Content
Among the huge number of varieties and varieties of peach, flat fruits stand out. The fig peach is not as common as the other varieties, but it is still popular with gardeners. If you take proper care of it and choose the right variety, then you can please the whole family and neighbors with beautiful and tasty fruits.
The origin of the fig peach
This exotic fruit was brought to Europe in the 16th century from China. This was done by missionaries who began to cultivate this plant in Europe. Already at the end of the 16th century, the fig peach appeared in Russia.
The homeland of the fig peach, which is shown in the photo, is considered to be China and the eastern regions of the Asian republics. That is why in everyday life such a fruit is often called a Chinese turnip.
General description of the fig peach
The fig flat peach plant belongs to the Pink family. The fruits outwardly resemble figs, but it is impossible to baptize these two plants with each other, and therefore the similarity is only external.
The fruit of the fig peach has a bright yellow and orange hue. The fluffiness of the fruit is slightly less than that of most varieties of peach, but you cannot call it naked, like nectarine. A peach crossed with a fig is called a fairy tale, since no such fruit exists. It got its name solely because of its shape, although many people mistakenly think differently. But it is important to remember that a hybrid of a peach and a fig cannot be found in nature.
This type of fruit is considered completely homemade and is not found in the wild. Taste qualities are very pleasing to gardeners, because, unlike most relatives, Fergana peach has a stable taste both under the skin and near the stone. The fruits weigh up to 140 grams and are up to 7 centimeters in diameter.
Where do fig peaches grow?
This is a sun-loving tree, and therefore prefers the southern regions. Most often, the fig peach can be found in Central Asia, in China, and in Russia - in the Transcaucasus in the southern regions of the country.
Most often, if the grapes grow well in the region, then the fig peach will take root well.
The best varieties of fig peach
There are several varieties of this fruit. The most popular varieties are:
- Saturn - a beautiful peach with a red blush.
- Nikitsky - a small tree with large fruits.
- Vladimir - light large fruits.
- Columnar - early variety.
Columnar fig peach
This variety is characterized by low tree growth and early fruiting. The fruits of the Columnar variety are deep red in color, and their weight reaches 150 grams. The crown of trees of this variety is similar to a cylinder, therefore it is often used as an ornamental plant.
Peach fig Saturn
Another early Fergana peach variety. The crown of the tree is very spreading, and therefore outwardly the plant looks gorgeous. The fruits are slightly smaller than those of the previous specimen, and reach 100 grams in weight. When ripe, the fruit is yellow with light pink sides. The variety is frost-resistant and perfectly tolerates transportation.Saturn fig peach has a large number of positive reviews from experienced gardeners, therefore it is considered the most popular variety.
Fig peach Belmondo
Differs in late flowering. The fruits ripen in the second half of August. Dessert fruit taste, great for lovers of sweets. There is a slight pubescence on the fruit. The pulp of the fruit has a bright yellow hue. The tree of this variety is small in stature, but with a spreading crown. Fig peach according to the description of the Belmondo variety looks great and at the same time has a delicate taste.
Fig peach Vladimir
This variety is not afraid of most peach diseases. The tree is distinguished by a crown of medium spreading, as well as resistance to frost. Fruits reach 180 grams. These are rather large fruits with a delicate creamy flesh. The skin has a light shade with light red casks.
Fig peach Nikitsky
The best option for growing in Russia. Fruit weight reaches 120 grams. Very often, due to its low growth, it is considered not a tree, but a shrub. Suitable for growing in harsh climates. The fruits are reddish in color and the flesh is creamy. Fig peach Nikitsky Flat is the most hardy by its characteristics and therefore it is loved by gardeners of the southern regions of our country.
Growing a fig peach
It takes a lot of sun to grow this fruit. This must be taken into account when choosing a location. Peach care, as well as seedling selection, are essential for tasty and large fruit. There are several basic rules for the agricultural technology of this tree.
Site selection and soil preparation
The optimal soil for growing this fruit tree variety is loam and black soil. The place should be well lit, but protected from the winds, since the seedlings and adult plants of the Chinese fruit do not like windy places.
To prepare the soil, it is necessary to add manure in the fall and sprinkle it with soil about 20 cm. The soil that is pulled out of the seedling pit must be mixed with compost.
Choosing a fig peach seedling
When choosing a seedling, you need to pay attention to the following indicators:
- Assess the condition of the root system. The roots of the seedling should be intact, dry, without signs of rot.
