Bright and juicy fruits of apricots are loved by many people. In the southern latitudes, this tree has always been very common. As a result of the painstaking work of breeders, varieties are developed that can take root and bear fruit abundantly even in climatic zones with a low temperature regime. In this article, we will focus on the apricot variety with the original name Rattles.

The history of selection of apricot Pogremok

This variety was bred at the zonal fruit-experimental station, which is located in the city of Rossosh, Voronezh region. The station has existed since 1937. During its operation, more than 60 species of fruit plants and ornamental crops were bred here. The head of the station, M. M. Ulyanischev, has been conducting selection activities since the 1920s.

Did you know? The rattle has this name due to the free position of the seed inside the ripe apricot. When shaking the fetus, you can hear that the bone emits a characteristic knock - it rattles.

One of his tasks was to obtain new varieties of plants that can tolerate climatic conditions in mid-latitudes. After the winter frosts of 1927–1928, he managed to choose two frost-resistant trees, from the fruits of which new varieties of apricots were subsequently obtained, including Pogremyok. That is why this variety has frost resistance above average, in addition, it is very unpretentious to care, soil and climatic conditions.

Description and characteristics of the variety

Variety apricot - a tall plant with a rare crown, which grows spherically. An adult tree reaches a height of 3-4 m. By its qualities, Pogremyok is one of the best for planting in any climatic conditions (except for the desert and permafrost).

• The main advantages of this variety:
• self-fertility (does not require extraneous pollination sources);
• large fruits weighing up to 60 g (less often - 70–80 g);
• the flesh is bright yellow, has a pleasant taste, sweet with sourness;
• the bone is easily separated from the fruit (if it is ripe);
• high productivity;
• fruits can be kept fresh for a long time and tolerate transportation well;
• high frost resistance and unpretentiousness in leaving.

Features of planting varieties

The further development of your tree depends on the choice of a healthy seedling, a good place and the right planting. Let us dwell on these conditions in more detail.

You will be interested to know why the apricot tree does not bear fruit.

Recommended time for landing

The best time to plant Pogremyok is considered to be early spring for the northern area (before the movement of juices), and for the southern regions - late autumn (about a month before the frost). In mid-latitudes apricot planting is allowed in spring and autumn. The advantage of spring planting is that the plant begins to actively develop, and it is possible to observe it and eliminate hazards in the form of diseases or pests in time.

Landing in the spring is allowed to be carried out when the air has already warmed up to + 5 ° C (around the clock). Too early planting can cause the seedling to freeze out if frosts suddenly resume. Too late planting is fraught with difficulties of survival, due to the high solar activity. The approximate time of spring planting is the last week of March-April, sometimes the first week of May (depending on temperature indicators).

Autumn planting is carried out in the last week of September or in October. During this period of time, only the root system of the plant will grow, because there will be no vegetation, which will allow the seedling to grow stronger by spring. If frost is expected within two weeks, then planting must be postponed until spring. For this, the seedling is lowered into a container with soil and left until spring in the basement, or instilled in the area.

Did you know? Siberian apricots survive at temperatures up to -45 ° C. But the crop they give is unlikely to please their taste. The fruits of such trees are hard, sour, green in color and are only nominally edible.

Choosing the right place

Regarding the soil, the Pogremyok variety is an unpretentious plant, so it can be planted in various soil conditions. However, it is noted that in the best way apricot of this variety feels on aerated soils that have lime in the composition. If it is possible to choose, then it is worth planting Pogremok in soils enriched with useful minerals and substances.

When choosing a rooting place for a seedling, one must take into account that apricot belongs to the group of plants with a weak root neck. In order to grow a healthy tree, which will give a good harvest, it is necessary to ensure that the root system does not lock up, therefore, in conditions of increased soil moisture, the plant should be planted on a hill.

Variety Pogremok has a special need for good lighting during daylight hours - this should be considered when planting. Deficiency of sunlight can subsequently lead to a decrease in the number of fruits and a decrease in their taste, as well as to poor winter hardiness of the plant.

