Description of the Olympus apricot variety, yield characteristics and cultivation

Description and characteristics of the variety

The tall Olympus apricot tree forms a spreading, rounded crown. The breeders who created this stone fruit crop tried to adapt the variety to unfavorable climate conditions - to Siberian frosts, lack of rain, sudden temperature changes, and pest invasions.

Olympus is not afraid of drought, tolerates light frosts, and is resistant to some pathogens of fungal diseases, but pollinators that have the same growing season must be planted next to the tree.

Fruit color

The first fruit usually appears on the tree when it is 3 years old, although the plant blooms earlier. Ripe fruits differ:

• large size;
• beautiful golden skin;
• gentle blush;
• oval shape.

The dense pulp has a rich orange color. A small bone is easily separated from it.

Taste of the fruit

The ovary is formed on last year's growths and spurs. One apricot weighs about 70 g. The fruit is rich in:

• organic acids;
• vitamin C and pectin;
• sugars and carotene.

Apricots make excellent compotes, jams, and both adults and children love to enjoy them fresh. The pulp of the fruit has a pleasant sweet and sour taste and a garden aroma.

Ripening time

Fruits of the Olympus variety in the Crimea, in the steppe part of Ukraine, are filled with juice and ripen in July; there are years when they are collected at the beginning of the month, but more often after the 15th. The tree produces a stable harvest, but if you carefully read the description of the variety, it becomes clear that it needs to be pruned every year, otherwise the fruits will become smaller.

The old Soviet variety of apricot is designed to grow in the Caucasus and the Volga region, but has spread throughout central Russia. It ripens early - in early July, and the harvest ripens unevenly. A bright pink blurry blush is always present on the fruits; it is especially pronounced on the “sunny” side of the apricot. The fruits weigh up to 45–50 g.

The taste of Red-cheeked is a separate matter - one of the most delicious, aromatic, quite sweet, at the same time shelf-stable and transportable varieties. With proper care, you can get acquainted with the first harvest of the cultivar in the 4th year of growth. Like other varieties, Red-cheeked requires prevention of fungal diseases.

Red-cheeked - self-fertile, worthy of attention

The Success variety is grown everywhere, but most often the plant can be found in regions with cold climates, since other varieties cannot withstand such conditions. The tree has a maximum height of 3 m, which is convenient for harvesting. Apricot Success has a small crown with sparse branches and a rounded crown.

Productivity

The maximum yield is achieved after 6 years of growth and is 25–35 kg per tree. The plant is partially self-fertile, so the yield will be greater if there is a plum, cherry plum or apricot nearby. The fruits grow up to 25 g, have a round shape with thin, amber-yellow skin and a slight burgundy blush. The pulp has minor fibers, is dense and rich in aromatic juice.

History of selection of the variety Success

Professor Michurin managed to select the first domestic varieties that are unpretentious to climatic conditions in his nursery, which is located in the Voronezh region.
The apricot variety Success is a mixture of pollen from these trees with the hardiest European variety called Louise. Did you know? The first mention of apricot dates back to 4 thousand years BC. e. and Armenia is considered its homeland.

• Apricot Success is distinguished by a number of positive qualities:
• rapid onset of fruiting;
• well suited for growing crops in cold regions;
• has a pleasant taste and aroma;
• plant buds and wood are frost-resistant;
• the small height of the tree simplifies harvesting;
• ripe berries adhere perfectly to the branches.

• The variety Success has the following disadvantages:
• partial self-fertility and the need for a nearby pollinator;
• insignificant harvest;
• poor transportability of fruits.

The selection of the Olympus apricot was carried out by specialists from the Nikitsky Botanical Garden, located near Yalta. By crossing 2 varieties of the plant in the fifties of the last century, a vigorous tree was created, which inherited its power from the Hardy apricot, and received resistance to drought and the sweet taste of the fruit from Yerevan.

Olympus is valued for its high yield, excellent taste of fruits, which can be transported over long distances without worrying that they will lose their presentation. The variety is suitable for cultivation on a large scale and for summer cottages. Apricot is not afraid of drought and is rarely affected by fungi and viruses.

The disadvantages of Olympus include the need for annual pruning; without this procedure, small fruits ripen.

Apricot "New Jersey": features of growing the American variety

The American apricot variety called “New Jersey” is characterized by high winter hardiness and can be grown on heavy and waterlogged soils, and, unlike most other stone fruits, it is practically not affected by root rot.

The harvest ripens in the first ten days of July. “New Jersey” belongs to the category of very popular varieties among fruit producers and, due to its excellent commercial performance, is sold at the highest possible price.

Description of the variety and characteristics

The description of the New Jersey variety states the formation of large, rounded fruits covered with an attractive yellow skin with a bright blush. Ripe pulp has average density and is golden-yellow in color.

The average weight of a marketable fruit exceeds 50 g. The taste is very good, the sweet and sour fruits are perfect for fresh consumption and canning.

The pit is quite easily separated from the pulp at the stage of full ripening of apricots.

