When growing apricot, it is important to choose a variety in accordance with the climatic conditions in the region, the soil on the site and the preferences of the tree. Before planting any varietal specimen, it is necessary to study in detail its characteristics and care requirements.
History of selection of apricot varieties Hargrand
Apricot Hargrand was received by breeders from Canada, Ontario, by crossing varieties Y51092 and NJA-1.
Did you know? Today it is not known exactly where the apricot came from. Most scientists are of the opinion that the apricot tree comes from China. Previously, Armenia was considered his homeland and was called the Armenian apple.
Grade characteristics
Apricot trees of the described variety grow tall and are characterized by fast growth rates.. They have a compact crown, the care of which is not difficult. In young trees it is elevated, in mature trees it is spreading.
Plants begin to bear fruit early - 2 years after placing the seedling in the ground. Fruiting occurs in the late stages - the second half of July. Productivity of the variety is high and regular. The fruits are large, gaining weight of 70 g. With good care and a good place of growth, fruits can reach a mass of 120 g. They are elongated oval in shape. The peel is saturated orange with a blush in the form of red dots that cover the surface by 10-30%.
Important! The best pollinator for Hargrand apricots is Gold Rich.
The inner part is light orange in color, characterized by meatiness, medium hardness, harmony of acid and sweetness in taste, aroma. Taste on a five-point tasting scale was estimated at 4.6 points. The seed in these apricots is small. It ripens from the pulp in mature fruits without problems, in overripe ones with difficulties. Fruits can hang on branches for a long time after full ripening without falling. The variety is suitable for cultivation for personal purposes, as well as for cultivation on an industrial scale.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
- Gardeners who had experience growing apricot trees Hargrand note the following positive qualities:
- high frost resistance of flower buds;
- early onset of fruiting;
- high level of productivity;
- good fruit transportability;
- universality of fruit.
- Minuses:
- Among the shortcomings are the need for normalization of the crop.
Rules for planting apricot seedlings Hargrand
To successfully plant an apricot tree, you should purchase a quality seedling, pick up a good place and prepare it, observe the landing technology.
To purchase planting material, you need to go to a specialized store or a proven nursery. It’s not worth buying it on your own, because in this case there is no guarantee that you will be sold the very variety that you want. A quality seedling has a well-developed root system, there are no spots and growths on the root neck and bark, two-year-old specimens have several shoots.
Timing and seat selection
It is better to plant heat-loving apricot in springtime - in Aprilwhen warm stable weather sets in and the threat of frost passes. It is necessary to have time before the plant enters the growing season. Under the condition of spring planting, the tree will have time to adapt to winter and successfully tolerate low temperatures.
Autumn landing is possible only in regions with a warm climate. It is produced in the first half of October. The site should be chosen sunny, sheltered from the winds. When grown in the shade, the tree will produce smaller and less sweet fruits.
It is important to establish the level of groundwater. They should approach no closer than 1.5 m to the surface of the earth. Otherwise, you will have to plant a tree on an artificially equipped hill 70–80 cm high. Apricot gives the best crops in light nutritious loamy or sandy loam soil with a neutral or low acidity level.Important! Planting a tree with awakened buds in spring threatens the death of a young plant.
Preparing the site and seedlings for planting
When spring planting, it is advisable to prepare a place for apricot in the fall. A pit must be dug with a diameter and depth of 70 cm. Soil that has been removed from the hole should be mixed with complete mineral fertilizer. In spring, humus, lime or wood ash, ammonium nitrate can be added to it. When planting in autumn, they dig and pit a hole for 1-2 weeks.
Before placing a seedling in a hole, it is necessary to examine it well. If required, you can shorten the roots. If the root system is too dry, it must be soaked for a couple of hours in a bucket of water. Trimming is also needed. Shorten the trunk 10-15 cm from the apex.
The process of planting young seedlings
On the day of landing, proceed as follows:
- Drive a landing stake into a pit.
- Lay a drainage layer of crushed stone, gravel, broken brick at the bottom.
- Pour the soil, filling 2/3 of the pit, forming a hill.
- Install the seedling root system on a hill, distributing it evenly.
- Fill the voids with soil.
- Check that the root collar is located above ground level.
- Equip an irrigation circle in the near-stem zone to prevent water from entering the trunk.
- Hydrate using 2 buckets of water.
- Tie the barrel to the stake.
Video: planting and caring for apricot
If several trees are planted, they must be staggered, observing a distance of 3 m between them. Recommended row spacing is 5 m.
Apricot Seasonal Care Rules
In order for the trees to bring abundant and high-quality crops, they must be regularly taken care of. Care consists of watering, fertilizing, pruning, preventive treatments against diseases and harmful insects, and preparations for winter.
