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The apricot is beautiful throughout the season, starting from flowering. Blooming in early May with white-pink large flowers, it can compete with the oriental beauty sakura.
Apricot trees begin to bear fruit in the 4th-5th year. Flower buds are simple - only flower organs are formed in them. On all types of growth - bouquet twigs, spurs, annual shoots - double and triple buds are formed, one of which is growth buds.
The main reasons for the death of apricot are sunburn and frost damage on the skeletal branches on the south side. Annular dieback at the root collar occurs only at the very surface of the soil and later in young three- or four-year-old trees.
To avoid the death of young trees, I recommend whitening them.
If apricot buds, during deep rest, tolerate temperatures down to -28-30 ° C, then, coming out of it, they are damaged at a temperature of -15-20 ° C. Blooming flowers die at a temperature of 4-5 ° C.
All the reasons for the death of apricot can be avoided by grafting it into the crown of thorns at a height of 1-1.5 m from the ground. This will help increase the hardiness and adaptation of the apricot in the garden. The thorn serves as a skeleton builder, but the apricot can also be grafted onto the plum.
But why the turn? Blackthorn grows everywhere, even in lowlands, and is unpretentious. I do vaccinations in early spring, at the end of March at above-zero temperatures, and in April, protecting the cutting with a film cap from moisture evaporation and temperature fluctuations. The grafting begins to bear fruit in the 2nd - 3rd year.
There are several varieties of apricot in my garden: Lel, Red-cheeked, Tsarsky and others. The fruits ripen in late July - early August.
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To increase frost resistance, in the fall I feed the trees with phosphorus and potash fertilizers and add wood ash.
Apricot pruning consists of replacing dying parts of the tree and bare branches with new growing growth. By completing all agricultural practices, trees will live a long time and delight you.
Apricot varieties
- Lel. A tree with a compact crown and moderate growth up to 3 m. Fruits are medium-sized, weighing 15-20 g, beautiful, golden-orange, rarely with a faint blush. The shape of the fruit is round-oval, slightly compressed from the sides. The pubescence is very slight, therefore the fruits are shiny. The taste is sweet and sour, harmonious, very pleasant, the stone separates well. Fruit ripening in late July - early August.
- Tsarsky. Medium-sized tree, up to 3 m tall. The flowers are the largest in comparison with other varieties - up to 4 cm in diameter. Fruits weighing 20-25 g, oval or round, beautiful yellow with a blush. Extremely tasty, very juicy, with a pronounced aroma. The bone is not quite cleanly separated. Fruits ripen in early August.
- Alyosha. A vigorous tree, 3-4 m high with a spreading crown. Fruits weighing 15-20 g are round, bright yellow with a blush, tasty, pubescence is small, therefore, the fruits are shiny. The pulp is cartilaginous, the bone is separated perfectly. The taste is slightly bland, delicate, sweet and sour. Fruits ripen at the earliest: late July - early August.
"Garden for the soul and good rest", No. 10, 2014 (Nizhny Novgorod)
Photo by the author
