Features varieties of apricots "Academic"

Apricot, by definition, is associated, if not with distant hot countries, then at least with the warmest regions of our country. Growing it while gardeners want in a variety of climatic zones.Given this desire, breeders presented apricot "Akademik".

The variety has been developed in the Far East and this already says a lot about its endurance and excellent resistance to negative environmental phenomena. For nearly 40 years, this plant, which initially fell into an elite group, has been growing almost throughout the entire territory of Russia. Carefully acquainted with the description of the variety of professionals say right away that it is very close to the common "Royal" apricot. The most important features of the plant are:

• high growth (up to 5 m);
• moderate tree thickness;
• slightly rounded oblong crown;
• typical mounds on the bark;
• egg-like leaves with a pointed tip.

Flowering occurs from 1 to 20 May (and if the weather is favorable, it is even ahead of schedule). During the vegetative season, one tree can produce 17–19 kg of crop, even without much care. Loving the business diligent gardeners can receive twice more fruits.

Judging by the gardeners and consumers, Apricots "Academic" are different:

• decent flavor;
• decent taste (where sour and sweet notes are intertwined);
• juiciness;
• maintaining stable annual yields;
• ability to survive cooling to -40 degrees;
• more tasty and large berries than other varieties with improved adaptability to winter;
• the ability to survive both dry seasons and short waterlogging;
• preservation of the presentation even on the background of a wet and cool summer;
• self-fertility;
• biological resistance to a wide range of pests and infectious agents.

For planting, it is recommended to select seedlings that are under 24 months old and that do not have any visible disturbances. There are two key points when you can plant apricot - in the spring, before the kidneys swell or fall. The best places are well-lit, but sometimes you have to compromise and plant trees where some weakness of the light is compensated for by the absence of drafts. "Akademik" makes only minimal claims to the soil, and to satisfy them is not difficult. Loose loam is best suited.

Dangerous for the plant can be high-standing groundwater: if from them to the surface is less than 200 cm, rotting of the root system is almost inevitable. You can fight it if you lay the bottom of the landing pit drainage. In damp places where there is a lot of rain, there is no need to form a wheel circle. It is better to make a mound from which water will flow away. Seedlings must be systematically (once every 7 days) watered using warm and well-settled water.

In the hot summer, watering is activated, but vigilantly watch that the roots do not dampen. You should also quickly remove weeds and loosen the soil. Improving the properties of the soil is achieved by introducing organic and mineral mixtures. Sometimes there is a need to slow down the growth of apricot, it can be done by creating a compact crown:

• annual shortening of the main branches;
• pruning shoots at 20% length;
• switching, therefore, to receive fruits.

"Academician" can suffer the most, like other varieties of apricots, from pathological fungi. The most common (and, unfortunately, underestimated novice gardeners) is moniliosis.The problem also lies in the fact that the frequent destruction of flowers, the degradation of shoots and foliage are sometimes mistakenly explained by the action of cold. In fact, having noticed such phenomena, special preparations should be applied immediately. In order to reduce the risk of moniliosis, in the beginning of spring and at the end of autumn prophylactic treatment is carried out with the same compounds.

At the beginning of winter and with the approach of the vegetative season, patients who give excessive thickness and simply weakened branches are required to be trimmed. Be sure to remove fallen leaves and other organics, do not use mulch. All this can be a favorable environment for wintering pests. Against the background of cool and rainy weather, burns can occur which are prevented by the Bordeaux mixture. If they do appear, it remains only to tear off the affected parts of the plant and burn them.

The function of drainage can take even, moderately dense layers of rubble or expanded clay with a thickness of 150 mm. It is possible to increase the security of an apricot in very cold winter, if you use a spruce twig. Spanbond strapping is performed on top of it, although some people prefer to use lutrasil. As soon as the leaves fall in the fall, they are immediately removed, and the earth is dug around. This greatly improves the quality of oxygen supply. Early spring prevention of diseases involves the use of urea (in solution at a concentration of 7%).

The next video will discuss the features of the apricot variety "Akademik".