Our family business is Apple orchard, in which there are more than a dozen varieties of apples, in total - more than 150 trees. Some of them grow almost on their own, and some require a long and complex care. In this article I will talk about one of the varieties that can be grown in the CIS countries - Melba.

It was bred by Canadian breeders a very long time ago - already in 1898. It turned out by pollinating another apple tree - Mekintosh. Among the many seedlings, the future Melba was also selected - they named the variety in honor of the very famous opera singer of those days - Nelly Melba.

In 1949, the variety passed all official procedures and was included in State Register selection achievements.

As soon as the tree came to Russia, it instantly became one of the most popular varieties of apple trees. Since then, it has not lost its popularity - many are purposefully looking for these apples on the shelves.

They are so fond of many that they plant an apple tree in own gardens- after all, it grows well in most regions. I will tell you how to properly grow and plant Melba.

Apple trees of this type are usually low, even the tallest subspecies do not grow above three and a half meters. The shape of the crown is usually spreading, wide-rounded. It should be noted that mature trees acquire this shape, but young ones usually have a more elongated crown.

The bark of the tree is dark, with an orange tinge. The trunk is thick, squat, branches extend from it in all directions under a sharp degree.

Fruit

Melba apples are quite large - average weight about 150 grams. The typical shape is round, the skin is smooth, but may be slightly ribbed. Ripe apples are covered with a wax coating, which contributes to good storage of products.

The main color of apples is light green, the plucked fruits become yellowish over time. Mature fruits have a slight "blush", pronounced on the south side.

The pulp is tender and crispy, juicy. Mainly white color, but may be greenish - closer to the skin.

Melba apples are excellent fresh, but for juice, compote or jam, it is better to choose other varieties.

Reproduction and planting

The first thing to do in order to grow a Melba apple tree in your home is to buy a seedling. I recommend doing this only in a good, specialized store - in the markets or “from hand” it is very easy to run into a fake and buy a cheaper variety or low-quality wood.

Age of seedlings of great importance does not have, but it is recommended to take one or two years old. When buying, carefully inspect each seedling - it should not have cracks, and there should not be even the slightest blisters on the roots.

The best time for landing is autumn, late September and early October. You can do this in April, but only if the buds have not yet opened.

The soil can be different, the tree takes root especially well in loam, sandy loam, in all forest soils and, of course, in black soil. But silty or clay soils are best avoided - the tree does not tolerate stagnation and an abundance of water.

The process begins with the preparation of the soil - about half a kilogram of dolomite flour must be added to the ground, the same amount wood ash and a few kilograms of humus or manure.

The place must be chosen such that cold northern winds do not blow on the tree and that it has a lot of sun. If there are several trees, leave three to four meters between them.

The landing hole is dug two weeks before the actual landing. Standard sizes- about 80 by 80 centimeters. At the bottom, it is imperative to make drainage - best of all from pebbles or expanded clay, they can simply be poured out.

Now we begin to prepare the seedlings - before planting in the pits, it is necessary to hold the seedling in water for several hours and remove all leaves from the trunk. Place the seedling in the hole, straighten the roots and cover the tree with earth. From above, the hole must be covered with earth and compacted. Then pour a bucket of water and mulch with peat or humus.

Finally, place a peg nearby and tie up the tree to make it easier to root.

Peculiarities

Consider the main advantages and disadvantages that distinguish Melba from other varieties of apple trees:

• Excellent yield - up to 100 kilograms of fruits can be harvested from one Melba tree;
• Apples keep well and are easy to transport - so they are especially good for sale. In addition, at proper storage fruits remain of high quality even after several months of storage;
• By themselves, apples look appetizing, have a rich aroma and easily recognizable taste;
• Low growth of trees - the harvest is easy to harvest, not high branches no fruit remains;
• Relative unpretentiousness in care and growth conditions;
• Good resistance to most popular diseases and pests;
• Among the shortcomings, not very high winter hardiness is noted - in northern regions the variety may grow poorly and develop slowly;
• Melba can be attacked by only two pests - codling moth and scab. Both of these pests can severely damage the tree, and they are not easy to get rid of;

Care

As mentioned above, Melba is relatively unpretentious in care. It does not require any specific care - it is enough standard actions which are carried out with any fruit trees:

• The soil periodically needs to be slightly loosened and weeds removed;
• Young trees up to five years old need abundant and regular watering. Adult apple trees can not be watered on purpose, only during very hot days;
• A year after planting, you can start feeding. They do this in the spring - a tablespoon of urea under a tree will be enough, the next top dressing - in the fall, half a kilogram of wood ash;
• In May, it is better to install trapping belts on a tree, they will help to cope with the codling moth;
• From about the fifth year, it is necessary to start pruning - just remove dry or broken shoots to correct the crown;

Apples are the most beloved and common fruit grown by gardeners. In a huge variety of apple varieties, Melba is especially distinguished. The Melba apple tree gives such juicy, fragrant, sweet apples, the taste of which you will not confuse with any other. And for many of our compatriots, it has become the taste of their childhood.

The world learned about Melba apples thanks to breeders from Canada, who bred it at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries and gave the new variety the name of the famous opera diva from Australia, Nelly Melba. Very soon, Europeans were already landing them, and a little later, Melba was recognized in Russia.

For several decades, it has remained incredibly popular, and even gave life to many apple hybrids.

Description and characteristics of the variety

big yields and excellent taste- the very ones characteristics that distinguish the apples of this extraordinary variety. For those who grow them, it is very important to know that Melba is afraid of frost. This means that winter temperatures should not fall too low, below -30 ℃. Such extreme conditions require additional protective measures from the grower.

Height

This variety of apple trees is classified as medium-sized. The tree does not grow above three meters, rarely four. On a dwarf stock - up to 2.

If you provide good care, the Melba apple tree will live:

• up to 55 years - on a seed rootstock;
• 20 - semi-dwarf;
• up to 15 - dwarf.

In an adult tree, it is sprawling, rounded, slightly elongated upwards, reaches a diameter of 7 meters, strongly leafy. This applies to Melba on a seed rootstock. Semi-dwarf has a crown up to 2 meters wide, and dwarf species- up to 1.5 meters.

Usually the average size Melba fruit - 120-150 grams, but you can also find larger ones. They have a dense, but not at all rough skin, smooth and tender. You will recognize its red stripes and sweet and sour taste easily.

The average score is 4.4 (on a five-point scale).

self-fertility

The Melba apple tree is a self-fertile variety, but it is better if pollinating apple trees grow nearby.

winter hardiness

Melba manifests average winter hardiness, and even at -30 ℃ it is able to bring good yields, although additional protection measures will be required, as this threatens to freeze the flower buds and shoots.

