There are a lot of apple trees that ripen in summer. These include the rather popular Orlovim variety. Apple tree of this variety belongs to the leaders of the late-fruit trees. In this article we will talk about the apple tree "Orlovim", give a description of the variety with photos, as well as reviews of gardeners.
Breeding history
In 1977, at the All-Russian Institute of Breeding, this variety was bred by crossing Antonovka with a sapling of SR0523. Thanks to the scientists Z.M. Serova, V.V. Zhdanov and E.N. Sedov, the apple tree "Orlovim" appeared. It was developed for Central Russia, but later this variety was grown in the Central regions.
Characteristic variety
This tree has a lot of advantages. But there are also disadvantages. This can be seen by examining the characteristics of the variety. 
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Tree description
Tree srednerosloy, reaches a height of 5 m. Round or bristled crown has an average density. The main branches are rarely located. Twisted shoots, depart from the trunk almost at a right angle. The bark on the main branches and trunk is light brown and peeling. The leaves of the tree are medium, wrinkled, light green with a yellowish tinge. Veins on them are poorly visible. The leaves are oblong egg-shaped, have helical and slightly twisted ends. Sheet plate matte, convex, slightly curved down, have a wavy edge. Leafs are medium with little hairiness. Buds at the tree pressed, elongated. The flowers are large, pale pink, saucer-shaped.
Check out the most common varieties of apple trees: Uralets, Pepin saffron, President, Champion, Bashkir Beauty, Berkutovskoe, Currency, Sun, Northern Synaph, Candy, Ranetki, Semerenko, Uslada and Melba.
Fruit Description
Fruits are medium sized. They are smooth and glossy. One apple can weigh from 130 to 180 g. The fruits are light yellow, have bright red blotches and purple stripes. Apples are one-dimensional, have a flat conical shape, ribbing slightly pronounced. The flesh is thick, cream-colored, very juicy, with a strong pleasant aroma. The taste of the fruit is sweet and sour. 
Pollination
This variety belongs to samobesplodny. Therefore, it is necessary to plant pollinating varieties on the site, such as Pepin Saffron, Anis Scarlet, and Welsey. If such varieties do not grow on the plot, artificial pollination is necessary for a good string. Thanks to professional pollinators, it is carried out more qualitatively. If you use pollen of different varieties of apples, this greatly improves the quality of fruits and yield.
Gestation period
Apples ripen in late August.
Yield
Apple tree brings fruit in 4 years after planting. A young tree brings up to 80 kg of fruit, an adult - more than 100 kg. 
Transportability and storage
Summer variety of apples is not stored for a long time - no more than one month, if you observe the temperature, so they are transported poorly.
Winter hardiness
These trees have very good winter hardiness. They can tolerate temperatures down to -35 ° C.
Disease and Pest Resistance
Orlov is resistant to scab and other fungal diseases due to the Vm gene.
Application
Fresh fruits are stored for a long time, so the apples process and make them juices and jams. 
How to choose seedlings when buying
It is best to purchase seedlings in garden centers or nurseries:
- a good seedling should not have leaves;
- bark should not be dried;
- the tree should not have any damage;
- roots must be healthy and large. Fresh root after scraping with a nail has white wood;
- it is better to give preference to one-year saplings;
- the trunk under the bark of a healthy tree is bright green.
Important! On the trunk should not be present swelling, growths - this may indicate the presence of the disease.
Rules for planting apple seedlings
Before you plant an apple tree, you need to know the planting dates, as well as to choose the right place. 
Optimal timing
It is recommended to plant a tree when the ground warms up well and there is no likelihood that return frost will destroy it. This is usually done at the beginning of May. But many gardeners prefer autumn planting, planting seedlings in mid-October.
Choosing a place
Land for planting should be well lit and ventilated. Groundwater should not be close to the surface - the optimum depth of their occurrence is not less than 2 m. If there is a threat of constant flooding, the trees should be planted on a hill or using drainage. "Orlov" prefers loose, breathable sandy loam or loam, having a weakly acidic reaction.
Stepwise landing process
If an apple tree is planted in spring, the land mixture must be prepared for 3 months, and if in the fall - for six months. They prepare a hole about 60 cm wide, and the depth should be about 80 cm. When digging a hole, it is necessary to lay the top layer of soil in one direction and the bottom layer in another. Next, the bottom of the pit loosened and pour into it the top layer of earth. The bottom layer is mixed with compost (3 buckets), wood ash (700 g), mineral fertilizer (1 kg), slaked lime (300 g). The whole mixture is poured into a hole.
