Content
- 1 History of selection
- 2 Description of the variety
- 3 Characteristics
- 3.1 Drought resistance
- 3.2 Winter hardiness of apricot Son of Red-cheeked
- 3.3 Do you need an apricot pollinator? Son of the Red-cheeked
- 3.4 When does the apricot begin to bloom? Son of Red-Cheeked
- 3.5 Ripening time
- 3.6 Productivity, fruiting
- 3.7 Area of application of fruits
- 3.8 Advantages and disadvantages
- 4 Landing Features
- 5 Subsequent care of the crop
- 6 Diseases and pests
- 7 Conclusion
- 8 Reviews of apricot variety Son of the Red-cheeked
The description of the apricot variety Son of Red-cheeked should begin with the history of the appearance of this crop. Today it is difficult to imagine a garden without this fruit tree. Apricot is very popular in our country and abroad. Therefore, breeders spend all their resources to create new varieties that are most suitable for different Russian climates.
History of selection
The Red-cheeked apricot variety appeared through the efforts of Crimean breeders in 1949. Its origin is unknown exactly, but it has been established that the parents of the unique fruit tree were Asian varieties, many of which are characterized by a blush on the bright yellow skin.
A distinctive feature of the Son of Red-cheeked variety is the ruddy skin of the fruit.
From this variety they bred species no less attractive in many respects under the names: Son of Red-cheeked, Red-cheeked late, Red-cheeked Nikitsky. The hybrids Hardy, Snegirek, and Rossiyanin are considered very popular. They belong to frost-resistant species and are conventionally united under the name Red apricot.
The son of Red-cheeked inherited the main positive species characteristics from the first parent; the second is considered the apricot variety Golden Summer. The fruit crop was appreciated by gardeners and in 1974 was included in the State Register of Fruit Plants. The crop is recommended for cultivation in the Volga region and other regions of Russia, including the Moscow region.
Description of the variety
This huge fruit plant is familiar to many from early childhood. The tree trunk reaches a height of 12 m, the crown is dense, elliptical, rather spreading. Very long branches require timely pruning. The tree is characterized by a long lifespan - up to 60 years or more. The leaf blades are rounded, the pointed end is slightly turned to the side. The bark is brown and prone to cracking.
Young shoots are curved and painted red. Vegetative buds are very small - up to 3 mm, and can be pressed or removed from the trunk. Generative buds do not differ in size from vegetative ones, but are more pointed in shape. They are located on annual shoots and short branches. The petiole is quite long - 20-40 mm, of medium thickness.The flowers reach 30 mm in diameter and have a pure white tint.
The fruits of the Son of Red-cheeked variety are especially attractive. They are ruddy, oval in shape, and have a longitudinal scar that extends from the base. The skin is dense and velvety. The pulp is very juicy, yellow-orange in color with a characteristic aroma. The taste is high - the fruit is sweet with a slight sourness. Weight - about 60 g. A distinctive feature of the variety is the large stone, which is easily separated from the pulp, and has a very sweet taste.
Characteristics
Apricot variety Son of the Red-Cheeked has long been popular in Russia. Gardeners highly appreciated its productivity, fruiting, taste and commercial qualities of the fruit. The influence of frost on crops, as well as its advantages and disadvantages, has been well studied.
Drought resistance
Apricot Son of the Red-cheeked has a dense crown, so it will require timely pruning
The variety Son of the Red-cheeked variety tolerates drought quite easily, but the watering regime must be observed, otherwise it may negatively affect the harvest. The tree itself will not be harmed. In addition, it is important to water the crop in a timely manner in the first years after planting, until the tree has grown stronger, as well as during the formation of ovaries.
Winter hardiness of apricot Son of Red-cheeked
The winter hardiness of the crop is good, especially for trees growing in the south of the Black Earth Region. It was noted that severe frosts did not have a detrimental effect on apricots. Flower buds have a hard time surviving frosts, but this applies to sudden temperature changes. With an even decrease to critical values, the crop yield becomes average.Experienced gardeners recommend using additional methods of covering the plant if the temperature in the growing region is unstable and drops to -20 °C or lower. It was revealed that spring frosts have virtually no effect on the crop.
Do you need an apricot pollinator? Son of the Red-cheeked
The variety is self-fertile, so it does not require special planting of pollinating plants. The culture of this variety itself is capable of becoming a pollinator for many apricots that have the same flowering time.
When does the apricot begin to bloom? Son of Red-Cheeked
The flowering phase begins at the end of April or beginning of May in central Russia. This period largely depends on weather conditions. The flowering is abundant, the buds are large and white. After this period, a green mass appears on the crown of the tree.
