For the Moscow region and neighboring regions, the most suitable apricot variety is Tsarsky. The crop fully grows and bears fruit in harsh climates. The fruits have an excellent taste and appearance. Before planting a crop on their site, gardeners need to familiarize themselves with the description of the variety, planting and care rules. If you follow the recommendations, apricot will delight you with a bountiful harvest every year.
Description of the variety
Apricots are endowed with high taste qualities.With proper care, the tree will certainly delight you with abundant, systematic yields.
Description of the variety:
- self-fertile, this means that the plant is pollinated by its own pollen, the harvest appears even under unfavorable weather conditions;
- On average, apricots grow weighing 20 grams;
- the crop can withstand frosts down to -40 degrees;
- the plant is low, maximum height is 4 meters;
- the culture has medium branching;
- fruits are suitable for preservation;
- Apricot growth vigor is moderate;
- the skin of the fruit is thick, pubescent, the taste is sweet and sour;
- The pulp is dense, orange.
The Tsarsky variety is an excellent honey plant. The plant attracts bees like a magnet. It begins to bear fruit from the fourth year.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The advantages of the variety include:
- regular fruiting;
- versatility of crop application;
- frost resistance;
- easy adaptation to weather conditions and soil;
- pleasant taste of apricots;
- long-term storage of the crop, fruits can retain their presentation for 2 months;
- excellent transportability of fruits.
The Tsarsky apricot variety has several disadvantages:
- average yield;
- small fruit size;
- poor resistance of flowers to return frosts.
Apricots can be grown from seeds. The result is 50/50. With equal probability, a tree can grow as a varietal or as a “wild” tree.
Characteristic
Apricot is an early ripening fruit. At the end of July, fruits reach full ripeness when grown in warm climates.
Drought resistance, winter hardiness
The culture has good winter hardiness and frost resistance. In areas with harsh winters, shelter is required. Apricot adapts well to weather conditions and produces a good harvest in dry summers. The plant receives a sufficient amount of moisture from natural precipitation.
Easily tolerates drought for up to 2.5 months.During prolonged summer rains it is rarely affected by fungal infections.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening time
The tree has large white flowers. The largest in size of all frost-resistant varieties. They begin to bloom in early April. It is self-fertile, so there is no need to plant a companion nearby. Due to early flowering, insects do not act as pollinators. Their function is performed by the wind.
Return frosts can damage the inflorescences and reduce the amount of harvest. Therefore, during flowering, it is recommended to cover the crown with film or fabric material. The protection will not disrupt pollination and will preserve the ovaries.
In warm summers, the fruits ripen at the beginning of August, in unfavorable weather conditions - at the end of August.
Productivity, fruiting
In a favorable year, a harvest weighing about 40 kilograms is harvested from one tree. In the 1st-2nd year of fruiting, in unfavorable weather, the yield can be about 10 kilograms. The variety begins to bear fruit regularly and produce a stable harvest from the 6th year. A mature tree produces a constant harvest every season.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Apricot is resistant to:
- pests;
- diseases.
The crop can be affected by fungal diseases during heavy, prolonged rains and complete lack of care. In winter, the bark must be wrapped to protect it from rodents. During the summer, monitor the appearance of pests. Plum aphids can settle on young shoots.
You can cope with insects:
- mechanically, manually destroying aphids;
- with the help of special drugs.
Combining the two methods will help speed up the process of eliminating pests and maintain yields.
Features of planting and care
Important points to pay attention to when planting seedlings:
- In cool regions, seedlings are recommended to be planted in the spring before buds appear. In autumn, planting is done a month before the onset of frost.
- Before planting, the soil is dug up to a depth of half a meter. Then they loosen it, saturating it with oxygen. To increase the nutritional value of the soil, fertilizers are applied.
- A hole is dug 70 centimeters deep. A peg is placed in the center, which will serve as a support for the tree.
- The roots are covered with soil, leaving the graft above ground level. There should be no voids left under the roots.
- Water the tree generously using 30 liters of water.
- When the moisture is completely absorbed, the area around the seedling is mulched. Sawdust is suitable for this.
In order for the apricot to produce a good harvest and grow healthy, it is necessary to properly care for it:
- Fertilize with minerals in the spring and organic matter in the fall.
- At the beginning and end of the season, form a crown and remove dry branches.
- For the winter, cover the trunk with burlap to prevent rodent infestation.
- Regularly carry out preventive measures against diseases and pests.
- Maintain moderate soil moisture. It is recommended to water at the beginning of the season, during fruit formation and in October. Autumn watering helps increase apricot resistance to frost.
- At the beginning and end of the season, the trunks and trunk are whitened with lime.
It is impossible to cover the plant with roofing felt for the winter. When pruning, the cut areas are treated with garden varnish. Treatment helps prevent the proliferation of pathogenic microbes.
