Content
Apricot Shalakh (Prunus Armeniaca) is in great demand in Russia and other countries. The popularity of the culture is explained by its unpretentious care, high yield and taste of the fruit. Description of the variety and photo of apricot Shalakh is accompanied by positive reviews from gardeners.
Many gardeners also know this species under the names "Apricot Shalagi", "Apricot White Shalakh", "Lemon" or "Yerevan"
Breeding history
The Shalakh apricot variety was bred by Armenian breeders. The culture got from Yerevan to the territory of Russia at the beginning of the 20th century, when the first seedlings were brought to the Nikitsky Botanical Garden. The variety quickly gained popularity in the CIS countries due to its abundant yield, ease of care and a high level of resistance to climate and disease.
Description of the apricot variety Shalakh
The trees of the Armenian apricot Shalakh reach an average of 4-5 m in height. They have a wide, thin rounded crown, dense and prone to thickening. A tree with large, curved and thick shoots and large, creamy inflorescences with a light yellow tint. The leaves are heart-shaped, emerald in color, the bark is gray.
Shalakh fruits are large in size. The weight of one specimen is about 50 g, but especially large ones can reach 100 g. Apricots have a bright yellow color, as well as a reddish blush on the surface. The pulp is orange or light yellow, with a pleasant sweet aroma.
Characteristics
Before buying Shalakh apricot seedlings, it is important to carefully study all the features of the variety. This will help to ensure proper crop care, and most importantly, the normal growth and development of plants.
Drought tolerance, winter hardiness
The Shalakh variety is characterized by a high level of drought resistance. Despite this, trees cannot develop normally only from rainwater: the apricot needs to be regularly watered, especially during the flowering period.
The Shalakh variety is quite winter-hardy and can tolerate frosts down to -25 ° C. This indicator is optimal for the southern regions, but when grown in the north, trees will need additional protection.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening times
Apricot Shalakh belongs to self-fertile varieties. To maintain yields, it needs pollinators (apricot, peach) with identical flowering times.
This is an early variety, but the harvest time is directly dependent on the climate of the area where the tree grows. On the territory of Armenia and other southern regions, Shalakh ripens in early June and immediately appears on local shelves. In the regions of the middle zone, such as the central Black Earth Region, the harvest is carried out at the end of June or at the beginning of July (depending on weather conditions).
The tree ripens completely, but the lower branches may "lag behind" a little, which is why the fruits are harvested from them a couple of weeks later
For commercial use, the fruit is best removed at the technical maturity stage.If the apricots are grown for consumption, then it is better to leave them until they are fully ripe. Then the pineapple taste and aroma will fully manifest.
During the flowering period, inflorescences of a large (up to 3 cm) size with white petals of a pinkish shade appear on the branches. On a tree up to 4 years old, it is recommended to shake off the flowers so that it grows stronger and gives a rich harvest.
Productivity, fruiting
Apricot Shalakh is characterized by a high yield level. Up to 150-200 kg of fruit can be harvested from one tree per season. With favorable weather conditions and proper care, this number can reach 350-400 kg. It is better to pick the fruits by hand, especially for fresh consumption. Fruits are removed quite easily: you just need to shake the tree - the fruits will fall to the ground.
It is better to harvest in dry weather, this is often enough for 5-7 days. Apricots are placed in cardboard or wooden boxes. To increase the shelf life of the fruit, place napkins between the fruits.
Scope of the fruit
Shalakh fruits have an average level of sweetness and excellent taste. A small orange pit is easily separated from the pulp.
The apricots themselves are consumed both fresh and in the form of dried fruits, canned food, in baked goods or salads. Ripe fruits are used for preparations: jams, apricots, dried apricots, etc.
On the territory of the South Caucasus, this variety is traditionally used in the field of canning production.
In addition to excellent taste, Shalakh apricots have many beneficial properties for the human body. So, it is recommended to use them in dried form for people with cardiovascular diseases. Apricots of this variety also help to strengthen the immune system and improve skin condition.
However, doctors advise against eating the fruit for people with diabetes due to the high sugar content in the product.
Disease and pest resistance
One of the main advantages of the Shalakh variety is its high resistance to major diseases of stone fruit trees.
The culture is especially resistant to moniliosis, clasterosporium disease, as well as curly leaves
In order to prevent damage to the tree by pests, it is enough to carry out regular treatment with standard protective equipment.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Shalakh variety is able to quickly recover after freezing.
Due to late flowering, the likelihood of frost damage to the tree is reduced
Advantages:
- a high level of resistance to moniliosis, curly leaves and clasterosporium;
- self-fertility of culture;
- resistance to frost and dry weather;
- high yield of the variety.
