Apricot is a fruit crop that requires proper cultivation techniques. Apricot trees are planted both in the central regions of Russia and in such remote areas as the Urals. Carrying out such a garden event as fertilizing an apricot tree in the spring season helps to increase the quantitative and qualitative indicators of yield. Both mineral complexes and organic matter are used for application. Fertilization is carried out in three approaches: after the snow melts, when the tree enters the flowering stage, after which the planting must be fed during the formation of the ovaries.
How to care for and why to fertilize apricot
In the spring season, before sap flow begins, formative and sanitary pruning is carried out, during which all deformed, frozen and diseased branches and shoots are removed. The base of the leading branches and the standard part of the tree are painted with lime mortar.
The next necessary activity is the application of fertilizers in the spring. The first fertilization, carried out in the same way as treatment, after planting a tree, consists of applying a urea-based solution. Fertilization with urea is aimed at destroying pathogenic foci and parasitic insects living under the bark or in the area of tree trunk soil, and also as an additional source of nitrogen. However, if you do not have time to carry out this procedure before the buds begin to bloom, this can lead to their burning.
Apricot
Instead of spraying with a composition based on urea, preventive treatment with the following preparations is permissible to fertilize apricots against insects:
- Spark-bio;
- Healthy Garden;
- Agravertina;
- Akarina.
Fertilizer with any of the above compounds is carried out by applying it to the tree trunk area in dry form. The calculation of fertilizers for one planting is 50 grams of ammonium nitrate and 70 grams of nitrogen-containing fertilizer. The second time organic matter is added to the soil. The frequency of applying organic fertilizers should not exceed once every two years.
If there was little snow in winter and the spring season was dry, it is necessary to thoroughly water the tree.
Watering an apricot
If the summer season is dry, the apricot should be watered generously. If this procedure was skipped in May, it must be done in June.
Important! In summer, due to the active growth of shoots, mandatory pruning is required. If the crown part is excessively thickened, the quality of fruit ripening will significantly decrease, and, in addition, the growth of the tree will accelerate, which will make harvesting work much more difficult.
You can also treat the apricot tree against pests and diseases.
In summer, apricot fruits are collected and processed. Since apricots that are not completely ripe will not be able to ripen completely, they must be collected in a timely manner. Fruit harvesting begins from the lower tier of branches.
Harvesting
After finishing the harvesting work, which occurs at the end of summer, the apricot must be well watered. This is pre-winter watering of apricots, carried out for the last time during the season.
Autumn agrotechnical care activities are aimed at preparing the tree for the winter season. First of all, sanitary pruning is carried out, which consists of removing all injured, dried out and deformed branches and stems due to diseases.
On a note! After the leaves have completely fallen off the soil surface, it is necessary to remove all plant remains and then dig up the soil in the tree trunk area. Also in the fall, the tree trunk and soil in the tree trunk area are sprayed, since these areas are a winter shelter for pathogens and pests.
How to feed a tree
Apricot trees begin to be fed soon after the snow melts: mineral and organic fertilizers are regularly applied, most often in liquid form. Complex mineral fertilizers can be applied in the form of granules, and then watered.
Granulated mineral fertilizers can be scattered in the apricot tree trunk, and then watered the tree
To apply fertilizers under the root, at a distance of 0.5–0.6 m from the trunk, dig a circular groove 20–25 cm deep. You can cut several small concentric furrows and feed fertilizers into them.
Why is it necessary to fertilize apricots in spring?
How to feed cherries in spring
With the onset of the spring season, the plants enter the vegetative stage - this is what determines the need to enrich the soil with minerals, which is what it is recommended to feed apricots with.
An apricot tree needs the following components:
- nitrogen;
- phosphorus;
- potassium.
Fertilizing in spring is necessary for:
- enriching the soil composition with useful substances;
- accelerating tree growth;
- increasing resistance to diseases;
- increasing the quantitative indicator of yield.
Fertilizing
Active absorption of mineral components by the plant leads to soil depletion. A deficiency of minerals leads to the fact that the ovaries begin to crumble, as well as to deformation and paleness of the leaves. The tree becomes less resistant to diseases and insect pests, grows more slowly and bears fruit worse.
Apricots also need to be watered. Proper watering of the plant will help accelerate the growth of the tree and improve the quality of the yield. A lack of water in the soil will lead to wilting of the foliage, stopping the life of the plant, and causing the tree to grow too low. Due to excess moisture, the oxygen content in the soil decreases, as a result of which the root system rots. Insufficient irrigation in the spring leads to crushing of apricot fruits, loss of taste and shriveling of the fruits before their ripening is completed.
Which apricot variety to choose for planting?
