Apricot trees perfectly feel on personal plots and at appropriate care begin to fructify quickly. However for receiving big harvest important not only to follow all rules of watering and fertilizing, but also to pick up suitable grade. Universal option for any climatic zone – apricot "Khabarovsk": fruitful, hardy, undemanding to leaving.
Origin and description of grade
The apricot "Khabarovsk" – product of selection of the Far East NIISH, is received by repollination "the Best Michurinsk" apricot by pollen of popular European grade "Red-cheeked". As a result the new grade has got all advantages of the predecessors: the large, brightly painted fruits, high productivity, early blossoming and maturing, resistance to temperature differences. The apricot "Khabarovsk" has been removed in 1949, it intended for regions of the Far East, but was successfully cultivated also in other areas.
The reference tree of grade "Khabarovsk" grows strong, moderately sprawling, high. Height of trunk and width of krone - about 5 m. Rare branches, direct, thick, bark dark-violet with large number of cross light strips. Fruit kidneys large, are located on two or on three together, but also single meet. The leaves of the average size extended with the sharpened tips and easy jags at the edges. Leaf surface opaque, from below pale, from above dark green, scapes long, burgundy shade.
Flowers white or pale cream, with the roundish half-close lobes forming the correct socket. The pestle snout extended, is flush with lobes. It allows apricot samoopylyatsya and significantly increases productivity.
Special attention grade fruits "Khabarovsk" deserve. The apricot differs in good productivity and precocity. From one adult tree it is possible to collect up to 36 kg of fruits during the season. Their average weight – 30 g, maximum reaches 45 g. Apricots have regular shape: slightly extended, with the sharpened upper part and deep dent below. Mature fruits look very effectively and slightly remind heart.
Thin skin of apricots thin, velvety, skintight. Yellowish-green color, the pink flush or small red specks is possible. Juicy pulp, bright orange, with saturated sweet taste and light sourness. Not watery fruits, with pleasant delicate aroma. On tastes the grade belongs to dining rooms, according to tasters has got 4 points from 5 possible. Mature apricots are rich with cellulose, vitamins C and And, fructose and apple acid. Stones of fruits small, sharpened, well separating from pulp. The core is quite suitable in food, it soft and sweet for taste.
Advantages of grade
Selectors and amateur gardeners consider "Khabarovsk" very successful grade. Its main characteristics:
- early blossoming and the accelerated infructescence;
- fructification occurs for 4-5 year after landing;
- high productivity;
- annual maturing of fruits;
- average frost resistance;
- responsiveness to leaving;
- ability to transfer overwetting and drought;
- tolerance to short-term temperature drops;
- resistance to typical diseases of apricots (monolioza and klyasterosporioza);
- under adverse conditions can be surprised fir seed moth.
The grade is popular also because of high tastes of fruits. Ripe apricots are very beautiful, they can be eaten fresh and to use for winter preparations. The Lezhkost of fruits average, they are not suitable for distant transportations.
The plant belongs to winter-hardy, however lower than 30 degrees transfer frosts badly. Especially young one-year escapes suffer. For bigger safety the saplings need to be planted on sublime sites and it is obligatory to warm for the winter.
Rules of landing
Apricot trees prefer fertile, rather easy soil far from groundwater occurrance. That plants quickly developed and did not hurt, it is better to choose the solar site protected from cold north. The alkalescent soil is preferable, at the increased acidity converters will be required.
It is possible to put apricot in the fall or in the spring. At the end of season wide choice of planting stock, it is possible to select strong, perspective trees. However there is also minus: young plants should winter, the hard frost will ruin landings. Spring apricots take root and start in growth quicker, but at this time it is difficult to buy good saplings.
If spring landing is chosen, it is important to carry out it before waking up kidneys. Ideal time – the beginning or the middle of April. Autumn landings begin in October, before frosts. It is better to buy saplings in the checked nurseries. Annual or two-year trees with the strong, intact root system are preferable.
The way is recommended to be paved in advance. The chosen site is cleaned from garbage, roots of trees, remove turf layer, dig out hole of 0.8 m in depth. In 2-3 weeks it is possible to start landing. On bottom the drainage layer keeps within: coarse sand, haydite, pebble. Over drainage fertile soil which can be prepared independently is placed. The universal recipe – mix from 1 glass of birch ashes, 400 g of sulphurous potassium, 10 kg of old humus, 700 g of superphosphate.
Over fertile layer normal soil is filled and the sapling is placed. For convenience it is driven near the predetermined peg, carefully straightening roots. When landing the tree needs to be moved constantly, providing access of oxygen to roots. After burying it is necessary to trace that the root neck acted over earth surface not less than on 4 cm.
The soil around sapling is condensed, for simplification of the subsequent waterings around tree the round earth roller gives all the best. Under each sapling it is necessary to pour out 2 buckets of not too cold water (preferably otstoyanny in flank, thawed or rain). The soil around apricot is mulched, and the trunk ties to in advance driven peg.
Features of leaving
The apricot "Khabarovsk" is not especially exacting to leaving. The first works begin in the early spring, after snow descent. The earth under tree is loosened, trying not to touch roots. If under apricot water is late, it is necessary to dig through by-pass grooves. In the spring the apricot does not need to be watered, the moisture which has remained in the soil after winter is quite enough.
In warm season the apricot is watered it is moderated, in process of drying of top soil. Much more important in due time to loosen soil, providing access of oxygen to roots. When the sapling reaches three-year age, it is necessary to begin annual fertilizing, introducing mineral fertilizers and organic chemistry in soil.
Very responsible business – cutting of apricot. Young trees need forming of krone as branches grow very quickly. The more accurately the sapling is cut off, the it will be simpler to collect fruits when the apricot grows up. At the beginning of season the old or damaged boughs surely are removed.
Preparation for winter
During the whole season it is important to watch weather forecast. At frosts it is worth surrounding tree with smoky ring, burning straw.
Preparing for wintering, it is necessary to remove and burn all fallen-down foliage. It will save saplings from wreckers and causative agents of diseases. The tree trunk becomes covered by whitewashing on height to 1 m, it will protect plant from rodents. It is useful to spray plant with the Bordeaux liquid
Around trunk the earth hillock is filled, the trunk is wrapped up with nonwoven fabric, it covers pristvolny circle. Correctly prepared plant quietly will transfer winter and will quickly start in growth with the first spring sun.