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Thanks to the efforts of breeders, apricot ceases to be an exclusively heat-loving crop suitable for cultivation only in the southern regions of Our Country. Modern hybrids grow steadily and bear fruit in the regions of the middle zone, in Siberia and the Urals. The description of the New Jersey apricot variety, which combines unpretentiousness, hardiness and excellent fruit qualities, should arouse the interest of gardeners living in different climatic zones.
Variety description
Apricot “New Jersey” – the result of American selection, bred in 1971. The hybrid inherited the best varietal qualities of its parents: resistance to adverse weather factors, precocity, large fragrant fruits with a dessert taste.
The early ripe variety “New Jersey” is a tree 4-5 m high with a low spreading, rare crown. The leaf blades are bright green. The root system is strong, well branched, not subject to root rot. Apricot is unpretentious to the soil, can grow on heavy, wet lands, withstands the close occurrence of groundwater. The photo shows a New Jersey apricot tree during the fruiting period.
Variety “New Jersey” can be grown in waterlogged soil
The fruits of the hybrid are large, rounded, weighing 60-70 g, yellow, slightly pubescent, with a blurred blush on the sunny side. The stone is easily separated from the pulp, which has an average juiciness in composition. The taste of the fruit is sweet, aromatic, with a slight sourness. Fruit well tolerate transportation over long distances. The variety has a predisposition to premature fruit drop. An indicator of the full ripening of the apricot is the easy separation of the skin from the pulp.
The ‘New Jersey’ tree, grown from stone, bears smaller fruits, but is better adapted to growing climatic conditions. Apricots grafted onto plum and cherry plum can be purchased at specialty stores and nurseries.
Features
Apricot has a large fruit (a rare quality for an early variety), increased endurance to natural disasters. Due to the successful combination of varietal qualities, the New Jersey hybrid is suitable for cultivation in various regions of Our Country, including the middle lane.
Drought resistance, winter hardiness
The variety is characterized by increased drought resistance at the genetic level. The New Jersey tree has sufficient frost resistance – the bark and shoots can withstand frosts down to -30 ˚С. Young plantings are prone to decay during prolonged thaws.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening period
Apricot “New Jersey” – a self-pollinating variety, able to bear fruit even when planted alone. To increase the yield, it is recommended to plant 2-3 trees of different varieties within a radius of 10-15 m.
The hybrid blooms early – in early April. Blooming flowers and young ovaries often suffer from recurrent frosts. Fruit ripening occurs depending on weather conditions: at the end of June or the first decade of July.
Good fruit set ensures abundant fruiting
yield, fruiting
‘New Jersey’ is a fast-growing variety. The first apricots on a young tree appear in the second year. Steady abundant fruiting begins at the age of 6-7 years. With good care, apricots are highly productive – one tree can produce up to 40-50 kg of fruit.
Scope of fruits
The hybrid has versatility of use. It is excellent for fresh consumption. Dense pulp allows the use of the New Jersey variety for various preservation methods: making compotes and jams. Apricot is suitable for cooking jam, marmalade and making marshmallows.
Disease and pest resistance
The New Jersey hybrid has a high immunity to many apricot diseases: bacterial spot, scab, root rot and viral pathologies. In rainy periods, apricot is often affected by moniliosis, in which mass fruit fall off, and clasterosporium. The sweet fruits of the tree attract codling moth caterpillars and weevils. In hot weather, aphids appear on young shoots.
The lightning-fast development of moniliosis can lead to the death of a tree
Advantages and disadvantages
The New Jersey hybrid has many positive characteristics:
- early onset of fruiting, self-pollination;
- resistance to drought, high and low temperatures;
- excellent fruit set, high yield;
- large-fruited, excellent appearance and taste of fruits with a characteristic aroma;
- easy separation of the bone from the pulp;
- developed root system;
- unpretentiousness to growth on various soils, resistance to waterlogging of the soil;
- immunity to root rot disease;
- universality of use, good transportability of fruits.
The negative qualities of the hybrid include high susceptibility to moniliosis, forcing gardeners to harvest until fully ripe. In temperate regions, in cold weather, early flowering causes the death of some flowers.
