Apricot
Apricot is a very tasty and healthy fruit of the apricot tree. Some hundred years ago, apricots were considered exclusively a southern plant, however, the development of selection allowed them to get into temperate regions. Apricot yields are very high, some varieties it reaches 100 kg per tree per year. Planting and caring for an apricot has a number of features related to the origin of the plant and its adaptation to colder areas, however, if everything is done correctly, there will be practically no problems with growing this plant.
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Botanical description
Apricot is a deciduous tree 4-8 m high with a spherical crown. The bark of the trunk and old shoots is brown, young shoots are brown-red. Over time, the top layer of the bark cracks.
Fruiting apricot tree
Leaves ovoid, slightly pointed at the end. Their length is from 5 to 9 cm. The perimeter of the leaves is covered with small teeth.
Petioles have a size of up to 3 cm. Apricot roots penetrate up to 8 m deep, although most of them are located at a depth of 30 to 60 cm.
Bloom plants occurs before the appearance of leaves, most often at the end of March or the first half of April. The petals of the flowers are white or white-pink. The diameter of the flower is approximately 1.5-2.5 cm. Since there are still few insects at this time, apricot pollination is carried out by the wind.
Apricot in bloom
Fruit are drupes with juicy yellowish-red flesh. The surface of the stone is smooth or rough, the walls are relatively thick. The skin of apricots has a barely noticeable pubescence. Its color can vary widely - from greenish-yellow to orange. Often there is a reddish "tan" on the fruits, occupying more than half of their surface.
apricot fruit
The weight of apricots, depending on the variety, varies widely - from 5 to 80 g. Fruiting comes in July or August. The seeds have a bitter or sweet taste. Some varieties are edible.
apricot kernels
The lifespan of an apricot can be hundreds of years. Moreover, active fruiting begins from the age of three and can last up to 40 years. Majority varieties can tolerate winters with temperatures down to -25°C. Thanks to the branched root system, plants can do without watering for up to three months.
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Landing place
The thermophilicity of the apricot determines the placement of this tree in a warm sunny area with mandatory protection from the cold wind. It is undesirable to grow them in the lowlands due to the stagnation of cold air. At the same time, the southwestern slopes, so loved by many cultures, are also not suitable for apricot, since in such areas the plant begins an active vegetation to the detriment of the formation of fruits.
A tree growing in a warm and sunny area
It is necessary that the groundwater lies low enough, since even a short-term flooding of the root system is detrimental to the plant. The soil under the tree should have good breathability.
The soils of medium fertility are most favorable for apricot. It can be sandy loam, or loam, both light and heavy. The acidity level of such soils should be neutral. Soil liming is done annually. For liming, wood ash is used at the rate of 500 g per tree.
Planting seedlings
Given the average size of mature trees, it is desirable to plant according to the scheme: 4-6 meters between the trees, and the rows were located at a distance of 4-4.5 m from each other.
Landing is carried out in the spring, the best planting time is the end of the flowering period in adult trees, that is, the second half of April.
The landing pit has a diameter and depth of about 60 cm. Preliminary preparation consists in digging up the site at the site of the pit (with an area of 2 to 3 sq. M) at least 40 cm deep with the removal of plant residues of grass and other foreign elements.
apricot seedlings
If the soil is too poor, rotted manure (the norm is about 3 kg per sq. m). About 1 bucket of humus and from 500 g to 1 kg are brought into the planting pit itself. superphosphate. In addition, on poor soils, the application of mineral fertilizers, mainly potassium-phosphorus, is mandatory. The application rate of such fertilizers is at least 100 g per square meter. m.
The seedling is placed in a dug hole, sprinkled with excavated soil and watered. If the seedling has been grafted, the grafting point should be 10-12 cm above the soil. Watering the seedling is done with 10-20 liters of water.
Planting seeds
It is used to better adapt the plant to the climate of the area. In addition, during seed propagation, all the properties of the mother plant are inherited. This process is longer, since it actually consists of two stages: growing a seedling with its further transplantation.
Apricot grown from seed
There are three ways to plant an apricot using seeds:
- immediately after harvest
- autumn of the same year
- next spring
In all cases, landing is carried out according to the same scheme. Differences will only be in the preliminary preparation of seeds. For planting in the second way, the bones must be placed in wet sand in the basement and stored until September, maintaining a high level of humidity in the sand.