Both young plantings and mature plants have a well-developed fibrous root system and are not prone to the formation of shoots. The maximum height of an adult productive tree does not exceed four meters.

Frost resistance indicators reach -30°C, which is a very good level for most regions of our country.

Recommendations for cultivation

Basic care for New Jersey apricot trees in the first years of growth and development involves watering, loosening the soil to a depth of no more than 7-8 cm, removing weeds, and using organic mulch.

In the spring, before the buds open, the trunks are cleaned of dead bark, sanitary and formative pruning of the crown, as well as preventive spraying of plants against diseases and pests.

In summer, if necessary, garden plantings should be re-treated.

Of particular importance is the autumn preparation of apricot trees for winter, including fertilizing, pruning, digging up soil in tree trunk circles, preventive treatment and insulation before the onset of severe frosts.

The health status and productivity indicators of apricot trees largely depend on the safety of the trunk and skeletal branches.

To avoid possible damage and sunburn of fruit plants in winter and spring, the trunks and bases of skeletal branches of trees should be whitened in a timely manner with a solution of lime, water-based paint or special whitewash for garden plantings.

Apricot: pruning in spring (video)

The fruits of this variety are very large and beautiful, yellow in color, with slight pubescence. Sometimes a barely visible blush may appear on the surface. The taste of apricots is sweet and sour, very harmonious and pleasant. The transportability and keeping quality of the harvested crop are very good.

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Apricot OLYMPUS in Volgograd

The fruits are large (55-70 g), obovate, laterally compressed, somewhat asymmetrical. The skin is of medium thickness and density, slightly pubescent, golden-orange, with a slight pink blush. The pulp is bright orange, dense, thick consistency, aromatic, good sour-sweet, somewhat unstable taste (4.0-4.5 points). The fruits contain: dry matter 11.5-12.7%, sugars 8.0-8.4%, organic acids 0.74-0.83%, pectins 1.27%, vitamin C 14.5 mg, carotene 2.0 mg, leukoanthocyanins 34 mg per 100 g wet weight. The stone is medium-sized, oval or obovate, easily separated from the pulp. The seed is bitter. The fruits ripen in the Crimean conditions in the second half of July, almost simultaneously, and are distinguished by good transportability and keeping quality. They are used fresh, as well as for preparing excellent compotes, juices, jams, and preserves.

Since 1983, the Olimp variety has been included in the Register of Plant Varieties of Ukraine. Promising for industrial and amateur gardening in the Crimea, Steppe, southern and central Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Enjoys well-deserved popularity among amateur gardeners.

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Description of the variety

Before planting an apricot orchard, gardeners study plant data

This is important: a specific type is suitable for each dacha. Description of the variety:

• pyramidal crown (2-3 m in diameter);
• height up to 3.5 m;
• bark color brownish-red;
• the location of the shoots is predominantly inclined;
• the leaf is rounded, the edge is finely toothed;
• foliage color is bright green;
• white flowers;
• flowering occurs before the leaves bloom;
• The variety is early ripening (ripens in mid-July).

The main value of the Solnechny variety is its increased winter hardiness. It can easily withstand frosts of -20...-25 degrees. During short-term cooling down to -33 degrees, fruit buds do not remain viable.

Fruiting is quite regular: the tree produces a bountiful harvest every year. But summer residents harvest a small number of apricots every year.

Characteristics of apricots:

• maximum fetal weight 45 g;
• apricot shape is round;
• the skin is dense;
• transportability is good;
• apricot is bright yellow with a slight pronounced blush;
• the pulp is juicy, yellow at the break;
• The taste is pleasant - sweet and sour.

The advantage of Sunny is the friendly ripening of fruits. Apricots store well: they can be kept in a cool, ventilated basement for up to 3 weeks.

Mid-season varieties

They are characterized by increased resistance to low temperatures and tolerate lack of moisture well. Ripening time: second half of July – early August.

Saratov ruby

A frost-resistant variety that is grown in the Lower Volga region. The tree is tall - up to 5 m, fast-growing with a spherical crown. In spring, the branches are covered with snow-white, medium-sized flowers. To form an ovary, it is necessary to plant near it:

• Gourmand;
• Dessert Golubeva.

Suitable for more northern regions:

• Triumph Northern;
• Zhigulevsky souvenir.

The fruits are of medium size, weighing no more than 42 g. Apricots are covered with a bright carmine blush. The pulp is orange, dense, medium juicy, sweet and sour. The stone is small and easily separated from the pulp.

It is not necessary to buy cuttings; you can grow apricots from seeds. How to do this - read here.

The Saratov Ruby apricot ripens in mid-July. Productivity is average but stable. The buds can withstand cold temperatures down to -36°C, perennial wood up to -42°C. The fruits are not afraid of dampness, do not crack at high humidity, and have good shelf life. When transported over long distances, they do not lose their attractive appearance and taste. The variety is resistant to fungal diseases - moniliosis and klyasterosporiosis.

