Red Chief Apple Tree: Variety and Care Features

Description of the Red Chief apple variety

Despite a delay in its popularization in our country of more than a century, it is confidently joining the ranks of already well-known and beloved apple trees. The Red Chief's unique properties and qualities have finally been duly appreciated, as it is truly easy to grow, undemanding of soil and fertility, and highly productive.

Apples emerge on the branches soon after planting. They are delicious and beautiful, and they can be stored in the cellar for long periods without changing their taste or appearance. These large fruits are easy to transport even over long distances. They are recommended for growing in large, intensive industrial orchards, as well as in small garden plots.

Apples: What they look like

The fruits are large to very large, typically reaching approximately 180-250 grams, but with good care and favorable weather and climate conditions, they can reach 245-300, or even 450 grams. They are smooth, rounded-conical, slightly elongated, and very attractive. The ribbing is clearly visible, wide and smooth, most noticeable at the tip. There is a distinct lateral suture and a grayish-blue, very dense waxy coating at full maturity.

The skin is glossy, shiny, elastic, strong, and dense, but not thick or tough; it cracks easily when strained. It has a uniform green or greenish-yellow color, but this can only be seen on unripe fruits, as it is almost 90-98% covered by a blush of beetroot, burgundy, or dark red. If you look closely, you can discern slightly distinct stripes and specks, varying in shade. Subcutaneous punctures are numerous, light, and very visible on the surface, evenly distributed and large. The chemical composition can be assessed by the following indicators:

• Titratable acids – 0.38%.
• Sugars (fructose) – 10.5%.
• Pectins (fiber) – 14.1%.
• Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) – 5.7 milligrams.
• P-active substances (catechins) – 218 milligrams.

The flesh is white, slightly greenish or creamy, but usually without any off-colors. It is fine-grained, medium juicy, not prickly, with a pleasant consistency, more delicate, and aromatic, but not overly sour. The flavor is considered dessert-like, more sweet, but with a slight tartness in the aftertaste. It is not considered balanced or harmonious because it is a bit bland, but tasting experts rate it 4.7-4.8 out of 5 for both flavor and appearance.

Red Chief apple tree: characteristics

Crown and root system

The variety is considered tall, since without formative pruning it usually reaches at least 6-8 meters, and sometimes even stretches up to 9-10However, most experienced gardeners limit the tree to 5-6 meters to facilitate harvesting and maintenance of the trunks. The trees naturally develop a round or oval crown and are not prone to becoming dense. The shoots are long, curved, and covered with smooth, shiny, gray-green or brown-green bark, pubescent in some areas. Fruiting is concentrated on the rings.

The leaves are medium to large, elongated, oval, leathery, smooth, medium matte, and short-pointed. They are bright green or rich green. The leaf edges can be slightly wavy, serrate, and serrated, with delicate nervation. The root system is extensive and fibrous, occupying a considerable amount of soil space and adapted to seeking water at medium levels.

Productivity and pollination

Red Chief is considered an early-fruiting, high-yielding variety, which is why it's loved by most gardeners. Just one apple tree can provide all the fruit needed for a family of three during the cold season.

From one fully mature and formed tree trunk, you can easily harvest 160-220 kilograms of apples per season, depending on care, climate and weather..

While the tree's yield is encouraging, many cite its self-sterility as one of its main drawbacks. This means that Red Chief apple trees require nearby (55-80 meters) apple trees of other varieties with suitable flowering times for cross-pollination. To attract insects to the garden, gardeners use mobile apiaries and spray the trees with sugar syrup.

Winter hardiness and disease resistance

The variety's resistance to low temperatures is rated as average. Suitable for regions with cool and variable weather conditions, such as Moscow region or the Leningrad Region, it is recommended to take all necessary preparatory measures and cover trees to ensure they survive the winter without problems. Temperatures below -27-32°C can pose a serious threat to tree trunks.

Disease resistance is average, but inconsistent. For example, it is rarely affected by powdery mildew, but scab Spotting can become a real nuisance during years of severe epiphytotics. Insects pose a moderate threat to apple trees. All this demonstrates the importance of prevention: promptly treat trunks with fungicides and insecticides, and remove rotting leaves and fruit from the root zone.

Rootstocks and subspecies

For over a hundred years, the Red Chief apple tree hasn't developed any subspecies, although it can be grown on various rootstocks. The most popular is growing on semi-crowns. This results in more compact trees, reaching barely 2.5-3 meters, significantly reducing space requirements for commercial plantings. The fruit grows somewhat larger, but there are some drawbacks. The root system of these plants is located shallow below the soil surface, making them susceptible to wind damage and requiring support.

