The best apple varieties for the Leningrad region

Despite unfavorable agroclimatic conditions, many vegetables, berries, and fruit crops are successfully grown in the Northwestern Federal District. The harvest is less abundant than in the southern regions, but with proper agricultural practices, it is of high quality. Regionalized apple varieties, including winter varieties, are selected for the Leningrad Region. Before purchasing planting material, gardeners should familiarize themselves with descriptions, photos, and reviews of the best varieties.

Agroclimatic features of the Leningrad region

The northwestern region, centered on St. Petersburg, is not considered a favorable zone for agriculture, including horticulture. The Leningrad region is characterized by cold, unstable winters, short, mild summers, high precipitation, limited sunshine, and poor soil quality. High groundwater levels negatively impact the cultivation of vegetables and fruit crops.

The region's characteristics place it in a high-risk agricultural zone. The main adverse factors that can lead to crop failure and even the death of perennial crops are:

• regular winter thaws;
• sharp changes in daily temperatures in winter;
• sparse snow cover that frequently melts;
• uneven precipitation;
• constant change of wind direction.

Is it possible to grow apple trees in the Leningrad climate?

The western and northwestern parts of the region experience a subarctic climate, with strong winds and winter frosts, and a prolonged spring. The soils are infertile and, in most areas, marshy. In the eastern and southern parts, the climate shifts to continental. Winters are mild: snow falls only in December, with frequent thaws. Summers are predominantly rainy and cool. The soils are sod-podzolic.

In such a climate, growing a strong, fruit-bearing apple tree is difficult. However, with proper care and variety selection, dedicated gardeners can reap a handsome harvest. In subarctic climates, small-fruited varieties and hybrids with high tolerance to adverse weather conditions are preferred. In continental climates, early-ripening varieties produce abundant fruit.

Selecting a variety

Due to challenging weather conditions, gardeners must carefully select fruit crops. They choose only those that can be grown with minimal damage to the tree. After all, a gardener's primary goal is to produce a bountiful harvest of high-quality fruit. And without maintaining the plant's health, this is impossible.

By early fruiting

The quality that determines the first fruiting. Based on this parameter, two main groups are distinguished:

1. Early-bearing – trees begin to produce fruit within 4 years of development (popular varieties of fruitful apples for the Leningrad region: “Ladoga”, “Silver Hoof”).
2. Late – the phase occurs only in the 7th-8th year.

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By ripening time

The most common classification of varieties is based on the duration of fruit ripening. They are divided into early, mid-season, and late-season apples. Early-season apples, also known as summer apples, are intended for fresh consumption and do not store well. Autumn apples are suitable for processing. They retain their marketable appearance and flavor for about 2.5 months after harvest. If the goal is long-term storage, late-season (winter) varieties are preferred. Their fruits are picked unripe and stored.

Summer varieties

Early-ripening varieties ripen in mid-July to early August. They can be stored for up to three weeks. Compared to late-ripening varieties, the flavor is sweeter. The flesh is not dense. The trees are more frost-hardy and less susceptible to the daily temperature fluctuations that are typical in spring. The best varieties are: "Altai Rumyanoe," "Mantet," and "Solntsedar."

Autumn

These varieties are versatile in their intended use. Gardeners recommend "Baltika" and "Aelita" in their reviews. They have a rich flavor that allows them to be eaten straight from the tree. Due to their average shelf life, they can be stored for about 2.5 months. Because of their soft, juicy texture, they are ideal for making preserves, jams, and compotes. Distinguishing features:

• bright color;
• harvest time – September;
• fruits of large sizes.

Winter

A characteristic of late-ripening varieties (Antey, Antonovka) is their excellent shelf life, allowing the harvest to retain its flavor and marketability for a long time. However, winter apples should not be eaten immediately after picking: they have a hard, sour skin, and the flesh has not yet developed its richness. After harvesting, they are allowed to rest until they reach the desired ripeness.