Shalah or “Yerevan” apricot

Variety with large fruits (90 g). The tree is tall, grows up to 6 m, and is characterized by rapid growth. It begins to bear fruit at the age of 4. Its flowering depends on climatic conditions. The warmer the growing area, the earlier the flowers bloom - late June, in temperate climates - July.

Yields are high - up to 200 kg. The tree bears fruit annually. With a favorable climate and proper care, they increase to 350 kg. The fruits are pale pink with a yellow tint or cream with a raspberry blush. The surface is matte. The pulp is sweet with a slight sourness and pineapple aroma. When overripe, coarse fibers appear.

The variety is resistant to diseases and pests. Frost resistance is average; it freezes out in the northern regions. The fruits are transportable and store well in cool conditions.

Royal

A variety with average winter hardiness, but it can also be grown in the south of Siberia. The tree is vigorous. The crown is round and wide. It begins to bear fruit after 4 years; fruits are produced annually. From a 10-year-old tree, up to 45-50 kg of large yellow-orange fruits are harvested; there is a blush on one side.

The pulp is yellow, juicy, sweet and sour. The fruits are not transportable. The tree can withstand prolonged drought and frosts down to -20°C. The main disadvantage is the lack of immunity to diseases and pests, so regular treatment is indispensable.

Pineapple

A native of Crimea. The tree reaches a height of 4 m. The crown is rounded. The shoots grow quickly, so they are pruned every year. This is a self-fertile variety, it can do without additional pollination, but gardeners recommend planting other varieties of apricots, plums, peaches, and sloe near it, since in this case the yield increases by 1/3.

It has high rates of winter hardiness and drought resistance. Even if a tree suffers from sub-zero temperatures, it will quickly recover in the spring. The first fruits can be tasted after 3-4 years. They are large - up to 40 g. Ripe fruits have a pale yellow tint. The pulp is slightly fibrous with a pineapple aroma and noticeable sourness.

Triumph Northern

Triumph Northern has high frost resistance. The wood can withstand cold temperatures down to -35°C, flower buds - up to -28°C. The tree has a spreading crown and its height is 4 m. The fruits are large (up to 60 g), yellow-orange with a light fluff, and the skin is rough. On the sunny side it is covered with a reddish tan, on the shady side it has a greenish tint. Pulp with almond flavor.

The harvest ripens in early August, and in cold summers - after August 20. The fruits are not prone to shedding. The first apricots are harvested after 4 years. The maximum yield is 60 kg from a 10-12 year old tree, but it bears fruit periodically. The variety is resistant to cluster blight and pests, but is susceptible to moniliosis.

This is a self-sterile variety; to form ovaries, “Best Michurinsky”, “Amur” and other varieties that bloom at the same time as it are planted next to it - after May 20. If fruits ripen in rainy weather, they will crack.

Russian

The variety was bred in the Caucasus, but it has taken root well in the central zone. The tree reaches 4 m in height. It begins to bear fruit in the 5th year, and the yield increases every year. Up to 75 kg of fruits are collected from an adult tree. They are large, weighing 50-65 g, yellow-orange.

The pulp is loose, aromatic, very sweet. The fruits are consumed fresh; they are not subjected to heat treatment, as they lose their taste. The advantage of the variety is considered to be high winter hardiness - the tree can withstand frosts down to -30°C, immunity to diseases and pests, and self-fertility.

Subtleties of cultivation

Sunny is unpretentious. It regularly produces fruits with little care. But for abundant fruiting, agricultural cultivation techniques must be followed.

Place and time

Apricot is a native of the southern regions of the planet. Work on zoning varieties has made it possible to grow trees much further north. But for a comfortable existence, they need to allocate a special place on the site. It must be protected from cold northern, northeastern and eastern winds. These air currents dry out the fruit and growth buds. The gardener does not receive a harvest.

Particular attention should be paid to the depth of groundwater. Apricot does not tolerate drought and excessive waterlogging

Soil water on the site should not be higher than 3 m from the surface.

For planting, you should purchase 2-3 year old seedlings. They take root better and begin to bear fruit faster. It is recommended to place the seedling in a permanent place in early spring (before buds open) or late autumn (3-4 weeks before a steady cold snap). The tree must have time to take root: this will help it survive the harsh time.

Soil selection

The soil should be close in composition and structure to the soils of the apricot’s homeland. It is necessary to prepare loose, fertile with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. On acidic soils, it is recommended to carry out liming before planting. Heavy clay soils should be sanded (a bucket of coarse sand per 1 square meter should be added for digging).

It is necessary to prepare the landing hole in advance. Its size: 70 cm x 70 cm x 70 cm. The pit should be filled with mature organic matter and a mineral complex mixed with the soil removed from it. It is recommended to prepare the hole in the spring for planned autumn planting and in the fall for spring planting.

Planting is done in a planting hole. The straightened apricot root system should be placed in it. Sometimes it is not possible to immediately choose a landing site. In this case, it is recommended to bury the tree: in this state, the apricot can spend the season without loss.