And if you still want to grow an apple tree of this variety even in such conditions, it is recommended to grow Melba on a dwarf rootstock.

As a way out, container landing is often used when for storage in winter conditions eat suitable premises. In winter, you can also cover nonwoven fabric folded in several layers.

Only the Melba apple variety grows and bears fruit much more successfully in the regions located to the south.

Pollinator varieties

The greatest effect is achieved when apple varieties act as pollinators:

• Antonovka;
• Borovinka;
• Bellefleur-Chinese;
• Quinty;
• Suislepskoye;
• Stark erlist.

Beginning of fruiting

As for the ripening period, the apple tree regularly bears fruit, on average, from the 4th year, and through:

• 4-6 years - on a seed rootstock;
• 3-4 years - on semi-dwarf;
• in the 3rd year - dwarf species.

Melba blooms in early spring. And at the end of summer, from the second half of August and then another month and a half, you can take the fruits. The yield of this variety of apple trees is high. At first, the crops are harvested annually, from the 8th year - even abundantly, but after 12 years, an alternation is observed: the apple tree bears fruit for a year, the year - without apples.

Prices (in rubles) for seedlings in different regions Russia are different:

Advantages and disadvantages

The Melba apple tree is highly popular, and all thanks to its merits. So, for a variety it is characteristic:

• the first harvest - in just 4 years;
• apples are strong and durable, which means they are transportable;
• high yield;
• wide possibilities for processing.

However, this variety is not ideal. There are quite significant drawbacks:

• lack of scab resistance;
• poor frost resistance.

Gardeners have been successfully fighting with them for a long time. So it is enough to properly care for the apple tree, and it will delight with high yields for many years.

Landing Features

Melba is classified as a long-livers. It is not uncommon for her to live 70-80 years.

According to legend, the Melba apple tree, which was planted back in 1647, still bears fruit in Manhattan today.

In order for a tree to live and give its apples for many, many years, you need to know when, where and how to plant it and, of course, how to take care of it.

Dates and place

Experienced gardeners call early spring the best time for planting, when the buds have not yet begun to bloom, or the period from mid-September to early October, when the tree leaves.

In both cases, being late can have very unpleasant consequences. Fall planting is preferred. When a seedling is dug up, its roots are inevitably damaged, and during the winter they have time to recover. So in the spring the tree is already able to provide itself with nutrients in in full. It is important to remember that from planting to the first autumn frosts should not be less than a month.

But if your winters are cold and the temperature is below -20 °, it is better to plant an apple tree of this variety in the spring.

When choosing a place where you plant a seedling, please note: no groundwater close to the surface. The risk is too high that the roots will be washed in the spring, as a result, the tree will soon die. Gardeners often dig channels specifically to remove excess moisture.

But it is better to plant apple trees on a natural hill, in a place closed from gusts of wind.

Loam is the best soil for Melba. Clay or swampy - the choice is not the best. When the acidity level does not reach the norm, the earth should be fertilized by adding dolomite flour or slaked lime (500 grams per 1 square meter).

Only strong and healthy trees are selected for planting, corresponding to the following parameters:

• age - 1-2 years;
• from half a meter to 80 centimeters in length;
• the presence of 2-3 side shoots,
• well-formed root system.

Two days before planting a seedling, its roots should be lowered into water, and immediately before planting, dip into clay talker, after getting rid of the leaves (cut them off).

A pit should be prepared 2 weeks before planting:

• in depth - up to 80 centimeters;
• in width - up to 1 meter.

A 30-centimeter layer of turf is cut off. The same amount of sand, peat, humus is taken, mixed with 1 kilogram of ash, plus 200 grams of potassium sulfate, 400 grams of double superphosphate.

At the bottom of the formed pit, a drainage of 20 cm thickness should be laid out. Its role will be performed by any of the following materials:

• broken brick;
• coarse river sand;
• fine gravel;
• nut shell.

If the groundwater level rises, this layer will protect root system trees from decay.

Planting a seedling

The soil mixture, which was prepared in advance, must be poured into a hole and form a hill, 20 centimeters in height is enough. From its northern side, it is necessary to drive in a wooden peg, so that it rises 70 centimeters above the ground. It will serve as a support.

Melba's seedling is installed directly on the elevation, and the roots are carefully straightened, after which they can be covered with earth. It is recommended to shake the tree a little, since there should not be any voids between the roots.

Now you can trample the soil, and around the seedling itself, with a radius of half a meter, form a roller from the ground with a height of 10-15 centimeters.

It remains to tie the tree to a peg, pour 2 buckets of water over it and cover the trampled soil with a layer of needles, dry grass or peat.

Plant care rules

Caring for Melba means performing a standard set of actions, which includes not only watering with top dressing and pruning. It includes preparation for winter, as well as prevention and control of diseases and pests.

Watering

From spring, when buds appear on the tree, until the first autumn month Apple trees need to be watered once a month. If the tree is not yet bearing fruit, 2 buckets of water at a time is enough. With the appearance of fruits, 4 buckets are already required.

Previously, the tree is surrounded by a roller with a radius of half a meter in order to pour water into the formed circle. After that, the soil is leveled and covered with mulch.

top dressing

If the land in which Melba seedlings are planted is fertile, then you do not have to feed them immediately.

But next year this procedure cannot be avoided. At the beginning of May, a solution of urea is introduced into the soil for the first time (half a kilo of the product per 10 liters of water); once again, the procedure will have to be repeated in the first summer days.

By the end of July, it's time to add dissolved chicken manure (for 12 liters of water - 1 part of manure). It can also be a solution of cow dung (1 part per 8 liters of water).

When you dig up the ground at the beginning of autumn, at the same time you should add:

• potassium sulfate (50 grams);
• superphosphate (100 grams);
• wood ash (0.7 kilograms);
• compost humus or peat.

pruning

The next year after planting, the young Melba apple tree should be pruned. And it is recommended to do this until the kidneys hatch.

Over the next 3 years, a crown forms at the tree. At the same time, a third is cut off from the central branch. As for the shoots on the main branches - they should have 3 buds intact, and on all the others - only one remains. Those that grow crooked or touch each other are removed.

In the future, sanitary pruning of damaged, improperly growing, dry branches should be carried out.

It's important to know! Places of cuts must be treated with garden pitch.

The Melba variety is unpretentious, if not for one of its features. We must always remember that these apple trees do not tolerate extreme cold and frost. Therefore, their preparation for winter must be carried out especially carefully. Various measures are being taken:

1. Whitewash the trunk and lower branches.
2. They are additionally insulated by wrapping the trunk with 3-4 layers of burlap or tarpaulin, and laying straw between the layers. The structure should be reinforced more securely.
3. Cover the apple tree with a snowdrift.