By taste characteristics

To select a variety that suits a variety's tastes, gardeners use another classification system. They divide apples into three groups: sweet, semi-sweet, and sour. Among the first group, the "Candy"Orlovim." They are low in acidity, which is why children love them. Popular sweet and sour varieties include "Idared" and "Antonovka." Those who prefer sour fruits will appreciate "Simirenko,"Glory to the Victors".

Shelf life and storage

Winter varieties are best suited for commercial appearance and long-distance transportation. Popular apples include:

1. "Welsey" and "Lobo" – stored until February.
2. «Spartan" – retain their taste until April.
3. "Vityaz" is the most shelf-stable apple, which does not lose its properties until May.
4. "Winter Lungwort" and "Rossiyanka" also last until the end of spring and are very tasty, but the fruits are small.

Disease resistance

To ensure apple trees remain strong and resistant to pests and pathogens, they require careful care. However, in the Leningrad Region, with its constant rainfall, cool weather, and high groundwater table, fungal disease outbreaks are widespread. Resistant varieties should be selected for cultivation in the region. Scab-resistant varieties include "Osennee Polosatoe," "Baltika," and "Solnyshko." Varieties such as "Orlovim" and "Auksis" have been bred with excellent immunity.

On the nuances of fruiting

Some apple trees exhibit a pronounced seasonality in fruiting. If a tree is overloaded with fruit in a given year, the next fruiting period will only occur several years later, when the tree has regained its strength. But on farms, such cyclicality is an unacceptable luxury. Furthermore, with a large number of ovaries, smaller fruits are observed.

With annual fruiting

To ensure a consistent harvest of apples, select productive varieties with no pronounced fruiting cycle. Gardeners note the following:

1. Lobo is a Canadian variety with a late ripening period. The fruits and leaves have moderate resistance to scab and good resistance to fruit rot.
2. "Berkutovskoye" is the result of Saratov selection. The fruits are round, uniform, and above average in size. The average weight is 150 g, with a maximum of 250 g. The color is greenish-yellow with dark red stripes, fading to a washed-out red blush.
3. "Saffron Pepin" is a winter variety. The trees are small and rounded. The fruit, which keeps its flavor and appearance until early spring, is easy to store.

Large-fruited

To avoid the problem of smaller fruit during a bountiful harvest, specially bred varieties with larger apples are grown. Even in unfavorable weather conditions, the apples remain large. The record-holders for large fruit in cool climates are "Antonovka Zolotaya," "Auksis," and "Antey."

Characteristics of individual groups of apple trees

Breeders work hard every year to develop new varieties. Today, they differ not only in ripening time and fruit size, but also in their growth habit. Columnar and dwarf apple trees are easier to care for. Their decorative appearance allows them to be used for several purposes at once: harvesting delicious apples and landscaping.

Columnar

Thanks to the compact size of these apple trees, first introduced in the 1970s, it's now possible to harvest abundant, juicy fruit in small spaces. The planting pattern for these trees allows for spacing between specimens as small as 70 cm. The tallest varieties reach 3 m, while shorter varieties reach 1 m. The crop begins bearing fruit as early as the second year after planting. Interesting varieties:

1. "Arbat" - yield - up to 13 kg/tree.
2. "Garland" - in the fourth year of development, the fruits reach their maximum weight - 150 g. Productivity of the variety is 6-7 kg/tree.
3. 'Ostankino' is a semi-dwarf variety that produces large fruits. With proper cultivation, a tree can yield up to 15 kg.

Short stature

They are more productive. Their low height facilitates crown care, phytosanitary inspection, and spraying (if necessary). Harvesting is straightforward. There are naturally dwarf apple trees. However, when purchasing, it's important to check the type of rootstock, as it's typically semi-dwarf or dwarf. The gardener selects a variety based on needs—ripening time and flavor.