Basic landing criteria

For successful fruiting of the Sunny apricot, it is recommended to follow the basic planting criteria:

• carefully select planting material;
• purchase seedlings from nurseries;
• choose a landing site;
• prepare the soil;
• plant pollinating varieties on the site: Michurinsky Best, Red-cheeked, Comrade;
• follow the rules of care.

It should be remembered: a healthy plant is practically not affected by diseases and pests. Compliance with planting criteria will save the gardener from unnecessary hassle.

Choose your apricot varieties wisely

It all starts with choosing a variety. If you buy an unzoned seedling, the likelihood that it will survive and produce a harvest is minimal. Therefore, buy apricot seedlings only from trusted sellers (in no case from your hands!), Study the features of the zoned variety you have chosen.

If your neighbors in the country grow apricots, ask them for advice on which variety has taken root best. Most likely, they will name something from this list: Northern Triumph, Snegirek, Hardy, Lel, Russian, etc. At the same time, you will be able to evaluate the appearance of the plant and the taste of the fruit if the tree is already bearing fruit.

Blooming apricots decorate the garden in late April - early May.

How many seedlings will you need? Everything again depends on the variety. Self-fertile apricots, which do not require pollinating varieties, can be purchased in minimal quantities. If the variety is self-sterile, you will need at least 2-3 trees with similar flowering periods, and always different varieties. Do you have a large garden? Then plant several apricots at once with different periods of fruit ripening. This will allow you to harvest longer. In a small area, you can propagate the varieties you like by grafting onto a plum or cherry tree.

Read descriptions of popular varieties of apricots in our materials.

It is best to buy a ready-made 2-year-old apricot seedling. But you can successfully germinate a tree from a seed. True, the germination rate of apricots is quite low (up to 50%), and in the first year after planting another quarter of the plants die, so it is worth taking at least 50 seeds from ripe fruits.

Which winter-hardy apricot variety should you choose?

Apricot trees grow on almost every summer cottage. The plant is very thermophilic, but today, thanks to the work of breeders, a lot of cold-resistant species have appeared. And if earlier this fruit crop was grown mainly in the southern regions, then it has become possible to plant apricots in areas that have a colder microclimate. You might be interested in an article about domestic and foreign early varieties of raspberries.

Below are the best varieties of apricot, which are characterized by increased winter hardiness:

1. Hardy.
2. The best Michurinsky.
3. Red-cheeked.

Apricot Hardy

This variety is recognized as the most hardy in terms of withstanding low temperatures. Therefore, summer residents of the Moscow region often choose this variety. It should be noted that winter-hardy properties extend not only to the tree itself, but also to the flower buds.

The plant is vigorous. The crown is large, round in shape, medium dense. Hardy begins to bear fruit 5 years after planting. Productivity is high and stable. At least 70 kilograms of fruit are usually collected from one tree. Each fruit weighs from 30 to 45 grams. The color of the skin is golden-orange. There is a carmine blush. The surface furiness is minimal. The flesh is orange in color. The taste is pleasant sweet. The advantages of the variety include the presence of good immunity to most ailments and the plant’s self-fertility.

Apricot Best Michurinsky

It is worth considering the description of the Best Michurinsky apricot variety as one of the most popular at the moment. The variety is mid-late. It is characterized by good yield and high winter hardiness. The variety Comrade is considered the best pollinator for Michurinsky. The tree begins to bear fruit 5 years after planting. Fruits ripen in the first ten days of August. Apricots are small in size. Their weight does not exceed 15 grams. The shape is flattened and round. Yellow color. There is a slight blush. The pulp is dense, yellow, and has a sweet and sour taste.

Apricot Red-cheeked

It is an inexpensive, popular apricot. It is highly valued by domestic summer residents for its frost resistance and unpretentiousness. The seedling takes root not only in northern, but also in southern climates. The tree produces large, round fruits. The harvest ripens in July. The pulp has a sweet and sour taste, a pronounced aroma.

Properly plant apricot seedlings on the site

Planting an apricot is a fairly simple matter; it is only important not to make the hole too deep (50-70 cm is enough) and not to overdo it with fertilizer. The usual dose per tree: 500 g of superphosphate, 150-200 g of ammonium nitrate, 100 g of potassium sulfate, 1 kg of lime, 1 glass of wood ash, 8-10 kg of humus

Much more often, the amount of harvest is reduced or absent altogether if the planting site is chosen incorrectly. The following points should be taken into account:

• cardinal direction - southwest, southeast or west, less often - south;
• location – warm, sunny place, protected from cold winds;
• soil – light, loose sandy loam or loam, without stagnant moisture, pH 6-7;
• distance – 3-4 m between plants, 5-6 m between rows.

Plant apricot seedlings only in spring, when the soil is well warmed up.

Apricot, the planting and care of which have specific features in the middle zone, prefers to grow away from other trees. Apple trees, pear trees, cherries and plums often suppress the development of the plant, which can affect the amount of harvest. Also, you should not plant apricots next to raspberries or currants, from which various pests can migrate to the tree.

Features of cultivation

Success is unpretentious. But to guarantee a harvest, it is recommended to follow the advice of agronomists.