Let's talk about what threatens these fruit trees.

Melba's diseases and how to deal with them

All plants are sick, the Melba apple tree is no exception.

1. Scab.

Gardeners call the lack of resistance to this infection the main drawback of this variety. It all starts with the appearance of brown spots on the leaves, and ends with cracks in the fruits and dark gray spots.

Control methods: in the spring, spray with a solution of Oxyhom or Horus, prepared in strict accordance with the provisions of the instructions.

1. Powdery mildew.

Due to the plaque that covers the tree, the access of oxygen to the leaves is closed. They do not receive moisture, even the fruits cannot be tied.

Methods of struggle: Topaz spray blooming leaves, copper chloride - after flowering.

It appears on apples with brown spots and whitish growths. Infected fruits should be destroyed immediately.

Control methods: spray three times:

• as soon as the leaves bloom - Soon;
• as soon as it blooms - Horus;
• 3 weeks before harvest - Fundazol.

Apple pests and their control

The very names of the most common pests speak eloquently of their dangerous effects. And the most common are:

1. Apple flyer.

You can expect a lot of trouble from this little butterfly. She lays her eggs on young leaves, causing them to curl. Newly hatched caterpillars are able to eat the leaf to the veins.

They move too fast from one apple tree to another. So it will be necessary to process, together with the diseased, all the surrounding trees.

.

Their butterflies choose flower buds to lay their eggs. A caterpillar is born and breaks out, gnawing out a seed, very quickly occupies an apple in the neighborhood.

You can use a sticky belt. Put on an apple tree, it will become a trap for pests.

If you clean the bark (twice a year - in spring and autumn), you can get rid of the cocoons remaining in it.

You can resort to the "help" of insects that are at war with the stalks, planting more flowering plants on the site to attract them. And it is very good if tomatoes grow nearby. The stalks do not like their smell.

1. Apple shield.

Food for this pest is the juice of an apple tree. As soon as it populates, small dark growths are observed on the bark. The insect is unusually tenacious, its eggs survive calmly in frost at 30 ℃, and a strong shell makes the scale insect not particularly sensitive to the influence of various chemicals. If you do not want the growth of the apple tree to stop, you will have to chemically treat the apple tree with copper sulfate in the fall, and in the spring with Nitrafen.

It is possible to make a solution tar soap and ashes and wash the trunk and branches of the apple tree with it.

1. Apple flower beetle.

These bugs in the bud lay their larvae, thereby practically destroying it. Spraying with a solution of chlorophos helps well.

Sticky films are used to cleanse the bark. Works well with a solution of slaked lime (1.5-2 kilograms per 10 liters of water).

Harvest and storage

The end of August is harvest time. It is not uncommon when the collection is delayed for the September days. Moreover, it is recommended to do this in dry weather, if you collect after rain, you will not be able to save them. If:

• pick fruits without waiting for full ripening;
• when picking, do not allow apples to fall, damage to the skin;
• put in a wooden container in 2-3 layers, wrapping in paper or shifting with wooden shavings so that the fruits do not touch each other;

then, having provided a temperature of -1- +7 ° C in the storage, you can store them without problems until the beginning or middle of January.

The Melba apple tree has gained wide popularity due to its incredible taste. There are many apple varieties that ripen in different time and different from one another taste characteristics. But true apple connoisseurs will not stop growing Melba.

22.08.2016

Officially, the apple variety "Melba" is called "Melba". In addition, he has a clone - the variety "Red Melba". But historically, gardeners call the apple tree "Melba". We will be too

This is a Canadian variety. It was obtained quite a long time ago as a result of free pollination of the Macintosh apple variety, which is also well known to gardeners. In 1947, it was included in the Register of Varieties and zoned for all regions, except for the Northern, Ural and Far Eastern regions. Yes, almost 70 years have passed, and the variety is still one of the most popular apple varieties in the Byelorussian SSR.

Characteristics

Description and photo

"Melba" forms medium-branched and medium-leaved trees of medium height with a rounded crown. The bark of large branches is brownish-orange. Young shoots are of medium length and pubescent. In general, nothing outstanding - it is difficult to recognize this variety in a winter garden.

The leaves of "Melba" are oblong, oval, slightly curved. On strong shoots, the leaves bend down and take on the appearance of swollen. The color of the leaves is light green.

Inflorescences are formed mainly on kolchatka - young short shoots.

The flowers are large. Buds are white-pink with purple tint, in blooming flowers, the petals are light pink, rounded, closed. The anthers of the stamens are at the level of the stigma of the pistil.

Fruit

Fruits of average or slightly more than average size, weight 120-140 grams. The shape of apples in "Melba" is round-conical, slightly ribbed. The apples are slightly widened at the base, with a narrow folded saucer of medium depth. The skin is thin, smooth, covered with a wax coating. The stem is thin, medium length.

The main color of the apple is light green, the integumentary is rich red (it looks like a blush of a striped blush). The integumentary color is on about half of the apple. Subcutaneous dots are small and medium in size, white, clearly visible on the blush-colored side of the fetus. Seeds are large, oblong, brown.

The flesh of the apple is white, very tender and juicy with an excellent sweet and sour taste and a pronounced candy aroma. This is one of the most delicious summer apples - in many ways, the popularity and rave reviews about the Melba apple tree are connected precisely with taste.

The keeping quality of apples is relatively good - depending on the conditions, they are stored for 1 ... 2 months. In the refrigerator, apples can be stored even until the New Year - however, it is necessary to lay only the removed ones and only without damage.

A couple of photos of "Melba":

Features of cultivation and care

1. The variety is very fast-growing - with proper care, apple trees begin to bear fruit well for 4 years after planting;
2. The yield is high by the standards of traditional horticulture (at the peak of fruiting - up to 180 centners / ha when planted 7 x 7 m - this is about 90 kg of marketable apples per tree), but nothing special for intensive gardening - up to 500 centners are obtained from new orchards on a dwarf rootstock / ha.
3. The variety is partially self-fertile, but the presence of a pollinator (grafted or just planted nearby) significantly increases the yield. different sources recommended pollinators "Suyslepskoe", "Vista Bella", "James Greve", "White Bulk", "Stark Earliest".
4. In young trees, fruiting is annual, adults give a significant harvest in a year. It is extremely difficult to deal with periodic fruiting.
5. The variety is severely affected by scab - this is also indicated in the description of the Melba variety in the register and is repeatedly mentioned in gardeners' reviews.
6. Winter hardiness is medium to high, the apple tree is quite resistant to return frosts.
7. In the literature there are references to the fact that the bark on young branches often cracks in apple trees of the Melba variety. This is probably due to the uneven growth of different tissues of the stem.

