Apple Reliable

A summer variety developed by A.V. Bolonyev at the Far Eastern Research Institute of Agriculture from a cross between Augustovskoye Far Eastern and Ribbed. Widespread in Primorsky Krai and southern regions of Khabarovsk Krai. Found in amateur gardens of Jewish Autonomous, Amur, and Sakhalin Oblasts. One of the best summer varieties for fruit quality.

Tree is strong-growing, with a round-conical crown of medium density; skeletal branches are positioned at a 90° angle, light-brown. Buds form on last year's growth.

Shoots of medium thickness and thin, slightly curved, weakly hairy, greenish-gray; stipules gray, convex; buds conical, slightly pressed. Leaves medium-sized, egg-shaped with a rounded base, doubly serrated; leaf blade slightly wavy, medium-sized, hairy underneath. Upper surface dark green, lower surface light green.

Flowers medium-sized, mostly form at tips of one-year shoots. Pedicels vary in length (1 to 2.5 cm). Petals white, round. Stamens with large anthers positioned significantly higher than stigma.

Fruits medium-sized (average mass 38 g, maximum 50 g), round or slightly flattened. Main color pale yellow with greenish tinge, covering color solid or streaked carmine blush. Peduncle medium length and thickness, fits into shallow cup. Calyx shallow, sepals sparse, small, greenish, non-falling.

Flesh white, juicy, sweet-sour pleasant taste. One of the best summer varieties for flavor, surpassing parent forms. Contains: sugars — 10.8%, acids — 1.0%, tannins — 0.9%, pectins — 0.8%, ascorbic acid — 17 mg/100g.

Fruits ripen August 15–20. Consumer maturity of individual fruits occurs directly on the tree or after 5-day storage. Fruits keep 15–20 days, up to 60 days in cold storage facilities. Main use — fresh consumption, for making jams, compotes, and pickles.

The variety is practically self-sterile, fruits well in mixed plantings with Amur Harvest, Early Bolonyev, Amur Red, and Vanguard.

Beginning of fruiting — on the third to fourth year of tree life, mass fruiting — on the sixth to seventh year. High and annual yield. On the trial plot, yield was: at age 6 — from 8 to 13.2 kg, at age 10 — from 43.6 to 65 kg per tree.

Winter hardiness is high; less damaged by sunscald than other semi-cultivars. Moderate resistance to monilial blight, resistant to scab.

Advantages of the variety: one of the best for winter hardiness, yield, and fruit quality.

Disadvantages of the variety: small fruits, not competitive on the modern market, relatively short tree lifespan.

The variety is interesting as a parent form for breeding.