Apricots love warmth and sun and cannot tolerate cold. This crop has long been grown in the south, where summer lasts long and there are no severe frosts. Breeders from many countries, crossing different varieties, created plant hybrids so that they could be planted in unfavorable climate conditions, and this would not affect the taste and weight of the fruit. New Jersey is frost-resistant. Apricot, bred on another continent, takes root in the middle latitudes of Russia and produces a stable harvest.
Description of the variety
The seed tree of American selection grows up to 3–4 meters in height.The fruits ripen in early July and differ:
- large size;
- rounded shape;
- sweet and sour taste.
Apricots are covered with yellow skin, the sides are painted a bright blush. The dense pulp has a golden hue. The bone comes off without any problems. If you believe the description of the variety, each New Jersey fruit weighs about 50 g. The fruits are suitable for making compotes, drying, and jams.
Characteristic
The roots of the tree are very developed, shoots do not form. Apricot does not die at 30 °C frost, therefore it is cultivated in many regions of Russia. The plant takes root and produces a good harvest even in lowlands, where the soil is heavy and the water comes close to the surface. The roots rarely suffer from rot, but unripe fruits often fall off.
New Jersey does not have immunity to moniliosis; when affected by this disease, the stems dry out, the leaves fall off, and the ovary turns black.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Apricot fruits are valued for their excellent taste, beautiful blush, and large size. During transportation, fruits are not damaged and retain their appearance, which attracts gardeners who grow stone fruits in large quantities for sale..
The trees tolerate decent frosts, and even at -30 ° C the roots and stems do not die.
The benefits of apricot include:
- stable yield;
- early maturation;
- disease resistance.
The variety also has a minus. Unripe fruits fall off the tree, but this problem does not arise if the rules of agricultural technology are followed.
Features of cultivation
Although apricot of American selection takes root on heavy soils, the tree feels better on fertile and loose soils. It needs to be planted in an area illuminated by the sun and protected from cold winds. If grow apricot from seed, the fruits will be smaller and will not inherit the characteristics of the variety. You need to buy trees grafted on plum or cherry plum from a specialized nursery.
Causes of fruit drop
Some summer residents do not dare to plant a New Jersey tree on their plot because they have heard that the ovary and even slightly unripe fruits fall off. This problem actually occurs:
- due to lack of nutrients;
- in case of non-compliance with agricultural technology;
- with dense plantings;
- when infected with ascomycete fungi.
To avoid apricots falling, you should not plant trees close to each other; to prevent gray rot, you need to spray the plants with preparations containing copper, do not forget about watering during prolonged heat and lack of rain, fertilizing with minerals and organic fertilizers.
Care
If you take care of the apricot, the tree responds with a harvest of sweet and large fruits. Although the crop is resistant to scab and other diseases, in early spring the plant should be sprayed with a solution of copper sulfate to prevent monilial burn or gray rot, and in the fall, remove fallen leaves, blackened fruits, and cut off dried branches.
Watering
New Jersey, like other apricots, tolerates drought well. In order for the seedlings to develop faster and not experience a lack of moisture in extreme heat, the trees are watered once every 2 weeks, using only warm water. Adult plants can survive without irrigation for a month. In damp weather and frequent rains, apricots do not need additional moisture.
Top dressing
In order for the roots to absorb the substances necessary for the growth and development of the tree, fertilizers are applied to the tree trunk. The second option involves spraying liquid compositions with microelements over the entire crown.
In the spring, apricots are fed with chicken manure, urea, and ammonium nitrate, which contains nitrogen. In summer, the crop needs complex formulations.
In autumn, fertilizers containing phosphorus, potassium and calcium are applied. Such components are found in ash and chalk.
Trimming
In order for the tree to grow lush and delight with a harvest of sweet fruits, it is necessary to correctly form the crown. Thin and branched apricot branches grow quickly and, if not pruned, begin to shade the light-loving crop and weaken the tree. The sanitary procedure begins in the fall, when dried shoots and branches are removed, and restorative, rejuvenating and regulatory pruning is also carried out annually.
