Golden apples description of varieties, subspecies, growing features

Description of the variety

A distinctive feature of apples is the characteristic greenish-yellow color of the peel. During the ripening process, the color of the fruit changes from bright green to yellowish. Ripe fruits can acquire a rich golden color. The peel is usually dotted with small black dots.

The shape of the apple is round, slightly elongated, making its outline resemble a cone. The size of an individual fruit is medium-sized. Depending on the characteristics of the seeds and formation conditions, the weight of the fruit reaches up to 220 g.

Important! When harvesting, you must pick the apples yourself, since fruits that fall to the ground may lose their shape and wrinkle.

The advantage of Golden Delicious is the pronounced sweet taste of the pulp. This quality determines the use of fruits in the production of fruit salads, purees, pies, and jams. The ripe fruit has a creamy hue and a bright, characteristic aroma.

The pulp of the fruit is of high quality and has a medium density. Too soft specimens indicate the expiration of the apple’s shelf life, hard ones indicate its immaturity.

The Golden apple harvest takes place in the fall, until early December. The frost resistance of the plant makes the variety available for cultivation in central Russia. Fruit trees are also able to tolerate drought and high air temperatures.

The advantage of growing Golden Delicious is the high speed of fruit ripening. The variety begins to produce crops in the second year of development, but over the years the number of fruits on the tree decreases. To maintain fruitfulness, the plant is pollinated. The volume of fruit from a young, well-groomed apple tree reaches 120 kg in one season.

Apples are able to retain their physical and chemical properties for a long time. This makes it possible to export the variety and facilitates the transportation of fruit over long distances without loss of quality.

Rules for planting seedlings

That's right, a Golden tree planted on time quickly adapts to new conditions and grows. In addition, a tree can grow in one place for up to 20 years. The choice of site is very important for the subsequent apple harvest. Particular attention is paid to the issue of planting.

Timing and choice of landing site

Traditionally, the time for planting Golden is in the fall (before frost) or spring (before the start of sap flow). The Golden apple tree prefers sunny and open places, but without wind and drafts. An elevated area without nearby groundwater is suitable.

Preparing the site and seedlings

Apple trees are planted on light loam or turfy soils. The wells are placed at a distance of up to 3 m and a nutrient mixture consisting of:

• mineral compounds;
• compost;
• humus;
• leaf soil.

Varietal seedlings with a closed root system are placed in holes and dug in. Bare-rooted Golden seedlings are treated in a clay mash and planted, spreading the roots over the surface. The root collar is not buried. The tree trunk circle is watered and mulched.

Chemical composition and calorie content of Golden apples

Most of the fruit is water. The substance makes up about half the contents of an apple. The remaining 50% is filled with beneficial chemical elements, vitamins, malic acid, and antioxidants.

The pulp and skin of the fruit contains the following components:

• iodine;
• calcium;
• manganese;
• sodium;
• fluorine;
• iron;
• potassium;
• magnesium;
• copper;
• phosphorus;
• zinc;
• carotene;
• vitamins of groups A, B, C, PP.

Depending on the quality of the fruit and the conditions of its ripening, the calorie content of an apple can vary from 43 to 57 kcal per 100 grams of product. Most of Golden Delicious is carbohydrates, the content of which reaches 10.7 g.

The amount of protein in the fruit pulp reaches 0.5 g, and the volume of fat ranges from 0.2 to 0.5 grams.

Properties of Golden apples

The vitamin-rich composition of fruits has a positive effect on the functioning of the body and human condition. Resistance to low temperatures and the ability to withstand transportation conditions without damage allows you to find apples on the counter in summer and winter.

The variety has a number of useful qualities, which are explained by the presence of carotene, vitamins and a large number of chemical elements in the fruit. However, certain properties of apples with unlimited consumption can harm the body.

Benefit

The high carotene content in Golden Delicious affects the quality of vision. Together with calcium, the substance has a positive effect on the condition of the nail plate and bones, strengthening them. Vitamins of group C are known for their anti-cold properties.

Apples affect the immune system, improve a person’s general condition, help to get a boost of energy and lift one’s mood.

