Jonathan is an apple variety that was bred in the USA from a variety called Aesop Spitzenburg, which is currently not popular. Jonathan apples appeared at the end of the 19th century and immediately gained worldwide recognition. This is a variety that ripens late, therefore it is widely distributed in the southern regions, where winters are quite mild. It is very popular and occupies a leading position among fruit producers. Since 1954, apple trees of the Jonathan variety have appeared in Ukraine. The State Register of the Russian Federation recommends growing apples of this variety in the North Caucasus.
Why do people prefer these apples
Many people love the Jonathan variety, whose apples taste great as they are moderately sweet and juicy. The fruits are strong, and taste a bit like confectionery cream. Apples have a wonderful aroma, although there is some acid in them. Freshly picked apples have a greenish-white flesh. If the fruit is fully ripe, the flesh is light yellow and has a dense structure. This variety is excellent for making jam, jam or compote.
Eating fruits such as Jonathan apples, photos of which can be seen below, you get a lot of different trace elements, organic acids, vitamins. For example, ascorbic acid in100 grams of apples contains approximately 6 mg.
Apple varieties such as Pamyat Pavlovu, Idored, Prime, McPhee, and others were bred from Jonathan apples. There are about forty in total. And it's all thanks to the excellent qualities of Jonathan apples.
Description of the plant
Jonathan apple trees tend to be medium in size. They have a round and wide crown, also of medium density. The branches of the tree often lean downward due to the weight of the ripe fruit.
Apple shoots are greenish-brown in color and can be medium or thin in thickness. The leaves are small or medium, have an elongated ovoid shape, the edges are slightly wavy. The surface of the sheet is matte, slightly wrinkled. A distinctive feature of the Jonathan apple tree was the color of the leaves. It is green, but has a bluish-silver coating.
Apple blossoms profusely. 16-32% of fruits are tied with free pollination. With artificial self-pollination, 5-7% of fruits are tied, under natural conditions - 2.5-3%.
The variety is named after the beautiful male name Jonathan. Apples are also very attractive. They are bright, juicy and beautiful. Usually the fruits are not very large, although they can grow to a decent size. One apple usually has a weight of 105-150 grams. It has a round or slightly conical shape. The skin is smooth, rather thin, but elastic and dense. Jonathan - apples are bright red, but if they are grown in a cooler climate, they have green stripes. There are bright spotsskin, but they are not very noticeable. Rarely, the fruits may have a light mesh.
Features of care and storage
Jonathan apples can ripen from mid-September to mid-October, and you can keep the harvest until about April. Fruits must be stored in a cool room at a temperature of 0 to 4 degrees Celsius. Do not allow sudden temperature fluctuations, this leads to loss of mass and decay.
Humidity in the room should reach 90-95%. Also, if stored improperly, fruits can become bitter, stained, and wither. But on the other hand, apple trees give a rich harvest, and young trees begin to bear fruit already for 4-5 years. But for a large harvest, you need to create the necessary conditions. The soil must be well fertilized, otherwise the fruits will become small and will not stick well on the branches. If there is enough fertilizer, then from one tree you can harvest 85 kg. The maximum yield was recorded - 490 kg of fruit from one tree.
Besides, apples tolerate transportation well - this is another plus for all the benefits of the variety, which was appreciated by producers.
Disadvantages of the variety
Apple trees are afraid of the cold, their old wood can freeze. And this, in turn, can lead to various diseases (mold, rust, scabs) and a decrease in yield. Jonathans are apples that can be affected by powdery mildew, so in areas where the humidity is high, they have not gained much fame. During fruit storage around Aprilspots characteristic of this variety appear, which spoil the appearance of apples.
