Late autumn apples of the “Sun” sort were loved by domestic gardeners due to their high taste and good keeping quality.
Ripening, they red clusters decorate the compact crown of a small tree. In addition, this variety is distinguished by the simplicity of agricultural cultivation.
In this article we will explain how to grow an apple tree "Sun" on your site, as well as analyze the main advantages and disadvantages of the variety.
Did you know? In ancient Greek mythology, the apple was worshiped as a symbol of solar warmth and wisdom, endowing with extraordinary power the trees on which these fruits grew. Apple trees were considered the sacred gifts of the god Apollo. By the way, his name is single-root with the English word "apple".
History of apple selection varieties "Sun"
Fruiting apple trees "Sun" were born in a breeding series of workers of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute Vladimir Zhdanov and Zoya Serova in the early 80s. The variety was removed from the seeds of freely pollinated apple trees and after six years surprised everyone with a very high yield.
Even breeders did not expect such a small tree. Young apple trees have outperformed traditional popular varieties. For example, doubled the performance of the famous "Antonovka." Consumer appreciation was the taste of the new variety. Soon the apple tree "Sunny" became desirable in almost every garden. Given the demand and the widespread occurrence of new representatives of fruit, scientists have regionalized the variety. 
Characteristics of apple varieties "Sun"
The key characteristics of the apple tree "Sun" gardeners call high resistance to frost, ease of care, decoration, abundant fruiting and excellent taste of the fruit. Let us consider in more detail the differences of a variety from others.
Tree description
Apple trees grow low, have a sprawling rounded crown of medium density. Skeletal branches and trunk covered with smooth bark of brown color with a slight purple tint. Young shoots are characterized by thickening, hairiness and short internodes, as well as pubescent cone-shaped buds. The leaves are large, egg-shaped with a pointed tip. Scapes are short and thick.
When the apple trees bloom, a fabulous atmosphere is created due to the inflorescences of soft scarlet color densely covering the arched branches. They often consist of 5-6 buds. During the ripening period of apples, the branches under their weight go down a lot, so it is important to ensure that they do not break. 
Did you know? The fruits of apple trees of the variety "Sun" consist of sugars (about 8% in one apple), ascorbic acid (7 mg per 100 g), titratable acids (1%), P-active compounds (100 mg).
Fruit Description
The fruits of the apple trees "Sun", as mentioned above in the description, grow thickly. Each apple weighs in the range of 200 g. Externally, they are oblong, barely beveled, wide-ridged, covered with a light yellow skin, which successfully masks a bright, blurry crimson blush. Under it on the skin is clearly visible uniform small white specks.
By the time of harvest, almost all fruits become poured, which makes them even more appetizing. The flesh is white, occasionally creamy. Differs juiciness and sweet-sour taste. The seed is small, resembles the shape of leaves. The fruit is fastened to the branch with a short straight stem.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Apple trees of this variety have many advantages, among which gardeners in the reviews say:
- stable high yield;
- resistance to scab;
- winter hardiness (trees withstand even 40 degrees of frost);
- portability of drafts and winds;
- good persistence;
- the versatility of apples (can be eaten raw and processed);
- the ability of petioles to take root on dwarf rootstocks.
Among the shortcomings of the variety "Sun" consumers call:
- fruiting begins with the age of five to seven years;
- long before harvesting, the fruits begin to fall off, forcing them to process them in juice.
Did you know? Appearance of apples "Sun" was the reason why the variety was included in the list of elite apple trees.
Rules for planting apple "Sun" on the site
Planting apple "Sun" does not make any problems with the choice of location, or with the provision of additional conditions for seedlings. Trees take root well and do not require special care. But nevertheless it is worth paying attention to some nuances of competent agrotechnology.
The best time to plant seedlings
Planting of this variety, like other apples, can be planned in spring or autumn. If you do this in mid-October, the tree will have time before the onset of cold weather to strengthen the root system and will not wither due to the cool, wet weather.
But April rooting of saplings is considered more effective. Experts explain this position by the fact that the tree has more time to get stronger and adapt to the winter. In cases of spring planting, it is important to water the tree trunk in a timely manner, saving the roots from drought. 
Landing dates depend on the temperature conditions of a particular region. The main thing is that the earth warms well, but has not yet dried up under the scorching sun. Before planting an apple tree, generously moisten the roots. For this, the seedling is left for a day in the water. And when planting, the tree is watered in such a way that the water remains in the pit and is no longer absorbed by the earth.