The seeds inside the fruit contain a large supply of iodine. The substance is good for the health of the thyroid gland, so if you have problems with the organ, it is recommended to eat crushed apple seeds. However, you need to eat the seeds in small quantities - a maximum of five daily.

Fact! Apples help destroy excess cholesterol, cleanse blood vessels and thereby increase their lumen.

As a result, the quality of hematopoiesis and the functioning of the cardiovascular system improves. The risk of atherosclerosis, hyper- and hypotension, and coronary heart disease is reduced.

Golden Delicious pulp contains large amounts of antioxidants that eliminate toxic substances in the body's cells. The component is useful for maintaining the normal condition of the skin, maintaining its youth and firmness.

The properties of malic acid are to prevent oral health. The action of the substance causes a rush of blood to the jaws, stimulation of the gums, and elimination of the yellowish tint of teeth.

Apple pulp consists of insoluble fibers that are known to have a laxative effect. Consuming this variety for constipation helps normalize stools and improve intestinal function.

Due to the large amount of water in the composition, the fruits provoke frequent urination, which helps the body get rid of harmful toxins. The removal of excess fluids reduces the number of edemas and normalizes the condition of the skin.

Golden apples contain iron, which is useful for the quality of the circulatory system. The substance affects hemoglobin levels and oxygen saturation of organs. Iron intake is necessary for the prevention and treatment of blood diseases (anemia, leukemia).

Also, the contents of fruits can affect the nervous system, preventing overexertion and stress.

Harm and contraindications

When eating apples, it is important to observe moderation. Overeating provokes side effects and discomfort in the abdominal area. The laxative effect of the fruit can affect stools and cause diarrhea.

Individual intolerance to Golden Delicious occurs. If your body does not accept fruits, you must stop eating them. Intolerance is distinguished by a specific reaction of the body: problems with stool, symptoms of bowel movements or allergies, anaphylactic shock.

Restrictions on the consumption of apples apply to people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. For different types of ulcers, gastritis, colitis, it is necessary to eat fruits with caution.

Apple seeds contain a number of useful elements, but eating more than five per day is dangerous.

Attention! Among the components of apple seeds, amygdalin glycoside is isolated. Under the influence of gastric juice, the compound breaks down into separate substances, one of which is cyanide.

With frequent consumption of apple seeds, there is a high risk of seriously poisoning the body.

Rules of use

Golden Delicious apples are eaten with the peel, after washing the fruit with running water. If desired, the fruits are peeled and only the pulp is eaten. Apples can be cut into slices and grated.

Due to the sweet taste of the pulp, the Golden Delicious variety has become widespread in cooking. Juices are squeezed out of the fruits and compotes are made. The product is consumed in the form of jams and preserves. Apples are used in fruit salads and pureed.

To make jam you must follow the following recipe:

1. Peel the apples (one kilogram). Cut into slices. Eliminate the pits.
2. Place pieces of fruit in a saucepan or basin, cover with a kilogram of granulated sugar.
3. Place the container on the stove, light the fire and fill it with a glass of water.
4. Wait until it comes to a boil and let the mixture simmer for five minutes.
5. Turn off the stove and leave the pan for twelve hours.
6. Finish cooking the apples until the sweetness is completely cooked.

The variety can be baked in the oven with or without adding filling. Cottage cheese, dried fruits, nuts, and honey are added to the fruits.

You can bake apples with curd filling in four steps:

1. Cut out the core and place Golden Delicious in a pre-greased mold.
2. For the filling, use cottage cheese (about 30 g per apple), sugar, raisins and raw egg. Mix the ingredients.
3. Fill the holes in the apples with curd mixture.
4. Bake in the oven at 220°C for 15-25 minutes.

Fruits are suitable for dessert dishes. The sweet pulp goes well with pastry rolls, pies, and casseroles. Muffins, smoothies, and confiture are made from Golden apples.

