Suitable varieties of apricot for the Moscow region

Hardy varieties

In the Moscow region, for growing apricots, you should take only hardy varieties that can withstand the climate of this zone. When growing apricots, preference should be given to varieties that have a fairly high resistance to frost, since this is a fairly common phenomenon here in the cold season.

In this climatic zone, the following varieties of apricot have shown themselves better than others: red-cheeked, hardy, Russian, honey, snowflake, northern triumph. It was these apricot varieties that received the best reviews from gardeners. In addition to these varieties, other early-growing varieties will feel good in the Moscow region.

Let's consider the above types in more detail.

Red-cheeked

Apricot Red-cheeked is the most common variety that is grown today in the Moscow region.

This variety has a distinctive feature that lies in the rather significant size of the tree, which has a spreading and rounded crown. The tree bears relatively large fruits. The average weight of one apricot ranges from 40 to 50 grams. They are characterized by an ovoid or rounded-flat shape. The skin color is golden orange with a beautiful and pronounced blush. In this case, the apricots have the appearance of light pubescence. The skin is rather thin, but dense. The pulp is light orange in color. It tastes sweet and pleasant, and the bone separates quite well from it. Sometimes the pulp can give off a slight sourness. A pleasant aroma of fruits is noted, due to which the variety has one of the best reviews for this indicator.

The content of dry matter in the pulp is 13.70%. At the same time, the content of sugars at the level of 9.72% was noted in the fruits, ascorbic acid - 13.7 mg / 100g, as well as acids - 1.37%.

Red Cheek has the following features:

• strong and vigorous tree;
• high winter hardiness. The variety has the best winter-hardy properties of all fruit plants grown in the Moscow region;
• self-fertility;
• good productivity and large-fruited;
• sufficiently high resistance to various diseases.

With improper care, the tree produces small fruits and yields become irregular. If the care was correct, and the planting of the seedling was successful, then the tree begins to bear fruit already from 3-4 years. The yield is maintained every year. Fruit ripening occurs in July (end of the month). Fruiting is possible on bouquet branches, spurs, as well as annual growths left on the tree after cutting in the spring of last year. This variety is characterized by unpretentiousness to soils.

Apricots of the Krasnoshekiy variety can be eaten both fresh and used for making jams, compotes, and dried fruits. Moreover, the fruits themselves can be stored for one week. They tolerate transportation conditions well.

Apricots of the Krasnoshekiy variety are considered a universal variety, so it can be grown practically throughout the entire territory of Russia. But he gained maximum popularity in the Moscow region.

Hardy

The name of the variety shows that this apricot is very hardy in terms of withstanding low temperatures. Its winter-hardy properties are among the best among apricots grown in the Moscow region. At the same time, winter hardiness extends not only to the tree, but also to its flower buds.

The tree itself is characterized by strong growth. It has a large size and a round crown. It is characterized by moderate neglect.

The first fruiting occurs only 5-6 years after the seedling is planted in the ground. But at the same time, excellent productivity is noted. The fruits are medium in size and have a rounded flat shape. The weight of one fruit is 30-45 grams. Apricots are golden orange in color with a bright carmine blush. The skin is characterized by minimal pubescence. The pulp is tasty and sweet, has a bright orange color. Very aromatic. For her, an increased sugar content is described. The separation of the bone from the pulp is quite easy. The seed is pretty sweet.

Fruit ripening occurs late - in the first decade of August.

Of the advantages of the variety, the following parameters can be noted:

• stable and high yield. Up to 60-80 kg of harvest can be harvested from one tree;
• self-fertility;
• high resistance to most diseases;
• excellent winter hardiness. The tree can withstand fairly low temperatures due to its thick bark. Thanks to her, the apricot easily tolerates frosts, if there is no damage to the branches of the trunk.

Apricot variety Hardy can be eaten both fresh and in the form of compotes, jam or dried fruits.

Russian

An excellent choice for growing in the middle lane of the country, as well as the Moscow region, is the Russian variety. As well as the two previous species, apricot has increased winter hardiness against the background of high yields.

The Russian is a fairly large tree with a medium-sized crown. Unlike the two varieties described above, the tree does not grow very tall. Its growth is better than the previous two, suitable for a comfortable harvest. Large fruits are formed on the tree, which weigh 50 grams on average.