Disadvantages:
- if the fruits are overripe, this leads to a deterioration in their taste, and the pulp becomes fibrous;
- ripe apricots may crumble earlier;
- short storage time (up to 7 days);
- in case of stagnation of water in the root system, the culture quickly becomes sick and dies.
Landing features
Despite the ease of care, the Shalakh variety has several planting and growing characteristics. Before planting a tree in a planting place, it is important to carefully read the following nuances.
Recommended timing
The Shalakh apricot planting technique is similar to the Dobele variety. The crop is self-fertile, which is why trees are recommended to be planted in mid-spring or autumn. The best option will be the last days of April or mid-September.
Choosing the right place
Apricot Shalakh is recommended to be planted in loamy soil with a neutral acidity level. In clay and heavy loamy soil, the yield of the crop decreases, the tree may die. The apricot must be planted in a sunny area without drafts.
The hole is prepared in August for autumn planting, and for spring planting, the hole is prepared after the snow melts. The size should be 70 * 70 * 70 cm. A peg must be inserted into the hole to tie a tree.
What crops can and cannot be planted next to an apricot
Gardeners informally call the apricot a lone tree, the culture does not get along well with other fruit trees:
- The apple tree does not directly harm the apricot, but seriously competes with the crop for nutrition and moisture. A distance of at least 6-8 m must be maintained between trees.
- It is categorically impossible to plant a pear near an apricot: in the process of growth, a stone fruit culture can "strangle" a weaker tree.
- Plum is considered the only stone fruit that can grow near apricot without any problems. At the same time, it is important for both crops to provide all the necessary conditions for growth.
- Most stone fruit crops (cherry, sweet cherry, peach), like the apple tree, compete with the apricot for water and nutrition. In addition, trees are affected by common diseases and pests.
- Raspberries can grow normally next to young apricots. In this case, the shrub plays the role of a powerful nitrogen fixer and prevents the development of some fungal diseases.
Another undesirable crop neighbor is ephedra, the litter of which leads to soil acidification, which is unacceptable.
Selection and preparation of planting material
It is important that the seedlings are purchased from a trusted location, ideally at the market or nursery. There should be no physical damage on the trees. It is important that the trunk is strong, with bright green leaves.
The height of a seedling with 4 shoots should be 0.6-0.7 m. If there are thorns on the tree, this is a sign of the half-savage culture, such a specimen should not be bought.
Landing algorithm
To plant a seedling in the soil, it is necessary to prepare a mixture of peat and ordinary soil in a 1: 2 ratio. If desired, you can also add some minerals: potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus.
During planting, the seedling must be positioned so that the root collar is 5-7 cm above the ground level after the hole is completely filled up. The soil must be tamped, after which the seedling must be tied to the inserted peg. For a tree to develop quickly, it needs to be watered regularly and abundantly. The first is right after planting so that the water reaches the root tips.
Follow-up care of the culture
The Shalakh variety is distinguished by its unpretentious maintenance, however, care must be systematic. In the first month after planting in the ground, it is watered twice a week (with heavy rainfall, 1 time). One bucket of water is required per tree, but the amount of moisture also depends on the level of groundwater, the type of soil, the age of the seedling, etc.
After planting in a permanent place, you need to mulch the soil and repeat the procedure annually. The mulch is laid out in a dense layer of 8-10 cm.
The Shalakh variety is cut once a year, in the spring (before the sap flow begins) or in the fall. Loosening and weeding is often carried out after watering, removing all weeds with seeds and roots in the trunk circle.
Manure fertilizers are applied in early spring, as well as before the onset of winter. It is necessary to carry out preventive treatment of wood from pests once a year.
Diseases and pests
The Shalakh variety has good insect and disease resistance. However, in the absence of proper conditions of detention, gum leakage may occur.
To avoid the problem, every 2 months the tree must be treated with antifungal drugs.
Of the pests, unsafe for the Shalakh variety may be:
- Plum aphid... The pest infects young leaves, which makes them shriveled and wither. If a problem is found, the tree must be sprayed with an insecticidal preparation. Fitoverm and Bitoxibacillin are well suited.
For prophylaxis in the spring and autumn, it is recommended to dig up the trunk circle in order to prevent the appearance of insect nests
- Yellow plum sawfly... The insect infects the bone and pulp of the fruit, because of which they stop growing and developing.
For prevention, you need to whitewash the tree with lime with copper sulfate
Another crop pest is the leaf roll.
This is a caterpillar that eats flower buds and leaves, a method of getting rid of an insect identical to fighting a sawfly
Conclusion
The description of the variety and photos of the Shalakh apricot prove that the culture is one of the most popular among gardeners. It is distinguished by good yield, unpretentious care, high resistance to drought, frost, diseases and pests. Fruits with excellent taste are versatile in use. After planting a plant on a site, it is important to provide it with proper care and carry out timely processing, then the tree will thank you with a long flowering and a bountiful harvest.
