Among the wide variety of apple varieties, the "Gala" apple-tree stands out for its merits. High popularity and recognition of the "commercial" variety won in Europe, the United States of America, Canada and Brazil. Such recognition of the virtues led the apple trees of the "Gala" variety to be used in industrial plantations.
Inference history
New Zealand breeder J.H. Kidd, by crossing the apple tree Golden Delicious and Golden Kidd Orange, in 1957 received a new sort of apple that called Gala, which means “solemn ".
Did you know? In the states of America - Washington, West Virginia and Rhode Island - the apple is recognized as the official fruit of the state, and since the 30s of the last century, it is called New York ("Big Apple").
Assessing the not quite bright external qualities of the fruit, J.H. Kidd is taken for the breeding of hybrid varieties with more attractive data. With their advent kinship, the variety is becoming increasingly popular. Having excellent characteristics and taste qualities, the variety begins to be used in plantations of industrial volumes of New Zealand and Europe since 1965. 
Zoned in the central part of Ukraine and the southern regions of Russia since 1993, but on a significant scale plantings are not used yet. In 2016, the brand led to the recognition of the “most popular in the world” dignity “Gala”.
Tree description
Apple varieties "Gala" is characteristic of such a description.
- Tree: medium height, not more than 3.5 meters in height.
- Root system: strongly developed, fibrous type.
- Crown: sparse, spreading, rounded and elongated shape.
- Forming branches: medium strength and upper direction of growth.
- Bloom: the end of May and the beginning of June.
- Peduncles: medium, rounded, white.
- Leaves: elongated with a pronounced tip at the end, dark green, their lower part densely pubescent.
Did you know? In order to try all the breeding varieties of apples, it will take more than 20 years of life, subject to the use of apples of one variety per day.
Fruit Description
Fruits of a grade of "Gala" - the average sizes, one-dimensional and rounded shape. At the top of the apple a small ribbing is permissible. Fruit weight is 115-145 grams, but at the maximum it can reach 170 grams. The color is yellow with vertical orange-red stripes. In some subspecies of the "Gala" variety, red blush can completely cover the surface of the apple. The skin of the fruit is glossy, thin, but strong enough. The flesh is light, with a yellow tinge, dense, with a granular structure. The taste of apples is moderately sweet with pronounced sourness. The aroma of apples - sweet anise with caramel and nutty notes. 
Lighting Requirements
Depending on where the Gala apples grow on the plot, the fruits may vary in size and color. One of the main factors of good growth and development is considered to be solar lighting, or "insolation". For optimal growth conditions and uniform fruiting throughout the entire crown, the tree requires a large amount of light, so it is important to disembark in well-lit sunny areas.
Important! The lack of light will reduce the number of bookmarks of fruit buds, respectively, will reduce the yield and worsen the taste of apples.
"Gala" moderately makes partial shade, but this can largely affect the yield of the tree.
Soil requirements
For good development, "Gala" requires fertile soil (chernozem, loam, sandy loam). It is preferable to plant the apple trees on dry and elevated areas without close ground water. This variety loves dry soil without moisture overload.
With watering the soil should not be zealous. Young trees require one-time moderate watering per week, and mature ones as needed. At high humidity, climate additional watering is not required. 
Affect the health and development of the tree major agrotechnical methods of tillage:
- periodic loosening and annual digging. Such treatment will favorably affect the water-air and thermal "climate" of the soil;
- fertilizing, produced simultaneously with digging, will increase nutrients in the soil. It is important to observe moderation in fertilizer application, and it is better to feed with intervals through the season (year). As a top dressing it is necessary to use organic (natural) fertilizers. For these purposes, a mixture of compost and manure or ash with lime is suitable. Also in the soil can be applied and mineral fertilizers in small quantities, observing moderation;
- soil mulching with sawdust or straw will create favorable soil temperature conditions.
Important! Digging and mulching produced in the complex, will increase the efficiency of feeding and increase the degree of hardiness of the tree.
Pollination
The apple tree "Gala" does not apply to self-fruiting varieties and requires neighborhood with pollinators. Favorable for yield neighborhood with varieties "Idared", "James Griv", "Golden Delicious", "Melrose" and "Elstar".
Fruiting
The beginning of fruiting in a young tree comes only for 3-7 years and depends on the graft (graft on another plant). With a graft on a dwarf plant, the beginning of fruiting may begin already in the 3rd year, and a graft on a high-growth plant will lead to fruiting only by the 7th year. Fruiting in "Gala" mixed type, this means that the fruit ovaries can be formed both on the tops of the fruit branches, and on the fruit twigs (one-year increments) and ringworms (short annual gains). 
Gestation period
The fruiting season begins at the end of September and lasts until the onset of frost (late November). At the same time, removable maturity falls at the end of September, and by the end of November consumer maturity comes.
In autumn, the fruits of apple varieties such as Red Chif, Bashkir Beauty, Pepin Saffron, Semerenko, Uralets, Shtreyfling, Solnyshko, Zhigulevskoe ripen.
Yield
The annual harvest of an adult tree can reach 50-70 kg. On young trees, the yield is more moderate, but annual. The variety is prone to congestion and overabundance of the crop. This tendency of the variety can lead to a periodicity of fruiting or negatively affect the quality of the fruit, namely, the size.
To avoid congestion and increase the size of the fruit in the period of mass flowering, it is necessary to thin out the flower stalks. If this moment is missed, then it is permissible to thin out the already formed fruit, removing the central fruit in each bundle. With the "aging" and depletion of the tree yield gradually decreases.
