Not so long ago, apricots, like grapes or cherries, were considered exclusively southern fruit crops that do not grow or bear fruit in the colder regions of Russia, and also most often freeze out in the very first frosty winter. But thanks to the efforts of breeders, many new varieties and hybrids of apricot have recently appeared, the main advantages of which are high frost resistance, abundant fruiting, tasty aromatic fruits and a number of other characteristics. Among such varieties are apricot Bai, apricot Delight and some others, whose seedlings are in great demand among summer residents.

Apricot Rapture is one of such northern varieties, which has attracted the attention of many gardeners of the Central strip, the Moscow region and even from some Siberian regions. Why and thanks to what qualities this winter-hardy apricot has become so popular with summer residents can be understood from this article.

General information about culture

Frost-resistant varieties of apricot can now be found on garden plots in many regions of Russia, since it is quite understandable that gardeners want to collect tasty and sweet fruits of this stone fruit in their garden, and not wait until they appear on sale in local supermarkets.

The new frost-resistant apricot Rapture, which appeared not so long ago, was bred by breeders F.M.Gasimov and K.K.Mulloyanov. They planted a seedling of Piquant apricot, which pollinated freely, resulting in a new species.

Juicy fruits

There are many frost-resistant apricot varieties (other than Rapture) that can be grown in regions with short summers and cold winters:

  • Lel;
  • Northern Triumph;
  • Black and Honey apricot.

These winter-hardy varieties of apricots also deserve the attention of gardeners living in the northern regions, as their fruits are tasty and sweet.

Important! Most varieties of apricots have a significant drawback - their self-fertility is quite low, therefore, for better cross-pollination, several different varieties of these stone fruit crops are planted nearby.

Characteristics and features of the variety

Apricot Delight description of the variety should begin with a story about the tree itself. This fruit crop in height can reach 2.8-3.1 m.The crown is quite spreading, medium thickening, in diameter it can be up to 4-4.5 m.This variety is considered one of the most winter-hardy apricots, since in the spring, even after rather severe winter, the above-ground part does not look frozen.

Apricot Manchurian

The flowers are large with pinkish-white petals and a delicate scent. However, they are self-fertile, so other apricot varieties should be planted next to them for cross-pollination. The best pollinator for the Delight species is the Kichiginsky variety. However, to increase yields, not one, but several varieties should be planted nearby, which bloom simultaneously with it.

The fruits are large, oval-elongated. The color of the thin delicate skin is juicy yellow on the sides with a red blush. The pulp has a juicy dessert taste and a pleasant fruity aroma, its color is orange. It is impossible not to love such delicious fruits! All experts give the same tasting assessment of ripe fruits of this apricot - 5 points. Fruit weight can reach 23 g.

Important! The skin is not dense, it is practically not felt in food, it does not separate from ripened apricots. The stone is medium in size, in ripe fruits it lags well behind the pulp.

This cold-resistant fruit tree belongs to the early varieties of apricots in terms of ripening, the buds begin to bloom in May, and in the last decade of July, you can harvest the ripe harvest in unison. Ripe fruits do not stick too tightly on the stalks, so harvesting must be done in a timely manner.

The presentation and taste of ripe berries are high, but the keeping quality of the harvested crop is not very good, so the fruits should be processed within a few days after they are harvested (but apricots can be stored longer in the refrigerator). Ripe apricots can be eaten fresh, and can also be used for preservation when making compotes, preserves or jam.

Apricot jam

This varietal fruit tree has high frost resistance and drought resistance. It should also be noted that this apricot tree is resistant to fungal diseases, and they are practically not affected by harmful bugs.

Growing

In order for this stone fruit culture to take over well and bear fruit abundantly in the future, one should start with the correct choice of seedlings. It is better to order them in specialized nurseries, where there is confidence that the tree sent will be of the exact variety that is needed.

Apricot Aquarius

Before planting, the seedling should be inspected: it should not have damaged or dry shoots, the root system should be dense and elastic, and not have any signs of damage or disease. When planting young trees, consider the following:

  • the site should be well lit by the sun, protected from the cold wind;
  • as for the requirements for the soil, it must be of medium (neutral) acidity or slightly alkaline. The soil should allow moisture and oxygen to pass well to the roots of the tree. If the soil in the garden is too acidic, then in the fall, when digging a site, lime or dolomite flour is added;
  • the best composition of the soil, which is introduced into the planting pit, should consist of equal parts of peat, river sand and alumina;
  • if the soil has all of the above qualities and is sufficiently fertile, then the planting hole should have a diameter of 0.7 m, and a depth of 0.65-0.7 m;
  • if the soil category is heavy infertile on the site, then the size of the planting pits is increased to 1 m;
  • stagnation of moisture and close to the surface of the groundwater should not be. In this case, the roots of the apricot may begin to rot, and the culture itself may be affected by fungal diseases.

The distance between neighboring trees should be about 4 m. In this case, they will not interfere with each other during growth and fruiting, and apricots will be well pollinated.

The planting of a fruit crop of this type is carried out as follows: a seedling is placed in a prepared hole, its root system is straightened along the entire diameter of the hole, it is covered with fertile soil selected from the hole on top, and it is tamped well enough. In no case should the root collar be buried in the ground, it should be several centimeters above the soil level.

Important! In the Middle Lane, apricots are planted exclusively in the spring, and in the southern regions this procedure can be carried out in the fall, since the winters there are mild, and the likelihood that a young tree may freeze is small.

Further care

Honeysuckle Delight

Further care for the planted trees consists in carrying out the following procedures:

  • regular watering;
  • loosening of near-trunk circles;
  • removing weeds;
  • making dressings;
  • formative and sanitary pruning;
  • proper preparation for winter.

Although Apricot Rapture has a high resistance to drought, watering should be carried out at least once a month, and before winter, water-charging should be carried out in order to saturate the roots with water so that they better endure winter frosts.

After watering and rains, the soil needs to be loosened, and it is advisable to mulch the trunk circle from above.

Apricot tree

In the first year, if the site has been fertilized, no fertilizing is applied, and later in the spring, fertilizers containing nitrogen are added. Apricots require potash fertilizers before flowering.In the fall, fertilizing containing phosphorus and potassium is introduced into the trunk circle.

Pruning is usually done in the spring, removing frozen, broken, dry and weak shoots. This procedure is carried out before the buds begin to bloom. Places of cuts are covered with garden pitch or sprinkled with crushed charcoal.

In autumn, weak young shoots should be cut off, you can also slightly thin out the strongly thickened crown so that sunlight and fresh air penetrate well inside it.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The main positive qualities of Apricot Delight include:

  • large fruit size;
  • good yield;
  • high winter hardiness;
  • good drought resistance;
  • this varietal apricot is resistant to fungal diseases and pests;
  • high marketability and taste of ripe apricots;
  • versatility of the harvested crop.

The main disadvantage of this variety is low self-fertility, so several pollinator trees have to be planted next to it.

And yet, Apricot Delight is one of the most popular varieties, zoned for cultivation in Siberia, the Urals, the Moscow region and other regions with a similar climate. Since it does not freeze in cold winters, and the taste of the fruit is no worse than that of a similar fruit crop grown in the south, it becomes clear why gardeners are so fond of this apricot.