Apricot Ulyanikhinsky: variety description and characteristics, cultivation with photo

Gardeners are satisfied with Ulyanikhinsky apricot. The plant does not require special care, resistant to major diseases and pests. And you can enjoy delicious fruits every year. Moreover, the harvest allows the whole family to eat plenty and roll up vitamin cans.

History of occurrence

Russian gardener Ivan Michurin managed to obtain improved varieties of apricots. His work was continued by scientific institutions and amateur gardeners. One of them - L.M. Ulyaninikhin - created a variety named after him.

Apricot Ulyanikhinsky was obtained by crossing varieties Comrade (author Michurin), Satser and Krasnoshchekiy. The result was appreciated: in 2004 Ulyanikhinsky was included in the State Register of Cultivated Plants in the Central Black Earth District.

Today, the variety is often found in gardens. Its main value: you can start feasting on apricots in the third year after planting a tree. With proper care, fruiting is regular.

Variety description

Apricot attracts gardeners. The reason for this is its varietal characteristics. Variety Description:

spreading crown (up to 3 m in diameter);
height 3.5m;
medium foliage;
medium branching;
bark color brown-red;
vertical arrangement of shoots;
internodes short;
conical buds lagging behind shoots;
leaf is rounded, the top is sharp, the edge is serrated;
stipules are weakly dissected;
white flowers;
early-ripening variety (ripens at the end of July);
apricot is self-fertile (ovaries are formed without the presence of pollinating plants).

Distinctive feature: Ulyanikhinsky blooms before the leaves bloom. Agronomists recommend planting 1-2-year-old seedlings. Young trees take root better and begin to bear fruit faster.

Apricot characteristics:

maximum fetal weight 33g;
apricot shape oval-round;
the skin is thin but firm;
apricot bright yellow with a pronounced blush;
juicy, yellow pulp;
bone weight is 3% of the total weight;
pit of ripe fruit easily detaches;
tastes great - sweet and sour.

Gardeners consider the fruit crumbling to be a disadvantage of Ulyanikhinsky. Ripe apricots do not hold well on branches. But collected on time are perfectly stored for 2-3 weeks in a cool place.

Features of cultivation

Ulyanikhinsky pleases summer residents with a stable harvest with minimal care. But you still need to follow the basic rules.

Date and place

For a comfortable existence, the apricot needs to allocate a special place on the site. It must be protected from cold northern, northeastern and eastern winds. These air currents dry up fruit and growth buds. The gardener does not get a harvest.

Ulyanikhinsky feels good when placed on the south side of summer cottages. But when planting, the spreading and height of the tree should be taken into account. It is recommended to step back from the wall 3-4 meters.

It is recommended to plant an annual seedling in early spring (before bud break) or late autumn (3-4 weeks before a steady cold snap). The tree must have time to take root: this will help it survive the harsh time.

Site preparation

The soil of Ulyanikhinsky requires loose, fertile with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. On acidic soils, it is recommended to carry out liming before planting. Heavy clay soils should be sanded (a bucket of coarse-grained sand per 1 square meter should be brought in for digging).

You need to prepare a landing pit in advance. Its size: 70 cm x 70 cm x 70 cm. The pit should be filled with mature organic matter and a mineral complex mixed with soil. It is recommended to prepare a hole in the spring with the planned autumn planting and in the fall - with the spring planting.

Plant an annual seedling in the hole. It should freely accommodate the apricot root system. If it is impossible to immediately place a tree in a permanent place, it needs to be dug in. In this state, the apricot can spend the season without loss.

Pollinators

Ulyanikhinsky is a self-fertile variety. For stable fruiting, it does not require pollinating trees. But to increase the yield, it is recommended to place 2-3 apricots on the plot that bloom at the same time with it. Red-cheeked, Michurinsky Best will do.

Care

Young seedlings require competent care. 1-2 year old trees are especially vulnerable. Mature trees need regular pruning, watering, feeding and protection from pests.

Preparing for winter

Preparation for winter should start in advance. It is recommended to tie young seedlings with burlap to prevent damage by hares and frost holes.

Water-charging watering is required for trees of any age. This measure will help the apricot survive the cold season. It is necessary to clean the near-trunk circle from weeds and cover it with needles. Small rodents will not nest in thorny places.

In winter, after snowstorms, you should trample down the snow around the trunk over the entire area of the trunk circle. This destroys rodent burrows and protects the trunk. Thick snow cover prevents sap flow during thaws.

Cutting

Ulyanikhinsky is prone to overgrowing. But the thickened crown will not allow insects to evenly pollinate the flowers. And ripening fruits require sunlight. Therefore, pruning should be done regularly.

The best time is early spring or late autumn. Sap flow stopped at this time. The tree will survive the operation painlessly. Pruning rules:

crown should be transparent;
all dried and damaged (during snowfall or wind) shoots are removed;
cutting out those growing at an acute angle or crossing branches;
cuts are carried out “on the ring” (to avoid rot);
wounds larger than 1.5 cm are covered with garden pitch or oil paint (to protect against bacteria and fungi).

For cutting, a disinfected (alcohol or potassium permanganate) and well-sharpened tool is used.

Feeding the tree

When planting in a filled planting hole, the first 3 years of feeding are not performed: the tree has enough nutrition. And then you should make mineral complexes twice a year: in spring and autumn. Organics are given to the tree in early spring (immediately after the snow melts): a bucket of mature compost per 1 square meter.

Harvest and storage of crops

Ulyanikhinsky is prone to fruit shedding. They cannot be overexposed on a tree. Picking apricots begins in the last weeks of July. For convenience, it is recommended to use a fruit picker. So apricots are less damaged and stored longer.

The harvested fruits need to be sorted. Put strong ones in boxes or baskets with a layer of 5-7 cm and lower them into a ventilated cellar. There, apricots will be perfectly preserved for 3 weeks. Soft and wrinkled items should be recycled immediately.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Gardeners note the positive qualities of Ulyanikhinsky:

regular fruiting;
self-fertile;
winter hardiness;
excellent transportability;
delicate taste of fruits;
universal purpose of apricots;
resistance to diseases and pests.

But the variety also has disadvantages:

tendency to fruit shedding;
increased overgrowth education;
grinding fruits in violation of the rules of care;
sensitivity to soil waterlogging.

Competent gardeners can easily cope with shortcomings.

Diseases and pests

Ulyanikhinsky has good immunity to major diseases and pests. But this requires proper care for the tree. If the recommendations are violated, the apricot is affected by the codling moth, leafworm and aphids.

At the first sign of damage, it is recommended to treat with insecticides (according to instructions). To effectively control aphids, garden ants must be removed. This procedure is performed in March-April.