Important! Be sure to comply with the timing of preparation of the pit - if fertilizers do not have time to perepret, then this can harm the tree.Step-by-step process of planting an apple:
- Before planting a tree, look at its roots. Dark or damaged roots must be trimmed with shears.
- In a hole that has already been prepared, you need to make a hole about 70 cm, and its width should correspond to the diameter of the root.
- When planting several trees, one should adhere to the distance between seedlings of about 3 m, and between rows - 5 m.
- At the bottom of the pit of the earth you need to make a hill on which the roots of the tree are carefully laid out.
- Ground sapling sprinkled evenly to the edges of the pit. The root neck should be above the ground at 7 cm.
- Then it is worth ramming the ground above.
- You need to make a small depression along the perimeter of the pit - this will help retain moisture.
- The soil around the tree is mulched with sawdust or peat.
- It is necessary to water the tree 3 buckets of water.
- So that the tree does not bend and break, it can be tied to a peg, which is inserted in advance at a distance of about 5 cm from the tree trunk.
Features of seasonal care for apple trees
In order to get a good harvest every year, you should properly care for the apple tree.
Did you know? Due to archaeological excavations, it is known that people used apples as food since 6500 BC. er
Watering, weeding and loosening
If it does not rain, the tree should be watered 3 times a month. In mid-August, watering is stopped. Also ensure that the soil does not dry out around the apple tree. After watering it loosened. Weeding is carried out in order to get rid of weeds.
The role of mulch
Mulch pristvolny circle in the autumn of humus - it acts as an additional protection against frost. Also, the mulch does not allow weed to germinate and serves to preserve moisture in the soil. 
Top dressing
In the first year, the apple tree does not require fertilizing. From the second year it should be fertilized at least 3 times per season. For the first time (in the middle of April), when digging around the barrel circle, 500 g of urea, 40 g of nitroammophoska, 30 g of nitrate, and 4 compost buckets are introduced.
The following feeding is carried out during flowering: potassium sulphate (400 g), superphosphate (0.5 kg), urea (250 g) is diluted in 100 liters of water. This solution should be infused for a week. They poured the tree in dry weather.
A month after the apple tree began to blossom, fertilizers are applied for the third time: nitrophoska (500 g), dry sodium humate (10 g) is dissolved in 100 l of water. Each tree requires 3 buckets of this solution.
In the summer it is better to conduct foliar dressing using a urea solution for spraying. You can also use mineral compounds, such as "Nutrivant Plus", "Kemira Lux", "Akvarin". 
Preventive treatment
To prevent the occurrence of diseases and pests, should prevent:
- To destroy the crawling insects and some fungal diseases, the apple tree is sprayed until the buds are dissolved with a solution of blue vitriol and a solution of urea. Treatment with the same solutions should be repeated after 15 days.
- During flowering, the tree is sprayed with Bordeaux mixture and karbofos solution. After 20 days, the treatment should be repeated.
- 30 days before harvesting, spraying should be done using anabasin solution.
To get a bountiful harvest of apples, read what to sprinkle an apple tree from pests.
Cropping and crown formation
Consider when it is necessary to prune an apple tree. A suitable time for this is considered spring and autumn (after the leaves have fallen). 
Trimming rules:
- need to use professional tools;
- damaged and dry branches should be cut to healthy wood;
- hemp is better not to leave. The cut should be carried out at an angle above the side branch or kidney;
- if the cut is large, then it is treated with garden pitch.
Preparing for the winter
Before the onset of frost, the bark of the tree is cleaned of moss, lichen and treated affected areas with copper sulphate. Conduct pruning, removing damaged branches. The barrel needs to be whitened, and the cracks and wounds should be treated with garden pitch. The earth under the tree is cleared of debris, the soil is dug up, and then mulched with compost. Fir branches can be an additional protection from frost and pests. They or tolyom can cover the trunk of an apple tree. 
The grade "Orlovy" is unpretentious in cultivation and leaving. The fruits have an attractive appearance and good taste. Due to this, this variety is very popular among consumers.
