Gardeners like the Manchu apricot variety. These are unpretentious plants, characterized by undemanding care, resistance to frost and drought. The article describes step-by-step recommendations for planting a seedling in the ground, and also provides instructions for caring for the plant, which will provide it with good growth and development.
Manchurian apricot variety
caring for the variety "Manchurian" you can get a plentiful harvest
Manchurian apricot tolerates drought and low temperatures well
Description of Manchu Apricot
Manchurian apricot belongs to the genus Plum. This is a tall tree, capable of growing up to 15 meters in height. The plant has filigree foliage and a lush crown, it throws many shoots. The bark has a dark gray shade, cracked by deep furrows. During flowering, pink flowers appear, larger than 2 cm in size, grow on branches alone or in groups, pedicels are short. There is abundant flowering every spring from April to May.
The leaves are characterized by a wide oval, bicamellar shape, have pointed tips, their size reaches 12 cm. The fruits are medium-sized, about 2.5 cm in diameter, the skin is yellowish-orange in color.
A tree that can live more than a hundred years easily grows from a fruit seed.
Selection history
For a long time, scientists at the Chinese branch of the research center of the Russian Federation worked on improving the Manchurian variety. The breeders faced the main task: the creation of a decorative apricot with the attributes of Japanese sakura for central Russia. It was possible to achieve the goal, as evidenced by the inclusion of plants in 2005 in the State Register. Scientists were the last to think about fruiting.
Variety Characteristics
The Manchurian variety, which was used by I.V. Michurin as a stock for experiments, has striking differences in comparison with the same species. The following are detailed characteristics of the variety.
Drought and winter hardiness
This variety can easily withstand severe frosts to -30 degrees, thanks to a strong bark. An adult plant has a higher resistance to drought than a young tree. Every year, the roots of the plant penetrate deeper into the soil, independently producing moisture, which a large tree needs.
Young trees should be watered regularly during dry weather.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening period
Flowering lasts for 12 days. In some regions, it begins in early April. In the northern regions, flowering occurs during the thaw period. Flowers are characterized by a color aroma, therefore they are especially attracted to bees and pollinators of this variety.
Productivity and fruiting
In early June, a tree of the Manchurian variety pleases gardeners with mature, but small fruits. Despite the fact that the apricots are small, the yield is quite high. One adult tree manages to collect about 250 kg of apricot. Fruiting begins on the 5th year after planting a seedling on the site.
Fields of application
Apricots of this variety have a specific taste, this is due to its decorative orientation. The fruits are characterized by a peculiar acid and minimal bitterness, but this does not have any effect on the universal use of the fruits. It is permissible to consume apricots fresh, use them for making compotes, jams and preserves.
Experienced cooks got used to using even apricot kernels: they are fried, the taste is almond. It is also possible to make tasty apricot oil from the seeds, which is very fatty - the product is actively used in cosmetology.
Disease and pest resistance
This variety is a winter-hardy plant with increased resistance to fungal and viral infections. The main enemies of the Manchurian apricot are insects, but they can simply be fought by spraying.
Advantages and disadvantages
Manchurian apricot has many advantages and almost no flaws. The positive qualities of this variety include such moments:
- High yield. As they grow older, the number of fruits collected from one tree does not decrease.
- Ornamental bush. During flowering, this plant becomes a real decoration of the garden.
- Good transportability. The fruits are characterized by resistance to mechanical damage, they easily tolerate trips over long distances, without losing their appearance and taste.
- High immunity. The main feature of this variety is resistance to diseases and pests.
- High rate of keeping quality. Apricots can be stored for a long time, this will not affect their appearance.
- Resistance to climate change. The plant tolerates not only drought, but also severe frosts.
The disadvantages of the Manchurian variety include a peculiar taste of fruits, which not everyone likes.
Distribution and climate features
Manchurian apricot is a rare red book plant. It grows in China in the north-eastern provinces, in the north of Korea, as well as in the vast southern territory of the Primorsky Territory in Russia. This tree can tolerate both drought and low temperatures. He likes a sufficient amount of light, but is not demanding on soils: it can grow even on dry mountain slopes.
Manchurian apricot has a large and branched root system, so it is good to plant it along ponds to strengthen the coastline, as well as slopes, to protect them from collapses.
Features of planting Manchu apricot
Growing a plant begins with planting a seedling. With the correct fulfillment of all requirements, the plant will take root quickly, ensuring its further development and growth. Gardeners need to know about the timing of planting, choosing a healthy seedling.
What time should I plant?
It is best to plant an apricot seedling in late April. During this period, the soil is well warmed by sunlight. It is undesirable to delay the landing, it is carried out before the swelling of the fruit buds. It is permissible to plant a plant in the autumn, but this should be done carefully so that winter frosts do not cause damage to a fragile plant.