Did you know? The oldest apple tree in the world grows in Manhattan (New York). It was planted in 1947 and still bears fruit.
Transportability and storage
Safety during transportation is estimated as average, but, in general, apples retain their presentation during transport over short distances. The shelf life of apples is long and can reach half a year. It is necessary to store the crop in a cool and dark place (cellar or cellar).
Important! To increase the shelf life of fruits with damage, signs of illness or pests must be separated from the main crop.
Disease and pest resistance
The apple tree loves dry soils and moderate watering; therefore, it is resistant to fungal diseases that arise against the background of high humidity: scab, powdery mildew (oidium), and rot.
But, like any other fruit tree, Gala can be amazed. such diseases:
- black cancer - a fungal disease that affects the bark, branches, leaves and fruits. Manifested by black depressed spots and brown dots on the trunk. Penetrates the fungus through damage on the tree;
- root cancer is a viral disease triggered by soil bacteria. External manifestations can only be increasing weakness, lethargy of the tree and stopping in development. Bacteria penetrate through damaged roots.
The most dangerous pests of the "Gala" variety, leading to yield reduction:
- Codling moth - caterpillar, and subsequently a butterfly hitting the fruit. As a result of her vital activity, apples fall prematurely;
- Apple weevil-flowering beetle is an insect whose larvae feed on inflorescences of flower buds. As a result, the amount of harvest is significantly reduced or absent altogether;
- the leafworm is an insect whose larvae feed on the leaves, buds, and fruits of the tree. As a result of their vital activity, the leaves are deformed, and the amount of the crop is reduced.
At the first manifestations of the presence of pests, the tree must be treated with insecticides according to the schedule indicated on the packaging or the container with the preparation (Balazo, Kazumin, Agrostak-Bio, Calypso, Decis Profi, Fitoverm).
Important! In order not to harm the apple can not exceed the specified concentration, and reduce the processing time.
For the prevention of diseases or pests in the early spring, whitewashing of the trunk is used (in a young and low tree, the lower branches should also be whitened). Such an event will create a protective layer and prevent the occurrence of pests and pathogens. The treatment of crown with fungicides, for example, 3% Bordeaux liquid, will also have a favorable effect. It is necessary to make spraying in the early spring in advance before blooming of kidneys. After shedding the flowers, wood treatment with a fungicide (Bordeaux liquid, copper oxychloride) can be repeated.
Winter hardiness
The ability of the Gala apple tree to tolerate fluctuations in low temperatures and other climatic conditions of the winter period is estimated as average. The variety is sufficiently resistant to short frosts and is able to withstand low temperatures down to -25 ° C. "Gala" is a late flowering variety that saves it during the spring "return" frost. With proper care (digging, feeding, mulching), the hardiness of the tree increases.
Did you know? Nutritionists say that a single eaten apple has an invigorating effect on the body, equivalent to a cup of coffee.
Fruit use
Options for the use of fruit inexhaustible. Due to the low calorie content and high content of vitamins and minerals apples "Gala" are actively used:
- in cooking - as a separate dish or ingredient for the preparation of sauces, marinades, salads, desserts, drinks, as well as in preservation for the preparation of jams, preserves, compotes. Fruits are used in raw, thermally treated and dried forms;
- in cosmetology - as the main component with a wide range of effects in shampoos, balms, face masks / hair, creams and lotions, toothpastes, etc .;
- in animal husbandry and zoology - as feed / complementary food for animals.
The benefits of using apples in these areas is invaluable.Learn how to make apple wine and cider at home.
Subspecies based on the variety "Gala"
Considering the appearance of the variety "Gala" is not too bright and attractive, able to attract the attention of the buyer, the breeders decided to correct the "mistake" and brought out new subspecies of the variety with a more intense color of the fruit. There are more than 20 such subspecies. Among them, the most vivid in their description of apple trees are the varieties: "Gala Mast", "Royal Gala", "Mondial Gala".
"Gala Mast" (or Regal Queen) was launched by N. Fulvord in Hastings (New Zealand). This is the most popular and most large-fruited subspecies, having a brighter color. A bright red blush of an apple takes up the entire surface of the fruit. 
Important! Apples acquire their characteristic color only by the end of August.
80% of fruits in their mass reach 170 grams, and in diameter - 70 mm. This is the most promising variety for industrial use.
"Mondial Gala" (or "Imperial Gala") - launched in 1978 by D. Mitchell. Subspecies with a more saturated color, by the end of August, apples become carmine in color or covered with barely brownish stripes. A feature of the subspecies are the fruits of elongated shape. 
"Royal Gala" (or "Tenra") - launched in 1973 by T. Howe in Matamata (New Zealand). The subspecies resembles "Gala", but has a more intense and brightly pronounced color. Fruits have a cone-shaped cut form. It was the apples of "Royal Gala" that planted industrial plants in Europe and the USA. 
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of "Gala":
- unpretentious care;
- early ripeness;
- high yield;
- excellent taste;
- small sizes;
- long shelf life;
- widespread use of fruits.
Did you know? Apple tree in ancient Greece was considered the sacred tree of Apollo, and the apple was named after it - in English "apple".
Despite a lot of merit, variety has some disadvantages.
- low winter hardiness;
- ovary control;
- uneven fruiting;
- soft color of the fruit;
- susceptibility to certain diseases and pests.
Variety "Gala" is suitable for growing in temperate climates with warm winters. He is quite unpretentious in care, but requires adherence to special techniques of agricultural engineering. With quality care, the variety maintains high yields. "Gala" is resistant to many diseases, but is prone to the attack of certain types of pests.
