Description of the banana apple variety: ripening and fruiting, in which regions it grows
The Banana apple tree is a fairly common variety grown in Russia. But it is more popular in Belarus, where it was bred by crossing the Winter Banana and Babushkino. Apples are quite large and tasty, they are used universally - for preparations, baking or fresh. Ripen in late summer - early autumn.
Description and characteristics
When developing the Bananovoe variety, two apple trees were crossed - Babushkino and Winter Banana. Breeding work was carried out in Belarus by A.E.Syubarov. The plant is suitable for home garden and industrial cultivation.
The variety has the following description:
- The tree is undersized, up to 4 m high. The crown is round, characterized by medium foliage. The leaves are dark green, small.
- It blooms in late April and early May. Flowers are collected in inflorescences, white. Pollination occurs by insects.
- The tree bears fruit of a large size, weighing up to 135 g. Sometimes there are especially large specimens, the weight of which reaches 200 g. The apples are rounded, but slightly flattened, of bright yellow color.
- The flesh is very sweet and juicy, hard, so it crunches when bitten.
- The plant is fast-growing, the first fruits are already in 2-3 years.
- Apple trees are high-yielding - up to 60 kg of apples can be harvested from one tree. The fruits ripen at the end of August, but they should not be harvested earlier than mid-September.
If the plant is properly cared for, it will yield a good harvest every year.
Pros and cons of Apple Banana
The variety has several advantages, thanks to which it becomes the choice of many gardeners:
- The fruits are very large and sweet. They can be used to make juices and jams, or consumed fresh. Apples tolerate heat treatment well, do not lose their taste.
- High productivity. Subject to the rules of cultivation, the maximum yield is observed 5-6 years after cultivation. In the future, the number of fruits may decrease slightly.
- Good keeping quality. Unlike other summer varieties, apples have a hard peel, they hardly spoil. Therefore, they can be stored throughout the winter. In addition, the fruits tolerate transportation over long distances well, and have a presentation. But it is recommended to store them in the basement or in the refrigerator. By spring, the taste may deteriorate slightly, so it is recommended to eat apples before winter.
- Winter hardiness. The tree does not freeze, even if it is not protected from frost. If some branches are damaged, they just need to be pruned in the spring.
- Drought resistance. The plant tolerates the summer heat. But sometimes it is recommended to water it.
- Disease and pest resistance.The plant is rarely exposed to the development of scab and other diseases. But for prevention, annual spraying with special formulations is recommended.
- Unpretentiousness. The plant tolerates any weather conditions well, does not die and does not reduce productivity during temperature changes.
The plant has almost no flaws. Unless already ripe apples have to be picked by hand, as they do not crumble, as is the case with other varieties. In addition, the apple tree begins to bear fruit poorly 15 years after planting. Therefore, it is unprofitable to grow it in the future.
Ripening and fruiting
The apples begin to ripen at the end of August. Even if they are not collected in time, they stick to the branches and do not fall off. Therefore, there is no need to harvest in several steps. It is better to do this in mid-September, when all the fruits will definitely be ripe.
The apple tree of this variety bears fruit regularly and gives good yields. The first fruits appear 2-3 years after planting. At the same time, it is recommended to apply the first fertilizers to increase fruiting.
Distribution regions
Banana apple tree tolerates any weather conditions well. Therefore, it has become widespread in all regions of Russia and Belarus.
For a plant to give good yields, it needs the following growing conditions:
- It is recommended to plant a tree on the south side, in a well-lit place. It should not be planted in a draft, since in spring, with slight frosts, the flowers will crumble, and the harvest will be weak.
- When planting a large number of trees, a certain distance must be maintained between them. Distance in a row is at least 4 m, and between rows is 5 m.
- Loams with neutral acidity are best suited for the Banana apple tree. She gives a good harvest on black soil.
The plant also needs regular care. It is necessary to prune the crown in a timely manner, apply fertilizer, and water.
Apple Banana is a great option for planting in your home garden. The plant will delight you with delicious and sweet apples every year.
