Apple Gornist

Summer apple variety, obtained at the Sverdlovsk Experimental Orchard Station by L. A. Kotov from seed sowing of free-pollination hybrid form No. 2-8-2 (Corichnoe Pолосatoye x pollen mixture of Ural apple varieties). It is beginning to be propagated by nurseries in the Middle Urals, young plantings in this region and neighboring areas (mainly in amateur gardens) have entered fruiting. It tends to more intensive propagation. Approved in 2002.

Tree vigorous, with a pyramidal crown that becomes broad-pyramidal with age. Main branches have reddish, flaking bark, raised upward. Fruit set type is ring-shaped, starting from two-year-old wood.

Shoots with dark-brown bark, straight, heavily hairy, with short internodes. Leaves broadly egg-shaped (occasionally round-oval), short-tapered, flat, green, matte, heavily hairy. Leaf margin finely toothed. Petiole short, with small awl-shaped stipules.

Flowers large, saucer-shaped, petal tips curved upward, margins wavy and entire. Petals white, half-closed. Stigmas long, stigma hairs positioned above or level with stamens. Buds initially pink, then cream-colored.

Fruits (see photo) medium-small, weighing 90g (up to 110g), one-dimensional, elongated-egg-shaped, slightly ribbed. Skin smooth, calyx tube narrow, acute-conical, without rusting. Main color creamy, covering color bright, uniformly spotted with red-orange. Calyx closed, nestled in a small, narrow, grooved saucer. Sub-calyx tube medium, cup-shaped. Heart egg-shaped, seed chambers half-open.

Flesh creamy, coarse-grained, very juicy, slightly coarse, tart-sweet taste. Chemical composition of fruits: soluble solids — 11.5%, total sugars — 9.25%, titratable acids — 0.65%, ascorbic acid — 10.9 mg/100g, P-active substances (catechins) — 253.8 mg/100g.

Summer ripening variety. High fruit appearance and marketability.

Fruits are firmly held on the tree.

Fruits suitable for table use and good for processing. Fresh fruit shelf life — 20 days.

Self-sterile, well-pollinated by other varieties.

Trees begin fruiting on the 4th-8th year after budding. High and regular yield. Gornist’s winter hardiness is very high, comparable to the variety Uralitsa. The variety is low-maintenance and possesses field resistance to scab even during severe epidemics.

Advantages of the variety: high winter hardiness and yield, resistance to scab, fruit color and high marketability.