The shape of the apricot is round, although outwardly it is slightly compressed from the sides. The skin of the Russian is colored yellow-orange with a slight blush. The pubescence of the skin is poorly expressed. The pulp has a harmonious taste and a bright apricot aroma. Its color is yellow.

The fruits are usually consumed fresh. They are not used for processing at all.

The advantages of this type of apricot include the following qualities:

• high productivity;
• excellent taste of fruits;
• excellent winter hardiness. It can even withstand 30-degree frosts;
• resistance to a number of diseases.

Honey

This is a vigorous variety. Honey can reach a height of four meters. It is very inconvenient to harvest such trees without using a stepladder. Has a wide and spreading crown. Relatively small, isosceles fruits are formed on the tree. The skin color of the Honey Apricot is yellow. At the same time, small red dots are scattered on it, which are most densely located at the top of the fruits. Weak fruit pubescence is characteristic. The apricot pulp of this variety has a fibrous and dense texture. It is yellow in color and has a sweetish taste. In terms of taste, such an apricot gives odds to many other varieties.

The Honey variety also has the best reviews for its winter-hardy properties, as it can withstand frosts down to -35 degrees and even lower.

The advantages of this type of apricot include the following parameters:

• yield;
• excellent taste of fruits, which can be used both for processing and for fresh consumption;
• exceptional frost-resistant properties that allow the plant to withstand even the most severe and long frosts.

The fruits of this tree are most often consumed fresh. But with the same success, jams and compotes are prepared from them.

Snegirek

Another leader in winter hardiness is the Snegirek variety. It is grown today even in the North. Therefore, such a fruit tree will perfectly fit into the climate conditions of the Moscow region, which are not as severe as in the North. The fruit tree can develop on any soil.

The tree of this species grows to a height of only 1.5 meters, which makes harvesting from it very comfortable and convenient. Despite such a rather small size, up to 10 kg of fruit can be removed from one tree.

A distinctive feature of the fruits of this fruit variety is increased elasticity, which contributes to an increased indicator of the transportable properties of fruits, and also increases their shelf life. If all storage conditions are met, such apricots can lie and not deteriorate until mid-winter.

The obvious disadvantages of the species include the fact that the tree has low resistance to certain diseases. Snegirek demonstrates the greatest susceptibility to leaf spot and moniliosis. In the spring, if there is frequent rainy weather, the tree needs to be given special attention and sprayed against these diseases. If the onset of infection was detected, then treatment should be started immediately to prevent the possibility of spreading the disease to other trees.

So, the list of advantages of this variety of apricot should include the following:

• lack of special requirements for the place of cultivation in terms of soil indicators;
• high productivity;
• excellent properties of fruits, allowing them to be stored for a rather long period of time;
• high transportability of fruits;
• self-fertility;
• has one of the highest frost-resistant indicators, which allow you to grow a tree even in the northern regions of the country.

Northern triumph

Triumph Severny was obtained by crossing the varieties Severny Early and Krasnoschekiy. It was developed for the central black earth zone. Therefore, in the conditions of the Moscow region, he has some difficulties with wintering, although he tolerates low temperatures with dignity.

Northern Triumph is a vigorous plant on which a rather spreading crown is formed. This aspect of growing should be taken into account when planning your garden to avoid unnecessary shading by the tree of other garden plants.

The variety is characterized by large fruits with a rounded-oval shape. The weight of one apricot can be approximately 55 grams. The fruits are yellow-orange in color, on the shady side of which there is a noticeable greenness. The peel is pubescent and of medium thickness. The pulp is homogeneous, has an orange color and a pleasant taste. The apricots taste sweet and melting. The stone is medium in size.

The first harvest can be obtained four years after planting the seedling.

The advantages of this type of apricot include the following points:

• high productivity;
• excellent taste characteristics;
• horizontal resistance to various diseases.

Of course, in some respects, Triumph Severny is inferior to the above-described apricot varieties, but it is still quite often grown in the gardens of the Moscow region.

Growing features

Given the climatic features in the Moscow region, when growing apricot there, certain recommendations must be followed. When planting a seedling in spring, for its faster growth and high yield, in the future, you should follow the rules for planting, fertilizing and watering.

