Apple tree "Grushovka Moskovskaya": characteristics and description of the variety

"Moscow Pear" is an old Russian apple variety. It has several common names: "Skorospelka," "Spasovka," and "Red Pear." The variety was developed through natural selection, making it easy to grow. But to obtain good harvests, it is necessary to know the characteristics of the variety and the intricacies of its cultivation.

General description of the variety

This variety belongs to the early-ripening group of apples, suitable for summer consumption. The first ripe fruits can be picked from the tree as early as late July. The fruits ripen unevenly over a period of two to three weeks. However, the bulk of the harvest is ready in the first ten days of August.

The "Moscow Pear" variety, developed in the Tula region through folk selection, quickly spread throughout the country. Thanks to its excellent frost resistance, it has thrived in most regions with variable climates.

Difficulties with cultivation, due to the poor tolerance of apple trees to prolonged drought, arise in arid regions with a sharply continental climate.

Characteristics of the tree

This variety is characterized by tall trees with a broad, pyramidal crown of medium density and a strong, deep root system. The tree's skeletal branches droop with age. The bark of the trunk and shoots is reddish-brown, while the main branches have a distinctive orange-yellowish hue. The foliage is quite dense. The leaf blades are oval, slightly elongated, with serrated edges. During flowering, the apple tree is completely covered with pink buds, followed by almost snow-white, saucer-shaped flowers.

Trees of this variety are not self-pollinating. Despite this, gardeners report that problems with fruit set are quite rare. Experts attribute this to the widespread use of apple trees with similar flowering times in garden plots. Excellent pollinators for the 'Grushovka Moskovskaya' include 'Antonovka,' 'Anis,' and 'Papirovka.'

Fruit characteristics

The fruits of the "Moscow Pear" are distinguished by their small size. The average weight of a single apple does not exceed 120 grams. In years of abundant harvest, the fruits become smaller, averaging around 80 grams. The shape of the fruit is more like a regular flat-round, but sometimes slightly ribbed or bulbous. A distinctive feature of this apple variety is its wide, folded saucer, with five ridges on the bottom. The peduncle is slightly curved and quite thick.

The color of the fruit is predominantly light green with pronounced red stripes, but sometimes the apples are completely covered with a blurred uniform blush.

The flesh is juicy and has a rich apple aroma, loose in texture when ripe and mealy when overripe. The small core consists of closed seed chambers containing small seeds. The apple skin is thin, smooth, and buttery. The flavor is good. The taste is balanced, refreshing, and sweet and sour.

Productivity

This variety is considered early-bearing, meaning the apple trees begin bearing fruit fairly quickly, as early as the third or fourth year of growth. With proper care, a young tree can yield approximately 10 kg of apples. Mature trees yield over 150 kg of fruit. These figures indicate the variety's high yield.

A distinctive feature of the "Moscow Pear" is its periodic fruiting. Starting at four years of age, the trees bear fruit only every other year. With proper cultivation practices, these apple trees can continue to bear fruit without decline for over 40 years.

Variety designation

This summer apple variety is primarily intended for fresh consumption. The fruits ripen in time for the Orthodox holiday of "Apple Savior," so despite their short shelf life, gardeners successfully sell their harvest at nearby markets.

These fruits produce aromatic compotes, preserves, and marmalades. Dried fruits are also prepared for winter consumption.

Advantages and disadvantages of "Moscow pear"

The following qualities can be highlighted as advantages of this variety:

• early fruit bearing;
• high yield;
• frost resistance;
• early ripening;
• good taste qualities of fruits.

The disadvantages of the variety include the following features:

• fruiting periodicity;
• uneven ripening of fruits;
• poor drought tolerance;
• trees are susceptible to scab;
• poor keeping quality of apples.

Features of cultivation

Despite its unpretentiousness, the Moscow Pear tree will produce a good harvest only if certain conditions are met:

• Planting work must be carried out at the right time without delays or advances: in the fall during September, in the spring in the third ten days of April.
• Apple trees prefer sunny, windless locations. In the shade, fruiting is delayed and the fruit's flavor is significantly reduced.
• The apple tree grows well on sandy loam and sod soils with normal or weak acidity;
• Site preparation for an apple tree should begin at least a month before the planned planting date. Otherwise, the soil will settle along with the planted tree, resulting in its death.
• The planting hole should be at least 80 cm deep and at least one meter wide;

• A nutrient substrate of organic and mineral fertilizers must be placed at the bottom of the planting pit;
• When planting, do not bury the root collar of the apple tree too deep;
• The planted tree is tied to a support and watered generously.

