Apricot information

Apricot - a plant quite winter hardy and can tolerate quite large frost even without snow cover. Therefore, it grows well both in the Volga region and in Karaganda, where in the winter without snow there can be frosts up to -25. ..- 30 degrees.

Substantially prevents the spread of apricot to the northwest of its origin from an area with a purely continental climate. He easily wakes up in the winter thaw and then dies from a sudden frost. I must say that the real apricot in the North-West does not grow. Under the shelter, the apricot will grow and will bear fruit in the North-West, but the tree is very tall( it can reach a height of 15 m), it is difficult to cover it, but does not want to grow in a crouching form. Shelter, which was not removed during the thaw, may result in barking and subsequent death of the plant.

In any case, it should be planted under the cover of other plants( or structures) from the northern cold winds. There is Vologda apricot, which grows even in the Vologda region. There is also the Moscow apricot. But honestly, these are special sorts of plums with the taste of apricot and its aroma. But we do not care whether it's an apricot or a plum? Let the scientists continue to argue about this.

For us, it is important to taste the fruitful opportunity to grow this plant in the Northwest. It is necessary to grow only from the stone in place, so that the tree immediately adapts to the microclimate. The fruits of the apricot contain a large amount of sugar, there are varieties, in the dried fruits of which it contains up to 80%.In addition, the fruits of apricot - the supplier of potassium in our body, as well as vitamins( especially carotene and vitamin C), organic acids, minerals, pectins( "wipers" for our gastrointestinal tract).

Fruits are dried with seeds( apricot) and without them( dried apricots).Dried apricots eat or cook from them compotes along with other dried berries and fruits. There are varieties of apricot, the kernels of which, according to their taste, are not inferior to almonds. There is even an apricot with fruits, painted in black( Melitopol black).

Features of apricot cultivation

Top dressing, watering

In the spring( in the Northwest - in the beginning of summer, after the end of frosts), give mineral fertilizing: 2 tbsp.spoons of nitrogen fertilizer and 1 tbsp.a spoon of potassium, not containing chlorine, per 10 liters of water.

Naturally, feeding should be given along the perimeter of the tree crown. The number of buckets must correspond to the number of years of the tree. Sprinkle a can of ash or a glass of dolomite along the perimeter of the crown over moist soil.

At the moment of the growth of the ovaries, sprinkle the crown with "Uniflorom-micro" -2 tsp for 10 liters of water. It is enough to have one bucket of fertilizing on an adult tree.

After harvesting, the next year's harvest is immediately started, so again pour the ashes over the moist soil around the perimeter of the crown( a liter pot of the subtree).

In mid-August, give top dressing to watering around the perimeter of the crown - 2 tbsp.spoons of double granulated superphosphate and 1 tbsp.spoon of chlorine-free potassium per 10 liters of water. And again pour a liter of ash on the perimeter of the crown.

In the late autumn, when the leaves fall off, add rotted manure or compost along the perimeter of the crown. You can make watering faeces from the toilet, dissolving them with water 1:10. Sprinkle the faeces with fallen leaves or weeded weeds( peat, sand, earth).

In the watering, a dry summer is needed, at the time of flowering and growth of the ovaries, 10 liters per year of life, naturally, along the perimeter of the crown. In general, apricot root system and roots go deep into the soil, and therefore can find water.

In the Northwest, apricot is therefore quickly killed, because the roots fall into aquifers( except for areas with sandy soil, of course).

Pests and diseases

In southern regions, apricot has a dangerous fungal disease of gnomoniasis( brown leaf spot), and in northern regions - fungal disease moniliosis( gray mold).

In both cases, both preventive and therapeutic spraying with "Zircon" helps. But only 2-4 drops per 1 liter are sufficient for prophylaxis, and to control the disease, the concentration should be increased to 6-10 drops. In case of illness, spraying should be repeated after another 10-15 days. It would be a good idea to add a quarter teaspoon of microbial preparation "Extrasol" to the solution.

Drying of apricot branches( apoplexy), accompanied by gum aeration, usually leads to the death of the plant. The reason for this process is not revealed. In order not to conduct a useless struggle against such a phenomenon, take good care of the tree and be prophylactically sprinkled with a spring cocktail.

From pests in the spring attack aphids, goose, sawfly, scoop. With regular protection of the "Healthy Garden" they will not be.