Apple tree (Malus domestica) NATALUŠKA

Columnar Apple (Malus domestica) 'Natalyushka'

A reliable Russian variety with high productivity and resistance.

'Natalyushka' is a robust Russian early winter apple variety, prized mainly for its reliability, high frost hardiness, high productivity, and good disease resistance. It forms a compact crown of a columnar or narrow pyramidal shape. The fruits are large, greenish-yellow with a delicate pink blush, have firm, juicy flesh, and a pleasant, sweet-tart, aromatic flavor. The fruits are ready for consumption immediately after harvest and store well.

Main advantages of the variety:

• High productivity and disease resistance: Guarantees an abundant and healthy harvest.
• Good frost hardiness: Also suitable for regions with harsher winters.
• Large and tasty fruits: Fruits weighing 150–200 g with a pleasant sweet-tart taste.
• Columnar to narrow-pyramidal growth: Also suitable for smaller spaces.
• Good storability: Keeps for 3–4 months in storage.

Origin and Registration

• Country of origin: Russia
• Institution: Rossosh Zonal Fruit and Berry Experimental Station
• Year of registration: 2005

Variety Characteristics

Tree

Growth is strong and fast; the crown is columnar or medium-broadly pyramidal, dense, and compact. It comes into bearing in the fourth year after planting and produces high yields. It is cross-pollinated.

Fruit

• Size and weight: Large, with an average weight of 150–200 grams.
• Shape: Round-conical or round-cylindrical.
• Skin: Smooth, greenish-yellow, turning light yellow at full maturity, with a delicate pink blush.
• Flesh: White, firm, fine-grained, and juicy.
• Taste: Pleasant, sweet-tart, aromatic.

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost hardiness: Good.
• Disease resistance: Resistant to various diseases.
• Drought resistance: Medium.

Growing Recommendations

• Suitability: A reliable variety for growers in temperate climates.
• Pollination: As it is cross-pollinated, it requires another apple tree as a pollinator.

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest time: September.
• Eating maturity: Immediately after harvest.
• Storability: Good, lasts for 3–4 months.
• Transportability: Poor; the fruits are sensitive to bruising.