Planting next spring involves stratifying the seeds by placing them in conditions of low temperature and high humidity. Between July of the current year and February of the following year, seeds can be stored at room temperature without fear of germination.
For stratification, the seeds should be placed in a moist substrate (sawdust or sand), which is poured into a plastic bag or container with holes or perforations for normal ventilation. The temperature should be within + 4-10 ° C. The duration of stratification is from 40 to 100 days. Once the seeds crack and germinate, they can be planted.
Planting seeds is carried out as follows:
- Preliminary preparation of the soil is carried out as for planting seedlings, described earlier. But at the same time, it is not a landing pit that is formed, but several long recesses with a depth of not more than 10 cm, located parallel to each other at a distance of 0.5 m.
- The furrows are slightly moistened with water and seeds are planted in them at a distance of up to 10 cm.
- Furrows are dug flush with the soil level and mulched with humus or peat 5 cm thick.
- Additional watering is carried out using a watering can with a divider.
If planting was carried out in the spring, then by August seedlings up to 1 m high will grow on the beds, which are transplanted to a permanent place in September. Last year's plantings are transplanted in the spring, at the same time as purchased seedlings are planted - starting in the second half of April.
Graft
Apricot grafting is necessary to obtain seedlings with the required characteristics, if there is no desire to grow a plant from a seed.
Budding or eye grafting of an apricot cutting
The duration of such a process sometimes exceeds several years. The percentage of survival of young seedlings obtained from the stone is relatively low. That is why grafting is the most popular among the methods of planting apricots.
The scion is most often a cutting obtained from a one-year-old shoot of an adult plant measuring about 15 cm with 4-10 buds. Sometimes a young plant is used as a scion, grown from the seed of the variety of interest, cut to the very root.
Grafting method "in split"
As a rootstock, any variety of apricots that takes root well in the conditions of the area can be used. Often, wild apricot species or young trees up to 3 years old, grown from cuttings of mature trees or independently from seeds, are used for this purpose.
Apricot is a crop that can be grafted not only on plants of its own species. Best of all, the grafting of the scion occurs with the stock of Bessey's cherry.
The most common as a rootstock are:
Each variety of apricot prefers a particular rootstock.
Vaccination "for the bark" of sweet cherries of several apricot cuttings at once
Depending on the method of vaccination, it is done at different times of the year. Budding or grafting in the cut can be done throughout the warm season. Grafting with cuttings (copulation, bark grafting or splitting) is traditionally done in the spring. Wet weather with rain is most suitable for any form of grafting, since under such conditions the processes of growth and healing of the cut sites are most active. According to statistics, the maximum survival rate of cuttings (up to 80%) falls on grafting by cuttings in the period from April to June.
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Care
Watering an apricot in spring
First watering apricot is produced at the end of May to preserve the ovaries and support the formation of shoots of this season. Second watering produced at the end of June - its task is to support the process of bone formation. Third and fourth irrigation made at the beginning and end of August. Each watering requires 20 to 40 liters of liquid.
Top dressing is applied 4 times per season:
- In early spring the plant needs nitrogen. It can be either organic (humus, compost) in the amount of 1-2 buckets for each tree or urea (30-50 g per sq. M);
- Feed after the end of the flowering process consists of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers (consumption rates from 20-40 g per 1 sq. m).
- After the end of the fruiting process nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers should be reapplied. At this stage, it is best to use nitroammophos and make foliar top dressing - use a sprayer to apply a fertilizer solution to the leaves of the plant. The fertilizer concentration should be 20 ml per 10 liters of water.
- Autumn top dressing consists of mineral fertilizers containing phosphorus, potassium and calcium.
All top dressing is desirable to make simultaneously with watering the plant.
Pruning a plant and shaping its crown serve not only to improve the aesthetic appearance of the plant, but also for its normal life. Excessively thickened trees bear fruit much worse than trees with a thinned crown.
Also, because apricots are relatively heavy, too much of them can lead to branch breakage. It is believed that a plant can support the weight of apricots if their number is related to the number of leaves per branch, as 1 to 20. Therefore, pruning should include not only the formation of the appearance of the crown, but also the removal of excess fruits or even individual branches with a large number of them.
