Description and characteristics of the Fuji apple tree, planting and care

The subtle honey-like aroma and flavor of Fuji apples has long been a favorite not only among consumers but also among gardeners and farmers in developed countries. Fuji apples are grown commercially in China, Japan, North America, and throughout the European part of the continent.

History of Fuji apple tree breeding

The first mentions of the Fuji apple variety date back to the 1930s. Japanese breeders, using the Rolls Janet apple tree and the Red Delicious variety as a basis, created a hybrid fruit with a unique taste and appearance, which they named Fuji.

But it was only in the early 1960s that a new variety of Fuji seedlings became freely available for cultivation throughout the world.

Most gardeners dream of growing these delicious fruits in their gardens. But to ensure healthy, fruit-bearing trees, it's important to know how to properly care for the Japanese apple variety.

Characteristics and description of the culture

When developing hybrid plant varieties, the best qualities and characteristics of fruit crops are always taken into account.

Tree dimensions

The tree is tall and grows up to 6 m without annual crown shaping. The trunk and shoots are covered with brown bark with a gray tint.

Leaves and shoots

The leaf blades are oval, pointed at the tips, and a rich light green. Young leaves have a slight hairiness that later becomes unnoticeable.

The shoots are tall, with bright brown, smooth bark.

Flowering and pollination

The Fuji apple tree is a late-blooming fruit tree. Flowering begins in early May and lasts for 1.5-2 weeks. In southern regions, the tree blooms in late April. The cluster-shaped inflorescences open with large, white flowers.

For the tree to bear fruit, it needs the right pollinating neighbors. To achieve this, plant several Fuji apple trees or other varieties that bloom at the same time. Suitable apple trees for pollinating Fuji apples include Gala, Everest, or Red Delicious.

Important! Fuji apple trees are good pollinators for other fruit tree varieties.

Fruiting and yield

The fruits ripen in mid-autumn, when the tree sheds its leaves. The apples turn vibrant red or pink. The fruits are round and smooth, with creamy, juicy, crisp, and sweet-and-sour flesh. The skin is thin, with a slight waxy coating. Each fruit weighs between 180 and 270g.

In industrial quantities, mature trees produce up to 23 tons of fruit per hectare of orchards.

With timely and proper care, gardeners and vegetable growers can obtain up to 200 kg of fruit from a mature tree.

Important! The Fuji apple tree bears fruit intermittently, so don't expect a large harvest every year!

Annual growth and scope of application of fruits

Fuji fruit trees grow and develop quickly. With proper care and formative pruning, annual tree growth is 60 cm in height and 60 cm in width.

Ripe fruits are rich in vitamins, amino acids, and micro- and macronutrients. They are low in calories and recommended for the comprehensive treatment of gout, nervous system disorders, and circulatory disorders.

Fuji apples have a sweet and sour, dessert-like flavor. In the food industry, the fruits are used to make processed foods, juices, jams, preserves, and baby food.

Gardeners and vegetable growers use the produce they gather in their gardens to make compotes, desserts, and jams. They also add the fruit to baked goods, salads, and other culinary dishes.

Fuji apples store well throughout the winter, and in some cases, survive until the next harvest.

Resistance to low temperatures and drought

The Fuji apple tree easily survives winters in temperate climates. Trees won't freeze even at -25 degrees Celsius. For continental climates, Fuji varieties bred specifically for growing in regions with low temperatures are suitable.

A distinctive feature of the variety is its high resistance to drought.

Susceptibility to diseases and insects

Any fruit crop is susceptible to pests and diseases. The Fuji variety most often suffers from aphids, fire blight, powdery mildew, and scab.

To avoid crop loss, preventative disinfection work is carried out before planting seedlings, and then, each spring, the trees are sprayed with special solutions.

Pros and cons of the variety

Breeders infuse new varieties with the best qualities of the fruit crop. This is why the Fuji variety has so many advantages:

1. The taste of the apples has been rated by experts as excellent.
2. Trees bear fruit in dry areas.
3. Ripe fruits do not fall from the branches.
4. Plants easily tolerate frosts down to -25 degrees.
5. The late flowering period protects the harvest from spring frosts and temperature fluctuations.
6. Ripe fruits are stored for a long time and are easily transported over long distances.
7. With proper care, high yields are achieved.

Disadvantages of the variety:

1. To ensure annual fruiting, it is necessary to regulate the number of ovaries.
2. The variety is susceptible to pest attacks and some diseases.
3. The need for pollinating neighbors.
4. Periodicity in yield indicators.

Important! Following proper agricultural practices will help you grow healthy, strong, and fruit-bearing trees.

Suitable conditions for growing

To obtain a high-quality harvest of delicious fruits, suitable conditions are created for the trees.

1. Good lighting of the area for planting seedlings.
2. Light, loose soil.
3. Sanitary and formative pruning work was carried out in a timely manner.
4. Application of fertilizers and top dressing.
5. Weeding, loosening and mulching the soil.
6. The correct selection of seedlings and their planting in open ground.

Important! If care is not provided in a timely or proper manner, apple tree yields will decrease and the fruit will become small.

