Apricot in Siberia: cultivation and care. Varieties of apricots for Siberia

Apricot - in the south grew, as they say in famous advertising. Fortunately, modern breeding does not stand still and good cold-resistant hybrids are bred. Already without much difficulty you can get apricot in Siberia. Growing a fruit tree does not cause difficulties, but it has some peculiarities. About them and talk.

About apricot

Apricot ordinary in culture was introduced millennia ago and almost all this time was considered solely as a plant for the south. It is not surprising: most varieties at best can transfer a short-term temperature drop to -30 ° C, and flower buds die already at -25 ° C. Thanks to the breeding of special varieties, it became possible to obtain apricot in Siberia. Cultivation and care for it - further in the text.

A great contribution to the work on the removal of regionalized hybrids belongs to Siberians IL Baikalov. He used in his experiments apricot ordinary, manchurian, Siberian, as well as their forms and different varieties. The last two species are suitable for a severe climate. Fresh fruit is inferior in quality to its southern counterpart, but in canned, dried, dried form have excellent qualities.

Varieties of apricots for Siberia

1. Siberian Baikalov. The tree grows to 3.5 m with a sprawling crown up to 4 m in diameter. It is characterized by rapid growth in the first few years after planting. Fruits of medium size, about 25 g with a slight blush, the flesh is fragrant, dense. The blossom begins in May, the average yield from the tree is 20 kg.
2. Sayanskiy. The height of the tree is up to 3 m, fruit weighing 25-30 g of rounded shape, do not have a blush. Siberian apricot of this variety will give you a crop of up to 15 kg from one hybrid.
3. Khabarovsk. The tree is strong with a sparse sprawling crown. The fruits are large, weighing up to 45 grams, of round-conical shape, slightly compressed laterally. Color dark green with a slight blush.
4. Northern Lights. Elite variety, blooming in the second decade of May. The fruits are rounded with a clearly pronounced seam, weighing 25-30 g with good taste. This is a late apricot. In Siberia, the cultivation is successful, the variety has a high resistance to frost even in winters with little snow.
5. Mountain Abakan. The tree grows up to 3 m, it has good resistance to frost. Fruits have a mass of 25-30 g, dense orange flesh.

In addition to the five best known varieties, it is worth mentioning the following: Academician, Amur, Akbashevsky, East Siberian, Beauty, Laureate, Pervenets, Spicy, Triumph Northern, etc.

Place for apricot and soil

The answer to the question of how to grow apricot in Siberia depends largely on the right choice of soil. Keep in mind that the tree will grow poorly on a heavy substrate, which is bad for moisture and air. Therefore, choose for him the highest places on the site, the lowlands and hollows are unsuitable. A stably high crop is harvested when planted on the slopes of mountains, hills, hills. Apricot is a light-loving plant, therefore does not like thickened planting, observe the correct distance.

The wood is frost-hardy. Siberian apricot freely tolerates a drop in temperature to -40 ° C. From the negative sides of all varieties it is worth noting a short period of rest, so flower and growth buds wake up early and can fall under recurrent frosts.

Planting Apricot in the Garden

All gardeners are encouraged to remember one simple rule about how to plant apricot in Siberia. Cultivation involves planting on a hill and in no case in a pit for irrigation. Deepening the root neck can lead to its decay. Plant trees on the mounds. It must be flat to protect the roots from freezing. Use a fertile soil mixture with the addition of humus and a small amount of lime. Experts recommend planting several apricot varieties at once, so that cross pollination is carried out, and this, in turn, is the key to a good harvest.

After planting the first two years, the circumferential circle near the tree should be kept in a clean state (weeding from weeds) and periodically loosened it, but shallow (6-8 cm) so as not to damage the root system.

Watering and fertilizing with fertilizers

Fruit trees are hygrophilous. They need regular watering, especially demanding to this seedlings of apricots and plants after transplanting to a new location. The second half of the summer is calmer. Watering in this period is needed only if there is a drought, otherwise excessive moisture will lead to a strong growth of shoots that do not have time to ripen to winter.

Fertilizers should be applied to the soil. If it is sufficiently poor, then it should be done at regular intervals once a year. Since the age of two, apricot is fed in early spring and late autumn with complex mineral preparations. Organic fertilizers in the form of peat, compost, humus are introduced as needed, but at least once every 3-5 years.

Care of a tree

From an early age, the trees begin to whiten. The work is carried out in late autumn and early spring. Use a mixture of whitewash with a little addition of copper sulfate for this. Damage caused by frost and wounds on the trunks are covered with var. To protect the fruit trees from rodents, frosts and scorching spring sun, from autumn to April, wrap the bases of skeletal branches and sticks with fiberglass.

The crown of the tree is formed naturally, without interference. Siberian apricot very painfully tolerates pruning, so it is better to exclude it.

Apricot from a stone

Seed method of reproduction is permissible for Siberian varieties. In order for the process to be successful, use several tips:

• Take a bone only from the zoned tree. Fruits choose ripe, large, without flaws and defects. After you get the seed, put it in the water for a day.
• Put the stone directly into the ground or into the seedlings. On the site for these purposes, choose a place protected from the winds and well illuminated by the sun. The distance between the holes is 10-15 cm. After planting, pour a lot of plentifully.
• Care for seeded apricots is in the periodic weeding of weeds, abundant watering and loosening of the soil.
• Young plants are transplanted when they reach the age of two. The process of growing apricot from a bone is not fast. The first harvest with a favorable outcome of the events you will receive only 5-6 years after planting.

Diseases of apricot

Fruit tree is susceptible to some diseases that affect and damage flowers, leaves, fruits and skeletal branches of the plant. The most common and harmful are the following: moniliosis, cytosporosis, klyasterosporiosis, bacterial cancer, verticillosis, as well as leaf curl and brown spot on them. Diseases of apricot are best warned than after a long and painstaking treatment. Use twice a year (in the spring, when the buds swell, and in autumn after falling leaves), 1% solution of the Bordeaux liquid. Among prevention measures, it should also be noted:

• Cleaning, disinfection and puttying of wounds on the bark of a tree;
• Collection of carrion and diseased fruit with subsequent destruction;
• Collection and burning of diseased leaves;
• Periodic treatment of the whole tree with special preparations or lime.

In addition, apricot seedlings and adult trees are susceptible to pest attack (similar to plum damage): moth, aphids, moth, etc. In a timely manner, treat plants with "Actellicom", "Decis" or other preparations.

Planting apricots in Siberia - this is already quite a common phenomenon. If you decide to have this sunny and bright fruit tree in your garden, then there are a few things to consider. First, think about whether you have a place on the site that is suitable for him. Secondly, responsibly refer to the selection of the variety, comparing all the indicators with the weather conditions in your area. It was not bad to consult with experienced gardeners and specialists, one head is known to be good, and two are better.