- The optimum age of the seedling is 1 year.
- The bark of the seedling should be green on the inside and look fresh.
After choosing a seedling, you can prepare the soil and plant it in the chosen place.
Only in this case is there a guarantee of getting health and a strong tree with tasty and tender fruits.
Planting a fig peach
Planting must be carried out in the spring, since in the fall the seedling may not take root and freeze out during the winter, especially if the winter is harsh. If planting is carried out in the fall, then the seedling should be covered as best as possible so that it survives until spring and does not suffer.
A hole for seedlings is dug 50 cm deep, 50 cm wide and 50 cm long. The necessary fertilizers should be poured into the bottom. Then lower the seedling and spread its roots. Cover the top with soil, which is pre-mixed with compost. Pour 25 liters of water under the seedling.
The root collar should remain above the surface after planting. After the seedling is planted, the soil must be mulched. You need to do this with foliage, you can use straw.
Follow-up care
After planting, regardless of the variety, the fig peach requires plant care. It consists of watering, fertilizing, and annual pruning. Each of these activities has its own characteristics.
The fig peach loves moist soils and should be watered every two weeks during the hot season. At the same time, a minimum of 20 liters of water is applied under each tree.
In the fall, you need to make potassium-phosphorus fertilizers.Spring feeding includes 50 g of urea and 75 g of saltpeter. This is brought under the tree once. Once every three years, it is necessary to bring humus under the tree.
Pruning can be of two types - sanitary and formative. Sanitary pruning is carried out in order to remove all diseased and weakened shoots. The optimal time for pruning is March or early April, depending on the climate and weather conditions. When forming the crown, you should adhere to the cupped shape. Experts recommend removing all shoots that are longer than 50 cm. To prevent the shoots from breaking under the weight of the fruit during fruiting, you need to cut them so that they are horizontal. The optimal tree height is no more than one and a half meters. Fig peach grows well even in the Moscow region, if you choose the most frost-resistant variety and do the right agricultural technology.
Fig peaches are most often affected by powdery mildew, gray mold, and curly leaves. As a preventive measure, it is recommended to spray with a solution of copper sulfate. This procedure is performed twice a year - in early spring and late autumn.
How to grow a fig peach from a stone
It is possible to grow a delicious and aromatic fruit directly from the seed. A fig peach from a stone looks exactly the same as one grown from a seedling. The most important thing is to choose the right planting material. Ideally, it should not be a seed from a grafted tree, as a grafted peach will only produce a seed with maternal characteristics. True, it will take a long time. First of all, you need to put the bone in a glass of water. The water must be changed every 12 hours, and so the bone must lie for 3-4 days.
After that, you need to get the bone and dry it gently. Break with a hammer and remove the nucleolus from the inside. It is better to store the kernel in a dark place, where it can lie for a long time at the proper temperature. It is necessary to plant kernels in the middle of autumn. In this case, the choice of location should be similar when planting a seedling. Plant the kernel from the bone to a depth of 5 centimeters. In order for the seedlings to appear and grow into a full-fledged tree, the following conditions must be observed:
- The land should be composed of the following components: peat, humus, sand and leafy earth. The proportions are 1: 1: 1: 2.
- It is necessary to provide full lighting, if there is not enough sunlight, add ultraviolet light.
- Water the plant regularly, the soil should not be dry. But it is not worth overfilling the plant either, if the soil is waterlogged, it can provoke rot on the roots and subsequent problems with the growth and health of the tree.
- The optimum temperature is 15–20 ° C.
Then place an upside-down plastic bottle without a neck on top to create a warm and comfortable environment for the seed. The first shoots should appear in 3-4 months.
Starting in March, seedlings need to be fed. This must be done every two weeks until September. The next year, the pitted fig peach can be planted for permanent residence.
You can start forming the crown at the moment when the peach fig tree is already 70 cm.
Conclusion
Fig peach is not just a beautiful tree, but also a very tasty fruit with a delicate taste. For lovers of sweets and experienced gardeners, having such a tree on your site is a celebration and honor. But the plant requires proper care and competent agricultural technology. Only in this case it will be possible to obtain aromatic fruits of an unusual appearance. The peach variety must be selected depending on the climatic conditions where the garden crop is supposed to be grown. There are earlier and later varieties, but on average the harvest is obtained by mid-August.