Prevention and protection against pests and diseases
Hargrand apricots are distinguished by strong immunity. They are especially resistant to pathogens of moniliosis and kleasterosporiosis. Against other diseases, preventive spraying with fungicides in the early spring is necessary. The most popular treatment method is using Bordeaux fluid. Other preparations containing copper, for example, copper sulfate, are also used. These funds help to prevent the development of cytosporosis, bacterial necrosis, brown spotting.
With poor-quality care or improper planting, apricot trees can affect such insects:
To get rid of aphids, apply "Fitoverm", "Fufanon". They are fighting with the codling moth “Chlorophos”, “Entobacterin”. “Decis”, “Inta-Vir” are used against the leaflet. If insects attacked the trees during the period of the appearance of the fruit, then apply spraying with a soap solution.Important! Preventive spraying should be carried out after trimming, but before coating sections are coated.
Watering mode
In the first month after planting, a young tree is watered twice a week using 10 liters of water. If the weather is dry, the volume of moisture is increased to 15-20 liters. It is important that the soil is moistened 35–45 cm in depth. In the future, watering is carried out once a week.
Humidification should be combined with loosening, which will prevent the appearance of a hard crust on the surface of the earth and allow moisture and oxygen to freely pass to the roots. It is also good to cover the trunk area after irrigation with a 10 cm mulch layer in order to preserve moisture and inhibit the growth of weeds.
Feeding scheme
To increase the yield and strengthen the immune system of plants allow regular fertilizer application. They need to be carried out 3 times per season.
To make a feeding schedule, you can use the following recommendations:
| Application Period | Fertilizers |
| In early spring | urea, chicken droppings, slurry |
| During flowering | nitrogen mixtures |
| After fruiting | wood ash, chalk |
Proper pruning and crown shaping
Apricot tree pruning is done in spring, summer and autumn. In each of the periods, this procedure is carried out with different goals. It allows you to increase and extend fruiting. Before the plant reaches the age of five, it forms a crown. In the second year after planting, all branches need to be shortened by a third. In subsequent years, last year’s growth was cut by the same amount.
In the future, sanitary scraps are requiredremoving sick, dried, diseased, bent, branches growing inside the crown. Pruning should be done with a disinfected tool. After it, the places of cuts must be treated with the RanNet drug or garden varieties in order to avoid the penetration of pathogens of diseases or harmful insects.
Winter preparations
In order for a heat-loving tree to successfully survive frosts, it is necessary to properly prepare it for winter.
Preparation consists of the following activities:
- pruning
- preventive treatment with Bordeaux fluid;
- whitewash;
- barrel insulation;
- mulching the trunk area.
Autumn pruning should be carried out at a temperature not lower than + 8 ° C. Otherwise, there is a risk that the wounds will heal poorly and for a long time. All dry and damaged shoots should be removed.
Whitewashing is needed in order to protect the plant from frost pits, diseases, and harmful insects. It requires a special mixture, which can be purchased at the store or prepared independently from slaked lime mixed with mullein.
The trunk of the tree is insulated with coniferous spruce branches, spanbond, burlap.. For insulation, any material that passes air well is suitable. In addition to warming, it will also protect the bark from rodents.
To insulate the root system, they cover the trunk area with mulch. Peat, humus, sawdust are used as mulch. They need to be laid in a layer of 20 cm. It is better not to use straw and hay for mulching in autumn, since they can attract rodents to the trees.
Did you know? Europeans in the Middle Ages believed that apricot is able to increase sexual desire. This property of the fruit is mentioned in the work of W. Shakespeare "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
Harvesting and storage
Remove apricots from trees in a mature, but still solid form. They successfully ripen at temperatures above + 10 ° C. The collection is carried out manually. With the palm of your hand, you must gently grab the fruit, separate it from the stem, and then place it in a plastic container. Shaking and knocking down apricots is allowed only if they are planned to be immediately put into processing.
To put the fruit in storage, they must be sorted out and discarded all damaged and affected by rot. Hargrand apricots can be stored in the room for up to 7 days. When stored in the refrigerator, the shelf life is one month. A large number of fruits are stored in storage at a temperature of + 10 ... + 15 ° С and humidity 50–70%. In order to extend the shelf life, they need to be wrapped in parchment and placed in a wooden container. The longest storage method is freezing. Halves of fruit are placed in bags and placed in a freezer. The shelf life of frozen apricots is 6–8 months.
Hargrand apricots are one of the popular varieties grown in the southern regions and the middle strip conditions.. Their popularity is due to a number of positive qualities. In order for the trees to produce abundant and high-quality crops, regular care should be taken after them.
