Apricot Pineapple

Apricot Pineapple is a variety that has long been known in the south of Russia and Ukraine. However, gardeners are now successfully cultivating it in more severe climates. This popularity is due to the unusual taste and aroma of pineapple, as well as the size and juiciness of the fruit.

The parent variety Shalakh first appeared in Armenia. And Pineapple Apricot was created in the Crimea, in the State Nikitsky Botanical Garden. It was not included in the State Register, but it was recommended for breeding in areas with a warm climate.

A medium-sized tree grows up to 5 m in height and has a rounded spreading crown. It is prone to thickening. The leaves are large, bright green, rough. The tree bears larger fruits than other apricot varieties.

The fruit weighing about 35–45 g is distinguished by an oblong shape and a light yellow, slightly golden color. There is almost no blush characteristic of most apricot varieties. It manifests itself as a blurry pale pink spot.

The surface of the skin is slightly pubescent, bumpy and velvety to the touch. The pulp is light yellow, pineapple in color, slightly orangey. Next to the stone, the pulp is of a more intense shade. The stone separates well from the pulp.

The taste of the fruit definitely resembles pineapple: sweetness with a slight sourness and a specific aftertaste. The consistency of the pulp is tender, moderately fibrous, of medium density. The apricot is very juicy with a subtle pineapple flavor. The skin is thin and soft, almost imperceptible when eaten. There are apricots best of all fresh, but all kinds of preparations from them are delicious.

The early maturity of the Pineapple variety is good, the first fruits are obtained 3-4 years after planting. The harvest of mid-season apricots is ready in the 15-25th of July in the south, a week later it ripens in a temperate climate. Ripe apricots do not crumble, but can hang on the branches for some time. Ripe apricots are not stored at room temperature for more than 24 hours. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. Transportation is tolerated quite well, without losing quality and shape.

Overripe fruits lose their taste, quickly becoming mealy and bland. To understand if the fruit is ripe, you just need to connect your sense of smell. When you feel a special - pineapple - smell, it's time to harvest. It is not recommended to harvest fruits at the stage of technical ripeness - the fruits will acquire greater juiciness, but they will not become sweeter and more aromatic.

The variety has a good yield. After the first fruiting, the harvest is consistently abundant and annual. But at the same time, it is extremely important to grow the tree in favorable conditions.During the season, 50 kg of fruits are harvested from one tree. But there is information that with due effort, you can get 150 kg from a tree.

The self-fertility of the Pineapple apricot is high, which allows the planting of one tree on the site. Nevertheless, experienced gardeners, familiar with this variety firsthand, testify that in the presence of other apricots in the neighborhood, as well as fruit trees (plums, peaches, cherry plums, blackthorns), the harvest is more generous and tasty.

The best survival rate is observed in one-year or two-year-old seedlings with rudiments of skeletal branches and well-developed roots. To choose a truly varietal seedling, and not a seedling, you need to inspect the grafting site. Ideally, it is well formed, with no protruding spines or ulceration.

The tree has a powerful branched root system. If you plan to plant 2-3 seedlings and more, they are planted at a distance of at least 6-7 m from each other.

The planting hole is dug quite deep: up to 75 cm with a width of 65 cm. A drainage layer must be placed at the bottom to prevent stagnation of water at the roots. The planting procedure itself does not require the gardener to possess special skills.

A support for the seedling is installed. When planting, it is important not to deepen the root collar, leaving 7–10 cm above ground level, and water the planted tree abundantly. You will need 20 to 25 liters of water. As soon as the seedling is planted, it is time to form a crown, shortening the main shoot by a third, and cut the side ones (if any) to 2-3 buds.

The fact that Pineapple Apricot has good drought tolerance does not mean at all that the tree can be content with natural precipitation. In the absence of rain, it must be watered every 5 days in the mornings and evenings, using 30–50 liters of water per watering. In the hottest period, it is recommended to irrigate the crown.

High yields provide a significant need for nutrient intake. Every year, in early spring, a mixture of 10–15 liters of humus, 150 g of dolomite flour and 20–25 g of nitrogen fertilizers are distributed in the area of ​​the trunk circle per 1 m 2 of the plot.

In the midst of autumn, the tree will need potash fertilizers and phosphorus fertilization (30-50 g and 100-120 g, respectively). At the stage of ovary formation and 20 days before fruiting, a complex agent is introduced, intended for fruit trees.

It is impossible to do without pruning, because the apricot crown is prone to thickening. A sparse-tiered crown configuration is considered suitable for this variety. Formation takes 3-4 years. If it is necessary to limit the height of the tree before it grows to a size of 2.5–3 m, it is better to form the tree in the shape of a bowl.

Most of the work on sanitary and formative pruning takes place in the spring. The minimum temperature at which it is permissible to do this is considered to be -5 ° C.

This apricot variety demonstrates good immunity to many diseases and pests. It is also quite resistant to clasterosporium disease.

Pineapple is a southern and thermophilic variety, respectively, its winter hardiness is low. Without shelter, an apricot tree can survive the winter only in the south, in a subtropical climate, less often in central Russia. It is advisable to insure yourself and organize a shelter. Especially trees that have not reached the age of 3 years need it. Even specimens damaged in winter have every chance of recovering without much damage over the next summer.

Like any apricot tree, this crop prefers to grow in an open and well-lit place, under the sun. Shading is bad for the yield, size and taste of the fruit.

Increased requirements for this apricot and the quality of the substrate. Too light, clay or peaty soil is not suitable for him. It should be loose and fertile, with neutral acidity or slightly alkaline.

In principle, apricot cannot stand cold drafts, especially since powerful gusts can simply "blow off" ripe fruits from the branches before they can be harvested. Although unripe apricots are not prone to shedding.