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Apricot Black Prince got its name from the color of the fruit - it is the result of crossing with the garden cherry plum. This variety has many advantages, including flavor characteristics and resistance to some adverse conditions. The success of growing a crop depends on proper planting and subsequent care.
Breeding history
The Artyomovsk research station in Bakhmut (Donetsk region) was engaged in the withdrawal of the "Black Prince". The main goal of the breeding was to obtain a variety that would be resistant to frost, but at the same time did not lose its taste. Biologist Ivan Michurin tried to achieve this result.
Being a hybrid of apricot and plum, "Black Prince" met the expectations of its creators. Previously, black crop varieties were suitable only for the southern regions, but now such fruit trees can be grown even in the Urals and Siberia.
Description of the apricot variety Black Prince
The hybrid is more like a shrub in its compactness. Its height does not exceed 3.5-4 m. The main characteristics of the variety:
- the crown is small and slightly thickened;
- the strength of growth is average;
- the appearance of single thorns on the branches, they are usually formed at the 6th year of life;
- the bark is dark green;
- leaves are small and oval, finely serrated along the edges;
- short petioles;
- profuse flowering;
- flowers are white or pale pink, small in size;
- fruit weight 55-65 g, in the southern regions it can reach 90 g;
- the pulp is firm, but juicy;
- dark burgundy thin skin, with full ripeness becomes almost black, slightly pubescent;
- the bone is small, difficult to separate;
- the taste is sweet and sour with light tart notes, it combines the qualities of both apricot and plum, many people also feel a peach hue;
- characteristic apricot aroma.
The photo shows the apricots "Black Prince", harvested shortly before full ripeness. After a few days, their skin would become darker.
The taste of the "Black Prince" is sweet and sour, with a slight astringency
Characteristics
The characteristics of the "Black Prince" differ from the classic yellow apricots. This concerns its resistance to adverse conditions, the timing of flowering and fruiting.
Drought tolerance, winter hardiness
The "Black Prince" has a long dormant period, therefore winter hardiness is higher compared to many varieties of apricot. The culture survives frosts well down to -30 ° C. This hybrid is not afraid of recurrent spring frosts due to the later flowering period.
The Black Prince is not resistant to drought. Saplings and young trees are especially sensitive to it.
Apricot pollinators Black Prince
The hybrid is self-fertile. It is still recommended to plant several pollinators nearby to increase the number of ovaries. Culture neighbors for this can be:
- other varieties of apricots;
- cherry plum;
- Russian or Chinese plum.
Flowering period and ripening time
Apricot begins to bloom at the end of May, when the threat of frost has already passed. This allows you to safely grow a crop in the central and northern regions.
This hybrid is fast-growing. Despite the late flowering, apricot ripening begins at the end of July. Depending on the region of cultivation, the timing of fruiting may shift until mid-August.
Productivity, fruiting
The yield is good. From one tree, you can get up to 23-30 kg per season. Apricots are harvested in August-September. They survive transportation well if slightly immature.
So that the fruits of the "Black Prince" do not crumble, harvest should be done shortly before full ripeness.
Scope of the fruit
Apricots "Black Prince" are good fresh, but it is better to use them for harvesting. You can make compotes and juices, preserves and jams, freeze whole fruit or sliced.
Disease and pest resistance
When creating the Black Prince hybrid, breeders did a good job on its disease resistance. The culture is rarely affected by bacterial infections, it has high immunity to the main fungal infections:
- clotterosporia, also called perforated spot;
- cytosporiasis (drying out);
- moniliosis, or monilial burn (fruit rot).
Advantages and disadvantages
Many of the Black Prince's advantages come from its hybrid origins. The advantages of the variety are:
- good productivity;
- high winter hardiness;
- late flowering, excluding harm from spring return frosts;
- excellent immunity to bacterial and fungal infections;
- small size, facilitating tree care;
- large fruits;
- excellent taste;
- versatility of apricot application;
- self-pollination;
- decorativeness during flowering.
"Black Prince" is not devoid of negative features. Some of them are not scary if you harvest on time.
Cons of the variety:
- In overripe fruits, the skin is cracked.
- Fully ripe apricots cannot be transported without heavy losses.
- The trunk circle needs mulching for the winter so that the roots of the tree do not freeze.
- Over time, thorns appear on the branches, interfering with harvesting.
Planting and caring for apricot Black Prince
To grow the Black Prince apricot without any problems and to reap a good harvest, you need to choose the right place for the crop, prepare the soil and find healthy seedlings. It is important to plant them correctly and provide proper care.
Recommended timing
The Black Prince apricot can be planted in spring or autumn. Optimal periods are March-May and August-October. Autumn planting of culture is suitable for the temperate and southern strip, it is recommended in Stavropol and Krasnodar Territory. In the northern regions, work should be done only in the spring.