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red-cheeked
The crown of the tree is spreading, sparse and rounded. The height of the tree is up to 4.5 m. The fruits are ovoid, not compressed. Their size is from 40 to 52 g. The fruits have a thin skin. Shelf life - up to 1 week. Good winter hardiness.
- yield up to 37 kg per plant
- unpretentiousness
- self-fertility
- with a small amount of moisture, the fruits become small
Khabarovsk
The height of the tree is up to 5 m. The crown is sprawling, sparse. The fruits are cone-shaped, having a weight of 30 to 45 g. The pulp of the fruit is thick, of medium juiciness. The skin is practically not separated from the pulp.
- stable yield from season to season
- edible core
- good separation of pulp from seeds
- well propagated by seeds
- poor winter hardiness
- fruits are practically non-transportable
Kichiginsky
A tree about 4 m high. The crown is flat, of medium density. The plant is easy to handle and harvest. The fruits are small, weighing 15-18 g. The color of the fruits is light yellow, the skin is with a slight sheen. The taste of the fruit is sweet, with a slight sourness. Universal fruits can be used raw, for the preparation of preservation and for drying.
- great taste
- high safety and transportability
- high winter hardiness
- relatively small fruit
- late fruiting
Alyosha
A relatively new variety, bred in 1988. Trees reach 3.5-4.5 m. The crown is round, dense. The diameter of the flowers is atypical for apricots - more than 4 cm. Apricots are small, their weight rarely exceeds 20 g. They are yellow, slightly shiny.
- early ripe variety, harvest can be obtained at the end of June
- from one small tree you can get up to 55 kg of fruit
- grafted onto almost any rootstock
- relatively large bone with a small fetus
Dessert
Plant height is 5-6 m. The crown is round, strongly thickened. Apricot weight 20-32 g. The surface of the fruit is yellowish. The blush is practically absent. Fruits profusely. It is early ripe, harvesting by August has already been completed.
- great taste
- yield up to 50 kg
- ability to self-pollinate
- branches often break under the weight of the fruit
- due to the strong density requires regular pruning
Aquarius
Tall tree, 5-6 m with a thinned crown and practically no branching shoots. Fruit weight does not exceed 30 g. They are reddish-orange. The pulp is juicy, easily separated from the seed. This variety bears fruit in the second decade of vagusta.
- good yields - up to 45 kg
- withstands frosts down to -30°С
- all types of shoots bear fruit
- the variety is practically not stored and transported
Red-cheeked son
Tall variety (up to 6 m) with an elongated rounded crown. The fruits are large (weight 50-60 g), have an elongated shape and are laterally compressed. The color of apricots is predominantly orange. The fruits are pubescent, the blush is contrasting, prominent. The variety bears fruit in late summer.
- wonderful taste qualities
- good disease resistance
- the plant tolerates frosts down to -30 ° C
- irregular fruiting
- with high winter hardiness, the buds are vulnerable to frost in March-April
Snezhinsky
The variety has a small growth, up to 4-4.5 m. The crown is quite extensive, its thickening is average. Fruits weighing no more than 25 g. They have an orange color and a well-marked reddish blush. The pulp is not hard, it is easily separated from both the skin and the stone. Fruiting at the end of August.
- yield is constant from season to season
- great taste
- the plant tolerates frosts down to -35 ° C
- ripened fruits under their own weight come off the petioles and fall off
Favorite
A new variety, bred about 20 years ago. A low tree (up to 3.5 m) with a spreading crown. The fruits are medium, weighing up to 30 g. Ripen at the end of August. High palatability.
- excellent fruit flavor
- well preserved and transported
- high winter hardiness
- versatility in application
- in cold summer does not have time to ripen even by September
Countess
It is a tree 6 m high with a spherical crown. Flowering begins later than other varieties. It has numerous small flowers with a diameter of 2 cm. It can be pollinated by other varieties. The mass of fruits is 30-40 g. Ripening occurs in mid-August.
- good taste qualities
- well preserved and transported
- versatility in application
- fruiting and size of fruits depend on the weather; during a dry summer, the weight of the fruit is halved
- self-pollination is ineffective; for a good yield requires the presence of other varieties of apricot in the garden
Academician
Tall (up to 5-6 m) tree with an oval crown. Fruits weighing from 30 to 55 g. The pulp is dense, crispy. The stone is freely separated from the pulp. The core is sweet.
