, faded color of leaves: all these are harbingers of trouble.

Granny Smith has an attractive advantage - resistance to diseases characteristic of apple trees: scab and powdery mildew.

This does not prevent this variety from developing rust and powdery mold. To combat these troubles, you will have to arm yourself with fungicides, such as Fundazol or classic Bordeaux mixture.

Measure doses carefully when using these drugs, as they will poison the fruit, making it dangerous to eat. Preventive spraying of trees with Bordeaux mixture is carried out.

To get the same fruits as in the photo, you will have to try, but patience and work will fall on fertile soil. Apple trees of this variety are an excellent choice for growing in almost any region with a not too short growing season.

Winter hardiness and disease resistance allow even novice gardeners to choose this variety for planting. Due to their outstanding appearance, these trees are often grown to decorate the garden, as a hedge.

roypchel.ru

The leader among apple crops is the Granny Smith variety

Granny Smith apples, due to their characteristics, have gained popularity among gardeners, cooks and gourmets around the world.

The trees of the variety are frost-resistant, produce a good harvest and are easy to care for; their fruits are large and rich in vitamins and microelements.

• What type does it belong to?
• Description of the Granny Smith variety
• History of selection
• Productivity
• Planting and care
• Diseases and pests

Granny Smith is a winter variety. The fruits ripen by the time of the first cool weather - in September or early October.

Deviation from the norm is possible in cool climates.

If the warm weather in the growing region does not last long, the fruits may ripen by winter and thus lose their characteristics.

The variety is early-bearing, bears fruit regularly, and is particularly stable and frost-resistant.

Apple trees of this type bear fruit for eight to ten years.

The peak occurs in the fifth to seventh years of plant growth.

Among the winter varieties of apple trees, Golden Delicious, Aport, Antonovka ordinary and Antonovka Dessertnaya, Idared are also famous.

Description of the Granny Smith variety

Let us consider separately the appearance of the apple tree and the fruit itself.

Typically, the Granny Smith apple tree is medium-sized and naturally semi-dwarf. Has a spreading crown.

The apples grow large - up to 300 grams each. They have a rich green color, thick skin, round or slightly oval shape - this can be seen in the photo.

With proper care, the fruits stay firmly on the tree.

Sometimes the green surface of apples includes brownish-red inclusions - they appear on the side facing the sun.

The apple pulp is light, juicy, and has a sweet and sour taste.

What are the benefits and how many calories are in a green Granny Smith apple?

These apples have a low sugar content and a high vitamin content.

Since the calorie content of these apples is low - 47.5 calories, you can enjoy them without any worries about your slim figure. Also considered hypoallergenic.

The following varieties demonstrate excellent taste and increased benefits of fruits: Orlinka, Orlovsky Pioneer, Moscow Winter, Aromatny and Young Naturalist.

History of selection

Granny Smith apples, or the well-known Granny Smith apples, originated in New South Wales, Australia, in 1868.

They are the product of selection of wild French apple trees from Australian ones.

The new variety was developed by an amateur breeder, elderly Australian Anna Maria Smith.

The result of her work quickly gained popularity throughout the world.

Productivity

The Granny Smith variety is classified as moderately productive.

The growth and full development of fruits requires 240 days of heat.

Granny Smith apple trees begin to bear fruit in the second or third year after planting in the garden in autumn period.

In the fifth year of growth, up to 15 kilograms of harvest can be harvested from one tree.

It should be noted that Granny Smith is an excellent pollinator for all other varieties.

In order for the yield to be higher, this variety should be planted next to only the same winter types of apple trees: Golden Delicious, Elise, Ligol, Pink Lady.

If you are looking for apple trees with high yields, pay attention to Aloe Early, Bogatyr, Veteran, Kuibyshevsky and Winter Beauty.

Where are these apples grown? Today, Granny Smith is grown by gardeners in all countries.

The variety is in a certain sense capricious: the shape, size and other characteristics of the fruit and the tree itself depend on the growing conditions.

Granny Smith does not tolerate heat. Due to the increased dose of sunlight, the fruits dry out.

The variety also does not like extreme coolness: low temperatures cause apples to turn yellow and change shape.

The ideal climate for cultivation is considered to be mild, temperate, with short winters and a long growing season.

Planting and care

When landing any fruit tree It is necessary to take into account such factors as the right time and place.

This is a guarantee that your apple tree will bear fruit well and delight you with its fruits.

Seedlings are usually two years old - apple trees of this popular variety can be planted in spring and autumn, when there is no frost.

A month before planting, it is necessary to prepare holes for seedlings - the soil must settle. Pits are needed about 60 centimeters deep and at least one meter in diameter.