Advantages

• excellent taste;
• precociousness;
• relatively high yield;
• good staying power.

disadvantages

• susceptibility to scab;
• intermittent fruiting.

Apples are one of the most popular fruits grown by Russians in household plots wherever the climate permits. Among the variety of varieties bred by breeders, the Melba apple tree has been consistently successful for more than a decade. The variety is appreciated both in Russia and all over the world. What is the reason for the enduring popularity?

Description and characteristics of the Melba variety

Nelly Melba - opera diva, after whom one of the most popular varieties of apples is named

Apple tree Melba (sometimes the name of the variety is spelled as "Melba") was obtained in Canada in 1898 by free pollination of the natural Macintosh variety (McIntosh). The one who first received the seeds at the breeding station must have been a passionate music lover. The name of the hybrid was in honor of one of the most famous opera singers of that time - the Australian Nellie Melba. Despite being over a century old, the variety is considered quite young by the standards of fruit trees.

The average weight of apples from Melba is 150 g, but there are also such specimens

In Russia and countries former USSR variety quickly gained popularity. It was entered into the State Register in 1947. Melba is now found wherever the climate permits. The exceptions are the Urals, Siberia and the Far East.

The trees of this variety are medium tall (up to 3 m), the crown is wide, rounded, not too dense. On a dwarf rootstock, it is even lower - 1.8–2 m. The bark is brown with an orange or rusty tint. The crown is formed rather slowly. The first few years of apple trees are more like columnar.

Light green, oval-shaped leaves. Sometimes there is a yellowish tint. On the oldest branches, due to the developed central vein, they are slightly concave. There are small teeth all over the edge.

The flowers are very large. The petals are white, pale pink at the base, tightly adjacent to each other. Sometimes there is even a slight overlap. The buds are almost purple.

Blooming apple tree will decorate the garden

The fruits ripen in mid-August. If the summer was not too warm - in early September. Medium-sized apples, weighing 130-150 g, individual specimens - up to 200 g. The shape is rounded, the apple slightly expands towards the base, so it seems flattened and resembles a cone. The skin is dense, but very thin, smooth, covered with a bluish "wax" coating. Ripe apples are light green, with a striped "blush" where the sun hit the fruit. The bright red spot covers about half of the apple's surface area. In this place, small subcutaneous dots, white or pale yellow, are clearly visible.

The pulp is very tender and juicy, crispy, fine-grained, almost snow-white in color. The taste of apples is sweet and sour, with an amazing aroma of caramel candies.

Melba apple pulp is almost perfectly white

Melba is not only tasty, but also healthy apples. They contain:

• sugar - 10–11%;
• titratable acids - 0.75–0.8%;
• pectin - about 10%;
• vitamin C - 13–15 mg per 100 g.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

TO undeniable merits varieties include:

• Precocity. The first harvest can be expected 4 years after planting seedlings in the ground.
• Productivity. From one apple tree older than 10 years, 50–80 kg of fruit can be harvested annually.
• Appearance of fruits. Apples are not only tasty, but also very beautiful. This is an important factor for those who sell them and grow them on an industrial scale.
• Keeping quality. In suitable conditions, apples will lie until the middle of winter. In addition, they practically do not suffer during transportation.

As always, there are also disadvantages:

• Insufficient winter hardiness. However, on the basis of Melba, breeders bred many more cold-resistant hybrids (Karavella, Cherished, Early Aloe, Red Early, Prima, Melba Red, Melba's Daughter), which retained the best qualities of the "parent".
• Weak scab resistance.
• Irregular fruiting. The older the tree becomes, the less often it bears fruit. It is impossible to predict whether there will be a harvest this year, since the fruiting cycle is not visible. But this is a common problem for most fruit and stone fruits.
• Self-infertility. In order for the Melba fruits to start, you need to plant a few more apple trees of different varieties.

Young apple trees of the Melba variety consistently produce a crop

Melba has so-called clones:

Video about the variety

Landing Features

time and place

The optimal time for planting Melba seedlings is autumn. Focus on when the first frost usually occurs in your area. The apple tree must be planted in the ground at least 35-40 days before. It is best to plan a landing from mid-September to the end of the first decade of October.

The Melba apple tree is low, but when planting between neighboring trees, you need to leave at least 7 meters, between rows - about 3 m. In the first few years, between apple trees, to save space, you can grow raspberries, currants, strawberries, cucumbers, legumes.

The distance between apple trees should not be less than twice the height of an adult tree

The soil is preferably light and fertile. The best way- loam. Categorically not suitable heavy muddy or clay soil. River sand can be added to the black soil.

Check the acidity of the soil first. For Melba, a neutral or slightly alkaline soil is preferred. If this is not the case, add dolomite flour when digging (500 g per m²).

Good drainage is essential, especially if ground water close to the surface. To avoid root rot, plant Melba on a hillside or dig a special trench to regulate groundwater levels. So you will avoid the problems associated with the stagnation of melt water and prolonged autumn precipitation.

Melba is also demanding on the presence sunlight and is extremely negative about cold drafts. When these conditions are not met, the apples do not turn red, become smaller, and are not so sweet.

Seedling selection

Choose a one-year or two-year-old seedling. Those that grew normally by this time have a height of 40–80 cm, 2–3 lateral shoots and a developed root system.

The bark should be smooth to the touch, uniform in color, without cracks, knots, tubercles. In a healthy tree, it is elastic, not wrinkled.

Your best bet is to go to a reputable nursery or grower in your area. Do not be too lazy to study reviews on the Internet and / or ask for the opinion of familiar gardeners.

Preparing for landing

The landing pit is prepared in advance, 12–15 days before landing. Optimal depth- 70–80 cm, width and length - 100 cm. The fertile soil taken out of the pit (upper 25–30 cm) is mixed in equal parts with peat and compost or humus and 2 times less coarse river sand is added.

Wood ash (200 g for every 5 liters of soil), simple or double superphosphate (400 g or half as much) and potassium sulfate (150–200 g) are also added there. Fertilizers with a nitrogen content are not applied - the tree will not be able to prepare for wintering.

At the bottom it is useful to pour brick chips, ceramic shards, walnut shells, pebbles, crushed stone - this is drainage.

2-3 days before planting, the roots of the apple tree are lowered into a container of water. You can add potassium permanganate (to a pale pink color) there for disinfection or Epin to stimulate growth.