Most varieties of apricot, seedlings of which are sold in stores across the country, are adapted for central Russia. They have high frost resistance, tolerate drought and stagnant water.
We recommend reading the article about the best apricot varieties.
Early apricot varieties
Early varieties, such as Leskore, Alyosha and Melitopolsky early, have a pyramidal or reverse pyramidal crown. Fruits with a slight sourness, weighing from 40 to 55 g. The stone is well separated from the pulp, the fruit is slightly flattened. Suitable for early preservation; these are also the most frost-resistant varieties.
Mid-season varieties
Mid-season varieties - Pogremok, Pineapple, Dessert and others. They have classic frost resistance; the wintering period occurs at an early age when seedlings are transplanted into the ground. The flesh of the fruit is orange-yellow, closer to rich amber. The harvest is good for making jams, compotes and preserves.
Late varieties
Late varieties - Iskra, Favorit, Success and others. These are winter-hardy hybrids with early abundant fruiting. The varieties are self-fertile with a spreading crown and are suitable for winter harvesting, as they have a higher level of sugar content. They are resistant to fungi and pests.
Fertilizing apricot at the flowering stage
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Fertilizing apricots in the spring during flowering is aimed at stimulating the formation of ovaries, which occurs before the apricot begins to bloom. These events are carried out in the month of May - the exact period depends on the location of the growing region, where the time when the ovary is formed, which turns into a white-pink flower, can vary from late April to mid-May.
In the spring, when the tree is about to bloom, the same fertilizers are applied as during the first treatment. Minerals can be replaced with organic matter. Chicken manure should be diluted in an amount of 0.5 liters in a 10-liter bucket of water. The prepared mixture is used to water the tree trunk area.
Ash for apricot fertilizer
After 5 days, a liter of ash is added to the moistened soil - the addition of this component is aimed at preventing acidification of the soil.
Planting an apricot seedling
The procedure for planting an apricot seedling is very simple and will not cause difficulties even for novice gardeners. It is enough to adhere to the following scheme of actions:
- A day before planting, soak the root of the seedling in water to nourish it and give it strength before strengthening it in the ground.
- Trim off any broken or dried roots.
- Restore circulation and strength to the roots by dipping them in a mixture of clay and manure before placing them in the planting hole.
- When planting the plant, carefully straighten the roots so as not to break or damage them.
- Lightly compact the soil to fit between the roots, but do not apply too much force, otherwise there is a risk of kinks.
- Secure the seedling with twine in a certain position. This will protect the plant from moving in the planting hole and prevent breakage of the roots.
How to choose seedlings?
Choose only high-quality seedlings. Their branching should be uniform and at a slight angle relative to the main trunk. Externally, the apricot should be healthy, without flaws, damage or wound surfaces.
It is extremely important to take into account the angle of branches. If it is too sharp, then during fruiting they will break off under the weight of the crop, which can lead to the death of the plant.
Planting scheme
Since the apricot forms a standard rounded crown, it should be planted at certain intervals. Gardeners use a 5x5 m pattern, but the distance between trees should be at least 3-4 m.
Often at their summer cottage, gardeners plant apricots in one row. Even if you plant them 4 m apart, after a few years their crowns will close together and the trees will become an excellent protection from strong winds.
Landing dates
Depending on the climate in which the plant will grow, planting dates are determined. Manufacturers often indicate planting dates in different countries for each variety on seedlings or seed packets.
It is important not to overexpose the seedlings and plant them as early as possible. Every day, a seedling that is not planted in the ground weakens and loses strength. The ideal time for planting apricots is considered to be the end of April or the beginning of May.
Seedling planting depth
To plant, you need to dig a hole about 0.5 m deep. Place a seedling in the prepared hole and sprinkle it with the mixture so that the root collar of the plant is at the level of the soil surface. Next, a hole for watering and a mound around its circumference are formed so that the water flows to the seedling and does not spread beyond the roots.
The amount of water for irrigation after planting is 1.5-2 buckets per freshly planted plant.
Fertilizing apricot after flowering
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The necessary fertilizer is applied to the apricot after flowering in order to ensure the correct formation of the fruit, as well as to ensure that fruiting is abundant. Soil treatment involves adding a complex solution based on potassium and phosphorus.
To make a composition for watering apricots after flowering, which should be used to fertilize the plantings, the following must be added to a 10-liter bucket of water:
- 2 tablespoons of potassium sulfate;
- 2 tablespoons of superphosphate;
- 3 tablespoons of carbamide.
The prepared fertilizer must be applied to the tree trunk area. A week later, wood ash is added to the ground.
Fertilizer potassium sulfate
Types of fertilizing and their effects
The main types of fertilizers for fruit crops:
- Organic. Obtained through natural processes from natural ingredients. This includes manure, chicken droppings, humus, peat, wood ash and compost. Organics do not contain harmful impurities, however, when using them it is difficult to determine the dosage of individual microelements.