The soil that will be removed from the hole should be mixed with any fertilizers of organic origin.

Before planting, the holes need to be moistened with water.

You should not plant trees next to raspberries, but on the contrary, it is recommended to plant them with other winter varieties of apple trees.

After planting, sprinkle with a sufficient amount of soil and water well so that the soil fits tightly to the roots of the young trees.

Before the onset of frost, the trunks need to be insulated, and the soil next to the tree should be covered with a layer of manure.

Watch a video about how and when to plant a tree correctly.

Apple trees need to be pruned annually.

Pruning the crown will ensure early fruiting of the tree and its longevity.

Pruning can be done from the second year of the tree's life in early spring, before the buds swell.

Abundant summer watering - three to four liters for each tree - should be carried out in the first years of life and growth of the plant.

When the fruits ripen, watering should be reduced, otherwise they will crack.

Diseases and pests

An undeniable advantage of the Granny Smith variety is its resistance to many apple diseases and pests. So, this variety does not suffer from scab and powdery mildew.

Disadvantages - susceptibility to scabs and rust, powdery mold.

They can be dealt with using fungicides: Benlaton, Fundazol, Bayleton, Bordeaux mixture and other broad-spectrum preparations.

Other diseases and pests affect the apple tree extremely rarely, which makes it an excellent choice for growing in the garden. However, it doesn’t hurt to take care of the prevention of such diseases as fruit sapwood, codling moth, leafminer moth, silkworms and hawthorn.

Granny Smith apples are great for growing in regions with a long growing season.

They are full of vitamins and, due to their large size, are suitable for use in cooking.

Also, Granny Smith fruits are stored for a long time and this only makes them better.

Trees of this variety are often used as hedges in gardens and summer cottages.

Good yield, excellent taste of fruits and beautiful appearance of the trees make this variety a leader among others.

selo.guru

Granny Smith apples, description, beneficial properties

Granny Smith apples are popular and recognizable all over the world. Why are they so useful, why does the fruit have such a fancy name and what is their peculiarity, read in this article.

Description of the Granny Smith variety

"Granny Smith" means "Granny Smith" in English. It was in honor of the elderly woman Anna Smith that the juicy apples were named. Back in 1868, an amateur gardener from Australia crossed a domestic apple tree with a French wild apple tree, and received the Granny Smith apple variety. The apples are quite large, weighing up to 300 grams. There are oval or round. The color of the Granny apple is rich green with yellowish tint. But sometimes there are barely visible red spots on the fruits if the sun hits the apples. The pulp of the fruit is juicy, white-green in color, and the fruit tastes with sweet and sour pulp, however, the longer the apples are stored, the stronger the sweetness becomes. The peel is quite dense and resistant to mechanical damage. The fruits have some features: they have no aroma (do not smell), and do not change color when cut.

In the best harvest years, you can get a glass of freshly squeezed juice from one fruit, they are so juicy. But during a period of drought, apples turn yellow, change shape, and you can’t even squeeze 6 liters of juice out of two bags.

Granny apple trees themselves are not tall, but they produce a harvest for 8-10 years. The variety belongs to the autumn-winter variety. The fruits ripen at the end of September and October. And it’s better to eat them a month after collection. Apples keep well until spring and are resistant to frost, but summer heat is destructive to trees. The fruits are well transported and stored for a long time. They are very popular in the world.

Externally, the fruits of Granny Smith are similar to the Simirenko variety. They are approximately the same color and shape, which makes them easy to confuse. But still, the difference between Simirenko and Granny Smith is that they smell, white subcutaneous spots may appear on the surface, if you twirl Simirenko in your hands, you can see a slight asymmetry of the apple, which is a feature of this variety.

Region of natural growth

The variety is quite old; apples grow in many countries. Due to its frost resistance, to the extent it is demanding, the Granny Smith variety grows in all climatic latitudes where apple trees grow. Granny Smith apples are brought to Russia from different countries, but this variety bears fruit well in the country itself. The growing climate should be moderate. With a cool summer period and a short warm winter. The best regions are considered to be: Central, Central Black Earth, Volga-Vyatka and southern Russia.

They are also grown in the Moscow region, but the tree needs to be insulated for the winter.

Productivity

Granny Smith apple trees have high, consistent yields. Rapid tree growth is characteristic of this variety. They bear fruit for a long time, about 10 years, and the highest yield is in 5-8 years, up to 20 kg of apples. The first green apples can be found already in 2-3 years, although there will be few of them.