Immediately before planting in the ground, cut off all the leaves with sharp scissors. The roots are coated with a mixture of clay and fresh cow dung, diluted with water to a thick slurry.

Step by step process

Apple tree planting scheme

1. At the bottom of the pit, a mound 15–20 cm high is formed from fertile soil.
2. At a distance of 10-15 cm from its center, a peg is stuck for support. Height - at least 70 cm above the top edge of the pit.
3. A seedling is placed on the mound, the roots are carefully straightened and the hole is covered in small portions with soil, periodically ramming it. Always make sure that root collar was 4–6 cm above the top edge of the pit.
4. When the pit is completely filled, the soil is tamped again. At a distance of 40–50 cm from the trunk, a low barrier (10–12 cm) is formed, surrounding it with a ring.
5. The planted apple tree is tied to a support and watered abundantly (15–20 l). When the moisture is completely absorbed, the trunk circle is mulched.

How to plant an apple tree - video

tree care

Apple trees of this variety are relatively unpretentious, but do not tolerate cold. Along with watering, maintaining cleanliness in the near-stem circle, weeding and fertilizing Special attention need to be given to preparing trees for wintering.

trunk circle

A circle with a radius of 50-100 cm should be weeded regularly.

In autumn, be sure to dig it up, remove fallen apples, dry leaves and broken branches. Such garbage is a “native home” for larvae and eggs of pests, spores of fungi and bacteria. You create them very comfortable conditions for wintering.

Watering

An adult tree should receive 10 to 20 liters of water per day. Watering is adjusted, taking into account weather. In extreme heat, you can additionally spray the foliage from a spray bottle.

Moisture is especially important at the time of ovary (you can get by with melt water) and active fruit ripening - from mid-July. If you neglect watering, most of the crop will crumble before it has time to ripen. It will also negatively affect the next fruiting. Simultaneously with the ripening of the crop tied flower buds- future apples.

Starting from mid-August, watering is gradually reduced. It contributes proper preparation trees for winter. If the end of summer and autumn are rainy, the apple tree can not be watered at all. The soil is moistened only as needed. To retain moisture longer, you can mulch the trunk circle, for example, with peat.

Fertilization

In the first year, if landing pit was prepared according to all the rules, you can refrain from feeding. Then every year in early May, before flowering, water Melba with a solution of urea (500 g per 10 liters of water). Do the same top dressing in another month.

Useful rotted manure and compost. The norm for 1 m² is 8–10 kg. Introduced when digging.

In the summer, until the end of July, Melba is fed with organic matter at intervals of 15–20 days. Suitable fresh cow dung diluted with water (1:8) or chicken manure (1:12), infusion of nettle greens (1:2). Leaves and stems are cut, poured with water, tightly closed and left in the sun. When a characteristic smell appears (after 3-4 days), the liquid is filtered and used for irrigation.

In autumn, dig the trunk circle again, adding dolomite flour (400 g for young seedlings, 700 for adult trees), superphosphate (80–100 g double or twice as simple) and potassium sulfate (50–70 g) to the soil. Or deposit complex fertilizer with the content of phosphorus and potassium (Nitrophoska, Diammofoska, Autumn, AVA). You can dilute all this in water and water the apple tree, forming an annular groove at least 10 cm deep.

pruning

The crown of an apple tree is formed based on this scheme

Melba planted in autumn needs pruning already next spring. It is necessary to have time to carry out the procedure before the awakening of leaf and flower buds, so that the damage is minimal. The central branch, the conductor, is cut by a third. On the side shoots leave 2-3 growth buds.

The next 2-3 years form the crown. Also remove the length of the main shoot. Several shoots are left on the skeletal branches, growing at an angle of about 45º to the trunk. All the rest are cut to the first growth bud.

Next, the focus is on sanitary pruning. In autumn and spring, all dried, dead and diseased branches are cut, as well as shoots growing down and deep into the crown. This will greatly facilitate tree care, pest control and harvesting. They also remove vertically growing branches - the so-called tops. Fruits are not tied to them. They can only be left if the tree has been badly damaged in winter. This good foundation for the formation of new skeletal branches.

To get a crop for 4-5 years after planting, the first 2-3 years, all formed buds are cut off. This will allow the tree to quickly adapt to the climate and “gather strength” for future fruiting.

As a rule, apple trees set more fruits than they can ripen. Melba is no exception. Therefore, every spring, optimize the load by breaking the ovaries when they reach the size walnut. Leave only those fruits that are guaranteed to receive enough heat and light.

Preparing for winter

Be sure to whiten the trunk and skeletal branches at least a third of the height. Whiten young seedlings whole. Prepare a solution of 10 liters of water and 1 kg of slaked lime. Immediately before whitewashing, add 100 g of HOM (or half as much Fundazol or blue vitriol), 50 g of small chips of tar soap, 20 ml of stationery glue and 1.5–2 kg of powdered clay. Clay can be dried in advance in a kiln or oven and crushed. Mix everything thoroughly.

Whitewashing the trunk of an apple tree is an effective measure against rodents

Build a shelter for the trunk so that hares and mice do not gnaw on your tree. The trunk is wrapped with burlap or tarpaulin in several layers, laying each of them with straw, and the entire structure is securely fixed. Also suitable nylon tights. Use polyethylene film undesirable - it does not allow air to pass through, moisture condenses under it. This promotes the development of rot and mold.

Another option is to tie branches young seedling and put on a narrow trunk cardboard box, stuffing it with straw or torn newspapers, falling asleep with peat. In winter, be sure to periodically check the condition of the branches. Those that are frozen, mark to cut in the spring.

Insulate the trunk of an apple tree with breathable material for the winter

If the winter turned out to be snowy, rake a snowdrift around the trunk. This will additionally insulate the apple tree and saturate the soil with moisture in the spring. It is only necessary to break the crust formed during the thaw in a timely manner.

Preparing a tree for wintering - video

IN Arab countries there is a widespread belief. In order for the wish made to come true, you need to immediately after that eat 40 apples in one sitting, after blowing on each.

Diseases and pests

One of the main disadvantages of Melba is its weak resistance to fungal diseases, primarily scab. Therefore, in order to consistently get a crop, you need to regularly inspect apple trees for characteristic symptoms, be able to identify the problem and know how to deal with it.

