Contents
New varieties of apricot are spreading in central Our Country and beyond. One of them is the Saratov Rubin variety, bred by a domestic breeder.
History of breeding
Apricot Saratov Rubin is a new industrial variety. The author of the variety is Alexander Mikhailovich Golubev, the founder of a private breeding nursery in Saratov.
A.M. Golubev has been breeding stone fruit and nut crops for over 30 years. The main task of the breeder was the adaptation of southern plants to the conditions of the middle zone. In addition to apricots, peach, almond, pear, plum, apple, honeysuckle, lemon, and pomegranate are grown in the nursery. Particular attention is paid to the frost resistance of varieties, productivity, taste and presentation of fruits.
In 2010 A.M. Golubev applied for inclusion of the Saratov Rubin in the state register. Since 2015, the variety has been listed in the State Register under the number 8952988.
Description of the culture
Saratov apricot is a medium-sized tree with a spherical spreading crown. The tree grows rapidly after planting. It reaches a height of 4-5 m. The bark is rough, brown.
Shoots of medium length, straight, brown. The leaves are deep green, wide, rounded, pointed at the ends, with a smooth shiny surface. The leaf plate is concave. In spring, the apricot produces white single flowers of medium size.
Characteristics of apricot varieties Saratov Rubin:
- average sizes;
- weight 40-45 g;
- elliptical shape;
- light orange color;
- rough skin with smoke;
- orange pulp of medium juiciness;
- juice without pronounced color.
Photo of apricot Saratov Rubin:
The fruits of the Saratov Rubin have a sweet and sour taste. Evaluation of taste qualities – 4,3 points. The stones are medium-sized, elongated, easily separated from the pulp. The fruits contain 14,2% dry matter, 8,5% sugar, 1,5% acid, 1,33% pectin, 12,3 mg of vitamin C.
The best regions for growing apricot Saratov Rubin: Nizhnevolzhsky (Saratov, Astrakhan, Kalmykia, Volgograd) and the North Caucasus.
Features
When choosing an apricot variety, its frost resistance, fruit ripening time, resistance to frost and disease are taken into account.
Drought resistance, winter resistance
Variety Saratov Rubin tolerates drought and lack of watering well. The tree is characterized by high frost resistance of wood: about -42 ° C. Fruit buds withstand frosts down to -36 °C.
Apricot is resistant to overheating. The variety has a long dormant period. The tree does not freeze even after the February thaw.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening period
For gardeners, it matters whether the Saratov ruby is a self-fertile apricot or not. The variety is partially self-fertile. To obtain a high yield, it is recommended to plant Dessertny Golubeva and Lakomka varieties nearby, which have good taste qualities.
For the northern regions, the originator advises using frost-resistant pollinators for apricot Saratov Ruby: Manitoba 604, Zhiguli Souvenir, Northern Triumph. Breeding work is underway in the Golubev nursery, which in a few years will make it possible to obtain reliable pollinators for the variety.
The fruits ripen early. The crop is harvested from mid-July. Fruits have a high keeping quality. At a temperature of +5 ° C, fruits are stored for a month.
yield, fruiting
Subject to the rules for planting and caring for an apricot, the Saratov Rubin from one tree is removed from 95 to 115 kg of fruit. The variety begins to bear fruit early (3-4 years after planting). The yield is high and stable.
Scope of fruits
Fruits of the Saratov variety of universal purpose. They are consumed fresh, used to obtain jam, jam, compote, marshmallow and dried apricots.
Disease and pest resistance
The variety is resistant to moniliosis. Flowering branches are not subject to monilial burn, and fruits are not subject to fruit rot. No signs of clasterosporiasis were found on the fruits, so they always have a good presentation.
Due to the high resistance to diseases, numerous wood treatments with chemicals are not required. Therefore, apricot is suitable for growing on an industrial scale to obtain environmentally friendly products.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantages of the Saratov apricot:
- high frost resistance;
- self-fertility;
- early maturation;
- disease resistance.
Disadvantages of the variety:
- mediocre fruit taste;
- tall spreading tree that takes up a lot of space on the site.
Features of landing
Apricot planting is carried out on time. Be sure to prepare a landing pit and improve the quality of the soil.
Recommended dates
In cold regions, apricot is planted in the spring after the snow has melted. Work is carried out before bud break.
In warm climates, planting begins in late autumn after leaf fall. The seedling will have time to take root before the cold snap. In the middle lane, both spring and autumn planting is allowed.
Choosing the right place
A place for an apricot must meet a number of conditions:
- lack of strong wind;
- good natural lighting;
- light loamy soil;
- neutral or slightly alkaline soil reaction.
The culture does not like acidic soil, so liming is performed before planting. Apricots are not planted in the lowlands, where cold air and moisture accumulate.
What crops can and cannot be planted next to an apricot
It is not recommended to plant Saratov apricot next to certain crops:
- cherry;
- peach;
- Apple tree;
- pear;
- Walnut;
- raspberry, currant.
From the apple tree and other tall trees, the apricot is removed at a distance of more than 4 m.
Under the tree, you can plant spring flowers: primrose, tulips or daffodils. Perennial grasses grow well in the shade of trees.
Selection and preparation of planting material
For planting, one-year-old seedlings of the Saratov Rubin variety are used. Before buying, evaluate the condition of the root system and shoots. Choose plants without mold, cracks and other defects. Before planting, the roots of the tree are shortened a little and placed in a mash of clay and mullein.
Landing algorithm
How to plant apricot Saratov Rubin:
- In autumn, you need to dig a hole 70×70 cm in size and 80 cm deep.
- At the bottom of the pit, a drainage layer of fine gravel is poured.
- Fertile soil is mixed with humus in a ratio of 2: 1, then 2 kg of ash and 0,5 kg of superphosphate are added.
- Part of the earth is transferred to the pit and a seedling is placed on top.
- The roots of the plant are covered with the remaining soil.
- The tree is watered with warm water.
Culture aftercare
Apricots are fed several times a season. In spring, the soil is watered with a solution of mullein or urea. When the fruits ripen, potash-phosphorus fertilizers are applied to the soil.
If a drought sets in in May or June, then the apricot is watered with warm water. Moisture is necessary for the tree during the flowering period for the formation of ovaries.
Apricot pruning Saratov Rubin is carried out in late autumn after leaf fall. Dry, broken and weak branches are subject to elimination. Shoots older than 3 years are also cut out, as they lose their ability to produce a crop.
To protect the tree from pests, its trunk is tied with roofing material or a net for the winter. Young seedlings are insulated with lutrasil, which acts as a heater.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
The most dangerous diseases of apricots are shown in the table:
Type of disease | Symptoms | Methods of struggle | preventive measures |
brown spot | Small yellow spots on the leaves that grow rapidly and turn brown. | Treatment of wood with a solution of copper sulphate. |
|
Curly | Yellow and orange blisters appear on the leaves, with time the leaves fall off. | Spraying with copper-based products. |
Apricot pests are listed in the table:
Pest | Signs of defeat | Methods of struggle | preventive measures |
aphid | The leaves on the apricot are curled, black small insects accumulate on the leaves. | Treatment of trees with Fitoverm or Karbofos |
|
Plodojorka | Caterpillars bite into the fruits, which begin to crumble. | Spraying with Chlorophos. |
Conclusion
Saratov Rubin is a worthy high-yielding apricot variety. It can be grown in private gardens and on an industrial scale, and the fruits are suitable for processing.
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