Features of landing
Cultivating an apricot tree requires certain skills. The main condition for an excellent harvest is the choice of a good seedling and the correct planting of the crop.
A fruit tree bears fruit every year, subject to the rules of agricultural technology
Recommended dates
Variety “New Jersey” is planted in the southern regions mainly in the fall. In the middle lane, landing in spring and autumn is possible. In the Urals and Siberia, autumn frosts begin early, apricots are planted in spring.
Spring planting is carried out when the average daily temperature reaches +5 ˚С (in different regions April or early May). In autumn, apricots are planted a month before the onset of stable cold weather, so that the tree has time to take root.
Choosing the right place
Apricot is planted in a place where there is maximum illumination. The tree grows well near a wall or fence that protects the crop from winter winds and drafts. Suitable for planting south-western slopes and hills. Despite the undemanding of the New Jersey hybrid to the soil, the plant develops well in fertile, air- and water-permeable soils with low acidity.
The fruits of “New Jersey” need to be harvested a little earlier than the full ripening period
What crops can and cannot be planted next to an apricot
The root system of the apricot releases toxic substances. Neighborhood with a tree negatively affects the growth of apple and pear trees, stone fruits, berries and vegetable crops. Fruit trees are recommended to be planted at a distance of at least 4 m from the apricot. Bulbous primroses look good in the near-stem circle of the plant: galanthus, crocuses, scillas. Marigolds planted in summer protect the fruit tree from insect pests.
Selection and preparation of planting material
2-3-year-old trees less than one and a half meters high take root well in a new place. Seedlings are chosen with a regular crown, a long central conductor and a strong root system.
Before planting, the roots of the seedling are immersed in a clay mash for 4-5 hours. Damaged rods and roots are cut off from trees, wound surfaces are treated with garden pitch.
Landing algorithm
The planting hole is prepared at least a month before planting so that the soil is well compacted.
Step-by-step instruction:
- The top fertile soil is removed and set aside. Dig a planting hole 80 cm wide and deep.
- On clay soils, lowlands and places with groundwater, drainage is constructed from crushed stone or expanded clay with a thickness of 10-15 cm.
- Prepare a planting mixture consisting of the top layer of fertile soil, compost and sand in equal proportions. Mineral fertilizers are added to the substrate and mixed thoroughly. Fill the planting hole, withstand a period of time for the disappearance of voids in the soil.
- The seedling is placed in the center, the root system is evenly distributed, a stake is stuck and the plant is tied up. Sprinkle soil until the root collar is 5 cm above the ground.
The trunk circle is slightly deepened for easy watering.
Culture aftercare
Sanitary pruning of apricots is carried out in the spring, before the start of sap flow. At this time, the trees are fed with urea, in summer and autumn – with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. Watering is carried out during dry periods, the last time they are moistened at the end of August. After the end of leaf fall, plant residues are removed, and the trunk circle is digged. Young seedlings are covered with spruce branches or lutrasil for the winter, hilling the lower part of the trunk.
Diseases and pests
“New Jersey” has low immunity to moniliosis – the most dangerous fungal pathology of apricot, affecting the aerial part of the tree and the root system. Perhaps lightning-fast development of the disease – moliniozny burn.
Characteristic features:
- darkening and wilting of foliage;
- cracking of the bark, gum disease;
- shriveling and falling of fruits.
With the development of clasterosporiasis, brown spots with a raspberry border appear on the leaves of New Jersey. Leaf plates become perforated. The disease does not lead to the death of the tree, but weakens the plant and reduces the yield and presentation of the fruit.
The main pests of the tree:
- moth;
- black aphid;
- fruit weevil Goose;
- fruit striped moth.
The presence of disease weakens the New Jersey tree, causing the fruit to fall off.
Conclusion
The description of the New Jersey apricot variety indicates that the hybrid has many positive qualities and minor disadvantages. An unpretentious drought-resistant and frost-resistant variety deserves the attention of experienced amateur gardeners and beginners, due to its high yield, early maturity and excellent fruit quality, the ability to grow on different soils.
New Jersey Apricot Reviews