Planting an apple tree

The growth, development and fruiting of a tree depend on the quality of the seedlings and the correct planting work.

Deadlines

Fruit tree seedlings are planted in open ground in early spring or late autumn.

Spring work begins as soon as the snow melts. Plants planted in open ground will have time to establish themselves and become established before the hot weather arrives.

Autumn seedling planting begins in October. During the winter, the soil accumulates sufficient moisture and nutrients, and in the spring, the seedlings actively grow and develop.

Selecting a location and preparing a planting hole

Sunlit areas on the southern side of the garden are suitable for planting Fuji seedlings.

The tree is planted in loose soils with low acid content.

In the selected area, dig a hole 50 to 60 cm in diameter and 60 to 70 cm deep. Two to three weeks before planting, add compost and fertilizer to the prepared holes.

Preparing the seedling

When selecting Fuji seedlings, carefully inspect the roots for signs of rot and fungal damage. The root system of the seedlings should also be well-moistened.

The main trunk of the tree is smooth, without visible damage, and bright green in color. Two to three branches with buds are located on the trunk.

Before planting outdoors, soak the seedlings in water for 3-4 hours. If the roots are dry, soak for 10-12 hours. Afterward, treat the rhizomes with antibacterial agents or a potassium permanganate solution.

Landing algorithm

The trees are planted in pre-prepared holes. The rhizomes are carefully placed in the holes, covered with soil, and compacted.

The trees grow tall and spreading, so the distance between seedlings is left from 2.5 to 3 m.

Next, the seedling is thoroughly watered and the soil is mulched.

Suitable and unsuitable neighbors

To ensure that an apple tree grows healthy and fruitful, it is important to consider which plants and crops can be planted nearby and which cannot.

Any other varieties of apple trees, plum, raspberry, and pear will be good neighbors for Fuji.

It is not recommended to plant currants, jasmine, cherry plum, apricot, pine, gooseberry, and lilac near apple trees. These plants constantly compete with the apple tree for nutrients and fertile soil. Therefore, planting them near apple trees will reduce yields and stunt their growth.

We organize competent care

The Fuji apple tree is an unpretentious tree in terms of care, but a number of agricultural measures must be carried out annually.

Watering

Due to a lack of moisture, the fruits ripen small and tasteless. Apple trees are watered 5-6 times throughout the growing and fruiting season. Young trees require slightly more frequent watering.

Fertilization

In the fall, trees are fed with organic, potassium, and phosphorus fertilizers. In early spring, trees require nitrogen-containing fertilizers.

Caring for the tree trunk area

An important aspect of growing apple trees is proper care of the tree trunk area.

The soil around the tree is weeded, thoroughly loosened and mulched with a mixture of peat and sawdust.

Trimming

Until the tree reaches five years of age, annual crown pruning is performed. To do this, leave 5-6 branches on the main tree in each tier, and trim the rest.

Important! Most ovaries form on shoots from last year's growth. New tiers are formed from these branches.

In spring and fall, trees undergo sanitary pruning. Damaged, dried, frost-damaged, and diseased branches are removed.

Seasonal processing

Before flowering, trees are treated with special preparations that protect plants from pests and diseases.

In the fall, after harvesting and sanitary pruning, trees begin to prepare for winter dormancy.

Preparing for winter

Fuji trees easily survive winters in southern regions and temperate climates. In northern regions, apple trees require additional insulation before the first frost. To achieve this, the soil is mulched with pine needles, sawdust, and peat, and young seedlings are earthed up. After the first snowfall, large snowdrifts are built up around the trees.

Important! Before winter sets in, trees should be watered generously. Moist soil freezes much more slowly and protects the tree's root system from freezing.

Varieties of the variety

Fuji apples are popular worldwide. Breeders in various countries have developed numerous varieties of this variety, which are now grown both commercially and in private gardens.

Fujik

The Fujik variety was developed by Russian breeders to improve the variety's yield. Fujik is distinguished not only by its abundant and high-quality harvests, but also by its tasty, large fruits.

Raku-Raku

Raku-Raku apple trees are resistant to sudden temperature fluctuations and severe frosts. The fruit ripens in late September. The large, pink and red fruits have a sweet and sour honey flavor.

Toshiro

The fastest-growing Fuji variety. The tree grows vigorously and requires annual pruning. Ripe fruits are large, red and pink. The sour taste disappears with prolonged storage.

Yataka

The Yataka variety is characterized by its early ripening period. The fruit tree produces a high yield, so branches often bend under the weight of the fruit. Ripe fruits are large, with some specimens reaching 350-370g.

The Yataka apple tree has weak immunity to pests and diseases.

Kiku

The Kiku cultivar tolerates winter well and is highly resistant to diseases and pests. The fruit ripens a month earlier than the parent cultivar, Fiji.

Aztec

The Aztec apple tree is a result of excellent experimentation by New Zealand breeders, resulting in the most productive variety. Ripe fruits are large, up to 220g, with sweet, crisp flesh.

The only downside of Aztec is its tendency to develop scab.