Growing apricots, planting and caring for apricots

Apricot is a southern fruit tree. It has sweet, sunny fruits, with delicate flesh and a small bone inside. Dried fruits are mainly made from apricot fruits: kaisa, dried apricots, apricots. In the article, we will consider the types of cultivation of apricot.

Choosing a place for growing apricots

The southern tree prefers to grow on a hill. You need to choose a place that is sunny, hidden from icy winds. Because cold air is bad for apricots. But apricot trees grow quietly on any soil. Although they grow more intensively on lime-containing soils.

Planting and caring for apricots

Apricot seedlings are planted in the spring. This is due to the fact that when planted in autumn, the roots do not have time to adapt and die from frost. So the spring planting is the most optimal. The main thing is to have time to plant trees before the buds awaken.
Annual plants are selected for planting. The side branches of the tree should be evenly distributed along the trunk. It is not allowed to plant apricots in branches from adjacent buds. Such branches do not have enough strength to hold a large number of fruits. Branches break under the weight of the harvest. And over time, the tree dies, since harmful microorganisms are bred at the place of the break.
Prepare the soil before planting. Half a month before planting the seedlings, dig a hole about 50 cm deep and about 70 cm wide. Pour fertile soil into the hole, into which add various fertilizers. When deepening the seedling, monitor the root collar. It must be positioned so that the soil is 10 cm lower.
You miscalculated a little and the root collar of the plant was close to the soil surface. Don't worry. Water the seedling and the soil will drop to the desired level. Remember to water. Abundant irrigation of the soil contributes to its better distribution among the roots of the tree. And the apricot acclimatizes faster on your site.
Planting the apricot tree is complete. Make a watering hole around it. Form a collar around the edge of the groove. This will keep the water near the seedling, prevent it from spreading. Water the apricot well. At least a bucket of water should be poured under each seedling.
For the next two years, the land around the trunk must be mulched. Peat, sawdust, rotted manure are quite suitable for this. Systematically loosen the soil from the weeds. Be careful not to damage the roots when loosening. After two years, stop mulching the soil. Longer use of the mulch will keep the roots close to the surface.
Feed and water the apricot tree regularly. And the seedling will vigorously add in growth. There is no need to touch the crown. It is formed naturally. With the onset of fruiting, the rapid growth of the tree slows down. Examine the apricot carefully and trim off any broken or dried branches.
Also water well before flowering. This will increase the amount of ovary on the tree. To improve the quality of apricot fruits, water the tree after flowering. Closer to mid-August, you should stop watering the apricot. The tree needs to prepare for winter.
For the successful growth of a tree, the soil must contain the required amount of trace elements. Fertilizer containing nitrogen and phosphorus increases the number of ovaries. Phosphorus and potassium together help the soil to become less acidic, increase the amount of nutrients in apricot fruits, and make the color brighter.
Top dressing should be carried out three times.The first time with nitrogen-containing fertilizers in the first half of June. In early July - with a mixture of potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen. At the beginning of August, prepare fertilizers from potassium and phosphorus. For the first time, feed at the rate of a tablespoon of fertilizer per bucket of water.
Then the initial amount is doubled. During the appearance of fruits, the tree is fed depending on the number of fruits. The seedling grows quite quickly with proper care. Begins to bear fruit after 5 years. It happens even after 4 years, if the apricot is not transplanted.

Growing apricot from seeds

To get a seedling from a seed, it is more advisable to use apricots that grow in your area. This will allow you to get a less capricious plant that is well adapted to local weather conditions. The plus of growing a plant from seeds is the better taste of the fruit.
You can sow seeds three times. First time after the fruit is ripe. Remove the stone from the apricot and rinse well. Then plant the raw bone immediately. Water abundantly until autumn. The second time - in the first decade of October. The third time is in the spring.
Store the seed in moist sand in a cool place until planting. Or dry slightly in the shade, being careful not to dry out. Then place in a plastic bag and leave at room temperature. Before sowing, cover with cold water for two days.
For planting in the spring, shake the bones. In the first half of March, place the seeds in cool water for 5 days. Change the water every day. After 5 days, put the seeds in a bag, making several holes in it. Pour wet clean sand or sawdust onto the bones. Place the package with the contents in the refrigerator.
After a certain time, the bone will crack and begin to grow. It depends on the variety and seed ripening time, approximately 40 - 100 days. As soon as the seed begins to germinate, it's time to plant. If the seeds began to hatch earlier than the first half of May, then move them to a place with a lower temperature.
The place for the seed is chosen in the same way as when choosing a place for the seedling. Water the furrows well. Plant the seeds to a depth of 6-7 cm at a distance of 50 cm from each other. After planting the seeds, mulch the soil with humus or compost. The bed must be periodically loosened, weeded. Water daily. Over the summer, feed the seedlings with infusion of cow cake or urea.
Apricot seedlings grow well over the summer. The next year, they can be transplanted to a permanent place. Plus of pitted apricots - unpretentiousness.