When planting seedlings or sprouted seeds, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the apricot is a light and heat-loving plant. Therefore, the place for further disembarkation should be well lit and warm (especially in the morning). It is better to choose the south side of existing buildings or fences. In the placement of seedlings, it is recommended to use a 6 × 4 pattern, where “6” means the distance in meters between rows, and “4” - in a row. Planting a seedling in the spring of any of the above-described apricot varieties should be carried out according to the following algorithm:

• digging a shallow hole. Its approximate dimensions should be 70x70x70cm;
• planting a seedling does not imply a deep lowering of it into a prepared planting pit. It is enough just to cover the seedling with earth slightly above the rhizome;
• after that, we slightly trample the ground with our foot. The soil near the rhizome should be tamped tightly.

The planted tree should be watered 5-6 times during one season.

For young trees, you need to observe the water regime, which is more demanding than that of adult plants. So, young trees need to be moistened 2-3 buckets more than old trees.

Diagram of apricot crown formation

As the plant grows, the amount of watering should be slightly reduced. In addition to seedlings in the Moscow region, there are conditions for growing apricots from the stone. It is very often quite problematic to grow a purchased seedling, since not all trees are well tolerated by such stress as transplanting to a new place. Especially if the seedling used to grow in other climatic conditions. This greatly affects the adaptability of the tree and very often leads to the death of the seedling in the first year after planting.

Planting seeds eliminates this risk and allows you to grow a strong and fruitful plant. If the seedling is planted either in early spring or in the fall, then the seed should be harvested in the fall. It will be too late to do such manipulations in the spring.

For growing in the Moscow region of apricot from seeds, you should be guided by the following scheme:

1. we select the sweetest and largest fruits;
2. we separate the bone from the pulp and rinse it in water, to which potassium permanganate was previously added;
3. prepare a container for the bone. Fill it halfway with sand. We put the bone there so that it is completely under a layer of sand;
4. we bring water into the container. The surplus can simply be drained;
5. then close the container with the bone with a lid with pre-made holes in it and put it in a cold place (you can put it in the refrigerator).

Periodically, you need to check the condition of the soil so that it is constantly moistened. With this method, you will receive the first shoots in March. They will have a bright red color, but in the spring (closer to the middle) they will turn green. Choose the strongest and strongest shoots from the growth. We carry out their planting in open ground according to the same scheme as purchased seedlings.

Since almost all fruit trees suitable for growing in the Moscow region are self-fertile species, several apricot trees should be planted in the garden at once. This will increase their pollination and yield levels.

In the first year after planting in open ground, it is necessary to mulch the earth along the perimeter of the trunk. If there is no mulching, then the earth under the tree will retain moisture, preventing it from penetrating through the formed crust to the root system. As a result, there is a decrease in the vital functions of the plant, which leads to a decrease in yield, as well as a decrease in the palatability of the fruit.

In addition, mulching allows you to avoid severe freezing of the soil due to which the apricot may die. Young trees tend to freeze their lower branches. Therefore, seedlings and young plants should be covered for the winter, especially the lower branches. This must be done even for varieties for which the highest frost resistance is described (-35 degrees of frost). You can cover with burlap or any other dense fabric.

For young stock, in the spring, it is necessary to inspect the trunk for cracks. If found, the cracks should be covered with garden varnish. To increase the yield of already enough fertile varieties, you need to fertilize the trees with horse manure and peat.

Since almost all varieties suitable for growing in the Moscow region have strong growth and a rounded shape, there is no need to carry out shaping pruning for the crown.

The presence of a fairly high resistance of hardy varieties of apricot to various types of diseases is not yet a reason not to monitor the health of trees. Some varieties have medium or even low resistance to certain infections. Here, a more careful monitoring of the state of health will not hurt at all and, when the first symptoms of the disease are detected, take the necessary treatment measures. In addition, do not forget about preventive measures, which are the best fight against various infections. For preventive purposes, plants can be treated with Bordeaux mixture, as well as any preparations that contain copper.

As you can see, even in the Moscow region, you can plant a fairly large number of apricot varieties that can not only grow, but also give an excellent yield level. Planting, maintaining, and watering correctly will make your garden more fruitful and your fruit tastier.

Video "Apricot variety Melitopol early "

After watching the video, you can see what the tree and the fruits of this variety look like.