Apricot varieties for the Leningrad region: description, planting and care with a photo

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 are bred taking into account the climate and soil characteristics in this area.

Features of cultivation in Len. area

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 the lowlands, constantly lit and protected from blowing. You should not plant trees on the 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 apricots, the seedlings will easily take root. It is recommended to plant trees according to the 6 x 4 scheme on loamy, sandy loamy soils with neutral or weak acidity. Depending on the content of nutrients in the soil, mineral supplements are required. On clay soil, it is necessary to use phosphate fertilizers, and with a lack of humus, the soil is treated with manure.

In the Leningrad region, it is better to plant apricots in early spring. The boarding process is as follows:

• preparing a pit up to 50 cm deep and 80 cm wide;
• the lowland of the pit is sprinkled with a drainage layer of broken brick or expanded clay and a layer of river sand;
• fertilizer is applied from a mixture of earth, rotted manure and sand in proportions 3:1:1;
• cuttings are aged 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 a covering material is fixed, creating a greenhouse effect.

Care in the process of growing apricots involves the implementation of a list of standard procedures. One of the main points of care is regular and moderate watering Insufficient soil moisture causes the foliage to dry out and the taste characteristics of the fruit to deteriorate. Excessive watering causes rotting of the root system.

In autumn, fall leaves should be collected around trees to prevent pests. If signs of diseases or damage by harmful insects are found, it is enough to treat the soil with fertilizers from the insecticidal and fungicidal series. In mid-autumn, the trunks of seedlings must be whitened, thus protecting them from the occurrence of biochemical processes in the branches.

To combat dense crowns, pruning is required, which is carried out in early spring.

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 survive in the ground, fruiting and adaptation to the weather conditions of the region. The following varieties are recommended for planting and growing in this area:

1. Iceberg is an easy-to-care variety that is resistant to frost and early maturity. The mass of fruits reaches 30 g, the pulp is tender and juicy. Apricots of the Iceberg variety do not have sourness and are suitable for creating blanks for the winter.
2. Michurenets - 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, have a long shelf life and withstand low temperatures.
3. Red-cheeked is a drought- and frost-adapted variety with a high and regular harvest. 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 crop is versatile and suitable for transport.
4. Triumph of the North - a kind of fruit trees with a sprawling dense crown. This variety of apricots bears large fruits with proper care. The variety is resistant to common diseases and does not lose its taste characteristics under the influence of frost.

Kichiginsky, Radiant, Kuibyshevsky, Shalah, Karlik and many others are also suitable for the Leningrad region. By choosing a variety suitable for the Leningrad region, it will be possible to grow a large crop with high taste and an extensive range of useful characteristics.

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