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Apricot Royal, the description and photo of which is presented in this article, is a perennial fruit tree of the Plum genus of the Pink family. Royal – the only variety of apricots that could be grown even in the south of Siberia.
History of breeding
The self-fertile apricot Royal is a mid-season variety, bred in Khakassia by specialists from the Institute of Agrarian Problems. There is no exact data on parental forms, experts consider the variety a hybrid of French and local frost-resistant cultivars.
Description of the culture
Apricot trees of this variety are of considerable size and have a well-developed crown. Productivity is high, 45–50 kg from one adult plant at least. The tree begins to bear fruit at the age of 4. Winter hardiness is average. Photo of the Royal Apricot below.
The variety is susceptible to diseases and is often attacked by pests.
Features
The main characteristics of the Royal apricot variety are shown in the table.
Parameter | Value |
Culture type | Fruit tree |
Height | Until 5 m |
Bark | reddish brown |
Crown | Wide, rounded |
Leaves | Green, matte, oval with a characteristic ledge. Length up to 8 cm, width up to 5 cm |
Fruit | Large, oval, velvety to the touch. The color is yellow-orange, with a characteristic blush. There is a clearly defined furrow on the side. The average weight of the fetus is 35–45 g |
Pulp | yellow, juicy |
Taste | Sweet, slightly sour |
Variety assignment | Dessert |
Transportability | poor |
Drought resistance, winter resistance
Apricot Royal drought tolerance is quite high. Frost resistance reaches minus 20 degrees. There are cases when trees withstood even forty-degree frosts, freezing at the same time, but maintaining viability.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening period
Apricot is a completely self-pollinating plant, so it can set as many fruits as there were flowers. But not all of them will ripen, some will crumble shortly after fertilization.
Apricot flowering begins earlier than all fruit trees and usually occurs at the end of April. Cold weather can make a difference. Apricot Royal ripens in early August.
yield, fruiting
Apricot fruiting Royal annual and plentiful. Productivity under good weather conditions and proper care can reach up to 150 kg per tree. In order not to deplete the plant prematurely, it is normalized by cutting off part of the fruit branches.
Scope of fruits
You can use the fruits of the Royal apricot in any form. They are well suited for making jams, jams, compotes, they can also be used for home winemaking.
Disease and pest resistance
Apricot Royal has no innate immunity to pests and diseases. To get a good harvest, you need to regularly carry out both preventive and sanitary work to protect trees.
Advantages and disadvantages
In addition to susceptibility to diseases, the Royal apricot variety has a number of disadvantages. A fairly tall tree creates problems when harvesting. The fruits have a weak resistance to transportation. Its advantages are increased frost resistance, high yield and good taste in comparison with other varieties.
Features of landing
Planting an apricot should be done taking into account all the nuances associated with this tree. Its lifespan can reach 30 years. Adult apricot Royal is a large and sprawling tree, all this must also be taken into account.
Recommended dates
The best time to plant apricots is early spring. The reference point is the air temperature, which should not fall below 0 degrees, day or night. Spring planting comes with certain risks:
- too early can freeze the seedling in the event of a return of cold weather;
- late will lead to a long recovery period.
Choosing the right place
Royal apricot, like other varieties, needs light and warmth for normal growth and development. Even a small shade negatively affects the yield, so the planting site should be open and sunny, but without drafts. It is good if there is a wall or fence on the north or northwest side of the tree that protects from the cold wind.
It is desirable that the soil at the planting site of the Royal apricot be light, loamy or black earth with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. Groundwater should not come close to the surface, ideally if their depth is 2–2,5 m.
What crops can and cannot be planted next to an apricot
Apricot does not like neighborhood with other fruit trees and shrubs. It is strongly not recommended to plant next to it:
- cherry
- cherry;
- apple tree
- peach;
- pear;
- Walnut.
Selection and preparation of planting material
For planting apricot Royal, you need to choose seedlings of two years of age. Their bark should not be damaged.
Choose seedlings from 1 to 1,5 m high. The main and lateral roots should not be dry, broken or less than 20 cm long.
