Varieties of apricots for the central part of Russia. Apricot in the middle strip of Russia

In the middle of summer, the counters in the markets and in the shops are filled with various fruits and berries. One of the favorites is a bright and sunny apricot. A fragrant fruit we love in any form - fresh, dried, canned. It is a pity that it is cultivated mainly in warm regions. But it is possible to grow it in cooler regions. Let's find out how to grow apricot in the central part of Russia. This is not difficult, but this is not the case when he planted and forgot.

Apricot: characteristic

Fragrant orange fruit is often called an Armenian apple. This is due primarily to the issue of the origin of the apricot. Modern scientists allocate from 3 to 6 places, where for the first time this tree could appear. According to one of the versions (most probable), in Tien Shan (China). But in the recent past, the homeland of the tree was Armenia, from where the apricot later found itself in Europe.

This culture is a deciduous tree, growing in height from 5 to 8 meters. The color of the bark on old specimens is gray-brown, cracking longitudinally. Apricot is a long-liver, in a warm climate trees grow up to 100 years. Leaves are ovoid in shape, the location is regular, up to 9 cm long. Flowers are sessile and solitary, petals have white color. Fruit - odnokostyanka yellow-red color, which has rounded outlines.

Apricot in the middle strip of Russia

The tree is thermophilic, which causes its natural spread. Apricots have been cultivated for a long time in the countries of temperate climate. 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 are quite common, because they are unpretentious and drought-resistant. But in order to grow apricot in the central part of Russia, it will take some effort. The work on creating acclimatized frost-resistant hybrids was started in the late 19th century by Michurin IV

In the future, selection has succeeded in producing a number of varieties with high fruit quality and relatively high winter hardiness. Varieties of apricots for the central part of Russia at the moment are quite numerous, so let's focus on just a few.

Hardy

The hybrid was obtained in Nikitinsky Botanical Garden. It refers to species with late maturation - the first half of August. Trees are medium-sized, develop rapidly and have a dense lush crown. Fruits appear 5-6 years after planting. The harvest is plentiful - up to 80 kg from one tree. Fruits are medium in size, weighing 30-40 grams, flat-rounded, golden-orange in color with a bright blush, carmine color. They have high taste qualities, they are suitable for preservation and consumption in fresh form.

Red-cheeked

Cultivar is known to many gardeners due to extremely positive qualities. The tree is tall, fruiting begins on the 3-4th year. Characterized by high resistance to drought and winter hardiness. Fruits of orange color, with small red patches have an oval shape, weight - from 40 to 60 g. Ripening period - July (second half).

Solar

A promising hybrid with increased winter hardiness. It is included in the best varieties of apricots for the central part of Russia. Fruits of yellow color, with a weak blush, weighing up to 45 g. Maturation occurs in the second decade of July. Fruiting is frequent and abundant.

Triumph of the North

A variety with high winter hardiness of the tree and medium in flower buds. It is zoned for the southern part of the Central Black Earth zone. Large fruits weighing up to 55 g have a yellow-orange color. They are used mainly in fresh form. For this variety is characterized by the formation of tall trees and spreading crown. Fruiting begins on the 4th year of life.

Honey

A very frost-resistant variety, developed by the Yuzhnouralsk Research Institute, is free pollination. The tree is tall (up to 4 m) with a spreading lush crown. The average size of fruits (up to 15 g) have a fragrant and sweet flesh. Their color is yellow, with small subcutaneous impregnations of red color. Typical high yield, up to 20 kg from one tree.

Snegirek

A true leader among all other varieties in terms of frost resistance. This apricot in the middle strip of Russia will feel great and please the owners with a harvest. A tree of small height: from 120 to 150 centimeters. At winter shelter it is possible to grow it even in the Urals and in the northern regions. The yield is 7-10 kg from one tree, maturation begins in the middle of August. Fruits are not very large (15-18 g), with excellent taste, have dense flesh and average sugar content. A peel of a cream shade, with a purple blush.

Cup

A typical dwarf tree, growing to a height of only 1.5 meters, has a cup-shaped crown, which determines the name. Hybrid winter hardy. Apricot of this variety is fruitful every year, the yield is quite high. Fruits weighing 25-30 g with cream-yellow skin and light blush. They have a loose, tender and sweet flesh with a strong aroma.

It is also worth noting the following best apricot varieties for the central strip of Russia: Tsarsky, Alyosha, Monastyrsky, Lel, Piquant, Ilyusha, Success, Russian.

Timing and seat selection

The most optimal time for planting apricot is the third decade of April, when the earth is already warming up and the threat of recurrent frost disappears. Carefully choose seedlings, the kidneys should be slightly swollen, but not at the stage of leaf opening. Give preference to trees in separate containers, and not with an open root system. Experts advise to grow apricot from the bone of local varieties, so it grows stronger and more resistant to various diseases and weather conditions.

The cultivation of apricots in the central part of Russia involves a careful choice of place in the initial stage. This southern guest in our gardens prefers the warmest, lighted and preferably without the north winds plot. Apricot normally tolerates the proximity of groundwater.

Pit preparation and landing

The planting hole for the apricot should be quite spacious (70 * 70 * 70 cm). It is worth remembering that the root system of a tree is twice larger in size than its crown. Therefore, the distance between individual seedlings must be maintained, based on the characteristics of the variety, an average of about 3 meters.

Plant a pit in the fall. After digging, fill it with humus, add 2-3 liters of mullein, 400 g of potassium sulfurous, 700 g of superphosphate, one glass of ash. Thoroughly mix all ingredients and leave under winter. At the bottom of the pit, fill the drainage layer with claydite or gravel. Seedling during planting should be kept in an upright position and gradually filled with soil to the point of growth. As a result, the tree should be located on some hill, hillock. On its diameter make a watering circle, after landing, pour 2 buckets of water.

Apricot in the middle part of Russia: care

The process of proper growing consists of three main components: watering, top dressing and pruning of a tree. Despite the fact that apricot is a drought-resistant culture, it needs water for good growth and fruiting. Watering should be frequent, but not too abundant. It needs to be done either in the early morning or late evening.

Fertilizers are introduced into the soil. The first time this is done when planting a seedling. Starting from the second year, it is recommended to make complex mineral fertilizers in autumn and early spring. Organic wood is also useful, it is added as needed, but not less than once in 3-4 years.

For apricot is recommended sparse-tiered scheme of the crown. To do this, leave 5-6 skeletal branches. Avoid their growth from one place on the trunk. In apricot, fruits develop on shoots of one-year age, the greatest yield - on the branches of continuation. Therefore, in the spring it is necessary to shorten them in half to stimulate the development of flower buds on the remainder. Rejuvenate the haircut after the fruiting is completed. In relation to adult trees, strong pruning should not be used.

Apricot in the middle zone of Russia can be grown on the condition of correct selection of the variety and the availability of time for caring for the tree. Therefore, before you bring this southern guest to your garden, you need to weigh the pros and cons.