Planting and care

To plant an apple tree in the middle zone, choose spring or autumn. There should be no frost; the tree is in a dormant stage during this period. Until the seedling begins to develop, it needs to undergo adaptation and establish the root system in the new soil. Most favorable months for planting, this is the end of March - beginning of April, end of September - beginning of October. If you plant a Granny Smith apple tree with other winter apple trees, this will benefit them, because Granny Smith can pollinate other trees if they have the same flowering dates.

The technology for preparing the pit determines whether the apple tree will take root and how it will bear fruit. Therefore, you need to prepare it in advance. Better in a month. The fertile mixture, which is placed in the hole, must be thoroughly compacted. The mixture consists of humus, fertilizers, and manure. The root system itself must be placed in the hole so that it is not crowded and nothing is bent. Leave the root collar above the ground. Tie the tree to a stick and water thoroughly.

To plant a Granny Smith apple tree:

1. We look at the roots of the seedling. If they are a little dry, moisten them with water. We cut off long, broken roots.
2. We dig a hole, in the center of which we install a peg, which will serve as a support for the seedling. We make a small mound in the middle of the hole.
3. We place the seedling on a mound at a distance of 5-7 cm from the support. The grafting should be 2-3 cm above the soil level. Next, fill the hole and gently press down the soil. Cover the top with mulch to protect and improve properties.

Apple tree variety "Granny Smith" Granny Smith"), according to legend, was created by a female breeder, Anna Smith, who lived in Australia in the mid-19th century. She crossed a local Australian apple tree with a game tree imported from France. The result was a variety that has now become one of the most popular in the world. "Granny Smith" has been one of the top ten best-selling varieties for many years. This old variety is cultivated almost everywhere climatic conditions allow you to grow apples. Cultivation of the variety, despite its unpretentiousness, requires the use of certain agrotechnical techniques.

Characteristics of the variety

The Granny Smith apple tree belongs to the winter group. Fruit ripening begins in mid-September and continues until October. The tree is considered a semi-dwarf, so the height of the trunk is not too high, but the crown is wide and spreading, so it requires formation, as well as a fairly large space. In the first years, growth is very active, but after entering the fruiting period it slows down. Apples of this variety are easily recognizable by their rich green color. Due to the firm consistency of the pulp, the fruits tolerate long-term storage and transportation.

During storage, the fruits become sweeter. During long-term storage, they practically do not lose their shape and do not become stained.

Apples contain a large number of pectin, which helps cleanse the body and removes compounds heavy metals. The fruits are quite hard and have a pronounced sour taste. Due to the low sugar content, the fruits of this variety are considered among the best dietary products. At the same time, the fruits are absolutely devoid of aroma and have specific taste qualities. Granny Smith apples have the following benefits:

• good transportability;
• long shelf life;
• absence of allergens;
• high content of vitamins and microelements.

Find out why apples are useful.

Apples of this variety have very little sugar and absolutely no allergic components, so they can be given to both sick people and small children.

Apple trees do not tolerate cold climates with long winters. The optimal conditions for growing Granny Smith are a mild climate with short winters and long, warm summers. Apple trees are considered moderately productive and reach maximum yield in the 5-7th year, although single fruits may appear as early as the second year. From one tree you can collect 20-30 kg of fruit. Apple trees bloom late, but friendly and abundant. Apple trees can be either self-pollinating or sterile, so trees of other varieties should be planted next to them. Granny Smith has the following characteristics:

• pollinator varieties - “Pink Lady”, “Delicious”, “Elise”;
• tree height – 3.5-4.5 meters;
• trunk diameter – 15-18 cm;
• life expectancy (fruiting) – 8-10 years;
• fruit size – 150-200 grams;
• winter hardiness – average;
• features of the root system - extensive but weak;
• yield – up to 25 kg per tree;
• fruiting cycle is regular;
• self-fertility - not always;
• disease resistance – the variety is resistant to powdery mildew and moniliosis;
• The taste of the fruit is sweet and sour with a low sugar content.

The variety is demanding of sunlight, which must be taken into account when choosing a planting site.

Since Granny Smith has low frost resistance, central Russia and its southern regions can be considered optimal for growing these apple trees.

Planting, growing care

"Granny Smith" is considered an unpretentious variety that is not too demanding to care for. At the same time, the yield of the variety depends on the implementation of certain agrotechnical practices. First of all, this concerns planting a seedling.

Landing

For planting seedlings in open ground Suitable for both spring and autumn. Spring planting should be carried out at a time when the movement of sap in the trunk has not yet begun, and for autumn planting any warm time before the onset of frost is suitable. A young seedling needs time to adapt and establish a root system in the soil. The planting site should be well illuminated by the sun, since the yield and taste characteristics of apples depend on this factor.