Place and time

Apricot is sensitive to northern and northeastern winds. In cold winters, exposure to icy air currents leads to the complete death of fruit buds. The gardener will not get a harvest this year. Therefore, Success should be planted in places protected from the winds.

The birthplace of culture is the southern regions. Apricots will bear fruit better in a sunny, open place. Good results are obtained by planting Success near the southern wall of a building (house, barn, outbuilding).

The young seedling must have time to grow its root system before the onset of winter. It should be planted in early spring (before buds open) or autumn (3-4 weeks before the onset of persistent cold weather).

Soil selection

Success prefers loose, fertile soil with a slightly alkaline reaction. On acidic soils, liming is recommended.

You must first prepare the planting hole. If the apricot is supposed to be planted in the spring, the hole is prepared in the fall; if planted in the fall, in the spring. Its dimensions: 70 cm x 70 cm x 70 cm. The pit must be filled with soil mixed with mature compost and a mineral complex. Then the area must be covered with plywood or a sheet of metal and left until the tree is planted.

Before planting the Success leaf, you need to remove the leaf, open the hole and plant the tree in the planting hole. Its dimensions must be sufficient to freely accommodate the root system.

Care

After 3–4 years, the tree will be pleased with its first fruits if you constantly take care of it. You need to take the time to trim the branches, shape the crown, moisten and loosen the soil under the apricot, and feed the plant with nutrients.

Watering

Although Olympus tolerates long droughts, juicy and large fruits ripen only when the tree has enough moisture. In the first years, the seedling is watered with warm water, making shallow grooves.

Preparing for winter

Before the onset of cold weather, the trunk of a young tree is wrapped in pine needles or durable material so that it is not damaged by hares, mice and other rodents. Fallen leaves and blackened fruits are raked and burned.

Apricots can be buried in soil for the winter, sprinkled with peat, straw or sawdust, but this is not done in the southern regions, since there are no severe frosts there.

Pruning your apricot

Like other fruit trees, apricot needs regular pruning.

At the same time, it is important to carry out not only sanitary and formative pruning, but also regulatory pruning, which will allow you to control the number of ovaries and fruits. The fact is that the apricot cannot do this on its own; as a result, the abundantly fruiting tree exhausts its strength ahead of time

Thus, it is better to opt for a slightly smaller amount of harvest than to lose the varietal tree altogether.

Apricots tolerate frequent and light pruning more easily than sparse and large-scale pruning, so do not forget about this annual procedure.

You will find detailed information on pruning apricots in our articles.

Diseases and prevention

Damp and cold weather promotes the activation of fungi, which, multiplying quickly, harm not only one tree, but can also destroy the entire garden. Although Olympus is resistant to a number of diseases, the plant cannot cope on its own:

• with gray rot;
• cytosporosis;
• vertical wilting.

To prevent the proliferation of pathogens, leaves and mummified fruits are raked, removed from the site and burned. In early spring and September, trees are sprayed with copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture to prevent fungal diseases.

Features of cultivation and subtleties of care

Dessert apricot variety is a self-fertile variety. However, to improve fruiting, it is recommended to select a pollinator with the same flowering period. Winter-hardy varieties are suitable for this:

• Countess;
• Children's;
• Lel.

You can grow Dessert Apricot yourself from seeds taken from large, well-ripened fruits.

Apricots can be grown from the seed

Procedure:

1. The seeds are washed from the pulp and dried.
2. Since seeds require a period of stratification (holding at a certain temperature) to germinate, boxes are prepared in which a layer of broken brick is placed.
3. The seeds are mixed with wet sand and placed in a prepared container.
4. It is covered at the top to protect it from rodents and placed in the basement. If there are few seeds, they are placed together with sand in a plastic bag and kept in the refrigerator.

Apricot kernels are mixed with wet sand and waiting for shoots

In April, they dig up the area allocated for sowing, adding half a bucket of compost per 1 m2. 50 superphosphate and 30 g each of ammonium nitrate and potassium salt are also added. If the soil is acidic, then add 60 g of lime. Seeds to obtain seedlings, which are then planned to be replanted, are placed in grooves, the distance between which should be 40 cm. The interval in the grooves is 15 cm. The seeds can be immediately planted in a permanent place. In such a situation, the distance between the rows is 50 cm. Young seedlings, when the fifth leaf develops, are sprayed with Thiophos. The soil needs to be loosened, weeds removed and mulched.

Activities for caring for Dessert apricot also include the following items:

• During the growing season, plantings are watered 3 times, adding 48 liters of water per m2. During hot and dry summers, the amount of watering is increased.
• To form the crown, sanitary pruning is carried out annually in early spring, removing broken, dried and excess branches.
• Trees are fed in a timely manner, starting from the second year after planting. In the spring season, after the snow melts, nitrogen fertilizers are applied. 200 g of urea or saltpeter are scattered under each tree, and then watered. You can replace mineral fertilizers with organic matter by taking bird droppings, which are diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. 15 liters of nutrient solution is poured under each tree. The second spring feeding is carried out during the end of flowering. At the same time, scatter a liter jar of ash around the tree.