Choosing a landing site
Resistance varieties "Sun" to the cold facilitates the search for a good place for this tree in the garden. But still, the yield of apple trees will be much greater if there is a corner for them in the southern, southeastern or southwestern sides. In addition, the heat-loving nature of the variety should be taken into account: its representatives will be comfortable in areas filled with the sun, where groundwater flows at a depth of more than 2 m.
The selection of soils can not be given special importance, because the "Sun" adapts to any conditions, with the exception of clay and heavy substrates. If there is no alternative for them, you will have to add a lot of sand in the pit for planting the seedling. Thus, you will help the soil to become more friable and pass oxygen to the root system, which will contribute to its full development and will not allow the stagnation of water.
Important! Never use coniferous sawdust for mulching pristvolny circles of apple trees - they oxidize the soil.
Stepwise landing process
In preparation for planting an apple tree, which should start in 3-4 weeks, you need to dig a hole 70 cm deep and 1 m wide. Throw the contents of the first shovels into one pile, and starting from 30 cm deep, make the second one. This is necessary in order to further bury the seedling with fertile soil, removed from the upper layer. Drive a 5 cm thick stake into the center of the groove, lower the drain to the bottom.
Apple trees do not like stagnant moisture, which can contribute to root decay. Then combine the substrate from the first heap in equal parts with humus, peat and compost (a double dose of sand is added on loams). Fill the pit with the prepared mixture, it is possible to top it up - in this case, your apple tree, when the earth settles, will not be in a funnel, where moisture will constantly collect. After the done manipulations cover all with a film.
After the specified period, when the seedlings are purchased, their roots are soaked and treated with a special clay mash, you can start planting. First inspect the roots for damage, rot and drying. If you are satisfied, lower the plant into a hole, flatten the root system thoroughly and water it abundantly. When the earth no longer absorbs moisture, begin to fill the recess with earth, while shaking the trunk to fill the cavities formed near the roots.
Tamp the embankment, otherwise the tree will not take root, and make sure that the root collar is 5 cm above the ground. In conclusion, tie the stem to the peg and grind the stem from the apple tree 10 cm so that the tree does not become infected when the mulch is decomposed .
Tips for caring for apple "Sun"
Apple "Sun" does not require special knowledge during planting and care. Planted tree should be immediately cut, removing the tops of the trunk and skeletal branches at 80 cm from the ground. In the future, this apple will form the correct crown and a powerful root system. In the same period, you can spend the first feeding for the plant - it will help him to take root faster. Systematic watering, pruning, fertilizer and preventive measures against pests and diseases are vital to the variety.
Important! So that in winter, hungry rodents do not annoy your fruit trees, protect their bark with a half-meter-thick sheet of roofing or a net of dense weaving. Alternatively, suitable branches of conifers.
Preventive treatment for pests and diseases
Although the apple tree "Sun" and is considered undemanding tree, but errors in growing can lead to his death. Often this is because the apple tree is attacked by powdery mildew, cytosporosis, and harmful insects.
Diseases are manifested by dark spotting on the bark, leaves and, as they progress, they kill the culture. Mealy white bloom often seems dusty and is not taken seriously. Pay attention to the leaves - they must be full of vitality, have a green color. Contribute to the emergence of pathogens of disease can be a bad earth, the lack of mineral substances that must come with fertilizers, lack or excess of moisture in the soil. Preventive measures should be carried out every spring. The first cultivation of apple trees is carried out in March with copper sulphate or "Skor". The second is when the tree fades away using copper oxychloride. And after all the fruits are removed, spend the last disinfection of copper sulfate. Traditional methods are advised for these purposes to use solutions of soap, ground pepper, mustard.
Medical treatments are carried out immediately after symptoms of the disease have been noticed. Effective disinfection with the drugs "Hom", "Topaz", colloidal sulfur, the solutions of which are prepared according to the instructions.
Watering, weeding and loosening the soil
High-quality care for the apple "Sun" provides for the timely cleaning of weeds from pristvolnyh circles and fallen leaves, because they are a favorable environment for parasites, which soon begin to destroy the tree. It is desirable to periodically loosen the earth near the trunk, preventing the formation of a tight crust, which will create a barrier to oxygen access to the roots.