Deadlines

For central Russia, the optimal planting time in spring will be the end of March or the beginning of April, and for autumn - the last ten days of September. As a last resort, you can plant a seedling in early October, but there is a high probability of early frosts, which will negatively affect the young plant.

To plant a Granny Smith apple tree, you need to choose a place where there is sun most of the day and there is no groundwater. This may be the southern and elevated side of the site.

Technology and agricultural technology

A properly prepared planting hole almost always guarantees the survival of the seedling. Gardeners always prepare a hole for spring planting in the fall, but for planting in autumn it needs to be prepared at least a month in advance. This is due to the fact that mineral fertilizers are applied to the soil and it is important that they penetrate deeply into the soil. The absence of groundwater is very important for the proper growth and development of seedlings. If groundwater comes close to the surface, this can cause rotting of the root system, especially in a young plant.

Before planting, the soil must be free of perennial weeds.

If the garden plot is located in a lowland, then a drainage layer should be laid at the bottom of the planting hole for the apple tree. This is a pillow at least 20 cm thick made of broken brick, pebbles or fine crushed stone. Next you need to add some nutritional components:

• rotted manure or compost;
• potassium sulfate;
• superphosphate.

Since Granny Smith is a semi-dwarf variety, the depth of the planting hole is usually 50 cm, and its diameter should be at least 1 meter. Before planting a seedling, you need to carefully examine its root system. You should carefully remove dried and rotten roots, as well as all places with mold. In order not to injure healthy roots, all pruning areas must be treated with a “matter”. To do this, a small amount of manure is mixed with clay and diluted to a thick sour cream. The root system of the seedling is dipped into this mixture before planting. If the root system of the tree is bare, then a mound of fertile soil should be poured into the bottom of the hole, over which the roots are carefully distributed. The roots of the seedling should be placed freely in the planting hole, avoiding bending of the ends, while the root collar should be located above the soil surface. The tree trunk circle is mulched with peat or straw.

You need to install a peg near the planting site and tie a young tree to it. To protect it from animals, the seedling can be surrounded by a small fence. Watering an apple tree can be considered the most important agrotechnical technique. In the first year after planting, the soil should be constantly moist. When summer temperatures are high and there is no rain, Granny Smith should be watered especially actively.

The exception is the period of fruit ripening. At this time, watering should be done very sparingly. Excess moisture in the soil can cause the peel to crack.

The foliage of the tree may be affected by rust and powdery mold. If rusty spots appear on the leaves, it is necessary to reduce the amount nitrogen fertilizer and increase phosphorus-potassium preparations. The affected areas on the trunk should be treated with a 5% solution and covered with garden putty. It is imperative to carry out sanitary pruning of affected trees. To prevent diseases, in early spring, the tree must be treated with one of the following preparations:

• Bayleton;
• fundozol;
• Bordeaux mixture.

In spring and autumn, the trunks of Granny Smith apple trees must be whitened. To prevent rust, copper sulfate is added to the whitewash.

What is the best thing to grow from?

For growing Granny Smith apple trees, seedlings purchased from a special nursery are suitable. This is a reliable option, since in a good nursery all the trees are healthy, have a good root system, and there is a guarantee that the seedling will grow into what you need and not some other variety. Therefore, purchasing seedlings on the market from unknown persons is not recommended. An apple tree of this variety can be grown from a seed. There is a slight difficulty with this. The fact is that at , the tree loses its maternal properties by about 90%, so an apple tree grown in this way must be grafted. If this technology is familiar, then you can begin the process.

Read what you can graft an apple tree on.

Growing an apple tree from a seed is divided into the following stages:

• washing;
• soak;
• stratification.

First you need to prepare the seeds, which are taken from the apple from the periphery of the crown. They must be ripe and even Brown color. Selected seeds should be washed several times in warm water, stirring gently so as not to damage them. Washing allows you to remove the inhibitory layer that interferes with germination. Then the seeds are placed in a small container of water, which must be placed in warm place for a few days. The water is changed daily to prevent the seeds from becoming moldy.

On the third day of soaking, you can add drugs to the water to stimulate development and growth. This is "Epin" or "Sodium Humate". Stratification is the hardening of seeds to prepare them for natural conditions. The seeds are mixed with sand and peat and the resulting mixture is abundantly moistened. Instead of peat, you can use moss or sawdust. The seeds remain in this substrate for up to 6 days. During this time they swell. Then the container with the substrate and seeds is placed in the refrigerator for 2-3 months. This is an imitation of the cold winter period.