Standard

This is a common tree shape in city parks because it creates attractive compositions. However, this approach has also found application in garden plots. Apple trees with standard crowns are better ventilated, thrive, produce fruit, and receive adequate sunlight. Given these advantages, breeders have begun to deliberately develop different varieties. Gardeners appreciate "Gornoaltayskaya," "Anis Purpurovy," and "Uralskoye Nalivnoye."

Finnish selection

Domestic breeding institutes offer a wide range of varieties. But no less interesting are those developed by Finnish specialists:

1. "Borgovskoe" is a summer apple variety that is resistant to cold and scab.
2. 'Mikey' – fruiting in full swing at the end of summer. It's prized for its high productivity and low maintenance, which means it requires little time for care.
3. "Ananaskaneli" bears fruit in the first half of September. The fruits are juicy and aromatic. They retain their quality until the New Year holidays.

Decorative

Country house owners aren't always interested in apple trees, which are grown solely for fruit. Planting an ornamental apple tree in your yard can simultaneously yield delicious fruit and add greenery to your yard or garden. Consider the crape myrtles and raykas. These trees have beautiful crowns, which are covered with numerous flowers during flowering and then bear neat fruit. Popular varieties include 'Royalty,' 'Rudolph,' and 'Golden Hornet.'

The best varieties for the region

Since not all fruit varieties can perform as expected in the cool and humid climate of the Northwest region, gardeners prefer varieties from the list of the most suitable. When planting a late-ripening apple tree outside the designated area, there's a high risk that the fruit won't ripen. If the gardener isn't aiming for long-term storage, summer and autumn varieties are preferred.

Moscow Late

Tall trees that change crown shape as they grow. Young specimens are characterized by a broad pyramidal shape, while mature specimens have a wide oval shape. The crown is formed by smooth, rounded, brown shoots with medium foliage. Large fruits ripen late. Marketable apples weigh 160 g, but some specimens reach 230 g. The fruit is uniform, round, and conical in shape. The color is yellow-green with a slight blush that appears after ripening. No significant drawbacks have been identified based on reviews. A minor drawback is the dense crown without formative pruning.

Orlovim

Developed by the All-Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding, this variety gained popularity in the late 1970s. Its main characteristic is its high resistance to scab. However, as it matures, its immunity weakens, especially under poor growing conditions. Trees quickly reach a maximum height of 5 m. The uniform, flat-conical, slightly slanted fruits with subtle ribbing mature to 170 g. The skin is glossy and smooth. The color turns yellow during the fruiting phase.

"Sun"

In 1998, the originator (the All-Russian Research Institute) applied for state testing. However, it was only three years later that the variety was approved for cultivation on private and private farms. "Solnyshko" is zoned. The trees are below average in size. The fruits typically grow to medium size. Commercial specimens weigh approximately 140 g, but some are larger – up to 200 g. The oblong fruits are broadly ribbed and covered with a smooth, greenish-yellow skin.

Caramel

This early variety has a second, equally sweet name: "Konfetnoye." It's a fast-growing apple tree, beginning to bear fruit four years after planting. The name refers to the fruit's characteristic, almost honey-like flavor. Gardeners sometimes also hear another (popular) name: "Karamelka" or "Konfetka." The variety is highly productive. A five-year-old tree can produce up to 50 kg of fruit during the fruiting season. It's a frost-resistant and hardy species, capable of quickly recovering even from significant damage.

"Star"

One of the few winter varieties that grows well in the Leningrad region. When young, the tree has a spherical crown with dense foliage and extensive branching. By the age of 15-20, it reaches a height of 5 m and a width of 6 m. The crown is formed by long branches with numerous offshoots. The leaves, with characteristic serrations, are attached by short petioles. The fruits are not very large, dense, weighing on average 80-130 g. If fruit production is low, they can be heavier.