To prepare cottage cheese casserole, you must follow the recipe:

1. In a bowl, mix cottage cheese (half a kilo), sugar (two tablespoons), egg whites (two). Add vanillin (teaspoon).
2. In a separate bowl, make a mixture of semolina and sour cream (three tablespoons of each component). Let the mixture sit for about ten minutes.
3. Prepare a bowl. Place prunes on the bottom (chop them first).
4. Divide the apple into two equal parts. Cut the first half into thin slices and place in a second layer.
5. Add the mixture of semolina and sour cream to the curd mass, divide into two halves. Lay one of them in the third layer.
6. Add the remaining apple and cottage cheese and semolina dough.
7. Place the mold in the oven for an hour at 180°C.
8. Drizzle the finished casserole with honey if desired.

Golden apples are also used to make a healthy biscuit. The sweetness is characterized by low calorie components.

The galette recipe is as follows:

1. Make the dough. To do this, sift rye (half a glass) and wheat flour (a glass) into a bowl. Add baking powder (half a teaspoon), salt, granulated sugar (a tablespoon) and vanilla sugar.
2. Throw in a piece of chilled butter (50 g) and grind all the ingredients until crumbs form.
3. Pour milk (5 tablespoons), continuously kneading the dough. Make a ball out of the mass.
4. Leave the dough in the refrigerator for an hour.
5. Add granulated sugar, vanilla sugar, raw egg yolk to 150 g of ricotta. Mix.
6. Cut apples (2 pieces) into slices. Squeeze the juice from the lime and pour over the fruit. Sprinkle starch, sugar, cinnamon on top.
7. Roll out the dough to a thin flat cake. Brush the surface with ricotta. The circle should be smaller in diameter than the dough itself.
8. Place apples on top of ricotta. Fold the edges of the cake, brush with egg white, and lightly sprinkle with granulated sugar.
9. Bake in the oven at 190°C.
10. After 30-40 minutes, leave to cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.

Apples are turned into dried fruits, which are then used in making compotes. The fruits can also be preserved.

Tree care

Includes traditional activities, without which apple yields drop sharply. A large “basket” of apples can be collected by carrying out all the necessary agrotechnical measures during the growing season.

Pruning and crown formation

Pruning begins immediately after planting, shortening the seedling by 1-2 buds. Then, formative pruning is carried out annually, removing shoots directed deeper into the crown to minimize its thickening.

Every year, an additional central shoot is formed on the Golden apple tree, which should be removed, controlling the number of skeletal branches. Sanitary, rejuvenating pruning is important, in which old, diseased or improperly growing branches are removed.

Before fruiting, apple trees cut off part of the ovaries, since branches with heavy apples will break. In addition, the abundance of fruits reduces their size.

Watering

The Golden apple tree needs watering, which is carried out 3-4 times per season; before the start of sap flow, until the buds open, before the apple tree blossoms, during the formation of fruits, in the fall, in preparation for the winter season. 3-4 buckets of water are poured under each tree.

Feeding

Fertilizers are not needed if the tree grows on black soil, but on poor soils their application is very important. The sequence of feeding is as follows:

1. In spring, for the growth of apple trees, nitrogen is needed, which is added in the form of urea or mullein infusion is used.
2. During the fruiting period, they are fertilized with a phosphorus-potassium mixture, which is poured in liquid form into grooves dug around the tree trunk.
3. In autumn, the Golden tree is watered abundantly and mulched with humus. In spring, melt water will deliver nutritional components to the roots.

It is best to alternate organic and inorganic mixtures throughout the season. When using chemical fertilizers, you should strictly follow the instructions and not exceed the dosage, otherwise the “chemistry” will end up in the stomach of the fruit lover.

Protection from cold and rodents

Autumn work includes whitewashing the trunk with lime, which protects against pests and diseases. On the eve of frost, the tree trunk circle is covered with a layer of mulch made from humus, compost and peat. Then the trunk is hilled up, covered with spruce branches, and tied around with a net, which is protection against rodents.

Young plants are not only spudded, but also protected from frost by wrapping them in agrofibre. This way the seedling will survive the winter easier. Large trees are difficult to cover, but usually there is no need to do so.

Diseases and pests

The Golden apple tree is sensitive to “attacks” of pests and diseases. Most often it suffers from scab and powdery mildew, which is especially noticeable in damp, rainy summers. Copper chloride and colloidal sulfur solution save from these diseases. Among chemical preparations, Skor, Topaz, Ridomil-Gold will help.