Apricot is a beloved fruit tree by many, preferring to grow in warm climates with plenty of sunshine and light. The heat-loving culture is cold-resistant and can withstand frosty winters with temperatures up to 25 degrees below zero. In order for a tree to produce a large number of fruits, it is necessary to choose varieties for planting, taking into account local climatic conditions, since the same plant may differ in abundance of harvest and winter hardiness in different regions.
For example, such varieties as "Alyosha", "Triumph Severny", "Lel" and "Michurinets" are more suitable for growing in the Moscow region. And "Piquant", "Chelyabinsky Early" and "Snezhinsky" will feel great in the Ural climate.
Weather surprises in the Urals and central Russia can harm apricots with unexpected return frosts, which damage fruit buds and the root collar of young apricot trees. This must be taken into account when choosing a planting site for fruit crops. The site should be located in a low elevation in the open sun, but it should be protected from cold and strong gusts of wind. It is also very important that the groundwater is located at a great depth, away from the roots of apricot stands.
When purchasing an apricot seedling, you need to know exactly everything about the time and rules of planting, as well as the detailed details of the planting process itself.
How to plant an apricot correctly
Optimal planting time
Apricot seedlings can be planted in early spring or early fall if the root system is open. A favorable time for spring planting is early April, for autumn planting - all September. With a closed horse system of seedlings, the planting process can be carried out from the beginning of May to the end of October.
Planting scheme for young apricots
Experienced gardeners recommend purchasing seedlings at the age of one or two years. When planting apricot trees in rows, it is necessary to observe a row spacing of about six and a half - 7 m and a distance between seedlings - from 3 to 5 m.This scheme is very important, because fruit trees in mature age have a rather lush crown and an even wider root part.
How to prepare a landing pit
For autumn planting, pits are prepared in spring, and for spring - in autumn. The size of the landing pit is 70 cm on each side and 50 cm in depth. For each pit, you need to prepare a wooden peg, which will further serve as a support for the young apricot. It must be installed in the center of the pit, and then a drainage layer consisting of a small amount of gravel and small stones is poured onto the bottom.
Further, the prepared soil mixture should be poured into the pit with a slide so that it (the slide) rises slightly above ground level. Its composition: river sand, peat, clay (in equal proportions), as well as a small amount of lime flour, compost and rotted manure. It is not recommended to use inorganic fertilizing during planting.
Planting process
On the day of planting, you need to make a depression in the soil slide, fill it with water and put the seedling there, carefully straightening its root system. After that, you need to tie the tree to a support (wooden peg) and cover it with earth, leaving the root collar of the seedling about 3-4 cm above ground level. Then it is necessary to form a near-stem circle around the apricot, and the soil along the edges of the planting pit needs to be slightly compacted.
Apricot seedling care
With a poorly developed root part of the tree, it is recommended to carry out a small pruning of young branches.
Loosening of the soil and destruction of weeds in the near-trunk circles should be carried out regularly.
It is necessary to water the apricot abundantly from May to July, and then the volume of watering is gradually reduced and by mid-September it stops completely.
