- Name synonyms: Rossiyanin
- Tree height, m: 4-4,5
- Escapes: red-brown
- Flowers: solitary, white or pink petals with reddish veins
- Fruit weight, g: 60-65
- Fruit shape: slightly flattened, rounded
- Fruit color: yellow-orange
- Pulp (consistency): juicy
- Fruit taste: sweet
- Separability of the bone from the pulp: good
Apricot Russian (Rossiyanin) - the pride of domestic selection. It was bred specifically for climatic zones with a sharp change in atmospheric temperatures, it tolerates frost well. Mid-early flowering and fruiting times make this variety an excellent choice for planting in regions of the Non-Black Earth Region.
Breeding history
The variety was obtained by specialists from the North Caucasus Research Institute of Horticulture and Viticulture. A freely pollinated seedling from the P-3-1 form was taken as a material for breeding work. The application for state variety trials was submitted in 1985, but they have not yet been completed for 2021.
Description of the variety
The tree is medium-sized, 4-4.5 m high, with a spreading crown and red-brown shoots. Intensive shoot formation allows the young tree to quickly gain growth. The crown of an adult apricot is lush, not interfering with the free harvest. Rounded leaves have finely toothed edges, slightly elongated to the top. The flower petals are colored pink and white, have reddish veins, the buds themselves are located singly.
The trees of this variety develop a powerful root system. It is important to ensure that it is not exposed on the surface of the earth.
Fruit characteristics
The apricots of the Russian variety are large, beautiful, weighing 60-65 g each. The shape of the fruit is round, slightly flattened. The skin is colored yellow-orange. The stone separates well from the pulp. Apricots are transportable, but they start eating a little earlier for transportation. The fruit has a characteristic, very pleasant aroma.
Taste qualities
Russian is not a variety for long-term storage. The fruit has a juicy sweet pulp, which, when ripe, easily crumples. The harvested crop is processed within 7 days, making jams, compotes, jams.
Ripening and fruiting
In the period of fruit formation, the tree enters 3-4 years after planting. In terms of ripening, the variety belongs to the medium early, the collection of apricots begins in mid-July.
Yield
During the season, 70 kg of fruit are obtained from the tree.
Growing regions
The variety is best acclimatized to the conditions of central Russia. It is successfully grown even in the cities of the Moscow region, in Ryazan, Smolensk.
Self-fertility and the need for pollinators
Apricot The Russian blooms in May. The variety is self-fertile, but to increase yields, you can plant nearby trees with similar budding times. The best pollinator is considered the Son of the Red-cheeked. Planting a number of apricot trees of the varieties Bai, Countess, Favorit also has a beneficial effect on the yield.
Growing and care
The Russian is an apricot that needs moderate watering and regular pruning. For its landing, you should choose the spring months, before the start of the stage of sap flow. In most regions, this period falls in mid-April. The need for plant care is minimal, it is watered in the morning or late in the evening, carefully loosening the soil in the near-trunk circle. The frequency of moisture application varies from 1 to 2 times a week.
It is necessary to feed the plants from 2 years from the moment of their planting.For fertilization, the spring and autumn months are chosen, giving preference to potassium-phosphorus complexes. Organics are laid under the root once every 4 years, or less often if the soil is fertile.
Trimming the crown of the Russian variety is also simplified as much as possible. In the spring, all its shoots are cut in half, keeping 5-7 skeletal branches. In autumn, after leaf fall, damaged and broken branches are removed. The resulting garbage is put on mulch or burned.
Disease and pest resistance
This apricot variety has a high immunity to most typical diseases. Some danger for him is coccomycosis, for the prevention of which, spraying of branches in the crown with a 3% solution of Bordeaux liquid is used. This manipulation is carried out during the period until the buds of the plant have blossomed. For perforated leaf spots, spring spraying with special fungicides will help.
Among the pests, the most dangerous for the tree is the moth, the fruit moth. The fruits and parts of the tree damaged by them are destroyed. It will be useful to regularly dig the soil in the autumn, as well as the selection of suitable insecticides.
Winter hardiness and the need for shelter
Apricot Russians tolerate even frosty winters well. Withstands a drop in atmospheric temperatures down to -30-33 degrees Celsius.
Location and soil requirements
The plant has an average drought tolerance, prefers moderately moist fertile soils with good drainage. Seedlings are placed in well-lit areas. It is important to choose a place not on the north side, closed from winds and other external influences. The groundwater level does not matter, the tree successfully adapts to its various characteristics.
Review overview
Apricot Russian has gained sufficient popularity among amateur gardeners, and this despite the fact that the tests of the variety have not yet been completed. Summer residents find many advantages in him. They include early maturity and abundant yield, excellent fruit taste. According to reviews, trees practically do not suffer from diseases, even if other plants in the garden are affected by fungus or infection. This variety of apricots is especially liked by those who are not ready to climb a ladder to the top of a tree.
A special advantage of the Russian is his adaptability to the conditions of temperate climatic zones. Even in the Moscow region, the fruits have time to ripen, giving good results in terms of harvest volumes. Also among the advantages, gardeners mention the absence of mandatory planting requirements for a number of other pollinators. The tree copes well with this task on its own.
Its obvious disadvantages include low drought resistance. Also, plants are sensitive to moisture stagnation in the soil.Not everyone likes the fact that a tree with a large crown shades a significant part of the site. Only spring flowers can be placed under its crown.