Site selection and preparation
To plant Manchurian apricot seedlings, choose a place in a well-lit area with aerated and lime-containing soil. Make sure that there is no moisture stagnation or severe salinization in this area. The most favorable place for the Manchurian variety is a site protected from the north wind. To avoid the drainage of cold air do not choose places in the lowlands.
The creation of a planting pit before planting an apricot will help ensure proper development of the tree in the future. A large recess is made under the landing, since the root system needs space. The minimum parameters of the pit are 65x80 cm.
What can and cannot be planted nearby?
The best option for this variety would be a neighboring arrangement with other apricots of other varieties. The Manchurian variety does not like to grow close with red mountain ash, nuts, cherries, plums, apple trees, pears.
How to choose and prepare a seedling?
Acquired apricot planting material in spring should be strong and look healthy. Inspect the root system; there should not be any deformations on it. For planting, seedlings 1 year old are considered suitable.
Sapling preparation consists in cutting off damaged roots and existing tears. Use a sharpened garden knife. It is undesirable to trim the slices, as this can negatively affect the survival rate of the root system.
Avoid drying out the roots during transport and storage before planting on a permanent site. If the seedling is still dried up, water will help to restore it - place the plant in water for 48 hours. A mixture of chernozem and mullein will help prevent drying out of the roots - the root system of the seedling is dipped in it.
Step-by-step instructions for planting Manchu apricot
To plant a seedling correctly, follow the instructions below:
- The day before planting, place the root in clean water.
- Make the mixture by mixing the mullein with clay to a creamy consistency. Briefly place the roots in the cooked composition.
- Dry the roots.
- Make a landing recess, deepening the soil to the size of the root system, pour water.
- Place the seedling in the center of the recess, carefully straighten the root system.
- The root neck should be 5 cm above the ground.
- Fill the roots with earth, carefully compact the soil.
- Pour the earthen roller along the diameter of the pit, fix the seedling on a peg.
- Water the plant with two buckets of water, level the roller.
- Mulch the near-stem circle with a layer of peat or humus.
Apricot Care
Caring for apricots is not particularly difficult. Good plant development is ensured by observing important rules:
- Watering. Spend it in a timely manner, especially in the first year after landing. Water the plant once a week. When the plant is strong, you can water it only if the soil has dried. Excessive humidity can lead to the fact that many shoots will not be able to fully form before the onset of frost, this is fraught with death.
- Sanitary pruning. Be sure to do this procedure every year. Timely remove dry, damaged and diseased branches, excess growth. Apricot pruning in early spring and fall. Read more about when and how to trim, read here.
- Top dressing. Feed the plant twice a year. Add mineral compounds in the spring, and organic substances in the autumn. In the summer, it is permissible to add food only if there are signs of a deficiency of certain substances.
No less important procedures are loosening of the perinosal circle and mulching, as well as liming of the trunks, for which they use garden whitewashing with the addition of copper sulfate - it protects against pests. For winter warming, the trunk is insulated with a thick layer of mulch.
Tree propagation
There are several ways to propagate Manchu apricot in your garden. To do this, use seeds or cuttings of trees.
From bone
There are some features when propagating in this way. When planting seeds in autumn, the exact result of germination is not known - it may not be at all, or it will be possible to obtain a high rate - up to 90%. This planting material is able to be stored in the soil, retaining germination for years, and can wake up sharply at any time.
To obtain a positive result, it is recommended to plant immediately before winter, otherwise during autumn thaws the seeds planted before this period may rise earlier and die in the first frost.
How to carry out the procedure:
- Pour selected bones with water and get rid of those that come up - this ensures culling of poor-quality material.
- Then plant high-quality seeds to a depth of about 1 cm, not allowing the root neck of the seedling to be underground and rot.
- Before planting, carry out a three-month stratification: hold the bones in a cold room at a temperature of about 0 degrees, having previously immersed them in a container with sand, without covering. This further contributes to good germination.
After planting and germinating seedlings, take good care of them: water, loosen the soil around, remove weeds, mulch. After two years, it is permissible to plant young seedlings in a permanent place.
Cuttings
To propagate the tree by cuttings, prepare them in late June-early July, and planting in late September. Follow this pattern:
- To prepare planting material, cut stalks with 2-3 internodes from which there are several leaves from the most powerful and strongest branches of a tree.
- From above, cut the stalk perpendicular to the growth of the trunk, about 1 cm above the kidney, and from the bottom, make a beveled incision.
- Place the prepared cuttings in a container with a liquid growth stimulator and leave for 15 hours in a warm room at a temperature of at least 24 degrees Celsius.