In the summer season, add 2 tbsp once a month. l. phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. In the fall, simultaneously with loosening the soil, 125 g of superphosphate and 40 g of potassium chloride are scattered under each plant.

In late autumn, events are held to prepare for the winter season:

• Raking fallen leaves. It is recommended to burn them, although more often gardeners place organic residues in compost pits.
• Dig shallowly and level the tree trunk circles.
• Perform sanitary pruning.
• Carry out preventive irrigation of the crown, using, for example, the fungicide Fundazol.
• The trunks are whitewashed with lime mortar.
• Pour a layer of mulch from peat or compost with sawdust into tree trunk circles about 15 cm thick.
• Ruberoid or other heat-insulating material is wrapped around the trunk of young apricots. You can cover them with spruce branches and cover them with non-woven fabric. Mature trees usually overwinter open.

Apricot planting

Landing location

The heat-loving nature of apricot dictates that this tree should be placed in a warm, sunny area with mandatory protection from cold winds. It is undesirable to grow them in lowlands due to stagnation of cold air. At the same time, the southwestern slopes, so beloved by many crops, are also not suitable for apricot, since in such areas the plant begins active vegetation to the detriment of fruit formation.

Tree growing in a warm and sunny area

It is necessary that the groundwater be low enough, since even short-term flooding of the root system is destructive for the plant. The soil under the tree must have good breathability.

The most favorable soils for apricot are soils of average fertility. It can be sandy loam or loam, both light and heavy. The acidity level of such soils should be neutral. Soil liming is done annually. For liming, wood ash is used at the rate of 500 g per tree.

Planting seedlings

Planting is carried out in the spring, the best time for planting is the end of the flowering period of mature trees, that is, the second half of April.

The planting pit has a diameter and depth of about 60 cm. Preliminary preparation consists of digging up an area at the site of the pit (with an area of ​​2 to 3 sq. m) at least 40 cm deep, removing plant debris, grass and other foreign elements.

Apricot seedlings

If the soil is too poor, rotted manure is added to it (the norm is about 3 kg per sq. m). About 1 bucket of humus and from 500 g to 1 kg of superphosphate are added to the planting hole itself. In addition, on poor soils it is necessary to apply mineral fertilizers, mainly potassium-phosphorus. The application rates for such fertilizers are at least 100 g per square meter. m.

The seedling is placed in a dug hole, sprinkled with the excavated soil and watered. If the seedling has been grafted, the grafting point should be located 10-12 cm above the soil level. Watering the seedling is done with 10-20 liters of water.

Planting by seeds

It is used to better adapt the plant to the climate of the area. In addition, during seed propagation, all properties of the mother plant are inherited. This process is longer, since it actually consists of two stages: growing a seedling and then replanting it.

Apricot grown from the seed

There are three ways to plant apricots using seeds:

• immediately after harvest
• in the fall of the same year
• next spring

In all cases, landing is carried out according to the same scheme. The only differences will be in the preliminary preparation of the seeds. To plant using the second method, the seeds must be placed in damp sand in the basement and stored until September, maintaining a high level of humidity in the sand.

Planting in the spring of next year involves stratifying the seeds by placing them in conditions of low temperature and high humidity. During the period from July of the current year to February of the next, seeds can be stored at room temperature without fear of their germination.

For stratification, seeds should be placed in a moist substrate (sawdust or sand), which is poured into a plastic bag or container with holes or perforations for normal ventilation. The temperature should be within 4-10°C. The duration of stratification ranges from 40 to 100 days. Once the seeds crack and germinate, they can be planted.

Planting seeds is carried out as follows:

• Preliminary soil preparation is carried out as for planting seedlings, described earlier. But in this case, it is not a landing pit that is formed, but several long depressions no more than 10 cm deep, located parallel to each other at a distance of 0.5 m.
• The furrows are slightly moistened with water and seeds are planted in them at a distance of up to 10 cm.
• The furrows are buried level with the soil level and mulched with humus or peat 5 cm thick.
• Additional watering is carried out using a watering can with a divider.

If planting was carried out in the spring, then by August seedlings up to 1 m high will grow in the beds, which are transplanted to a permanent place in September. Last year's plantings are replanted in the spring, at the same time as purchased seedlings are planted - starting in the second half of April.

Graft

Apricot grafting is necessary to obtain seedlings with the required characteristics, if there is no desire to grow the plant from the seed.

Budding or eye grafting of apricot cuttings

The duration of such a process sometimes exceeds several years. The survival rate of young seedlings obtained from seed is relatively low. That is why grafting is the most popular among apricot planting methods.

The scion is most often a cutting obtained from a one-year-old shoot of an adult plant measuring about 15 cm with 4-10 buds. Sometimes a young plant grown from a seed of the variety of interest, cut to the very root, is used as a scion.

Grafting using the “split” method

Any apricot variety that takes root well in the conditions of a given area can be used as a rootstock. Often wild apricot species or young trees up to 3 years old, grown from cuttings of adult trees or independently from seeds, are used for this purpose.

