Growing apricots in Siberia: the best winter-hardy varieties, planting and care with video

Cultivation of apricots in Siberia is problematic. The Siberian climate is not suitable for the cultivation of this heat-loving crop, so it is not always possible to grow a tree the first time. But if you make every effort, it is quite possible to grow an apricot tree.

Apricot variety for Siberia

Apricot varieties for Siberia:

One of the best varieties for growing in Siberia is the Sayan hybrid. The tree is stunted, grows no more than 3 m in height. The flowering period begins in May. Up to 15 kg of fruits are harvested from one adult tree. The mass of the berry is 20 g.
Mountain Abakan is a low-growing variety, reaching a height of about 3 m. The main advantage of the variety is frost resistance. Berries weighing from 20 to 35 g. The shade of the skin is orange with a slight red blush.
Another versatile apricot variety for growing in Siberia is Northern Lights. Self-infertile hybrid, pollinating plants are planted nearby to pollinate inflorescences. The tree is compact and low. Fruits weighing 20-35 g. Up to 20 kg of harvest is harvested from an adult plant.
East Siberian - an early variety, flowering begins in the first half of May. Apricots ripen in the second decade of July. Productivity from 10 to 15 kg.

There are not so many varieties of apricots for cultivation in the Siberian regions. Due to climatic conditions, growing an apricot tree is quite problematic.

Choosing a landing site

In Siberia, finding a place to plant apricots is more difficult than in the south due to the climate.Apricot trees are recommended to be planted in partial shade, in areas closed from cold winds. It is undesirable to plant trees in the sun due to the fact that in spring the buds will begin to swell early, and they will die when spring frosts return.

It is undesirable to plant seedlings in a lowland where water accumulates. Plants are undemanding to the composition of the soil and can grow on any type of soil.

Plants prefer to grow on loose fertile soils. If the soil is infertile, then more fertilizer should be applied to it before planting the seedling.

Fitting technology

Planting an apricot in Siberia is not much different from planting seedlings in other regions. Apricots are heat-loving plants that rarely survive frosty winters. Therefore, it depends on the correct technique of planting seedlings whether the tree will freeze in winter or not.

Planting apricots in Siberia:

Dig a hole at least 50 cm deep, the width of the hole must also be at least 50 cm and no more than 80 cm.
The pit is covered with manure, superphosphate, potassium sulfate in the ratio of 10 l x 500 g x 500 g.
Mix fertilizers with soil.
Saplings should be planted a few weeks after fertilization, so that the soil is saturated with useful substances.
After 2-3 weeks the seedling is planted.
The tree is put in a hole, the roots are straightened and the soil is added dropwise.
The root neck is left on the surface 5 cm from the soil.
Tamp the soil around the trunk and pour plenty of warm water.

In Siberia, it is recommended to plant apricot seedlings in the spring with the onset of heat, when the threat of night frosts has passed. A stake is set next to a young seedling and a trunk is tied to it.If the hole is in a lowland, then you need to make good drainage so that the water does not stagnate and the soil is not waterlogged.

Tree care

Growing apricots in the southern regions, not much time is spent on care. But if you plant plants in Siberia, then you will have to take care of the tree a lot. Since the northern latitudes are not suitable for growing a plant, you will always have to be on the alert so that the tree does not die.

Water and fertilize

The frequency of apricot watering depends on a number of factors, which include:

Age of the tree.
Growing season.
Climatic conditions.
Soil structure.

Young trees need more water than old ones. The first watering is carried out in April, when the shoots bloom. The second time apricots are watered when the inflorescences bloom and at the end of this period.The third time - a few weeks before the fruit ripens. And the last watering is carried out in October. Before watering, the soil is loosened and all weeds are removed.

Another important aspect in the care of apricot trees is the introduction of mineral and organic top dressings. Apricots are fed in spring, summer and autumn.

In the spring, the plant is fed with nitrogen-containing fertilizers that promote growth. Such fertilizers are applied to the soil next to the trunk. The first time nitrogen is fed during flowering and the second time after flowering. Organics are added to the last top dressing along with nitrogen. In summer, preference is given to foliar top dressing. In the summer, plants also need nitrogen. Leaves are sprayed with nitrogen-containing fertilizers.

With the onset of July, top dressing should be comprehensive. And in August, preference should be given to organic.

In autumn, top dressing is aimed at preparing for winter.In the autumn, mineral fertilizers are applied. In order for the apricot to survive the harsh winter, phosphorus, potassium and calcium are added to the soil in smaller quantities. To saturate the soil with potassium and phosphorus, the soil around the trunk is covered with wood ash. Chalk or special complex fertilizers are used to saturate the earth with calcium. It is not recommended to apply nitrogen-containing top dressings, as they contribute to the activation of growth.

Diseases and pests of apricot and their control

Fungal diseases are considered common apricot diseases:

Cytosporosis of stone fruits. It is necessary to cut off dry branches in a timely manner, at an early stage of the disease, the plants are sprayed with a solution of Bordeaux liquid or copper-containing chemicals.
Bacterial necrosis. At the first sign of illness, damaged branches are removed and burned. Sections are treated with a solution of copper sulphate. As a preventive measure, every spring they spray it with a solution of Bordeaux liquid.
Monilial burn. To prevent the development of the disease, dried fruits are removed in a timely manner. When the buds begin to swell, the trees are treated with a solution of Bordeaux mixture. At the first sign of a burn, apricots are treated with Strobe or Topaz.

Pests of apricot trees include aphids, codling moth and leafworm. From insects, spraying apricots with soapy water helps. In addition, the drugs "Chlorophos", "Fitoverm" and "Entobakterin" are effective. As a preventive measure, every year in the fall, after harvesting, the soil around the trunks is dug up and weeds are removed.

Growing an apricot from a stone

To grow seedlings with seeds, you need to take only seeds from a he althy and productive tree. The bones are washed under water before planting, soaked in water. Then they are dried and left in this form until the onset of spring.

With the onset of spring, the bones are soaked in water for a week. Periodically change the water. Then the bones are placed in wet moss or sawdust. The temperature in the room where the bones are located should be between +4 and +12 degrees.

Growing apricots in Siberia, they devote time to stratification. This stage takes 1-3 months. After the bone bursts and sprouts appear, they are planted in the soil outside. Sprouts are planted to a depth of 5-6 cm. If you properly care for the sprouts, then after a year they are planted in a permanent place. Growing an apricot from a stone takes 1 to 3 years.