The choice of crops that can and cannot be planted nearby

When planting a variety, it must be borne in mind that the crown of an adult plant will give an abundant shadow in the future, so plants that do not require a lot of sunlight should be located next door. In addition, it is undesirable to plant apricot next to walnuts, peaches, apple trees, pears, cherries, cherries.

Check out the features of apricot cultivation of Khabarovsky and Melitopol early varieties.

In general, apricot is considered an individual plant. Ideally, apricots of different varieties are planted next to it, which makes it possible to pollinate more fully. Trees must be planted, maintaining a distance of 5 m, so that they do not create a shadow to each other.

Preparing planting material

For rooting, it is better to choose one-year-old apricot trees. It is advisable to choose a seedling with the maximum number of roots and grown in climatic conditions similar to those where it will be rooted. When buying, you should pay attention to the appearance of the seedling: it should look healthy, not have mechanical damage, signs of lethargy, damage from diseases and harmful insects.

The desired plant height is 1–1.5 m. The roots should be well developed: the presence of the main root and another two or three lateral lengths of 20–25 cm are necessary. The use of moss or wet peat helps to increase the seedling's ability to take root and take root firmly in a new place . The roots of the plant are wrapped in them during transportation.

Step-by-step landing instructions

10-14 days before planting a seedling in the area, it is necessary to dig a recess where the plant will take root and equip it with a drainage system. Usually small stones, broken bricks, and crushed stone are used for drainage.

Fertilizers should be applied to the planting recess with a layer of 15–20 cm. For this purpose, a soil mixture is prepared: fertile soil, removed by digging a hole (20–30 cm of the upper layer), as well as 8–9 kg of humus, non-acid peat, sand, 1, 5 tbsp. superphosphate or 3-4 tbsp. bone meal, 0.5 tbsp. potassium sulfate or 1 tbsp. wood ash.

Important! The hole for a young apricot is usually dug to a depth of 50 - 80 cm.

Following the algorithm of actions when planting a plant, we can expect that it pretty quickly and painlessly adapts to new conditions:

1. Dig out the landing recess and properly equip it.
2. Prepare a seedling.
3. Root the seedling so that its root neck is 5–6 cm above the ground.
4. Gently distribute the rhizome in the planting hole and fill it with prepared soil, periodically shaking the plant.
5. Around the trunk to slightly trample the earth.
6. Water the tree abundantly (20-30 liters of water).
7. Mulch the earth around the tree (preferably humus).

Plant Care Rules

In order to get a generous harvest of aromatic and sweet apricots over time, the tree must be properly maintained. For the safe rooting of apricot, which was planted in the spring, it is especially important to control the soil moisture. If the soil is dry, you need to water the plant. In spring and autumn, watering is done once every 14 days, in summer in the heat - once a week.

Did you know? In China, apricots are used in folk medicine. For example, the Chinese use the bones of this fruit in the treatment of cough, tracheitis, bronchitis.

It is impossible that the soil is dry, but it is not worth it to flood the plant too much. The need for watering can be determined by digging the soil to a depth of 25-30 cm: if the earth is dry - it is necessary to water the plant. Usually 20-30 l of water is enough for 1 tree. During the first two years, additional plant nutrition will not be necessary, since all the necessary substances were introduced during planting.

An adult plant is fed in the spring. For this, urea is used - a source of nitrogen. 50 g of ammonium nitrate and 70 g of nitrogen fertilizer are introduced into the soil around the apricot trunk. Compost is applied to the soil near the plant once every 2 years. In the spring, before the start of the growing season, formative pruning of the branches is carried out. Cut off all broken branches affected by diseases or frost.

The base of the trunk and skeletal branches is treated with a solution of garden lime. In the summer, during the ripening period of the fruit, also produce mandatory pruning of branches. Crohn should not be too thick and obscure the fruits, as this will affect the ripening of the crop and the taste of apricots. In the fall, sanitary cutting of injured, damaged, dry, diseased branches is performed. Variety Pogremyok is a frost-resistant plant.