Planting is best done on cloudy days, drizzling rain is welcome
Choosing the right place
For the successful cultivation of the "Black Prince", you must choose a place that meets the following requirements:
- Sunny and calm side, southern if possible.
- It is better to choose a place protected by a fence, building, natural elevation.
- Fertile, light and well-drained soil.
- Upland without close groundwater.
- Soil acidity 6.5-7 pH.
What crops can and cannot be planted next to an apricot
It is effective to place the "Black Prince" next to a cherry or plum tree. They promote cross-pollination, increasing yields. Apricot gets along well with various colors.
Undesirable neighbors for the Black Prince hybrid are:
- pear;
- cherry;
- any walnut trees;
- raspberries;
- peach;
- Rowan;
- currant;
- cherries;
- Apple tree.
The proximity of such trees and shrubs increases the risk of disease and pest damage. Another disadvantage of this neighborhood is soil depletion, since the crops need the same elements.
Selection and preparation of planting material
On sale you can find apricot seedlings of different ages, but it is better to choose 1-2-year-old specimens. They must meet a number of requirements:
- height up to 1 m;
- an even and smooth trunk without damage and signs of disease;
- the presence of several branches with buds;
- a healthy root system is fibrous, accrete specimens are unacceptable.
In autumn, when buying a cutting for the winter, it should be removed to a cool place, the temperature is not higher than 5 ° C. For preservation, the roots should be dipped in a clay mash, dried and wrapped in a cloth or burlap. Seedlings should be stored in a dry box, sprinkle the root system with wet sand.
Landing algorithm
The landing pit for the "Black Prince" must be prepared at least a month in advance. If work is planned for the spring, then it is better to start preparation in the fall:
- Make a hole at least 0.5 m wide and deep.
- Spread a layer of expanded clay or river pebbles.
- Fill the rest of the space with soil mixture - replace a third of the excavated earth with peat, add 1.5 kg of wood ash and 0.4 kg of superphosphate.
- Organize a film shelter for the winter.
The size of the planting pit should be larger than the root system
In the spring, dig up the chosen place, loosen it and make a depression again.
Apricot planting process:
- Examine the seedling; it should not be damaged or diseased.
- Shorten the stalk. If there are leaves, remove them, cut the branches by a third. Such a measure delays moisture evaporation, protects during frosts.
- Carefully place the seedling in the hole and sprinkle with earth, compacting it.
- Drive in a peg 20 cm from the cutting, tie the apricot to it.
- Make an embankment around the perimeter of the hole to hold water.
- Water abundantly (2-3 buckets).
- Mulch the trunk circle. Compost can be used instead.
Follow-up care of the culture
"Black Prince" requires complex care. Its main measures are as follows:
- Water regularly and in moderation, preferably in the evening. As it matures, the culture needs less and less additional moisture. Watering is especially important in heat and drought, when ovaries form, after harvest and before wintering before frost.
- Loosen and weed the soil after rains and watering.
- Feed the apricot with organic matter and mineral fertilizers for fruit and berry crops. Dosage and composition should be adjusted to the age of the tree and the stage of vegetation. With active growth and ripening of fruits, potassium-phosphorus fertilizing is needed.
- Formative pruning should be in the first 3-4 years.
- Regular preventive trimming with the removal of branches growing inward.
- Mulching the trunk circle after watering and for the winter.
- Processing the trunk 0.5 m in height with a mixture of slaked lime, PVA glue and copper sulfate. This scares away insects and rodents.
- In regions with cold winters or light snow cover, cover the tree with burlap or other breathable material.
You can view the tree and learn about the experience of growing the Black Prince apricot in the video:
Diseases and pests
Subject to agricultural technology, the tree rarely gets sick. For the prevention of fungal diseases, it is recommended to spray the "Black Prince" with fungicides three times a season:
- Fitosporin-M also prevents bacterial lesions.
- Fundazol.
- Vectra.
- Topaz.
- Speed
- Bordeaux liquid.
- Copper sulfate.
- Colloidal sulfur.
For the prevention of pest damage, insecticides must be systematically used. One of the enemies of apricot is aphid. It can be fought with drugs "Akarin", "Biotlin", "Tanrek", "Fitoverm". From folk remedies, soap solution, infusion of zest, pine needles, garlic and chamomile are effective.
Aphids feed on the sap of young leaves, branches and buds, can destroy a tree
Conclusion
Apricot Black Prince is unpretentious in care, is not very susceptible to disease, and bears large fruits of unusual color. The variety is hybrid, therefore it has an original taste. The culture can bear fruit already for 2 years, it blooms and yields a crop late.
