Apricot Champion of the North: description and characteristics of the variety, yield with photo

Apricot trees are not often found in Russian gardens. This is due to the fact that the culture is not only capricious, but also thermophilic. Thanks to the efforts of breeders, new unpretentious varieties have appeared that are distinguished by good immunity to diseases and excellent winter hardiness. The top ten crops for the middle lane include the Champion of the North apricot variety.

The history of the origin of the variety

On the basis of the Voronezh State Agrarian University, through the efforts of domestic breeders, a new variety was bred, which is resistant to frost. Creators of Culture:

• A. N. Veniaminov;
• L. A. Dolmatova.

Triumph Severny apricot served as the basis, in contrast to which Champion gives a good harvest in areas with cold and short summers. Initially, the variety was planned to be grown in the Central Black Earth part of Russia. In an area where frosts often give way to unexpected thaws, and late frosts occur in spring.

Variety description

Culture is ideal for areas with changeable climate, harsh winters and cold summers. Champion of the North takes root equally well in different regions, so it deservedly gained the love of summer residents.

Variety description:

• the crown is conical and sparse, the branches are powerful;
• flowers are large, pale pink, no more than 3 centimeters in diameter;
• the tree is tall and reaches a height of 5 meters;
• fruits productively for about 30 years;
• leaves are medium, during the growing season they change color from light green to red-orange;
• fruits are large;
• medium juiciness pulp;
• large stone separates easily from the pulp.

Apricots have a tasting score of 4.5.

Pros and cons

Positive properties include:

• precocity;
• abundant fruiting;
• frost resistance;
• confront common diseases;
• fruit size;
• taste;
• sparse crown, due to which the development of diseases is minimized.

Flaws:

• requires pollinators in bad weather;
• the possibility of freezing of the kidneys when the temperature drops in the spring.

The tree is susceptible to pest attacks, so additional protection measures will be required.

Characteristic of the tree and fruits

Culture does not require special care knowledge, so everyone can grow a strong, he althy tree and get a regular, plentiful harvest. The Champion variety is self-fertile, but for the best result, it is recommended to plant other varieties nearby, including the Triumph of the North.

Features:

• Medium-late variety. Apricot blossoms after warm weather in April. The first mature specimens appear in mid-July. The culture bears fruit within a month. Apricots ripen slowly but simultaneously.
• The plant has a strong and thick bark, thanks to which the tree easily withstands harsh winters and hot summers.
• Kidneys can freeze with sudden temperature fluctuations. The Champion of the North is able to heal himself. Therefore, freezing of buds for a tree is not a disaster. This does not affect the intensity of flowering and does not reduce the yield.
• Two years later, the apricot blooms for the first time, and gardeners will be able to assess the quality of the fruit from the third year after planting the seedling. The maximum yield is obtained from the age of five.
• The weight of the fruit is about 65 grams.
• Apricots have high transportability. Ideal for canning and eating fresh.

During a prolonged drought, you need to regularly water and mulch the soil under the plant.

Features of planting and care

When planting seedlings follow the rules:

• pit for seedlings prepared in autumn, planted in spring;
• prefer a bright, windless place, there should not be tall plantations around that cover the sunlight with their crown;
• culture does not tolerate waterlogging, so planted in a dry area;
• the variety is not completely self-fertile, therefore pollinators are required, which are planted nearby;
• before planting, it is recommended to soak the roots of seedlings in water for two hours;
• buy a plant in a nursery, otherwise there is a high probability of acquiring a "wild" seedling.

The main advantage is undemanding care. The crop is watered several times per season:

• early spring;
• in May;
• in early July;
• late summer.

For abundant fruiting, the plant is fed three times a season:

1. Nitrogen in June.
2. In July - nitroammophos.
3. In August - a mixture of phosphorus and potassium.

The first two years, seedlings are recommended to mulch and systematically loosen the soil around the trunk. This procedure will make it easier for air and moisture to enter the ground.

To prevent the formation of cracks on the trunk after the foliage has completely fallen off in autumn, the tree is whitewashed.

For this, a special mixture is prepared, consisting of:

• 10 liters of water;
• 2 kg of lime;
• 400 g clay;
• 400 g of copper sulfate.

Artificially forming a crown and trimming a tree is not required. Only dry and damaged branches are removed. Then the cuts are treated with garden pitch.

Disease prevention and control

Lack of varieties - low resistance to fungal diseases. When the culture is affected by moniliosis, it is treated with:

• "Botranom";
• "Nitrafen";
• Polyhom.

Affected areas of the plant are removed and burned.

When affected by clasterosporiosis:

1. Remove and burn damaged shoots.
2. Wounds are treated with blue vitriol and smeared with garden pitch.

Prevention:

• destroy weeds;
• treat the plant with fungicides;
• timely remove fallen leaves.

Pests do not cause significant harm to he althy, developed trees. Therefore, the apricot does not need special insect control methods.

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