- large and tasty fruit
- versatility in application
- low winter hardiness
- fruit cracking in wet summer
Black velvet
The growth of the tree is about 4 m. The fruits are medium, weighing up to 30 g. The color of the fruits is dark purple. The pubescence is weak. Ripening at the end of July. The fruits keep well.
- high quality fruits and good preservation
- unpretentiousness and adaptation to various conditions
- high yield
- in dry weather, the fruits shrink
Delight
Tree of small height (up to 3 m), with a spreading crown. The fruits are small, up to 25 g, rounded. The color of the fruit is yellow with a red blush. Ripens in early August.
- excellent taste qualities
- good winter hardiness in mature trees
- plants under 5 years old are affected by frost and sunburn
rattle
Tree of medium height (up to 4 m). The crown is rare, rounded. The fruits are large, their weight can reach 80 g in young trees and 45-60 g in plants older than 10-12 years. There is no blush on most fruits. Ripening occurs in early August.
- excellent taste qualities
- large fruits
- high yield
- with high acidity of the soil, bitterness appears in the taste of fruits
- the tree requires regular pruning, and extra ovaries should also be removed to avoid breaking branches under the weight of fruits
Snegiryok
A low growing tree up to 2 m in height. The crown is dense, spherical. Flowering occurs in May, and ripening at the end of July. This variety is ideal for northern areas with short summers. The mass of fruits is small, up to 20 g. The yield is up to 20 kg per tree, however, taking into account its size, the yield per unit area is comparable to other varieties.
- good fruit taste
- high winter hardiness
- short ripening time
- small fruits
- the need for regular pruning, up to 2-3 times per season
Seraphim
A tree of medium height, up to 3 m. The crown is semi-spreading, its shape is varied. The fruits are round in shape, weighing up to 30 g. The stone is well separated from the pulp, the core is sweet.
- good preservation of fruits
- high yield
- the variety is susceptible to diseases and pests
- the plant is prone to sunburn, especially in early spring
Champion of the North
A tree with a rare crown, up to 5 m high. The fruits are large, up to 65 g. The flesh is orange, the stone is freely separated from the pulp. Ripening occurs in July.
- large fruits
- high yield
- good preservation and transportability of fruits
- vulnerability to fungal diseases
Siberian Baikalova
A tree up to 3 m high with a rounded crown up to 4 m in diameter. The crown is sprawling, sparse. The fruits have a mass of 25 to 37 g. Color - yellow with a red blush. Blossoms in mid-May, ripens in late July. Self pollination is weak.
- large fruits with good taste
- the shape of the crown makes the variety very convenient for processing
- requires pollinators of other varieties
- spring vulnerable to burns
- vulnerable to decay
Success
Height up to 3 m. The crown is pyramidal, branching and crown density are weak. Fruits of medium size, weighing up to 35 g.The color of the fruits is yellow, but they are almost completely covered with a reddish blush. Universal grade.
- good taste qualities
- high yield
- frost resistance up to -40°С
- requires pollinators
Ulyanikhinsky
The tree is tall, up to 5 m. The crown is wide, round, not dense. The mass of fruits is up to 35 g. They are yellow with a sheen and a slight blush. The grade is universal, well transferring transportation. Ripening occurs in August.
- good taste qualities
- good disease resistance
- high yield
- a long trunk and a wide crown make working with a tree inconvenient
- fruits can be sour with a lack of moisture
Amur
The height of the tree is average, up to 4 m. The crown is elongated, dense with a large number of leaves. The mass of fruits reaches 32 g. The pulp is orange, tender. Ripening occurs in mid-August.
- tolerates drought well
- resistant to fungal diseases
- high yield
- relatively low winter hardiness
- small fruit size
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Conclusion
apricot harvest
Apricot is a popular crop that, despite its southern origin, has adapted well to colder climates. The plant is very easy to care for, however, much depends on the correctness of its planting and care for it in the first years of life. Apricot is one of the most productive garden plants - up to 100 kg of fruits can be harvested from one tree.
VIDEO: We plant an apricot in the middle lane
Apricot: description of 20 popular varieties, planting in the middle lane, care features (33 Photos & Videos) + Reviews
