Black apricot - what kind of fruit?

This article will focus on such a rare and interesting fruit as black apricot. In the article you will find a description of the hybrid, tips for caring for it, as well as characteristics of the most popular varieties of this hybrid in the southern regions.

Description of the hybrid

The selection of apricots does not stand still. Researchers are constantly looking for ways to improve the species and are experimenting by crossing them with other stone fruits. As a result, interesting hybrids appear, such as the black apricot, which was bred by crossing the usual species and cherry plum. He also has another name - apricot.

This species inherited late flowering dates from cherry plum, as well as slow spring development. But this is more a plus than a disadvantage: such a growing season contributes to more regular fruiting and crop stability, since the plant, thanks to the later appearance of flowers and ovaries, is protected from spring frosts.

Because of this feature, attempts to grow the species in central Russia, in the Moscow region, are popular. Indeed, through multiplication by the bone, you can get seedlings that are more adapted to the harsh conditions of the "Russian winter".

The tree is of medium height, rather resembles a large bush. In the process of growth and development, its fruits are green, but closer to ripening they acquire a dark brown color. Thanks to cherry plum, the fruits are small and slightly sour, but they have an apricot aroma, which is often misleading to non-specialists.

Apricot oalych can be eaten both fresh and rolled up, getting compotes and jams.

Another feature is that it is self-pollinated. Most apricot varieties require cross-pollination, that is, several apricot trees must be planted in the garden or summer cottage so that they pollinate each other, otherwise you can not wait for a crop from a lonely growing tree. However, many gardeners do not have the opportunity to grow several seedlings of the same species at once. But the apricot tree perfectly pollinates itself and does not need other apricot trees for this, but besides that, it is well pollinated with cherry plum, plum and common apricots, which is also a plus.

It should be noted that this rare species is less susceptible to fungal diseases such as cytosporosis, clasterosporia and moniliosis, which have regularly and mercilessly infect apricot orchards of traditional varieties in recent years.

Growing features

This exotic variety is propagated by grafting onto rootstocks of apricot, plum, cherry plum, as well as by cuttings. You can try with a bone, but then there is a chance of getting a new hybrid that will differ in characteristics from the mother.

The care of seedlings of this rare species is not much different from agrotechnical methods when growing ordinary apricot trees.

When choosing a permanent place for planting a seedling, give preference to the southern side of the garden or plot, sheltered from the northerly winds and well lit throughout the day. The ideal place would be to land on the south side of the fence or at home.

Apricot soils are traditionally unpretentious, although they grow worse, develop and bear fruit on heavy clay or strongly acidic soils.

It is also advisable not to plant seedlings in lowlands and in places with a low level of groundwater.Lowlands are dangerous for plants because, firstly, there is often an excess of moisture, and secondly, cold air sinks into such places and the temperature there is lower than in adjacent territories, and the cold is not a companion to these plants.

If your site is located where groundwater comes close to the surface, do not despair - there are ways to plant apricot seedlings in such, to put it mildly, unfavorable conditions. One of them is barrel landing. The planting technology is simple: they dig a hole, put drainage on its bottom, which is covered with a mixture of sand, humus, peat or compost. And already on this layer an ordinary barrel is placed, after having knocked out the bottom and the lid. The height of the barrel above ground level must be at least half a meter. This method of planting will protect the root system of the tree from groundwater, and will also protect the trunk and lower branches in case of heavy snowfall.

Seedlings need regular watering during active growth: pour a bucket of water under the plant every two weeks. At the end of July, watering must be stopped, since being saturated with moisture, the seedling begins to actively develop branches, giving many young shoots. And if watering is not stopped in time, thereby limiting growth, then young shoots will not have time to ripen before the start of frost, which is fraught with loss of yield and general weakening of the tree.

It is also recommended to feed apricot salmon regularly. Traditionally, these events are held in spring and autumn. In addition, it is advisable to regularly carry out preventive pruning to prevent thickening of the crown and to give the plant a bushy shape.

It should be noted that apricot, like most apricot, often suffers from sunburn, therefore, it needs an annual whitewashing of trunks and main branches, which is carried out in late autumn and early spring. In this case, a small amount of copper sulfate must be added to the lime.

Video "Apricot grafting"

This video will tell you how to properly vaccinate apricot seedlings.

Varieties

This species was bred artificially, therefore it does not occur in the wild, and the first specimens were obtained by American breeders and did not differ in the outstanding characteristics of both the tree itself and the fruits. However, time does not stand still and breeders have brought out a lot of new varieties, among which there are winter-hardy, and fruitful, and resistant to diseases. Consider interesting varieties that are common in our regions.

Black velvet

This clone was created by Crimean specialists, crossing American black and cherry plum. The tree is medium-sized, begins to bear fruit regularly for 3-4 years. It blooms late, therefore it is protected from spring frosts. The crop can be harvested in early August. The fruits are small - up to 30 g, but very juicy and sweet with a slight sourness.

Black apricot black velvet differs from congeners in increased winter hardiness. Also, the advantages of this clone include self-fertility, resistance to various fungal diseases, and regularity of fruiting. Possesses sweet fruits.

Apricot black velvet has one drawback: the small size of the fruit.

Melitopol black

Black apricot varieties Melitopol was created by specialists of the Research Institute of Irrigated Horticulture (Melitopol). The tree is tall, early-growing. Due to the late flowering, the buds are not damaged by late frosts, which has a positive effect on the regularity of fruiting and the abundance of the harvest.

Melitopol black apricot is distinguished by an early ripening period - already in the third decade of July, you can harvest rather large fruits weighing up to 50 g. The fruits have a honey flavor and a pleasant delicate aroma.

Like most of its counterparts, the black apricot variety Melitopolsky has good frost resistance and protection against many diseases. However, there is one drawback - the hybrid can be affected by moniliosis.Therefore, it is necessary to regularly carry out preventive checks and, at the first signs of illness, treat the affected areas with fungicides.

Black Prince

The apricot black prince was brought out by breeders from the city of Artemovsk. A fast-growing, medium-sized tree. It has all the signs of related hybrids - self-fertility, late flowering, resistance to most diseases.

The black apricot black prince has the largest fruits among relatives - the average weight of the fruit reaches 65-70 g. But it was not without its drawbacks - this clone is the least frost-resistant among its kind.

This variety is still exotic and it is difficult to find it in summer cottages. However, the hybrid is interesting for its ability to withstand spring frosts and increased resistance to bacterial infections, due to which it can regularly produce high yields of good quality and presentation.