- Mineral. Includes industrial products: superphosphate, potassium salts, ammonium nitrate. Such fertilizers contain phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen, which are necessary for the growth and fruiting of trees. When working with mineral substances, follow safety and dosage rules.
- Complex. They contain several useful components. The most popular complex preparations are ammophoska and nitroammofoska.
Both mineral components and organic matter are suitable for processing. The best results are shown by alternating different types of fertilizers.
Features of watering work
There is a list of factors that determine how often it is necessary to water an apricot in the summer:
- plant age;
- depth level of water penetration;
- weather conditions;
- growing season.
If the soil is sufficiently moist, the tree has good resistance to high temperatures. Each young apricot planting needs frequent watering.
Note. The oldest trees can withstand dry weather more easily than young seedlings, which can dry out in such conditions.
What other spring events can be held in the spring with apricot trees?
Spring grafting
If for some reason you are not satisfied with the variety or you want to graft a varietal apricot onto a wild one (for example, grown from a seed ), then it is not necessary to buy a new seedling: it is much more interesting to try the grafting procedure. There are quite a lot of ways (There are many and they are varied!), and spring is perhaps the best time for this gardening operation.
By the way! The site already has an article on how to graft an apricot .
By the way! If the bark of your young apricot seedling was seriously damaged in winter by rodents (mice or hares), so to speak, gnawed into a ring , then in order to save the tree, you can perform a life-saving apricot grafting with a bridge .
Planting and transplanting
Of course, in the spring you can plant a new apricot seedling or transplant the tree to another place (always with a clod of earth).
By the way! Read about how to properly plant apricots in spring here .
Well, that’s the entire list of spring work for caring for apricots, which is generally suitable for caring for all fruit trees. Don’t be lazy, take care of your apricot trees, and then they will definitely thank you with large and tasty fruits. Good luck!
Summer fertilizer for apricot
Summer feeding is carried out using the foliar method. For this purpose, nitrogen-containing compounds are used. You can also spray the leaves using a solution containing large quantities of nitrogen. Complex mineral compounds are added in July, organic compounds are added in August.
Spraying apricot foliage
How to avoid mistakes when feeding apricots
Rules for spring feeding of apricot:
- observe the terms of use of fertilizers;
- stick to the dosage;
- normalize the amount of components containing nitrogen;
- refuse deep loosening of the soil;
- do not use chlorine-containing preparations;
- moisten the soil before adding substances;
- alternate different types of treatments;
- do not water the trunk;
- apply the solution in the morning or evening;
- spray in cloudy, dry weather.
Recommendations for selecting fertilizers
If a tree is susceptible to ovary drop, the cause is excess nitrogen content in the soil. At the stage of ovary formation, fertilizers based on potassium and phosphorus should be used.
To make a mineral composition you need:
- take a bucket filled with water, volume 10 liters;
- add 30 grams of superphosphate;
- add 30 grams of potassium sulfate.
The prepared composition is used for root watering of the tree. Wood ash should be added before watering.
Feeding time
The nutritional needs of apricots depend on the time of year. In spring, nitrogen-containing fertilizers are needed to increase yields. They are applied three times: the first time before buds open, then during flowering and after it. In the summer, compositions with potassium and nitrogen are relevant. Complex preparations and potassium sulfate are used for foliar feeding. In autumn, mineral fertilizers containing phosphorus, calcium and potassium are used in the form of root feed. The main goal is to prepare the plant for cold weather.
Organic matter should not be added in hot weather; it is best to apply it in the spring months or before autumn.
Fertilizer to increase yield
To increase the quantitative indicator of yield, a mineral complex is added to the soil, which will provide the plant with all the necessary substances.
Mineral complex for fertilizer
The solution for increasing the amount of harvest includes the following components:
- urea (10 grams);
- potassium sulfate (5 grams);
- superphosphate (22 grams);
- water (10 liters).
Organic fertilizers also have a positive effect on the quality of yield. Wood ash or compost is used as organic matter.
Fact! The addition of boric acid promotes abundant fruiting. Due to the participation of this element in the process of nitrogen synthesis, the addition of boric acid increases the metabolic rate, which has a positive effect on the quantitative indicator of yield.
Treatment is carried out using a 1% solution of boric acid diluted in warm water by spraying during the formation of buds and at the stage of flower blooming. The required concentration is adjusted by adding room temperature water to the solution.