However, it is better to shelter young trees for the winter. To do this, the tree trunk is wrapped with material that allows air to pass through well in order to avoid overheating (spunboard). Dig the soil around the tree and mulch it with straw. The adult Pogremok is not afraid of winters of middle latitudes, calmly tolerates frosts up to -25 ...- 30 ° С and does not require special preparation. However, in the northern latitudes it should be wrapped in the same way as a young seedling, pruning before that to a height of 2–2.5 m.

Diseases and pests of the variety Pogremok

Sometimes even such a persistent apricot as Pogremok can undergo fungal or viral diseases, as well as the effects of harmful insects, among which the following can be noted:

1. Moniliosis. It affects the floral part of the plant, foliage and branches, because of which they crack, and the tree dries up. For the treatment of ovaries, they are treated with Bordeaux liquid, and during active flowering, the Teldor agent is used. If the disease occurred in the period after flowering, use the drug "Chorus".
   

2. Kleasterosporiosis, or holey spotting. The foliage begins to become stained, in the place of which holes later form. On the shoots, spots are first noticed, then cracks, gum oozing from them. To eliminate kleasterosporiosis, in the spring, before the swelling of the buds, and at the end of the season, the plant is sprayed with copper sulfate (1%).
   

3. Verticillin wilt. When it turns yellow leaves at the bottom of the crown. At the same time, the top continues to have a green color. So that the apricot does not get this disease, you need to avoid excessive soil moisture, and you can not allow the neighborhood of strawberries and nightshade next to the apricot. To prevent the disease, plants are sprayed with solutions of 2% Bordeaux fluid or Previkura before and after the end of the growing season.
   

4. Ribbon mosaic. Characteristic yellow spots appear on the leaves, which later form something similar to dried lace. There is no cure for this disease, so you need to try to avoid infection. The tree needs to be provided with proper care, remove fallen leaves on time, treat the trunk with a solution of lime, trim and plant the tree exclusively with a disinfected tool.
5. Aphid. The insect eats the juice of the plant, as a result of which it weakens. As a result of the activity of aphids, a sooty fungus may appear on the leaves of the tree. Aphids can be destroyed by dissolving tobacco or ash in soapy water and spraying the tree with this solution. If this manipulation does not produce results, then the tree is treated with a solution of the drug "Actellik" or "Karbofos" (according to instructions).
   

6. Moth. Winters in the natural folds of the bark or in the ground. Lays eggs at the base of foliage and fruit ovaries twice during the summer. To avoid damaging the plants with the moth, it is necessary to regularly dig up the ground near the tree and spray the bottom of the trunk and the base of the branches with copper sulfate and quicklime.
   

7. Leafloader. It eats apricot leaves and buds. They destroy the pest by spraying with "Chlorophos".
   

Fruit picking and storage rules

Apricot varieties Pogremok has a high yield: up to 50 kg of fruit from one tree. The variety is characterized by a medium-late ripening period. Usually this time falls on the second half of July or the beginning of August. In the northern latitudes, the crop ripens in early September. The maturity of the fruit is judged by how easily the bone separates from the pulp. In mature apricots, the bone rattles inside while shaking, hitting the walls of the fetus.

If the pulp is too tight to the bone, then harvesting is not the time. Pogremyk apricot fruits have a high rate of keeping quality (they can be kept fresh for a long time), they tolerate transportation well. It should be noted that fruits that are picked by green cannot ripen with time, therefore only ripe fruits are harvested.

Important! To increase the shelf life of the fruit, each of them must be wrapped in paper. This will isolate healthy apricots from rotten ones.

Harvesting starts from the lower branches towards the apex. Due to its unpretentiousness, Pogremok is one of the most popular apricot varieties among gardeners. Subject to the basic rules for planting and caring for the Pogram, it will delight you with an abundant crop of large and tasty fruits of bright yellow color.