After stratification, the seeds can be placed in a container with fertile soil, which is placed in a sunny place.

Chernozem is best suited as soil. The soil needs to be well watered, avoiding erosion around the seeds. After the second pair of leaves appears on the small seedlings, they need to be sorted. Shoots with small and brightly colored leaves are removed. When the plants become stronger, they can be transplanted into open ground, subject to good weather conditions. At the initial stage of seedling growth, fresh organic components such as manure or chicken droppings should not be added to the soil. They are very chemically active and can cause burns to the root system. You can use compost or humus in small quantities.

Distance between trees

The fairly wide and spreading crown of Granny Smith does not allow apple trees to be planted close to each other. Typically, seedlings of this variety are placed at a distance of 4-5 meters. In this case, the apple trees will not block sunlight, and the root systems of each tree will have enough nutrients.

Care

"Grammy Smith" is considered an undemanding variety, so even inexperienced gardeners can grow it. At the same time, the implementation of certain agrotechnical practices will allow one to achieve high yields and reduce the risk of possible diseases. These apple trees need active watering, except for the period when the fruits become ripe. Apple trees need especially active watering in the first and second years of planting, when they are not yet bearing fruit. During this period, the apple tree needs to be watered 5-6 times per season, using up to 5 buckets of water per tree. Watering is carried out during flowering, before the formation of ovaries and 2 weeks before the fruits fully ripen. For the winter, it is recommended to cover the trunks with spruce branches. It is advisable to mulch trees using straw or high-moor peat.

He will tell you when to remove the cover from apple trees in the spring.

Top dressing

Immediately after planting, seedlings need to be fed with nitrogen. The first fertilizing is applied to the soil in mid-May, the second a month later. Thanks to this, the growths necessary for the formation of the crown are activated on the trunk. If the tree grows very intensively, in the second year, you can limit yourself to feeding only in May. To enhance fruiting in the third and fourth years, nitrogen-rich components should be limited. At this stage, you need to use components containing phosphorus and potassium. Most often, gardeners use the following preparations:

• superphosphate;
• potassium sulfate;
• potassium monosulfate.

Fruit ripening

In good weather and temperature conditions Granny Smith apples begin to ripen at the end of September. Since the fruits have a strong stalk and adhere well to the branches, they should not be collected in the initial period of fruiting. At this time, the taste of apples is extremely low, since the process of sugar formation in them has not completed. Harvesting should be done as late as possible, when the fruits have reached maximum ripeness.

Fruit storage

The Granny Smith variety is one of the most suitable varieties for long-term storage. IN the right conditions apples can be stored until the new harvest. The fruits should be removed from the tree very carefully, without squeezing, avoiding damage to the skin and preserving the waxy coating. Apples should not be picked, but rather unscrewed from the branch.

Read about storing apples for the winter.

At the sorting stage, you need to remove apples with the slightest damage or signs of disease so that they do not spoil the entire batch.

Immediately after harvesting and sorting, apples should be stored in a cool, dry room with a temperature of 0 to +2 0 C.

Rejuvenation

After a certain time, apple trees begin to show signs of aging, and fruiting is noticeably reduced. One of the characteristic signs of aging is associated with the exposure of skeletal branches. The size of the fruit also decreases. Using certain techniques, the apple tree can be restored to high productivity for several more years. The best way to rejuvenate is to properly trim the branches.

Pruning

If the tree bark is not damaged, then the old tree can be pruned, which will return the apple tree to a period of good fruiting. should only be performed in the fall, when the tree is preparing for winter. The procedure is performed after leaf fall, but before the onset of frost. First, cut off all dry and disease-damaged branches. Pruning should be done smoothly without stumps. If the branches that need to be removed are very thick, then no more than three branches can be cut in one season. Autumn pruning involves reducing the height of the tree to 3.5-4.5 meters.

Read about pruning dwarf apple trees.

Too active pruning of the crown can lead to the death of the tree, so the process can take up to three years.

To which regions is the variety more adapted?

With the exception of the northern regions, Granny Smith apple trees can be grown throughout Russia. The most suitable regions for this are the following:

• central;
• central chernozem;
• Volga region;
• southern regions.

In areas where there is not too much in summer sunny days, apples of this variety do not have time to ripen, and they will lack sugar. In this case, the taste of the fruit will be low and can only be used for processing and cooking.

Video

Video about the Granny Smith apple variety.

conclusions

1. "Granny Smith" is best grown from good ones.
2. Apples have a specific taste, which should be taken into account.
3. The apple tree is resistant to diseases and bears fruit well with simple care.