Marat Busurin

Standard trees produce their first harvest in early autumn, which is suitable for short-term storage. The spreading, spherical crown is not dense. The vegetative growth is average. The plant is a natural semi-dwarf. The leaves are yellowish-green, curved along the midrib. The round fruits are above average in size. The skin is smooth with a greenish-yellow base color. The outer skin has light purple-red spots. During storage, the coloring becomes more attractive—white-marbled with pinkish-reddish spots.

Aelita (September)

A vigorous cultivar with a broadly pyramidal, sparse crown. The first fruiting occurs only in the 5th to 7th year of growth in a permanent location. The uniform, rounded table fruits are predominantly greenish-yellow in color. The flesh is medium-dense and prized for its aroma and juiciness. The variety's flavor is considered sweet and sour. Fruit characteristics:

• sizes – below average;
• weight – 100-130 g;
• Keeping quality – good (can be stored for about 2 months).

Antaeus

The tree is medium-sized, reaching a height of 2.5 m. Its pyramidal crown is sparse. Its sparse, tiered structure allows for easy pruning. The light-brown branches are medium thick. Fruiting is primarily ring-shaped, occurring in the second or third year. Thanks to the regular formation of fruit buds, even in unfavorable years, when the yield of other varieties drops significantly, 'Antey' produces a large number of apples. A mature plant can produce 50 kg.

Golden Antonovka

A variety of the same name, grown widely. It is not considered an early-bearing variety because it only begins to yield fruit in the fifth or sixth year. Productivity is very high and consistent. Its typical winter hardiness is compensated for by annual fruiting. During the late summer harvest, fruits weighing up to 250 g are harvested. Smaller specimens weigh a minimum of 170 g. The primary color is greenish-yellow, rarely pure yellow. The latter is the reason for the addition to the cultivar's name. It is highly tolerant to scab. The plant is medium-sized.

Auxis

This is the result of the work of Lithuanian specialists. They developed a mid-autumn variety with excellent winter hardiness. Its popularity is due to its undemanding nature regarding soil conditions, which are poor in the Leningrad Region. The tree, with a rounded crown, begins to bear fruit in its fifth or sixth year. The fruits are large (up to 180 g) and flattened and round in appearance. The harvest reaches technical maturity by mid-September. Harvesting should be done early, as the fruit will fall off. If harvested correctly and stored properly, the fruit will keep until February without losing its flavor. Their yellow, dense, and very juicy flesh has refreshing sweet and sour notes.

Baltika

A tall plant, reaching a height of approximately 10 m. Sturdy branches form a dense crown with small gaps. The cultivar has light green leaves with serrated edges and a pointed tip. It blooms in late spring. The inflorescences are white. Large fruits gradually ripen, reaching a weight of 120 g at biological maturity. The skin is yellow, turning pink as it ripens. The flesh is white, dense, juicy, and aromatic. A characteristic of the cultivar is that it does not require pollinators—it is self-pollinating. The first fruits are harvested in the fifth season. The plants produce more fruit each season, although harvesting takes place in September. The shelf life is similar to that of summer varieties—no more than 30 days.

Iedzenu

Another Baltic variety. Its late ripening ensures excellent shelf life and transportability. Its yield is high, prized for its consistency. During fruiting, apple trees produce uniform, round-conical fruits with red stripes across most of the fruit. Its flavor is rated as good. It is often grafted onto seed rootstock, which then acts as a natural dwarf.

"Beauty of Sverdlovsk"

A medium-sized fruit tree, reaching up to 7 m in height. However, specimens less than 5 m are more common. The spherical crown is formed by curved, skeletal branches with brown bark. The fruit has a regular, rounded-conical shape with subtle ribbing. The first fruits ripen in the 6th or 7th season. The harvest is annual. Fruit is not prone to shedding. Winter hardiness is average; seedlings are best planted on south-facing slopes and in windless areas. Young seedlings are best protected by covering them with snow during cold weather. Tolerance to scab, powdery mildew, and fruit rot is relatively high. Even in years with widespread outbreaks of pathogens, the plant is rarely affected by infection.

