- Authors: South Ural Research Institute of Horticulture and Potato Growing, Chelyabinsk
- Tree height, m: 3–4
- Flowers: large
- Fruit weight, g: 15
- Fruit shape: rounded and isosceles
- Skin : pubescent, medium thickness, dense
- Fruit color: yellow
- Pulp color : yellow
- Pulp (consistency): medium density and juiciness, grainy-fibrous
- Fruit taste: very sweet, no traces of bitterness
Apricot Honey is a variety specially bred for residents of the northern regions who previously could not please themselves with juicy fruits with a lot of useful components and a delicious aroma. Domestic selection, with its rich experience and excellent results, helped to overcome the barrier of unfavorable weather exposed by nature. The variety obtained at the end of the last century is still not included in the State Register, although it enjoys a deservedly high reputation among gardeners and tops the ratings of consumer demand in nurseries.
Breeding history
Apricot Honey was bred in the famous South Ural Research Institute of Horticulture and Potato Growing by the breeder and scientist K. K. Mullayanov. The variety got its name for its taste, but it is not the only one. The method of free pollination, proven for decades, applied to the no less famous variety Kichiginsky, gave the source new, valuable properties: high yield, resistance to adverse weather conditions - winter cold and summer drought.
To date, Medovy has been successfully tested in different regions of the country and is recommended for gardeners in the Moscow region, the middle belt, the Urals and even Siberia. This is a masterpiece of selection that not only survives in the unfavorable conditions of a temperate climate (with its long winters and short summers), but also bears fruit actively, retaining its taste characteristics, an unmatched aroma and a rich set of vitamins and minerals.
Description of the variety
Fast-growing, capable of reaching a height of 4 m by the sixth year, Apricot Honey has a spreading crown, dense bark, abundantly leafy shoots and foliage of a dark emerald hue. Speaking of the decorativeness of a flowering tree, they invariably mention medium-sized pink-white flowers that almost completely cover the tree. Winter hardiness, stable yield, unpretentiousness to the conditions of care and excellent taste are weighty arguments in favor of planting a masterpiece of domestic breeding.
Fruit characteristics
Fruits are relatively small in size (15-20 g), bright yellow in color, when ripe are covered with noticeable red dots resembling freckles from the sun:
the skin on them is elastic, of medium density;
the bone separates well from the dense and juicy pulp;
the name Honey is deservedly - in the fruits there is not a trace of the usual bitterness, not a drop of sourness;
easy separation of the bone is an additional bonus when preparing stocks for the winter.
The variety has versatility - it is excellent in fresh consumption, it can be transported over long distances without losing its presentation. It is stored for a long time, while the pronounced aroma, sweetness do not disappear and a set of valuable components is preserved after heat treatment (in jam, jam and in baking filling).
Taste qualities
According to the tasting score, he received 4.3 points, but lovers of the variety are sure that this is not enough. The honey sweetness is not interrupted by additional notes, the pulp of medium density is filled with juice, melts in the mouth, but the halves, thanks to the elastic skin, retain their shape well and quickly acquire transparency when cooking jam.The fruit can be preserved for the winter in the form of a compote or in its own juice - it requires a small amount of sugar, while maintaining a rich set of vitamins and minerals, tannins, fruit acids and sugars.
Ripening and fruiting
About 4 years after planting, stable fruiting begins. Some sources say about the possibility of obtaining a crop for 3 or 5 years, but these are individual parameters that depend on the region of cultivation and correct care.
Honey - mid-season apricot variety. This is what makes it optimal for planting in regions with a temperate climate. Flowering takes place during a period when there is no longer a risk of return cold or late frosts, ripening starts in late July - early August, but can shift by 1-2 weeks in a cold summer or in the Moscow region, Central Black Earth Region, in the Urals.
Self-fertility and the need for pollinators
Easily tolerating frost in harsh climates due to its ability to quickly regenerate after frostbite, the tree needs cross-pollination, although it is declared self-fertile. By planting nearby Kichiginsky (the source of Medovoy) or another apricot with similar flowering times, you can increase the yield. Some sources say that Kichiginsky is not the only variety for pollination of Honey. Siberian and Pioneer are perfect, you can consult in the nursery and purchase a suitable pollinator along with a priority one.
Yield
Special sources say about the average values of the Medovy variety. It is mentioned that there are varieties with higher productivity, but significant advantages are ignored - winter hardiness, versatility, keeping quality and excellent taste. But talking about an average yield is unfair, because the tree consistently yields from 15 to 20 kg of delicious fruits, correct agricultural technology allows you to get from 25 to 30 kg or more.
Ripe fruits can be transported without fear and receive commercial profit, overripe fruits can be processed on the spot, getting useful harvests for the cold season.
Growing and care
Choosing the right place for planting is half the success in breeding a culture that is still exotic for a temperate climate. All apricots love open places with good lighting, so regions in the south, southeast or southwest are chosen for planting them. Apricot has proven propagation methods, but experienced gardeners prefer to purchase seedlings from proven nurseries. When buying, you need to pay attention to:
number of branches;
development of the root system;
no damage to the young tree.
Planting is carried out at different times - in the southern regions this can be done in the fall, a month before the cold weather. In the north, it is recommended to plant in the second half of April, after checking the long-term weather calendar for the region and making sure that the soil and air have time to warm up sufficiently.
The apricot tree of Medovoy is illegible to the soil: loam, sandy loam, black soil and rocky soil are suitable. Acid will have to be deoxidized, and poor sandy soils will have to be refined.
An important factor in successful cultivation is protection from cold winds, especially if the area is characterized by constant circulation of air currents.
Before planting, you need to make sure that at the selected place there is no close occurrence of groundwater to the surface. For Medovoy, a slight lack of moisture is optimal - this is better than an excess of moisture.
Permanent care - pruning, infrequent watering, fertilizing the planting pit. This will increase the yield figures from the averagely dull to high and pleasing to the gardener.
