In mid-summer on the shelves of markets and shops are filled with various fruits and berries.One of the favorite - it's bright and sunny apricot.Fragrant fruits we love in any form - fresh, dried, canned.It is a pity that it is cultivated mainly in warm areas.But perhaps its cultivation in cooler regions.Let's learn how to grow apricots in central Russia.It's easy, but this is not the case when planted and forgotten.
Apricot: characteristic
Fragrant orange fruit is often called the Armenian apple.This is due primarily to the question of the territory of origin of apricot.Modern scholars have identified 3 to 6 places for the first time could appear this tree.According to one version (most likely) in the Tien Shan (China).But in the recent past, wood was considered the birthplace of Armenia, where the apricot in the future was in Europe.
This culture is a deciduous tree grows to a height of 5 to 8 meters.The color of the bark on old copies - gray-brown, longitudinally cracked.Apricot - a survivor, in a warm climate the trees grow up to 100 years.The leaves are ovate in shape, another location, length - up to 9 cm. The flowers are sessile and solitary, petals are white color.Fruit - odnokostyanka yellow-red color, has a rounded shape.
apricot in central Russia
heat-loving tree, which makes it a natural extension.Apricot has long been grown in temperate climates.In our country, it is widely cultivated in the Caucasus and Crimea, as well as in the European part (southern regions) of Russia.They grow in almost every yard, and quite common, because both unpretentious and drought-resistant.But in order to grow apricots in central Russia, it will require some effort.Work on the acclimatized frost hybrids began in the late 19th century Michurin IV
Later selection managed to bring a number of varieties with high fruit quality and relatively high winter hardiness.Varieties of apricot for the middle band Russia is currently quite numerous, so stop attention only to a few.
Hardy
Hybrid obtained Nikitinsky botanical garden.It refers to a type of late-ripening - the first half of August.Trees sredneroslye, are developing rapidly and have a thick lush crown.The fruits appear in 5-6 years after planting.A rich harvest - up to 80 kg per tree.Fruits of medium size, weighing 30-40 grams, flat-rounded, golden-orange color with a bright crimson, carmine.They have high taste, suitable for preservation and fresh consumption.
cheeked
Cultivar familiar to many growers due to the extremely positive qualities.Tall tree, fruiting begins on 3-4th year.Characterized by high resistance to drought and winter hardiness.Fruits of orange, with small red patches are oval in shape, weight - 40 to 60 Period of maturation - July (second half).
Sunny
perspective hybrids with improved winter hardiness.It is included in the best varieties of apricot for the middle band Russia.The fruit is yellow, with a weak flush, up to '45 Maturation takes place in mid-July.Fruiting frequent and abundant.
Triumph North
variety with high winter hardiness of the tree and flower buds from the middle.It is zoned for the southern part of the Central Black Earth region.Large fruit weighing up to 55 g have a yellow-orange color.They are mainly used fresh.For this variety is characterized by the formation of strong-growing trees and spreading crown.Fruiting begins at the 4th year of life.
Honey
very cold-resistant varieties developed South Urals Research Institute, open pollination.Tall tree (up to 4 meters) with sprawling lush foliage.Medium size fruit (15 g) are fragrant and sweet pulp.Color them yellow, with small patches of subcutaneous red.Characterized by high productivity, up to 20 kg per tree.
Snegirek
true leader among all other varieties in terms of hardiness.This apricot in central Russia will feel great delight and the hosts harvest.Wood small heights from 120 to 150 centimeters.At its winter shelter can be grown even in the Urals and in the northern regions.Yields appropriate - 7-10 kg from one tree, ripening begins in mid-August.The fruit is not very large (15-18 g), with excellent taste, firm flesh, and have an average sugar content.The skin is cream-colored with a purple blush.
Cup
typical dwarf tree that grows to a height of 1.5 meters, has a cup-crown, which is responsible for the title.Hybrid hardiness.Apricot varieties of fruits every year, the yield is high enough.The fruit weight of 25-30 g with a creamy-yellow skin and a slight blush.They have a loose, soft and sweet flesh with a strong aroma.
is also worth noting the following best varieties of apricot for the middle band Russia: Imperial, Alyosha, Monastic, Lel, Spicy, Ilya, Success, Russian.
planting time and choice of
most optimal time of planting apricot - the third decade of April, when the ground has warmed up and the threat of the return of frost disappears.Carefully choose the seedlings, buds should be slightly swollen, but not at the stage of leafing.Prefer trees in separate containers, not bare-root.Experts advise to grow from apricot pits local varieties, as he grows stronger and resistant to disease and weather conditions.
Cultivation of apricot in central Russia requires careful choice of the initial phase.This southern visitor in our gardens prefers the warmest, lighting and preferably without northerly winds section.Apricot normally carries the proximity of groundwater.
Preparation pits and planting
planting holes for Apricot should be sufficiently large (70 * 70 * 70 cm).It is worth remembering that the root system of a tree twice the size than its crown.Therefore, the distance between individual seedlings need to withstand the basis of the characteristics of the variety, an average of about 3 meters.
landing pit cook in the fall.After the dig, fill it with humus, add 2-3 liters of mullein, 400 g of potassium sulfide, 700 g of superphosphate, one cup of ash.Thoroughly mix all ingredients and leave for the winter.At the bottom of the pit pour sure the drainage layer of expanded clay or gravel.Seedling during the landing should be kept in an upright position and slowly fall asleep soil to the point of growth.As a result, a tree must be located on a hill, knoll.According to the diameter of the circle make watering after planting pour 2 buckets of water.
apricot in central Russia: care
proper cultivation process consists of three main components: watering, fertilizing and pruning.Despite the fact that the apricot - the culture of drought-resistant, for good growth and fruiting it needs water.Watering should be frequent, but not too abundant.Implement it must be either early morning or late evening.
fertilizers are applied to the soil.The first time this is done by planting seedlings.Starting from the second year of complex fertilizers is recommended to apply in the fall and early spring.Organic tree is also useful, it is added as needed, but not less than once every 3-4 years.
recommended for apricot sparsely-tier scheme crown.For this purpose skeletal leave 5-6 branches.Avoid their growth from one place on the barrel.Apricot fruits develop on one-year shoots of age, the biggest yields - on the branches continue.Therefore, in the spring they must be shortened by half, to stimulate the development of flower buds on the remaining portion.Rejuvenating haircut conduct after completed fruiting.With respect to the severe pruning of mature trees is not necessary to apply.
apricot in central Russia can grow with proper selection of varieties and availability of time to care for the tree.So before you bring a guest to the south of your garden, you need to weigh the pros and cons.