The most common rootstocks are:

• cherry plum
• plum
• cherries
• sand cherry

Each apricot variety prefers a specific rootstock.

Grafting “behind the bark” of a cherry tree several apricot cuttings at once

Depending on the method of vaccination, it is done at different times of the year. Budding or incision grafting can be done throughout the warm season. Grafting with a cutting (copulation, grafting behind the bark or into a split) is traditionally done in the spring. Wet weather with rain is most suitable for any form of grafting, since under such conditions the processes of growth and healing of the cut sites are most active. According to statistics, the maximum survival rate of cuttings (up to 80%) occurs when grafting with cuttings in the period from April to June.

Caring for apricots consists of regular watering, fertilizing and crown pruning.

Watering apricot in spring

The first watering of apricot is done at the end of May to preserve the ovaries and support the formation of this season's shoots. The second watering is carried out at the end of June - its task is to support the process of seed formation. The third and fourth waterings are done at the beginning and end of August. Each watering requires from 20 to 40 liters of liquid.

Feeding is applied 4 times per season:

It is advisable to apply all fertilizing simultaneously with watering the plant.

Pruning the plant and shaping its crown serves not only to improve the aesthetic appearance of the plant, but also for its normal life. Excessively dense trees bear fruit much worse than trees with a thinned crown.

In addition, since apricots are relatively heavy, too many of them can cause branches to break off. It is believed that a plant can support the weight of apricots if their number correlates with the number of leaves on the branch, as 1 to 20. Therefore, pruning should include not only the formation of the appearance of the crown, but also the removal of excess fruits or even individual branches with a large number of them.

It is very important to choose the right place to plant the Success apricot variety. The most favorable location will be a sunny and warm place. The tree must be protected from cold northern winds, so it is planted on a southern slope surrounded by dense trees, a fence or the wall of a house. It is better to purchase seedlings in the fall and store them buried until spring in a warm and dark place, preferably a basement.

Young trees are planted in early spring before the sap begins to flow into a previously prepared hole. The dimensions of the planting hole should be slightly larger than the root of the seedling, and the depth for a two-year-old plant is approximately 50 cm, and for an annual plant - 30 cm.

First, a nutrient mixture must be placed in the planting hole, which consists of peat, humus, sand and chernozem, which are taken in equal parts. In addition, you can add approximately 400 g of artificial fertilizer, such as superphosphate and 4 liters of wood ash.

The first watering of a tree is carried out during its flowering. Next, water during the period of active growth of fruits and leaves, as well as after harvesting. The amount of water depends on the size of the plant and should cover the ground around it and penetrate to a depth of 30–40 cm.

Young trees can be watered much more often because they have less developed root systems. After this, it is important to loosen the soil, as this will ensure that sufficient oxygen enters the soil.

Fertilizing apricot varieties Success is carried out only after harvesting. Phosphorus and mineral fertilizers, such as superphosphate and superagro, are applied in the fall, 20–30 g/m², and nitrogen fertilizers should be applied in the same volume only in the spring. Artificial dry fertilizers are evenly scattered on the soil around the plant and then the soil is dug up. Potash fertilizers are used at the beginning of summer at a rate of 20–30 ml/m².

Liquid organic fertilizing is best done during the period of active fruit growth several times a season, maintaining an interval of at least 2 weeks. To prepare a concentrate, add 2 liters of mullein to 10 liters of warm water and leave for a week. Before use, it is additionally diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 10.

Important! It is necessary to correctly calculate the amount of fertilizer used so as not to harm the plant.

Description of the variety and its popular types

Apricot Pineapple is the Russian name for the ancient Armenian variety Shalah. Apricots of this variety are popular in Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. There they are grown on an industrial scale and used for processing. Shalakh appeared in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden at the beginning of the last century, from where it spread throughout the southern regions of Russia and Ukraine.

Based on descriptions of nurseries selling Pineapple apricot seedlings, as well as data from some other sources and reviews from gardeners, the following summary was compiled.

The Pineapple tree is medium-sized and fast-growing. But some sources note that it can reach five to six meters. The crown is broadly oval, spreading, prone to thickening. Early fruiting is good - the first fruits are produced in the fourth year after planting. The average ripening period is the second half of July. The variety has good productivity. According to various sources, from 50 to 150 kg of berries are collected from one tree per season (some report 200–300 kilograms per tree). Regular flowering does not ensure regular harvest. Crimean gardeners note that when the weather is rainy during the apricot flowering period (and this happens quite often in Crimea), pollination does not occur and ovaries are not formed. Self-fertility is high; one tree can easily grow on a plot and provide good yields. As already noted, the Pineapple variety is southern and heat-loving. Accordingly, its winter hardiness is low. Drought resistance is average. Resistance to fungal diseases, to which apricot is traditionally susceptible, is average.

