Apricot Rattle: variety description, yield characteristics, planting and care with photo

Apricot cultivar Rattle was specially bred to grow in temperate climates. Refers to self-fertile. The stone in the fruit is free and rattles like a rattle when shaken. Because of this feature, the apricot acquired its interesting name. The fruit tree thrives well in cold climates and yields well under adverse conditions.

Variety description

Rattle refers to medium-late varieties. Depending on climatic conditions, the fruits ripen at different times. In a hot summer, the crop is harvested at the end of July, in a cold summer - in September.

Variety description:

• the height of the tree is not more than 4 meters, so the plant is classified as medium;
• crown spherical, rare;
• buds of medium winter hardiness;
• fruit weight 50g;
• good crop transportability;
• pulp is orange, dense, sweet;
• self-fertile variety;
• tolerates drought and frost well;
• high yield;
• long shelf life of fruits.

You can increase the shelf life of apricots by wrapping each copy with paper. The procedure will help stop the penetration of substances from spoiled fruits to whole ones. Rattle variety is undemanding to the ground. The plant is grown on any soil.

Pros and cons

Benefits include:

• high palatability of apricots;
• self-fertile variety;
• stable large fruits;
• high and consistent yield;
• winter hardiness;
• high drought tolerance;
• universal use of crop;
• excellent transportability.

Flaws:

• long fruiting period;
• predisposition to fungal diseases.

Recently planted seedlings and young trees require shelter in regions with harsh winters, as they do not have good frost resistance.

Features

Due to the average height and thin crown, the plant looks compact and decorative. A large number of apricots ripen on each branch, so it is necessary to put props under them.

Drought resistance, frost resistance

The variety is distinguished by high winter hardiness not only of the tree, but also of flower buds. Apricot is drought tolerant and painlessly tolerates lack of moisture.

Pollination, flowering period and ripening period

The variety is self-fertile, so pollinators are not required. The plant begins to bloom in May. Fruit ripens under favorable climatic conditions in the last week of July.

Yield and fruiting

Summer residents will be able to enjoy the first fruits in the 5th year after planting, some specimens begin to bear fruit in the 4th year. Apricots are recommended to be removed from the tree immediately after reaching technical maturity, preventing the fruits from falling off. The variety produces a bountiful harvest every year.

Resistant to diseases and pests

Resistance to diseases and pests is average. High humidity provokes the development of clasterosporia on fruits and foliage.

Features of planting and care

Seedlings take root equally well in autumn and spring. When landing, follow the recommendations:

1. The pit is prepared three weeks before landing. Since the apricot has a powerful root system that can eventually push the plant to the surface, they dig about a meter deep.
2. The soil is mixed with mineral and organic substances and the seedling is covered in the prepared hole.
3. A metal rod is inserted into the center of the recess to support the plant.
4. The root neck should rise 7 centimeters above the soil surface.
5. The planted seedling is tied to a support and watered abundantly.
6. The landing site is light, dry and protected from cold winds.

After planting, it is necessary to inspect the seedling and cut off damaged branches.

Apricot care includes:

• pest protection;
• carrying out preventive measures against tree diseases;
• watering, the first time watered before the appearance of inflorescences, then after the flowers fall and 2 weeks before harvest;
• formation and pruning of the crown, actively growing branches are cut in spring, and dry ones are removed in autumn, each cut is treated with garden pitch;
• shelter from frost;
• top dressing, mineral fertilizers are fed in the spring, in autumn with mullein, and in summer with phosphorus-potassium substances.

So that in winter the branches do not break from the snow, in the fall they are tied with a strong rope.

Disease and pest control

Prophylactic treatment is an effective method of control. Having spent a minimum of time on preventive measures, you will not have to fight spreading diseases and pests for a long time.

Prevention:

1. The fight against insects begins in early spring, setting the trapping belt. It helps to effectively prevent their invasion, as in the first warm days, pests begin to climb up the trunk in search of food.
2. Insecticides are also used to fight, which quickly rid the plant of insects. It is forbidden to process a flowering tree. Processed flowers will not set.
3. From small rodents in winter helps save shelter. The trunk is wrapped with burlap or covered with spruce branches.
4. For plant resistance to diseases and bad climatic conditions, apricots are treated with Zircon solution in springtime.

Regular removal of excess shoots and root growth helps to avoid the appearance of diseases. It is also necessary to collect and destroy fallen leaves in time, in which pathogenic bacteria and pests are bred.

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