Apple diseases and methods of their treatment - table

Disease	Symptoms	Prevention and control methods
	First, brownish spots appear on the leaves, then the disease spreads to the fruits. Rapidly growing dark gray spots and cracks appear on apples. The growth of the fruits stops, they fall off.	For prevention in the spring, at the time of the appearance of the leaves, Melba is sprayed with Horus, Skor and Oksikh preparations, preparing the solution according to the instructions. The norm for an adult tree is 1.5–2.5 liters. If the problem was noted last year, after flowering, they are sprayed again with the same preparations or colloidal sulfur (25 g per 5 liters of water). In autumn, it is useful to water the trunk circle with urea (0.5 kg per 10 liters of water).
	Appears on leaves thin layer off-white coating. At first it is easy to erase. Then it thickens, turns brown, the smallest black dots are noted. The leaves lack moisture and oxygen, they turn yellow, curl, dry and fall off. Inflorescences also fall off without setting fruit.	At the time of leaf blooming, the apple tree is sprayed with Topaz. After flowering - HOM (copper oxychloride) - 20 g per 5 liters of water. When the entire crop is harvested, for prevention, another spraying is carried out with copper or iron vitriol(for 10 liters of water - 50 g of the product and 10 g of finely chopped laundry soap) or Bordeaux liquid (100 ml per 10 l). You can alternate HOM and colloidal sulfur (70 g per 10 liters of water). The trunk circle is thoroughly cleaned of fallen leaves and other debris.
Moniliosis (fruit rot)	Soft to the touch brown spots appear on the fruits. They are growing fast. Concentric circles of whitish growths appear. The pulp also turns brown, it can not be eaten. The apples are falling.	Collect any fallen or hanging fruit showing signs of damage regularly and destroy immediately. Spraying three times also helps: when the leaves bloom - Fast, after flowering - Horus, 20–25 days before the apples fully ripen - Fundazol.
	Dark spots appear on the bark, resembling burns or ulcers. They grow rapidly, changing color to brick or reddish brown. The wood becomes brittle. Even thick branches break easily with the slightest effort. Thin black “threads” are clearly visible on the break - mycelium.	The development of cytosporosis contributes to excessive watering and lack of fertilizers. Therefore, do not neglect the recommendations for care. Apple trees are sprayed three times. Leaf buds have not yet opened (but at a temperature not lower than +15 ºС) and after flowering - with the XOM preparation (50 g per 10 l of water). Before flowering - Fundazol (45 g per 10 liters of water). In autumn, fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium (superphosphate, potassium sulfate, potassium chloride) are applied to the soil.
Dryness	The upper branches shed their leaves and dry up.	The apple tree lacks zinc. Spray it with zinc sulfate (another name for zinc sulfate). For 10 liters of water - 50 g of the substance.
	The trunk and branches of the apple tree are cracking, next to the cracks, the wood and bark look as if burnt. Affected shoots dry up.	The most common cause is injuries caused to the tree during pruning. Therefore, use only sharply sharpened and disinfected tools. Treat all sections with a 2–3% solution of copper sulfate and cover with garden pitch. There is no effective treatment. You can only cut off the affected branches and process the slices.
	The leaves are curled, the fruits are wrinkled. Both of them turn black and fall off in the middle of summer.	Anyhow effective means does not exist. The only way out is to destroy the source of the disease or the whole apple tree, until the bacterium or fungus has hit the entire garden. For prevention, purchase seedlings only in proven places, destroy pests that are carriers of infection, and disinfect the instrument after each use. It is also useful to spray the soil in spring and autumn with a 2-3% solution of copper sulfate.
	The bark and leaves acquire a silvery hue, clearly visible in the sun. With the further development of the disease, the leaves completely discolor, dark brown spots appear on the bark.

Diseases of the apple tree in the photo

Milky sheen is easy to identify but hard to get rid of. Bacterial burn most often brought to the site with new seedlings Trees damaged by black cancer seem to have survived the fire Apple trees affected by cytosporosis easily break the thickest branches Moniliosis is easily identified by concentric circles of white dots. White coating powdery mildew on the leaves seems harmless, but it is not at all Melba most often suffers from scab

How to deal with scab on an apple tree - video tutorial

In addition to illness, fruit trees they also suffer from pests that can deprive you of a crop in a matter of days. There is nothing breeders can do about it. The Melba apple tree is no exception.

Insect pests that affect apple trees - table

Pest	Symptoms	Prevention and control methods
codling moth	Butterflies lay their eggs in flower buds. Caterpillars hatched from eggs completely gnaw out the seed chamber, then gnaw their way out and move to intact fruits, contaminating the pulp with their excrement along the way. Apples stop ripening, fall off. They cannot be eaten.	The larvae overwinter in fallen leaves, apples and other debris. Therefore, every autumn, carefully clean and dig up the near-trunk circle. In the spring, put special sticky belts on the trees. 12-14 days after flowering, spray the ovaries with Fastak and Tsimbush preparations.
apple leaflet	Adults lay their eggs on young leaves that curl into a tube. Hatched caterpillars feed on greens, leaving only the veins. Caterpillars move very quickly, if touched, they fall, hanging on a thin cobweb.	Before blooming leaf buds and immediately before flowering, buds and buds are sprayed with Tsimbush.
apple scab	Small dark brown, almost flat outgrowths appear on the bark. Pests suck sap from trees. If the scab has bred en masse, the apple tree stops growing, dries up, the flowers fall off, the fruits do not set.	The soil and the tree in the spring, before flowering, are sprayed with Aktara or Nitrofen (2% solution). For prevention, wash the apple tree every spring with a stiff brush dipped in the following solutions. For 10 liters of water and 50 g of small chips of tar soap, take 2 cups of sifted wood ash or 200 g of fluffy lime and 50 ml of copper sulfate, or 300 g of dolomite flour and 35 g of HOM preparation. Air temperature during processing - not less than +15…+17 ºС. In autumn, spray the tree and soil with Karbofos or Metaphos.
apple flower beetle	Beetles gnaw out flower buds and buds from the inside and lay eggs there. As a result, the buds, not having time to bloom, dry out and fall off.	During the swelling of the kidneys, shake the apple tree several times, spreading a cloth or oilcloth under it, destroy the beetles that have crumbled from the tree. Spray almost blooming buds with a solution of Chlorophos (50 g per 10 liters of water).
apple sawfly	Caterpillars eat the pulp and seeds of unripe fruits. Apples shrivel and fall off.	Before and after flowering, apple trees are sprayed with Karbofos and Chlorophos (35–40 g per 10 l of water).
	Eggs overwinter in fallen leaves, held together by cobwebs in a kind of nest. There may be nests in trees. In spring, hatched larvae destroy leaf and flower buds, young greens and flowers.	Until the leaves bloom, apple trees and the soil under them must be sprayed with Karate.