Features of growing Red Chief

Landing

Basic conditions

• To plant a seedling, choose a location that is as sheltered as possible from strong northerly winds and receives full sun throughout the day. In the shade, the variety does not thrive, grows weakly, produces small and tasteless fruit, and in drafts, it becomes susceptible to disease and often even dies.
• The soil for planting should be slightly acidic and fertile, but you won't have to worry too much about it. Red grows well in loam or sandy loam, and even in rocky soil, as long as it's fertilized regularly and timely.
• The groundwater level should not rise more than 2.5-3 meters to prevent the tree's roots from reaching it. Otherwise, it may rot and die.
• There's no need to prepare planting holes for this variety in advance, as is done with other varieties. Simply dig them 5-15 days in advance, making them 60-90 centimeters deep, filling them with fertile soil, drainage, and a small amount of water (20-25 liters).
• Root collar It is always recommended to leave the surface above the horizon, especially if you do not want to lose the properties of the rootstock.
• The trees are suitable for compact planting, meaning no more than 3-3.5 meters can be left between trees in a row, and 4-4.5 meters between rows. Even this distance is enough for them to grow comfortably and produce abundant fruit.
• The sapling is placed vertically, a stake or plank is driven into the north side for tying, and the roots are carefully spread out, even trimmed if necessary. The tree is covered with soil, compacted in layers, but not too tightly. The surface is watered with 25-35 liters of water and mulched with sawdust, manure, and compost to prevent weed growth and retain moisture.

Landing dates

Red Chief can be planted in spring or fall; it doesn't make much of a difference. The main thing is to ensure the young tree doesn't freeze during the return frosts or the first frosts. Therefore, the timing must be appropriate. In spring, it's best to transplant the variety into the soil in April, and in fall, about a month before the onset of cold weather. The further north the growing region, the better.

Tree care

Protection from frost and rodents

Standard winter protection measures are sufficient for this variety to thrive during cold weather. The root zone is covered with soil, dry leaves, straw bundles, spruce branches, and hay mats. Dwarf and semi-dwarf varieties can be easily covered with a tent-like covering.

To drive insects out of cracks and chips in the bark, you need to whiten Tree trunks should be fertilized twice a year. This can be done in early spring and late fall. Rodents are usually repelled by coating the trees with melted animal fat, drying oil, or grease.

Pruning: simple crown shaping

The variety isn't prone to excessive density, so pruning won't require much effort. In the first few years, the central trunk is shortened and 2-4 skeletal branches are formed, which should be gradually reduced in length. Subsequently, simply trim the overgrown shoots proportionally by a third of their growth, and remove suckers (upward shoots) and those growing inward, thus creating a denser crown.

The crown should be regularly inspected for diseased, damaged, or dead branches. If any are found, they are immediately cut back, generously, and the cuts are sealed with garden pitch. Rejuvenation is usually not performed, as an apple tree's active lifespan is approximately 20-30 years. However, if desired, 2-3 old branches can be removed between the 15th and 18th years, which will slightly extend the fruiting period.

Ripening and fruiting of Red Chief

The beginning of fruiting

The crop is extremely precocious; it can begin producing blossoms even in the nursery. However, it's customary to pluck them immediately. The first harvest can be obtained 2-3 years after planting in open ground. At this point, you'll only be able to harvest 7-12 kilograms of apples, but that's plenty for a sample.

Flowering time

The tree begins to bloom buds rather late, around the second half of May. However, climate and weather conditions play a significant role. If the spring is early and warm, flowering may begin much earlier, while if the spring is warm, it may begin later. Red Chief's buds are a distinct, beetroot-red hue, but once they open, the petals turn a delicate white-pink. They are fleshy and beautiful, and the flower itself is saucer-shaped and fragrant. The flowering process lasts approximately 10-14 days, after which the ovaries form.

Fruiting and growth

The tree's natural growth is considered average, although it may barely reach 8-12 centimeters in height in a season. However, it begins to stretch after fruiting begins, and in the first couple of years, it can reach two or even three meters. Yields increase gradually, but quite quickly. By the seventh or eighth year, you can harvest around a hundred kilograms of beautiful fruit.

Apples reach technical maturity in late September or even early October, when they develop a thick waxy coating. This is the key to determining the right time for harvesting. Consumer ripeness, when the sugars are fully caramelized, occurs after 15-25 days. Only then do apples acquire their unique, pleasant flavor and optimal juiciness. They can be stored in an ideal cellar for seven months until the next harvest.

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