Ladoga

When planted in groups, a medium-height apple orchard is established. The tree's compact, rounded crown is formed by strong skeletal branches. Its winter hardiness is comparable to that of the Antonovka Obyknovennaya, one of the variety's parent varieties. If shoots are damaged by frost in winter, they recover very quickly. It bears fruit in the fourth or fifth year. The fruits are large (115 g), with light green skin, with a slight, blurred stripe and raspberry-red blush on the surface. This high-yielding apple is tolerant of scab. It exhibits greatest productivity when grown in fertile, well-lit areas.

Mantet

A medium-sized tree with an oval, sparse crown. Its skeletal branches are strong and upward-facing. The fruit is juicy and has a pleasant dessert flavor with a piquant acidity in the aftertaste. It weighs 90-180 g. Its shape is conical, oblong-round, with some ribbing at the top. The skin is thin and smooth, yellow-green, but can also be yellow with a bright red blush. The flesh is white and tender. The fruit contains ascorbic acid, fructose, anthocyanins, and pectin. The tree begins to bear fruit as early as its third season. Fruit is harvested in late July. However, due to its low frost resistance, cultivation in areas of the Leningrad Region with a subarctic climate is not recommended.

Glory to the victors

This early variety features medium-sized plants with straight skeletal branches. They form an acute angle when branching from the trunk (the lower tier is 65-75°, the upper tier is 40-50°). The bark is brown. The fruits are large or medium (up to 150 g) and oblong-round, often with a slight conical narrowing at the top. The shape can be smooth or have subtle ribs. Once ripe, the fruit is light green, but the underlying color is barely noticeable beneath a washed-out red blush. The apples are prone to overripening quickly. To ensure the harvest retains its marketable appearance for longer, harvesting should be done promptly.

"Robin" ("Suislepskoye")

It is most widespread in the Baltic states, Belarus, and Ukraine. The plants are medium-sized, with a densely foliated, tent-like crown. The upright skeletal shoots are dark in color. The yield is mixed. The lateral shoots are thick, reddish-brown, and sparsely pubescent. The dark green leaf blades are medium to large, wide, and almost oval. The fruits are small, with each weighing between 80 and 130 g (maximum – up to 160 g). The fruits are uneven, varying in shape, but are most often flattened-round, conical at the top, heavily ribbed, and sometimes unevenly shaped.

"Dream"

These are medium-sized plants with high ornamental value. Their crown is rounded-conical, and the branches are spreading and heavily foliated. The fruits ripen in early August—the variety is classified as a summer variety with a short shelf life. However, the fruits of "Mechta" retain their flavor for up to two months, which is a high shelf life for summer apples. Due to its versatility, the harvest is suitable for both eating straight from the tree and for further processing. The fruits are not particularly large—a specimen weighs approximately 140-150 grams, sometimes up to 200. The buff color is greenish-yellow, with a striped blush.

Silver Hoof

The tree is medium-sized, reaching about 3-4 m. Its neat, sparse crown is formed by even branches with yellow bark. The nearly uniform, round, and small fruits grow up to 90 g, but can be larger in sunny weather. They are light, creamy in color, with an orange-tinged red blush. The flesh is white with a yellow tint, very juicy, and medium-firm. Sweet and sour, the early-ripening "Silver Hoof" accumulates 10-12% sugars. The fruits hold well, do not crumble, and retain their firmness. It is valued for its versatile use.

"Telvenauding"

A Baltic variety, it was developed by Estonian specialists. This explains its unusual name. The fruits are characterized by a yellow-green-crimson color and a distinct dessert-like flavor. The fruit ripens in the last ten days of September and can be stored until April. The variety boasts high and consistent productivity. The first fruiting phase is observed in the fifth year of growth.

When growing apple trees in the Leningrad Region, the selection of varieties is very careful. After all, not every variety can reach its full potential in the short, cool summers and poor soil.