Apple Gift to the Count

Variety selected by the All-Russian Research and Technology Institute of Horticulture and Nurseries. Breeders: V. V. Kichina, N. G. Morozova, and V. P. Yagunov. Obtained by crossing the old Russian variety Viazhnikovka with the American donor D101. Rapidly spread in dacha and private gardens in the Moscow region and more northern areas as a late-winter 'freeze-resistant' variety with large red fruits. Included in the State Register in 2001. During the severe winter of 1978/79 in the garden of the 17 MUD collective farm near Vladimir, among a large planting of apple hybrids, 102 fruiting hybrids survived the frost of about -42°C, while other varieties such as Antonovka, Anisa gray, Anisa red, Streifling, and others were completely frozen. Among them was a seedling later named the 'Gift to the Count,' which maintained its fruit quality and quantity without degradation. In summer 1979, this seedling produced an abundant harvest of large red apples with good flavor, and its apples were practically unmatched among local varieties in March-April.

Tree is a standard, vigorous variety, with a moderately dense crown, well-leafed, spreading, and inversely pyramidal, with fruiting primarily on multi-year spurs. Fruit may also appear on two-year-old wood. Branching and crown development are strong, and the variety clearly belongs to the vigorous types.

Shoots of medium length and thickness, dark gray, straight. Leaves medium-sized, elongated, dark green, wavy, leathery with medium-length petioles. Leaf margins are serrated.

Flowers are white-pink, small, with a stigma column, stigmas raised above the pollen sacs.

Fruits are large to very large (up to 350 g), irregular, round-conical, slightly ribbed, uneven in shape, surface almost smooth. Skin medium-thick, base color yellow, overcolor often very strong (80-100%), purple-red, almost continuous from numerous stripes, subcutaneous dots moderately visible, with slight waxy bloom, almost no rust.

Fruits have an attractive appearance. Fruit stalk medium length and thickness, calyx and cup medium, calyx closed type. Core medium. Few seeds, medium size, brown color.

Flesh is light yellow, tart-sweet flavor, mild aroma, medium juiciness, medium firmness, almost fine-grained. Flavor good.

Fruits store well under normal conditions until the end of April.

Fruit production begins on the fifth-sixth year, and on MM106, it fruits from the second year. Yields are abundant and regular, but vary from year to year. Cold resistance is very high and exceeds that of Antonovka. Good field resistance to fungal diseases.

Advantages of the variety: high winter hardiness for areas north of Moscow, large red fruits of market type, late-winter fruit consumption when virtually all local varieties have already finished storage.