Harmful insects in the photo

Sawflies feed on the pulp of unripe apples. Flower beetle with a long proboscis lays eggs in buds Massively bred scale insects cover the trunk with a continuous layer Apples damaged by the codling moth should not be eaten. Hawthorns on the apple tree are noticeable, so they can be picked by hand

How to deal with pests - video

Harvest of apples

The first fruits of Melba ripen in mid-August, if the summer was warm and sunny enough. Further fruiting continues until the end of September.

Apples are picked by hand - no need to shake the tree and pick up the fruits from the ground. It is also strongly not recommended to wash the bluish “plaque” from apples and pull out the stem. You will significantly reduce their keeping quality and transportability. Fallen apples should be eaten or processed immediately.

Ladders, hooks with long handles and special "nets" - fruit pickers are sold at any gardening store. You can make all this yourself. And don't forget the gloves. Nails also severely damage Melba's thin skin.

The variety is completely universal. Very delicious apples suitable for fresh consumption, and for canning for the winter. Jams, jams, marmalade, compotes and juices are simply amazing. If there is nowhere to store all this, dry the apples. Benefits do not suffer in the least.

If you want to remove the fruits on long-term storage, collect them 7-10 days before full ripening. It is very important to choose the right moment. Completely unripe apples will quickly wrinkle, overripe ones will turn brown and acquire an unpleasant mealy taste. In order not to be mistaken, cut the apple. Seeds should be soft, green-brown.

Melba will lie in the refrigerator until the New Year. Another good option is a cellar. The even, smooth fruits selected for storage without the slightest traces of diseases and pests are cooled immediately after harvesting to a temperature of +4 ... +5 ºС and transferred to storage.

The best container for apples - wooden boxes. Plastic is also suitable, but in this case ventilation holes are required. Apples are placed in a container in layers, so that they do not touch each other. Layers are sprinkled with sawdust, scraps of paper, dry leaves, sand or peat. Needles, coniferous sawdust and straw will not work. The latter quickly fades, from the rest an unpleasant aftertaste of resin will appear. For extra protection, each apple can be wrapped in tissue paper or tissue paper. The fewer points of contact between apples, the longer the harvest will last.

Children are most often given peeled apples. And completely in vain. It is in the peel that contains almost all vitamins, micro and macro elements, antioxidants.

Of all the apples in the garden, this variety is most affected by scab. very sour, did not like it.

We have under Peter Melba grows very poorly. Planted several times, only one lived to bear fruit, but still died the next year. And the rest did not even live to bear fruit.

In 2010, she planted Melba and Slava to the winners. In 2013 was the first harvest. Apples are sour, dense, I did not like the taste. I will clean up.

Melba…. To me, it's sour. Personally, I think more or less noteworthy Lungwort and Candy.

Neutral Feedback

Melba is frankly weak in relation to problems with diseases. I have been struggling with scab and fruit rot for more than a year, and it is too early to think about victory over diseases. Any rainy summer and the history of sores repeats itself. Yes, and we must also remember that after all, Melba was not brought out from us.

Melba is sick with scab. But I respect it as a standard of taste. Similar in taste and not so sick Dream. Ripens in a week.

Oh, annoying!!! This variety is really good. But here we can't "tame" him in any way. They planted him twice already. It seems that they bought zoned seedlings, but, alas. They don't survive winter. And one died after wintering three times ...

I have Melba. Summer variety. And the timing of flowering and ripening depends on the region of growth. I am in Volgograd. My melba blooms in late April-May (depending on the weather in spring). Ripens in July. IN middle lane terms, apparently, as in Olga's answer. What about "very early variety apples" - there are summer varieties with more early ripening. I have such Astrakhan white and Suislep.

I have Melba growing, the taste is good, and it keeps well. But Melba is severely affected by scab and black cancer.

Origin. Bred in Canada from seed sowing from free pollination of the Mekintosh variety.

Spreading. It is zoned throughout Ukraine, since 1962 and is still the main variety of summer ripening both in industrial plantations and in collective and country gardens. The tree is medium tall. At a young age, it grows intensively and forms a wide-oval crown, during the period of full fruiting it gains a wide-round shape, which becomes medium thickened. Skeletal branches are massive, depart from the trunk at an angle of 60-85 *. The excitability of the kidneys is above average, the shoot-forming ability is average. Fruits mainly on kolchatka. Winter hardiness is high. Resistance to scab is below average, against powdery mildew - average.

Flowering and fruiting. blooms in early dates. Diploid. Pollen viability is average (38-51%). Best pollinators: Vista Bella. James Grieve, Papirovka, Stark Earliest. Weakly susceptible to self-fertility.

The tendency to the periodicity of fruiting is sharp. The variety is fast growing and productive. In the fourth - fifth year after planting on the MM rootstock. 106 gives a crop within 8, on the eighth - tenth - 40-80 kg per tree. Fruits of medium size (110-130 g) and medium one-dimensionality, flattened - rounded - conical shape, light green, with a pinkish-red, blurred-striped integumentary blush over most of the surface and a slight waxy coating. The skin is thin, dense, smooth. The pulp is white, tender, very juicy, excellent sweet and sour taste (4.5-4.7 points).

Ripeness and keeping quality. Shooting and consumer maturity come in the first decade of August. Fruit ripening is quite friendly. In the refrigerator, they are stored for about 2 months, under normal conditions - 15-20 days. Transportability is average. Use: fresh, for the manufacture of juices, ciders, compotes.

Notes: the variety requires intensive protection against scab, pruning with shortening, thinning and rejuvenation of the fruits.

Melba. neither prayer nor plea. no need to invent new varieties. and an early summer apple, not for storage.

Positive reviews

“There are several apple trees in my garden, but Melba is my favorite variety. The tree gives high yields fruits are large and very tasty. And when the apple tree blossoms, the aroma is on the whole street. I want to note that one Melba gives the same yield as several trees of another variety. I will be planting more apple trees of this species. Care is not too complicated: the main thing is to protect against scab, and cut regularly.

“The Melba apple tree is already an old-timer for me - she will soon be 35 years old. But it still regularly bears fruit, I can not complain about the yields. The fruits are very tasty, sweet, large. Not a very keeping variety, but for blanks it is ideal. A tree rarely gets sick, but it is vulnerable to scab, it is better to cover it in winter, even in our south, as the branches freeze quickly.

This is a Canadian summer variety. Sweet. Many gardeners like the apple tree, primarily because, compared to other varieties, Melba begins to bear fruit very early. Melba fruits are large, one apple weighs up to two hundred grams on average. The harvest can be harvested already at the end of summer and the harvesting process lasts until mid-October. If this is only this variety, then I think you have not lost, everyone will be happy!)

