Apple tree "Jonagold" for more than one decade belongs to a number of the most common and popular varieties in the world. She rightly deserved such recognition due to her excellent characteristics, which we will consider in the article.
Breeding history
"Jonagold" - apple variety, bred in 1943 in Geneva (USA) as a result of the crossing of two selections - "Golden Delicious" and "Jonathan". But at first this variety did not receive due popularity among breeders, and since 1953 in America they have forgotten about it, having stopped any research. The first large-scale plantings of the apple tree "Jonagold" appeared in the 1960s after its spread on the territory of such European countries as Belgium and the Netherlands.
The appearance of this variety on the territory of the USSR comes at the beginning of the 1970s, and since the 1980s it has already been represented in all the republics of the Soviet Union without exception. In the mid-1980s, the apple tree "Jonagold" passed a successful production test on the territory of scientific institutions of the forest-steppe and steppe of Ukraine. On skeletal formers in southern Polesie, a variety was examined for frost resistance.
Tree description
Apple trees "Jonagold" belong to the fast-growing and vigorous plants. According to the description, young representatives of the variety are distinguished by a wide oval-shaped crown, which, over time, is transformed into a spherical with an average thickness of branches. The arrangement of skeletal branches in relation to the trunk forms a wide, almost right angle. 
Beregoobrazovanie this variety is considered average, and the excitability of the kidneys above the average level. Fruits on trees are formed not only on kolchatka, but also on fruit twigs and annual growths.
Laying apple orchard should be careful when choosing varieties, get acquainted with the characteristics of apple trees Melba, Ola, Kandil Orlovsky, Papirovka, Nedzvetskogo, Antonovka, Northern synapse.
Fruit Description
Apples are mostly large or larger than average size, since the average weight of one is 170-230 g, not rare and specimens weighing 250 g. The fruits are characterized by a rounded or slightly conical shape, one-dimensionality with slightly pronounced ribbing in the fruit cup.
The peel of apples has an average thickness, smooth texture, quite elastic with a wax coating. The outer color of apples is presented in green and yellow shades with a dark red slightly striped cover that occupies most of their surface.
Inside the apples are characterized by a fairly dense, juicy and crunchy flesh with a yellowish tinge. They taste sour-sweet with a slight tartness. In general, the taste of this variety is estimated at 4.6-4.8 points. 
Did you know? Due to the high quality of the fruit "Jonagold" is in the top 10 best apple trees in the world.
Lighting Requirements
When planting seedlings for maximum yield it is very important to consider the requirements for lighting. Apple tree "Jonagold" refers to the light-loving varieties. Therefore, the place for planting should always be as bright and open to the sun as possible.
Soil requirements
Before buying a sapling of the desired variety of apples, make sure that the soil on your site best meets all the requirements. Since the apple tree "Dzhonagold" refers to industrial varieties, the soil for planting in the first place should be not heavy, most loamy and sandy soil. It does not allow the soil, the level of groundwater is above 1.5-2 m to the surface. 
Pollination
"Jonagold" is a prominent representative of triploid varieties. This means that for maximum yield, at least 2 types of pollinators are required. Under the condition of free pollination on the tree, no more than 20% of the fruits are tied, or even less. The best and proven pollinators for apple trees "Jonagold" include "Gloucester", "Aydared" and "Elstar".
Fruiting
"Dzhonagold" refers to skoroplodnyh varieties, since the first fruits appear already in the second or third year after planting. In the future, trees bear fruit every year.
Important! Weather conditions during the formation of the ovary and fruiting have little effect on the yield of this variety.
Gestation period
The term removable ripeness of the fruits begins in the second half of September. Do not be alarmed if the apples do not seem to be ripe enough. At the time of removal from the tree, they should have a yellow-orange color with a pink blush. But do not be afraid of this, because the consumer maturity of the fruit comes already in the month of January. 
Important! Do not pick fruits from the tree that have a pronounced green color.
Yield
The yield of apple trees "Jonagold" is high and steadily increasing. Thus, 7-8 summer apples give an average of 15 kg of apples, 9-12 years old - 40-50 kg, and trees of 20-30 years give birth to 60-100 kg per year from one tree.
Transportability and storage
Fruit transportability is considered high. When transporting apples perfectly preserve their presentation. You can store the fruit using two options:
- in the refrigerator at a temperature of 2-3 degrees the fruits are stored until April.
- in storage, cellar - until February.
Disease and pest resistance
The considered variety of apple trees is not sufficiently resistant to diseases and pests. In opposition to scab, he has averages. 
For frequent and dangerous diseases for apple trees are powdery mildew. Due to the low level of resistance indicators, it is necessary to constantly help trees deal with this type of disease. In the spring "Jonagold" necessarily treated Bordeaux solution. In the period after the formation of buds and before flowering trees should be sprayed with special means containing copper.
Winter hardiness
Winter hardiness can not be called a strength of this variety, it is below average or even close to low. Trees withstand extreme winters with extreme temperature changes. In such severe weather conditions, the trees get noticeable damage, after which they are very long and not fully restored, which significantly affects the decrease in their yield.
Did you know? In the 1980s, the trees could not recover after the great winter frosts in Polesie of Ukraine. After a couple of years they were uprooted.
Fruit use
Apples of this variety are classified as fruits with universal use. They are good not only fresh, but also in the form of all kinds of conservation - juices, compotes, mashed potatoes, jams, preserves. Great demand for fruits "Jonagold" form baby food manufacturers who process them into dry powder.
When growing apples, one should consistently adhere to the rules of planting, feeding, whitewashing, pruning, spraying.
Advantages and disadvantages
After analyzing all the main characteristics of apple trees "Jonagold", it is necessary to highlight their main advantages and disadvantages. 
The obvious strengths of this variety are the following:
- large fruits with excellent appearance and taste characteristics;
- high and stable yield;
- precocity;
- high transportability;
- long storage;
- universal use in cooking.
But among the huge number of advantages there are disadvantages:
- low disease resistance;
- insufficient winter hardiness.