Differences in feeding depending on the age of the tree
Young apricots and adults are fed according to different patterns, adding or removing components. For convenience, we will compile an approximate table of contributions by age:
| Apricot age | Composition/type of application |
| Saplings | 20 liters of water + 300 g of bird droppings. Root feeding |
| 3 years | Before flowering, the recommended composition is: water - 20 l, urea + potassium sulfate (4 tbsp. + 2 tbsp.) During flowering: superphosphate, urea, potassium salt and compost (12 g, 8 g, 10 g and base 4 kg). Root feeding |
| 6-8 years | Potassium – 20 g, superphosphate – 30 g. Ammonium nitrate – 20. Root feeding. The mixture is made into 20 liters. Requires 10 liters of organic matter - compost |
| 9 years + | There is an increase in organic matter up to 70 kg. Fertilizer mixture of: potassium salt (300 g), ammonium nitrate (400 g). Superphosphate (900 g) |
For a large tree, the composition may change for many reasons. Therefore, the condition of the tree is first studied.
By looking at the foliage and branches, it is quite possible to understand which microelement is missing or in excess.
How to water properly in summer
You can carry out irrigation activities for the soil in the garden in the summer, the beginning of the season of which is June, using one of the existing methods:
- furrow method;
- hole;
- drip;
- feigned.
The furrow method involves creating deep furrows between all rows of apricot plantings. When carrying out irrigation work, a hose with water turned on under low pressure is placed in the furrow. If water cannot flow sufficiently through the furrows, the hose should be moved to dry areas from time to time. Watering in this way is possible using buckets.
Watering apricots in summer
Irrigation using the hole method involves forming a depression in the circumference of the stem. Since mature trees require a larger volume of water, the hole should be deeper for an old tree. It is necessary to dig holes while avoiding deformation of the root system.
Note! When forming a hole, you should remember that the root system of the apricot tree is located close to the surface.
Many experienced gardeners prefer to make deep holes around the circumference of the trunk, using scrap metal, into which fertilizer is poured, and water is poured on top of it in portions as it is absorbed.
Drip irrigation is considered the most convenient in terms of time costs. This method consists of placing plastic or metal pipes with watering drippers (the standard design of this device involves placing them along the entire length of the pipe). Water is supplied under pressure or by gravity.
Note! When carrying out proper drip watering of apricots, you should ensure that water does not get on the tree - this will lead to pollen being washed off and loss of the crop.
The advantages of drip irrigation are savings in water consumption, uniform watering of the soil, and the absence of erosion on the soil surface.
The flood method involves flooding the entire area occupied by the apricot orchard. Flood irrigation is considered the least perfect of all existing ones, but is most often used in practice by many gardeners. Supplying water in large quantities does not guarantee that the water will reach deep soil layers. With such watering, moisture is absorbed by the surface layers of the soil, due to which it collapses and acquires a more dense structure. Thus, the access of oxygen to the buried layers of the soil becomes difficult, which leads to a deterioration in the living conditions of the microflora living in the ground. All this negatively affects the supply of minerals to the tree.
Another disadvantage that you need to be aware of before watering apricots using the flood method is the unevenness of moisture: some areas are waterlogged and swampy, while others are drained.
Important! Excessive irrigation will lead to fruiting at a later date and a slowdown in the increase in yield. Insufficient watering will lead to a decrease in the quantitative and qualitative indicators of the crop, as well as to worse resistance to diseases and insect pests.
Fertilizing the apricot tree is necessary to increase the qualitative and quantitative indicators of yield. The selection of fertilizer to feed apricots in spring depends on the growing season and age of planting. When using mineral or organic substances as a component of the enrichment composition, the required dosage must be observed. Also, do not forget about precautions when working with chemical components.
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When to plant apricot?
Like other garden crops, apricot trees are best planted in the ground in the spring, before the buds swell, around April. If you choose autumn for planting, there is a high probability of the plant freezing. The risk increases during winters with little snow, which occurs due to insufficient development of the root system for overwintering.
Features of planting in spring
When planting in spring, it is important to water early and fertilize the seedling as quickly as possible. You cannot plant a plant if its buds are already swollen - this is detrimental to it. Basic tips for planting in spring:
- Prepare a hole for planting a tree in the spring in the autumn.
- To protect the apricot from excess moisture, make a drainage pad at the bottom of the hole.
- The dimensions of the hole for planting a tree in spring should be at least 70x70 cm.
Features of planting in autumn
Autumn planting of apricot seedlings will harden the plant. If about a month passes between planting and the first frost, then the root system will be able to firmly and successfully take root in the new location. Basic tips for planting apricots in autumn:
- Plant apricots in the sunny side and on a slight hill.
- Before planting the tree, dig up the soil to a depth of at least 20 cm.
- Fertilize the soil before planting with mineral fertilizers.
- The depth of the planting hole should be at least 70 cm.
