Description of the Gloucester apple tree

Description and characteristics of the variety

Gloucester is characterized by vigorous trees that grow rapidly. Trees are decorated with a crown of medium density, oval or pyramidal in shape. Over the years, the crown of the apple tree acquires a rounded shape without outside interference. Skeletal branches in relation to the trunk are located at an acute angle, the tips of the branches are directed upward. A big plus of the variety, which greatly facilitates the care of the tree, "Gloucester" almost does not form shoots.

The formation of fruits is mixed and occurs on all fruit processes of the tree, that is, the apple tree bears fruit both on ringlets and on fruit twigs and spears. Trees bloom late, but bloom for a long period. The variety is distinguished by inflorescences of 3-4 flowers with a high degree of pollen viability (up to 80%). With free pollination, the variety receives about 17-18% of ovaries, with a special selection of the best pollinators - up to 26%. The "best pollinators" mean the varieties "Idared", "Jonathan", "Gala", "Spartan".

The Gloucester variety bears fruit with large apples weighing about 150-180 grams. They are round in shape, slightly conical, with a pronounced ribbing in the upper part of the apple. The main color of the peel is light yellow, but it is almost invisible due to the deep red blurred blush. The peel of “Gloucester” apples is of medium thickness, rather dense and smooth, subcutaneous points are clearly visible under it. The calyx is closed, with a pronounced depression and folded walls. The pulp has a pleasant creamy shade, it is dense, with a pronounced sweet taste, very tender and juicy. The seed chambers inside the apple are half-open, the seeds are medium in size, oval, brown in color.

The Gloucester variety ripens in late September, with an increase in the number of apples every year. The peak yield of an apple tree falls on the 10th year of growth in one place - you can collect up to 70 kilograms of apples from one tree. In addition to stable fruiting, the variety is characterized by high winter hardiness and resistance to powdery mildew. Also, with minimal maintenance, Gloucester is quite scab resistant.

You can keep the commercial quality of the fruit in a cool place until February. If you store apples in the refrigerator, then the shelf life is extended until May. At the same time, the fruits are highly adaptable to transportation.

Care

The Gloucester variety requires standard care. It is recommended to fertilize apple trees several times a year. It is recommended to use a mixture of mineral and organic fertilizers. It is important to apply certain fertilizers in a timely manner in order to support the tree, and not harm it. So, in early spring, as soon as the snow melts, it is recommended to add slurry or infusion of bird droppings and urea to help the tree recover from hibernation. On the eve of flowering, foliar feeding of the apple tree is carried out with superphosphate and potassium chloride.You can also add a large-scale complex of compost, superphosphate, potassium and urea to ensure good flowering and fruiting.

Apple trees need to be watered once a month, bringing about 35-45 liters of water under each tree. Also, do not forget to regularly remove weeds from the tree trunk circle, as they prevent young seedlings from developing, taking nutrients from the soil.

Gloucester requires annual crown pruning. Old branches that have frozen over the winter, dried out and broken are subject to removal. The old bark must also be removed so as not to create favorable conditions for the development of fungal diseases and insect colonies. Slices and trunks must be whitewashed with garden lime. Also, trees need to be treated with preparations (carefully read the description on the packages!) "Topaz", "Fitosporin", "Skor" in order to destroy fungal spores. "Ecoberin", "Zircon" or any other means based on karbofos will help destroy insect larvae. Despite the fact that the variety is resistant to fungal diseases, preventive treatment should not be neglected.

Of course, young trees cannot be left unprotected for the winter. Despite the good winter hardiness of the variety, the trees need additional preparations. It is advisable to tie the trunks with dense material in order to protect the bark and lower branches from rodents and hares, which are not at all opposed to eating your apple trees. This should be done until the trees are at least 5-6 years old, when the bark is already stiff enough not to be of “gastronomic” interest for small animals.

The trunk circle must be mulched with sawdust, peat, straw or spruce branches. On the one hand, this will help keep the root system of apple trees intact, on the other hand, it will additionally protect it from rodents.

How to increase yields

Whichever variety you grow in your garden, you will need pollinating trees to harvest. That is why there should be at least two types of apple trees in the garden, moreover, combined with each other.

From this point of view, to get the Gloucester harvest you will need Idared, Jonathan, Gala, Spartan trees. They bloom and ripen at approximately the same time, so they complement each other well.

A dwarf rootstock will be no less fruitful. Medium-sized rootstocks MM-106 show themselves well, using which you can get the first big harvest already in the second year after grafting. Usually a tree of this variety bears fruit in the fourth year of cultivation in the garden. At the same time, the use of a dwarf rootstock also allows you to fully preserve the best qualities of both varieties, increases the immunity of the tree, which has a positive effect on both subsequent fruiting and the general condition of the tree.

Gloucester Apple Review Video

Take a look at the Gloucester apple tree review and learn about its benefits and cultivation features.