Care instructions

Caring for the Moscow Pear apple tree variety consists of the following steps:

Watering

As mentioned above, apple trees of this variety do not tolerate moisture stress well. Therefore, in dry years, regular watering is necessary. This is especially important during periods when the plants' moisture needs are highest. These periods include:

• beginning of the growing season (early spring);
• before flowering (beginning of May);
• during the period of ovary formation (end of May);
• after harvest (in case of dry weather).

To ensure effective irrigation, it's best to keep the soil around the apple tree under bare fallow. Overgrown soils around the tree's trunks, such as turf or other plants, prevent adequate moisture flow to the tree's shallow surface roots, which absorb water.

The watering rate for 3-4-year-old trees is approximately 5-6 buckets. For a mature, fruit-bearing tree, the watering rate increases to 7 buckets per square meter of the trunk circle.

Trimming

Apple trees are pruned twice a year. Experts recommend crown pruning during the last month of winter. To do this, in the summer, when the tree has a large foliage, mark branches that are thickening the crown. In winter, these branches are removed or shortened to the desired length.

In the fall, diseased and damaged branches are pruned, as well as branches growing on the trunk below the graft.

Top dressing

Since apple trees grow in the same spot for many decades, the soil must be well fertilized annually. Otherwise, the tree will suffer from nutrient deficiencies, which will affect its ability to resist diseases and pests, and, of course, the quantity and quality of the harvest.

Experts recommend following the following fertilization schedule:

• in April - at least 70 cm away from the trunk, 500 grams of urea and 3-4 buckets of humus are distributed on the soil;
• Before flowering, the apple tree is watered with a solution of superphosphate (50 grams) and potassium sulfate (40 grams) per 10 liters of water. The consumption rate for one mature tree is 4 buckets of liquid fertilizer;
• After harvesting, similar to the April feeding, 300 grams of dry superphosphate and potassium salt are added to the apple tree.

Diseases and pests

Apple trees of this variety are not particularly resistant to diseases and pests. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the trees and conduct regular preventative treatments. The most dangerous diseases for fruit-bearing apple trees of this variety are scab and fruit rot. If left untreated, these diseases spread quickly and can destroy the plant.

Various fungicides are used for treatment and prevention. A simple and time-tested remedy is a 2% solution of Bordeaux mixture. This solution is applied twice a year:

• early spring before the beginning of the growing season;
• in late autumn after the leaves have fallen.

The most common pests are aphids and apple moths. To prevent and kill these pests, fruit trees are treated with the same Bordeaux mixture.

Harvesting and storage

Ripe Moscow Pear fruits don't hang on the tree for long, so it's best to pick them slightly unripe. In a cool place, they will retain their flavor for 2-3 weeks. If picked at full ripeness, the apples are eaten or processed immediately.

Preparing for the winter season

Mature trees don't require insulating cover before winter. To prevent root freeze damage to young apple trees in their first year of planting, the area around the trunk is covered with dry humus.

To protect against rodents looking for food in winter, the trunks of young trees are wrapped in rags or fenced with mesh.

The "Grushovka Moskovskaya" apple tree is not suitable for commercial cultivation, but it is an excellent summer variety for gardeners and homesteaders. With simple care, this apple tree will delight you for years to come with early and abundant harvests of delicious fruit.

Reviews

Valeria, Kazan

Pear trees have been growing in our garden for as long as I can remember. The apples ripen in late July. They have a wonderful flavor—juicy, sweet, and aromatic. They're a pleasure to eat; they're not metallic, and you can barely feel the skin. The only drawback is that they only bear fruit every other year. So we dry and make compotes, stocking up for two years. The apple tree's yield allows for this; it's even enough for sale. Sometimes we're attacked by green aphids, but we don't spray them with chemicals; we manage with folk remedies.

Elena, Tver Oblast

An old Russian variety, there's not a single plot in our gardening community where this apple tree doesn't grow. Our tree is about 15 years old and produces fruit every other year, but it's very abundant. It doesn't require much care. We trim old branches in the fall and whitewash the trunks. In early spring and late fall, we spread manure and a little dry superphosphate under the tree. The apples ripen gradually, so we have time to eat and process them all. I slice and freeze some of the apples, and in the winter we bake fragrant sweet pies.