The fruits of the Pineapple apricot are quite large - 30–50 grams. Some manage to grow berries weighing up to 90 grams or more. The shape of the berry is ovoid. Color - light yellow, golden. The surface of the berry is slightly pubescent, velvety, lumpy. The pulp is pineapple, cream color. Juicy, medium-bodied, sweet, with pleasant sourness and a light pineapple aroma. The relatively small stone is easily separated and contains an edible kernel.

The shape of Pineapple apricot berries is ovoid, yellow in color, large in size.

Fruits of universal use. Picked from the tree slightly unripe, they can be transported and stored well. The shelf life of fully ripened berries does not exceed 5–7 days.

Apricot Pineapple Tsyurupinsky

Isolated in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden and entered into the State Register in 2014. Zoned in the North Caucasus region. It is a medium-sized tree with a spreading, medium-dense crown and straight, bare shoots of red-brown color. It has good winter hardiness - according to reviews from gardeners, there are facts of growing the variety in Belarus. The ripening time of berries is average. As a rule, the harvest is harvested in the second half of July. Productivity during industrial cultivation is 90 c/ha.

The berries are round and weigh on average 40 grams (some sources claim that the weight of the fruit can reach 60–80 grams). The color of the berry is light yellow. The skin has no outer color, the structure is medium-rough, slightly pubescent and velvety. The juicy pulp is light yellow in color and has a sweet and sour taste. Tasting score: 4.3 points. Multi-purpose fruits have good transportability.

The Pineapple Tsyurupinsky apricot has light yellow berries.

Gardeners note the variety’s good self-fertility, average drought resistance and good immunity to major fungal diseases. Early fruiting - 3-4 years after planting.

History of origin

The selection of the Olympus apricot was carried out by specialists from the Nikitsky Botanical Garden, located near Yalta. By crossing 2 varieties of the plant in the fifties of the last century, a vigorous tree was created, which inherited its power from the Hardy apricot, and received resistance to drought and the sweet taste of the fruit from Yerevan. The variety is cultivated on the Crimean Peninsula. Fruits do not deteriorate during transportation, do not lose their presentation, are stored for a long time, and are grown by gardeners and summer residents.

Varieties of black apricots.

Black apricot is a hybrid of cherry plum and apricot. This variety has a number of advantages: late flowering helps to avoid damage to flower buds by spring frosts, trees are of moderate growth, and high resistance to fungal diseases of stone fruits. Varieties of black apricot with high winter hardiness and self-fertility have been developed.

"Black Velvet"

“Black Velvet” is a variety of black apricot with annual yield and high winter hardiness. The variety is partially self-fertile. For cross-pollination, cherry plum or other apricot varieties are suitable.

• Productivity is average, but regular.
• The fruits are dark purple weighing 25-30 g with aromatic sweet and sour pulp. The bone comes off well. The time to ripen is the end of July.
• The tree is medium-sized with a neat crown.
• It begins to bear fruit in the fourth year.
• Frost resistance is satisfactory. “Black Velvet” is zoned in the North Caucasus region.
• Virtually immune to fungal diseases.

Varietal advantages: frost-resistant, annual yield, good transportability and shelf life of apricots, excellent disease resistance.

Cons: small fruit size, partially self-pollinating.

"Black Prince"

“Black Prince” is a type of black apricot with annual yield and large fruits. It is self-fertile.

• The average yield is 10-15 kg, in favorable years up to 30 kg per tree.
• The fruits are dark burgundy weighing 60-80 g with tasty juicy pulp. Ripening time is the first half of August.
• The tree is medium-sized 3-4 m with a neat crown.
• Winter hardiness is good, fruit buds are not damaged by spring frosts. Recommended for planting in the North Caucasus region.
• It has high resistance to major fungal diseases.

Varietal advantages: large-fruited, stable yield, high immunity, self-fertility.

Disadvantages: poor transportability, apricots fall off en masse when ripe, it is better to pick them unripe.

"Kuban black"

“Kuban Black” is a frost-resistant, medium-yielding, self-sterile variety. Cherry plum and other apricot varieties are suitable for cross-pollination.

• Productivity is average (76 c/ha) and irregular.
• The fruits are burgundy-purple, weighing 25-35 g, sweet and sour with a pleasant aroma, ripen at the end of July.
• The tree is tall, the crown is dense.
• The first harvests can be obtained in the third year after planting the seedling.
• Frost resistance is quite good. “Kuban Black” is zoned in the North Caucasus region.
• Excellent disease resistance.

Varietal advantages: winter-hardy, tasty fruits of universal use, good transportability, high immunity.

Cons: vigorous trees are difficult to care for, self-sterile.

Description of the Olympus apricot variety, yield characteristics and cultivation

It is not known exactly where apricots were first planted. The fruit tree grew in both the Caucasus and Asia several millennia BC. The fruits of the stone fruit tree came to Greece with the soldiers of Alexander the Great and began to be grown in gardens. During this period, many varieties of apricots were created by crossing; Olympus, which is one of them, pleases with its stable yield. Orange and yellow fruits are rich in vitamins and various microelements. When consumed, the immune system is strengthened and the thyroid gland begins to function better.