Lukashenko working at subbotnik in his small homeland

President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko is planting an apple orchard in his small homeland as part of the nationwide subbotnik [voluntary labour day], BelTA reports

In total, the orchard will consist of 411 apple trees. 186 of them have already been planted (93 of Belorusskoe Sladkoe variety and 93 – Syabryna variety).

The Head of State has a special warm attitude towards his small homeland. "My heart belongs to this corner of Belarus. This is my place of power. This land and its residents have taught me to love my country and my people. I will never get tired of thanking my small homeland for the happy years of my childhood and youth spent here, as well as for the energy that this place still feeds me today," he said at the Kupala Night festivities (Alexandria Gathers Friends) last July.

In 2018, Aleksandr Lukashenko and his three sons worked over the landscaping of Trofimov’s Spring in the small homeland: near the agro-town of Alexandria. Since then, the place has become popular not only among locals, but also tourists.

In 2021, the Head of State was engaged in landscaping the territory of the popular Alexandria Gathers Friends festival, which is held annually on occasion of the Kupala Night.

During today’s subbotnik, the remaining 225 trees of five varieties are being planted with the participation of the Head of State. Most of them are the already mentioned varieties, and the others comprise 25 apple trees of the Kovalenkovskoye, Konfetnoe, and Red Free varieties.

The former four varieties are of Belarusian selection. Beloruskoe Sladkoe is a short-fruited winter variety bred by the Institute of Horticulture of Belarus about 20 years ago. Apples are large with an average weight of about 160-180 grams, and the yield is usually high.

The Syabryna variety was bred back in the 1980s by Belarusian Grigory Kovalenko. The variety is among the late autumn ripening ones. An apple weight is about 150 grams.

The Kovalenkovskoye variety became a result of an accidental pollination of the previously existing Lafram variety. Kovalenkovskoye was also bred by Belarusians, and this variety is also sometimes called Krasnoe Sladkoe [Red Sweet]. It is a typical late-summer variety with apples weighing up to 200 grams.

Konfetnoe is classified as a group of summer apple trees. It was bred in Belarus and was not zoned for agricultural gardening, but apple trees of this variety are now often planted in private orchards. Konfetnoe is loved for its amazingly delicious and good-looking fruits.

In turn, Red Free is a summer variety bred in the United States. It is a complex hybrid with excellent characteristics. Apples look good and are really tasty.

photos: www.president.gov.by