Important! In the first 4-5 years, seedlings are watered often, but in small portions of water.
You can water the apple trees in different ways. To facilitate their work, you can equip sprinkling, drip or surface irrigation. Each of them has its advantages. But in any case, do not forget that in the heat a small amount of water will harm the tree. There is a ban on watering apples before and after picking the fruit. Ignorance of these nuances will lead to the growth of young shoots that can not overwinter and can adversely affect the plant. 
Depending on the age of apple trees, the amount of water for irrigation is calculated. For example, fruit in the first year of life need two buckets per square meter of the circle of the trunk circle; in the second year, this rate increases to four buckets. Accordingly, trees that are more than five years old and that began to bear fruit need six or more buckets.
In the spring, young apple trees (up to five years old) are watered for the first time before buds begin to bloom, repeating the procedure every seven days. For adult trees, the second watering is carried out during the formation of the ovary.
In the heat requires additional moisture. The final procedure is organized a few weeks before the fruit is removed from the tree. If October is characterized by warm and dry weather, it is necessary for the fourth time to moisten the soil with a preventive purpose, so that the apple tree does not dry out and does not freeze during wintering.
Important! To prevent dry earthen crust after watering in tree circles, fill the hole with mulch - It contributes to moisture retention.
Fertilization
Feeding apples is determined by their vegetative phases. The tree needs nutrients when shoots start to develop, therefore nitrogen-containing fertilizers and organics are best suited for increasing biomass. Most often in the spring make a mixture of nitroammofoski and ammonium nitrate or a solution of chicken manure. 
If only the last option is used, the procedure should be repeated every month from March to June. During the fruiting period, trees are additionally fed with compost, superphosphate, potassium chloride, and nitroammophoska. In order for fruit to prepare well for winter, in August they are fertilized with mineral complexes, which must be labeled "autumn" on a mandatory basis.
Top-dressings are applied to half-meter-deep indentations made in stem circles or in peripheral wells.
Literate pruning
Before you prune an apple tree, clearly state for yourself what you will delete. It should be understood that any cutting of trees implies the elimination of diseased, old and dead parts, as well as damaged sprouts. This is done for the formation of the crown and the healthy development of culture, and in addition to avoid disease. The scheme of pruning apple "Sun" is practically no different from other plants of the species. In March, on young saplings it is necessary to remove the thickening of the branches, and on mature specimens - the old and frozen parts. In the fall with the onset of cold weather, sprouts that are weak and not capable of hibernation are removed. Moreover, it is better to carry out such an operation when the sap stops in the trees.
The resulting sections of large sizes are treated with garden pitch. To work start disinfected inventory.
Did you know? Persian old-timers retell the legend of forty apples, according to which a come-up wish will come true if it is seized with forty fruits, having first blown on each.
Wintering apple trees
Winter hardiness - This is one of the main advantages of the variety. Provided that you organize the correct watering and feeding for her, the apple tree will keep the winter safe and sound. Young trees that grow less than five years old need help, as their frost-resistant properties still need safety net. This can be done with the help of mulch on pristvolnyh circles. Also resistance to cold is stimulated by foliar treatment of the plant with superphosphate (30 g per 1 l of water).
Harvesting and storage
If you properly organize the cultivation of apple varieties "Sun", from one hectare of planting can be collected about 100 centners of fruit. Trees are characterized by stable and generous fruiting. Experienced owners have learned to regulate the weight of apples, removing some of them, for example, for processing.
The ripening of these delicious sweet fruits falls on the end of September. Consider that they can be consumed only in a month. Harvest should be carefully, cautioning bruises and falling neighboring fruits.
In the garden for good pollination and, accordingly, fruiting should be planted with different varieties of apples, for example - Zhigulevskoe, Northern Sinap, Moscow pear, Sinap Orlovsky, Medunitsa, Bely pouring, Silver hoof, Candy, Orlik, Uslada, Streyfling, Mechta, Gloucester , Melba, Welsey, Mantet.For the winter, the apples are hidden in the cellar, put into wooden or cardboard boxes disinfected with potassium permanganate. Each fruit is pre-wrapped in paper and carefully laid out for storage next to each other.
Some owners wipe apples with alcohol or manganese solution for the purpose of disinfection. Do not forget that fruits can not be in the same compartment with potatoes. This is due to the secreted substances that cause the aging of both products. In storage it is important to observe the norms of humidity and temperature.