I also have this apple tree in my garden. It bears fruit somewhere by the end of summer, sometimes we pick the last apples by October. The fruits are red in color, medium in size, but not small. We harvested apples up to 12 cm in diameter. Due to the fact that the variety is summer, the peel of the apple is tender and thin, which children love very much, because it is not difficult to bite off. The flesh of Melba is snow-white, very juicy, to taste - sweet and sour. Basically, it bears fruit generously in a year, that is, we collect a lot for one year, and an order of magnitude less for the second. And so every year. The jam is very fragrant, beautiful color.

This is the best summer variety, of course. True, every year apples are in scab, no matter how much you spray. but if you grow for yourself and not for sale, then this is not so important.

Our favorite variety. apples are lousy almost every year, despite the Bordeaux, but very tasty. We grafted onto the old white filling and we are not overjoyed, the crop on the branch with melba is greater than that of the white filling

Melba is a Canadian summer variety. Sweet. Many gardeners like the apple tree primarily because, compared to other varieties, Melba begins to bear fruit very early. Melba fruits are large, one apple weighs up to two hundred grams on average. Harvest can be harvested already at the end of summer, and the collection process lasts until mid-October. If you chose this variety, then I think you have not lost, everyone will be happy!

The Melba tree is about 15 years old, about 4 m high, crown diameter 7 m, harvest in good years up to 200 kg, 23 crops are harvested by the end of August. The taste of the fruit is excellent, I have never met apples tastier than Melba.

Advantages:

• Very tasty apples.
• Variety Melba has proven itself over time.

Disadvantages:

• Scab prone

For a long time, my grandfather had two apple trees in his garden. It is the varieties "Melba". Since childhood, I have been in love with the taste of these apples. They are not large apples, very juicy, and quite sweet. Very good grade "Melba" for squeezing juices. Grandfather always made juice from this variety, although there were many apple trees in the garden.

Four years ago, I decided, already on my site, to break small garden ik.

I chose varieties, and of course I did not forget about Melba. I bought two seedlings produced by the company "Michurinskiye saplings". Melba seedlings were three years old. good quality. Is there a way to determine this. The leaves of the seedlings (I planted in the fall) should not be wilted, and there should be no dirt on the trunk of the seedlings, and there should be fluff. Such a bluish fluff.

I planted Melba in holes with a diameter of 1 meter and a depth of about 70-80 cm. Unfortunately, only one Melba took root, or rather both seedlings took root, but in the spring of the second year one apple tree was eaten by voles (they like to gnaw the root system) so fight the vole in advance .

Here in the fourth year (total Melba is seven years old) the apple tree bloomed for the first time. Got some small apples. The taste, I can tell you, is simply excellent. And indeed it turned out to be Melba, and not some kind of wild. So I advise both the variety and the supplier company.

I will make a reservation that the region is near Moscow.

I have been growing the Melba apple tree on my site for 15 years. The tree is low, which makes it easy to harvest from a small ladder. I have Antonovka growing next to a tree for pollination. The fruits are tasty and very fragrant. The harvest is annual, 50-80 kilograms of fruits are removed from the tree.

I love Melba for its taste and aroma. This apple tree has been growing for me for 8 years. For pollination, I hang a jar of water on the tree. I put sprigs of a pollinator variety in it, which I take from a neighbor. For the winter, I wrap the tree with burlap so that it does not freeze. With good care, more than 50

a kilogram of apples, enough for harvesting and for sale.

Varieties Melba and Red Melba grow nearby, I planted the Quinti variety for pollination. The harvest is stable, I collect several buckets of apples from each tree. From the fruit, a very tasty and fragrant liqueur is obtained. In addition, there are enough apples for harvesting for the winter and for drying.

For me, Melba is a great summer variety (when it ripens, there is such an aroma in the garden that even wasps stop spoiling the grapes and start nibbling Melba), to reduce losses and faster ripening, I feed potassium phosphate + ash into the ground and ash infusion foliar top dressing in mid-July . I have 3 Melba trees that yield more than 8 apple trees of other varieties combined. The reason, it seems to me, is that in early August I harvested, and then for another 2 months the trees are preparing for winter and harvest.

: “... in my youth, my grandmother had Melba apple trees. I loved these apples. They are not big, juicy, sweet. Good apples for processing and storage. They made juice from these apples. »

“Discovered Melba - a great variety. When it begins to bloom, the aroma floats through the garden, which cannot even be described in words. I have 4 apple trees of this variety. »

“Melba is a miracle holiday, and it doesn’t matter when it blooms or the fruits ripen! My Melba is already 25 years old, sadly, but we will say goodbye to her Definitely, I will buy and plant her again. »

I won’t say anything about Welsey, but I would definitely plant a melba. In our country house, a Melba apple tree has been growing for 40 years, and still pleases us with a harvest. True, it bears fruit only after a year (this variety has a pronounced fruiting frequency), but the apples are so tasty and fragrant that new modern varieties they just can't be compared.

Melba, which has matured on a twig and poured on time - it's just a holiday! Those that are tasteless are either taken before the deadline, or a carrion, Melba has such a jamb - it throws off a lot. I have Melba 50 years old, unfortunately, we are preparing to say goodbye to her - if it were not for fruiting once every 2 years, we would definitely plant her again.

I like the variety because the apples are sweet and juicy, they keep well in the basement or in the refrigerator. Apples ripen at the end of summer, and the collection lasts about three weeks. I planted 2 trees of this variety of apples and do not regret it.

Melba should be in every garden, because no other can replace its fragrant summer apples. I have an apple tree that is not exposed to any diseases, although scab can sometimes attack neighboring trees.

I consider Melba one of the most delicious, if not the most delicious of all summer apples known to me. Met a lot of her clones. I chose a very good one from one of my friends - a large, tasty, fragrant and not very disease-prone clone of this variety and planted it on the 118th rootstock. I think that Melba should be in every garden, where only she can grow.

5 years ago on my suburban area decided to plant a small orchard of Melba apple trees. I’ll tell my friends right away that the seedlings have started well, and also for more better growth once every two or three days he watered it with water and poured a little manure and humus over it. Three years later, the first fruits began, the size of apple trees is average up to 150 g, thin and smooth skin with a juicy and sweet and sour taste.

Decent apple variety. Along with Stark Earliest and White Bulk, I think that Melba is the most delicious summer apple. I cannot yet boast of large harvests (the tree is still young), but the taste and appearance The fruit was liked by all members of my family. From the second year of planting, they began to form a crown, I believe that annual pruning is mandatory for this variety.

“In my area I have an apple tree of the Melba variety. Fruits generously, a year later, by the end of summer, she harvested. Sometimes I take the fruits in October. Children like apples - the peel is tender and thin. The jam is fragrant and beautiful in color. »