Prepare the landing site in advance:
- Make a small track of the required length, its depth should be 50x90 cm.
- Put broken brick at the bottom of the rut, and on top make a layer of river sand up to 5 cm high.
- Next, lay a layer of soil mixture of sand, soil, manure and wood ash in the ratio (1: 3: 1: 1,5).
- Evenly distribute the mixture along the bottom of the rut, compact and moisten with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Planting seedlings should be such that the base slightly touches the soil mixture at the bottom of the track.
Diseases and Pests
Manchurian apricot is characterized by increased resistance to various diseases and pests. But occasionally, plants can be affected by diseases and insect attacks. The gardener needs to know what control measures to take:
Disease / Pest | Signs | Treatment / Prevention |
Holey spotting | A disease in which leaves and fruits suffer - reddish-brown spots form on them, turning into holes with time. Then the leaves begin to fall off, and the fruits deform. | For treatment, cut the foci of the infection carrier and burn them. Disinfect wounds and fissures with garden putties using copper or iron sulfate. For prevention in early spring and autumn, spray the plant with 5% Bordeaux liquid, after flowering - 1%. |
Verticillosis | A harmful and insidious fungal disease that can be fatal. Manifested by rotting leaves below. | The fight is based on early treatment. The best drugs for treating plants are Vitaros, Fundazol, Previkur, etc. |
Spider mite | Pest settling on the underside of leaves. It multiplies rapidly. Ticks quickly suck out juices from the leaves, which is why they acquire a brown hue, dry, then fall off. This leads to a weakening of the whole plant. | To combat the tick, spray the plant with special anti-tick drugs - acaricides. |
Cherry elephant | This is a small purple bug that feeds on buds, buds, flowers and apricot ovaries. It can also harm the fruit. | The treatment consists of shaking the tree and destroying the fallen pests. If there are a lot of bugs, it is recommended to spray the plant with a solution of kalbofos or Inta-Vir. |
Aphid | It is a pest that bites through tissue and sucks juice from young leaves. This leads to deformation of the leaves and shoots, as a result, they dry out. | Insecticides are used to control aphids. The best drugs are Fitoverm and Fufanon. |
Harvest time and storage conditions
The ripening period of apricots depends on the region of cultivation. The Manchurian variety begins to ripen in late July. Subject to storage conditions, it will be possible to preserve the apricot crop for a long time. At a temperature of 20-23 degrees, fully ripe fruits are stored for several days. If the collected fruits are not fully ripe, in 2-3 days they will fully ripen and will be suitable for consumption.
Storage of a large amount of the crop will be optimal in a cool room with an air temperature of 10-15 degrees and a humidity of 50-70%.It is recommended to wrap the fruits with parchment and carefully fold them in wooden boxes. So they can be stored for 7-20 days.
It is permissible to store apricots in a refrigerator at a temperature of about +0 degrees Celsius. In this case, they will not lose their appearance and taste for 2-4 weeks.
Landscape design
When planting these decorative fruit trees on their site, the gardener must decide on their purpose: they will act as a hedge, a single planting or a whole garden. Manchurian apricot trees adorn the compound and delight the eye with beautiful bright colors.
Since the flowers of the plant are painted in a pale pink shade, and their size is more than 2 cm, these are the very first honey plants that spread their aroma far beyond the gardens. During the fruiting period, plants delight with bright greenery, among which small golden fruits in the form of lanterns can be seen. In autumn, the leaves turn a blood-red color - they attract attention, they can adorn the building’s facade, arbors or fences.
In green building, apricot trees can be planted along with other trees. They go well with the Manchu birch, Mongolian oak, spruce and juniper.
Manchu Apricot Reviews
This variety has many positive reviews from gardeners, as evidenced by the external attractiveness of the trees and a good, exotic fruit flavor.
Maria, 41 years old, gardener. I have been cultivating apricot of this variety for a very long time. Initially, I was attracted to the decorative wood. Fruiting the plant began at 6 years after planting. Pleases with high productivity, spicy taste of fruits.
Valery, 39 years old, a summer resident. He was engaged in growing apricot five years ago. I use fruits for mixing in billets with other varieties. They are characterized by an interesting taste. We hand over the bones for processing to obtain oil, and fry at home. Variety like ease of planting.
Egor, 27 years old, a beginner gardener. The first apricot seedlings acquired from a friend who is engaged in reproduction. The variety was liked by its unpretentiousness and ease of care. I decided to take up cultivation for the further sale of seedlings and seedlings. Productivity is high, with virtually no glitches. Plants please with their beauty and peculiar taste of fruits.
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In the end, we can say that Manchu apricot is easy to plant, grow and propagate. And high yields and decorativeness attract many beginner gardeners. One caveat is the specific taste.
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