Description of the best varieties of apricots for growing in the Leningrad region, planting and care
Many gardeners mistakenly believe that apricot is an exclusively southern crop. Modern varieties of fruit trees take root and actively bear fruit even at low temperatures and extreme environmental conditions. Apricot varieties for cultivation in the Leningrad Region were bred taking into account the peculiarities of the climate and soil in this area.
Features of cultivation in Flax. areas
When planting and caring for apricots in the Leningrad Region, a number of features must be observed. First of all, you should choose a suitable place for planting trees. The site should be located in lowlands, constantly illuminated and protected from blowing. Trees should not be planted on southern slopes, as the vegetation process will be more active on them, and flowering will coincide with the period of spring frosts.
If pears, ash, oak or other trees with a deep root system are planted next to the apricots, then the seedlings will easily take root. It is recommended to plant trees according to the 6 x 4 scheme on loamy, sandy loam soils with neutral or weak acidity. Depending on the content of nutrients in the soil, the introduction of mineral dressings is required. On clay soil, it is necessary to use phosphorus fertilizers, and if there is a lack of humus, the soil is treated with manure.
In the Leningrad region, it is better to plant apricots in early spring. The planting process is as follows:
- a pit is prepared with a depth of 50 cm and a width of 80 cm;
- the lowland of the pit is covered with a drainage layer of broken brick or expanded clay and a layer of river sand;
- fertilizer is applied from a mixture of soil, rotted manure and sand in proportions of 3: 1: 1;
- the cuttings are kept for 10-15 hours in a growth stimulator;
- cuttings with a beveled cut are placed in the soil.
When planting, the root neck of the cuttings should remain above the ground. Wire arcs are attached above the cuttings, on which the covering material is fixed, creating a greenhouse effect.
Care in progress growing apricots assumes the implementation of a list of standard procedures. One of the main points of care is regular and moderate watering.... Insufficient moisture in the earth provokes drying of the foliage and deterioration of the taste characteristics of the fruits. Excessive watering causes root rotting.
Falling leaves should be collected around trees in autumn to prevent pests. If signs of disease or damage by harmful insects are detected, it is enough to treat the soil with fertilizers from an insecticidal and fungicidal series.In mid-autumn, the trunks of the seedlings must be whitened, thus protecting against the occurrence of biochemical processes in the branches.
To combat crowns thickening, pruning is required, which is carried out in early spring.
The best varieties
When choosing suitable varieties of apricot trees for the Leningrad region, it is necessary to take into account such factors as the ability to take root in the soil, fruiting and adaptation to the weather conditions of the region. The following varieties are recommended to plant and grow in this area:
- Iceberg is an unpretentious variety that is resistant to frost and early maturity. Fruit weight reaches 30 g, the pulp is tender and juicy. Iceberg apricots do not have acidity and are suitable for making preparations for the winter.
- Michurenets is a variety that bears fruits weighing up to 40 g. The crop of this variety has a sour taste. Apricots are bright orange in color and oval in shape, subject to long-term storage and undergo low temperatures.
- Red-cheeked is a variety adapted to drought and frost, showing a high and regular yield. Apricots ripen by the second decade of July, acquiring a characteristic pinkish hue during growth. The pulp of the fruit is firm and sweet and sour. The Red Cheeked Apricot harvest is versatile and suitable for transportation.
- Triumph of the North is a type of fruit trees with a spreading dense crown. This variety of apricots bears large fruits if properly cared for. The variety is resistant to common diseases and does not lose its taste characteristics under the influence of frost.
Also varieties Kichiginsky, Luchisty, Kuibyshevsky, Shalakh, Karlik and many others are suitable for the Leningrad region. Choosing a variety suitable for the Leningrad Region, it will be possible to grow a large crop with high taste and a wide range of useful characteristics.
Thank. I didn’t believe that apricots could be grown in Len. area.