Royal Apricot: variety description, yield characteristics and ripening dates

For the Moscow region and neighboring regions, the most suitable apricot variety is Tsarsky. The culture fully grows and bears fruit in a harsh climate. The fruits are distinguished by their chic taste and appearance. Before planting a crop on their site, gardeners need to familiarize themselves with the description of the variety, the rules for planting and care. Subject to the recommendations, the apricot will delight every year with a bountiful harvest.

Variety description

Apricots are endowed with high taste qualities. With proper care, the tree will certainly please with abundant, systematic yields.

Variety description:

• self-fertile, which means that the plant is pollinated by its pollen, the crop appears even under adverse weather conditions;
• on average, apricots grow to weigh 20 grams;
• culture withstands frosts down to -40 degrees;
• plant is low, maximum height is 4 meters;
• culture has medium branching;
• fruits are suitable for preservation;
• Apricot growth strength is moderate;
• the skin of the fruit is thick, pubescent, the taste is sweet and sour;
• pulp is dense, orange.

Royal variety is an excellent honey plant. The plant attracts bees like a magnet. Begins to bear fruit from the fourth year.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The advantages of the variety include:

• regular fruiting;
• versatility of crop application;
• frost resistance;
• easy adaptation to weather conditions and soil;
• pleasant taste of apricots;
• long-term storage of the crop, fruits are able to maintain their presentation for 2 months;
• excellent fruit transportability.

The Tsarsky apricot variety has several disadvantages:

• average yield;
• small fruit size;
• weak resistance of flowers to return frosts.

Apricot can be grown from seeds. The result is 50/50. With the same probability, a tree can grow as a varietal or "wild".

Characteristic

Apricot refers to early ripe. At the end of July, the fruits are fully ripe when grown in a warm climate.

Drought resistance, winter hardiness

Culture has good winter hardiness and frost resistance. In areas with severe winters, shelter is required. Apricot adapts well to weather conditions and produces a good harvest in dry summers. The plant gets enough moisture from natural rainfall.

Easily tolerates drought up to 2.5 months. During prolonged summer rains, it is rarely affected by fungal infections.

Pollination, flowering period and ripening period

The tree has large white flowers. The largest of all frost-resistant varieties in size. Blooms begin in early April. It belongs to the self-fertile, so planting a companion next to it is not required. Due to early flowering, insects do not act as pollinators. Their function is performed by the wind.

Return frosts can damage buds and reduce yields. Therefore, during flowering, it is recommended to cover the crown with film or fabric material. Protection will not disturb pollination and preserve the ovaries.

During a warm summer, the fruits ripen in early August, under adverse weather conditions - at the end of August.

Productivity, fruiting

With one tree in a favorable year, a crop weighing about 40 kilograms is harvested. For the 1-2nd year of fruiting, in adverse weather, the yield can be about 10 kilograms. The variety begins to bear fruit regularly and give a stable harvest from the 6th year. A mature tree produces a consistent harvest every season.

Resistant to diseases and pests

Apricot is resistant to:

• pests;
• diseases.

A culture can be affected by fungal diseases with heavy prolonged rains and with a complete lack of care. In winter, the bark must be wrapped to protect against rodents. In the summer, monitor the appearance of pests. Plum aphids can settle on young shoots.

You can deal with insects:

• mechanically, destroying aphids by hand;
• with the help of special preparations.

Combining the two methods will help speed up the pest control process and maintain yields.

Features of planting and care

Important points to pay attention to when planting seedlings:

1. In cool regions, seedlings are recommended to be planted in the spring before the buds appear. In autumn, planting is done a month before the onset of frost.
2. Before planting, the soil is dug up to a depth of half a meter. Then loosened, saturating with oxygen. Fertilizers are applied to increase the nutritional value of the soil.
3. The pit is dug 70 centimeters deep. A peg is placed in the center, which will serve as a support for the tree.
4. The roots are covered with soil, leaving the graft above ground level. There should be no voids under the roots.
5. Water the tree abundantly using 30 liters of water.
6. When the moisture is completely absorbed, the area around the seedling is mulched. Sawdust is suitable for this.

In order for an apricot to give a good harvest and grow he althy, you need to properly care for it:

• Spring fertilize with minerals, fall with organics.
• At the beginning and end of the season, form a crown, remove dry branches.
• For the winter, cover the trunk with burlap from the invasion of rodents.
• Regularly carry out preventive measures against diseases and pests.
• Maintain moderate soil moisture. Watering is recommended at the beginning of the season, during the formation of fruits and in October. Autumn watering helps to increase the resistance of apricots to frost.
• At the beginning and end of the season, the stems and trunk are whitewashed with lime.

It is impossible to cover the plant with roofing material for the winter. When pruning, the places of cuts are treated with garden pitch. Processing helps prevent the growth of pathogenic microbes.

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