Landing algorithm
It is better to prepare a planting pit for a seedling of the Royal apricot in the fall. If it was not possible to do this, then at least two weeks before landing, no later than. Its width should be at least 0,6 m, depth – 0,8 m. It is imperative to lay a drainage layer of 5–7 cm at the bottom, using crushed stone or broken brick for this. Drive a support a little closer to the edge into the bottom of the pit, a seedling will be tied to it.
The soil removed from the pit must be mixed with humus or rotted manure 2: 1. Add 0,5 kg of complex fertilizer, for example, nitrophoska, and half a bucket of wood ash to the nutrient substrate. If the soil is acidic, you need to neutralize it with lime or dolomite flour.
In the center of the pit, a seedling is installed strictly vertically so that the root collar is 5–6 cm above ground level. The roots are straightened and covered with earth, compacting it to prevent the formation of voids. The trunk circle should turn out with a small mound along the edge.
Immediately after planting, the tree is watered with 2-3 buckets of water. The first year you need to moisten the soil regularly.
Culture aftercare
Like any other variety, Royal apricot needs good care. Throughout the season, it needs to be cut, fed. Here is the care schedule for him:
Spring. Before the buds swell, sanitary pruning is done, removing broken and dry branches. The stem is whitewashed with lime.
Urea is added to the trunk circle, as well as ammonium nitrate and nitrophoska (50–70 g each). The tree is treated with pesticides, such as Akarin or Iskra Bio. If the spring is dry, regular watering is recommended.
Summer. Formative pruning of green branches is carried out in order to prevent the growth of green mass and thickening of the crown. In dry weather, watering is recommended. If necessary, seasonal pest control is done.
Autumn. Repeated sanitary pruning with the removal of broken branches. At the same time, you need to collect and burn the fallen leaves. The trunk circle is dug up, at the same time introducing superphosphate, potassium sulfate and wood ash into the soil.
Only young seedlings should be covered for the winter. To do this, their trunk is tied with spruce branches and then wrapped with several layers of covering material. At the end of March, such a shelter can be removed.
Learn more about pruning apricots in the video.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Apricot Royal is subject to the same diseases as other varieties. The main diseases of these trees are shown in the table.
Disease | What strikes, the symptoms | Methods of control and prevention |
Cytosporosis | The bark of the tree is covered with numerous dark tubercles. The shoots gradually dry up, the tree dies. | In the spring, they are sprayed with a Bordeaux mixture of 1%, preparations containing copper. Infected shoots are burned. |
Bacterial necrosis | All parts of the tree are covered with burns, then current ulcers form in their place, the tree dies. | Treatment with Bordeaux liquid 1% or copper sulphate. Infected shoots must be burned. |
Monilial burn | Young shoots turn brown and dry up. | Crown treatment with Topaz or Strobi preparations. |
Phyllosticosis | The leaves turn brown, dry up and fall off. | Treatment with 3% Bordeaux liquid during the swelling of the kidneys. |
Klyasterosporiosis | Red-brown spots on leaves and fruits. After 7-12 days, holes appear in place of the spots. The fruits are deformed. | In autumn and early spring, the tree is sprayed with 3% Bordeaux mixture. Before flowering, the tree is treated with Horus or Mikosan preparations. |
gum flow | The bark has an amber resin. | Cut off the gum and burn it. Treat the places of cuts with garden pitch. |
Royal apricot is quite often attacked by pests. The main ones are listed in the table.
Pest | What strikes | Ways to fight and prevent |
aphid | Sucks the juice from the leaves. | Spraying with folk remedies – a solution of laundry soap, infusion of tobacco, garlic, celandine or insecticides. |
Plodojorka | The caterpillars eat the fruits. | Spraying with drugs Decis or Inta-Vir. |
Leaflet | Caterpillars eat buds and leaves. | – // – |
Conclusion
Apricot Royal – a good option for a personal plot. With proper care, he is quite capable of satisfying the needs of gardeners. And good reviews about the Royal apricot variety confirm that choosing it for planting is a smart decision.