Ripening time
According to the botanical description, the apricot variety Son of the Red-Cheeked (pictured) belongs to medium-ripening crops. The first fruits can be collected in mid-July. It is noteworthy that during the period of abundant harvest, the fruits are removed gradually, in 2-3 stages as they ripen. It should be removed in time before the apricot falls off.
Productivity, fruiting
The first harvest of the Son of Red-cheeked variety is harvested 4-5 years after planting the seedling in the ground. The average yield for a young fruit tree is about 30 kg. Then it decreases every year. It is worth noting that yields vary from year to year. This is due to the fact that flower buds tolerate the winter period differently, depending on whether or not there were significant temperature changes.
Area of application of fruits
Apricot fruits of this variety retain their structure and color after heat treatment
Son of Red-cheeked is a universal apricot variety.It is equally good in home canning - in compotes, preserves, jams, as well as pies, dried. During heat treatment, the fruits retain their color and structure, so they look quite appetizing.
Advantages and disadvantages
Like any other fruit crop, the apricot variety Son of the Red-Cheeked has pros and cons. The obvious advantages of the variety include the following:
- high productivity;
- self-fertility;
- resistance to adverse weather conditions;
- high taste qualities of fruits;
- does not require special growing conditions.
Among the disadvantages of this variety, gardeners noted the need to promptly care for the crown of the tree by pruning, as well as the sensitivity of apricot to spring frosts.
Landing Features
Every gardener, planning to plant an apricot on his plot, must take into account that this crop is southern. Therefore, her preferences should be taken into account, despite the fact that breeders have instilled unpretentiousness in the Son of Red-Cheeked variety. The first thing you need to take care of is choosing a place for the apricot and the recommended planting time.
Recommended timing
In most of Russia, apricots are planted in the spring. By observing this condition, the crop manages to form a strong root system by autumn and undergoes complete adaptation. Further, apricot easily tolerates winter and frost.
Choosing a suitable location
For full growth and development, and fruit ripening, apricots will need a lot of sunlight. Gardeners need to make sure that the place is at some elevation, located in the south and west of the site.Lowlands should be excluded, otherwise excess moisture will destroy the root system, and then the entire apricot. It’s good if there is a house wall or fence next to the tree. This will protect the culture from unwanted drafts. If these conditions are not met, fruit quality and yield gradually decrease.
What crops can and cannot be planted next to apricots?
Apricot does not tolerate close proximity to other crops
Since the crown of the Son of Red-cheeked apricot variety is quite spreading, when planting other fruit trees nearby, you need to maintain an interval of 5 m. Of the flowers near the apricot, bulbous ones will do well - daffodils, tulips, crocuses, hyacinths. They bloom at a time when the tree is not yet covered with green mass.
It is a very bad idea to place vegetables under an apricot. Nothing good can come from such a neighborhood. It is not recommended to plant shrubs, since the apricot crown will not allow enough light to pass through, which is necessary for currants, raspberries, and gooseberries. Therefore, the only option for a harmonious neighborhood is lawn grass.
Selection and preparation of planting material
It has been noticed that two-year-old apricot seedlings take root most successfully in the soil. As a rule, they are no more than 70 cm high. The bark should be smooth and elastic. It is necessary to have 2-3 kidneys. The root system of the plant should not have visible damage or signs of mold. It is important to check the vaccination site. Otherwise, there is a high probability that the seedling was grown from a seed. Such specimens rarely inherit the varietal characteristics of their parents.
Landing algorithm
The landing algorithm is simple and looks like this:
- After purchasing a seedling, you should soak its roots for a day in a biostimulator solution, then cut off the dry and black areas.
- At the bottom of the hole, make a small mound of soil and drive a wooden peg to support the seedling from the winds.
- The seedling is placed in a hole, carefully distributing the roots. When filling it with soil, you need to make sure that the root collar remains on the surface by 5-7 cm.
- Compact the soil well and water the seedling generously with water at room temperature.
- Tie the plant to a support.
It is important to protect the apricot seedling from direct sunlight for several weeks.
Subsequent care of the crop
The apricot variety Son of the Red-Cheeked is one of the unpretentious crops. However, it requires basic care. Like all plants, apricot needs timely watering, pruning the crown, fertilizing, and loosening the soil in the tree trunk circle. Preparation for the winter period is no less important, despite the crop’s resistance to frost.
Diseases and pests
Prevention will help you avoid diseases that apricots are susceptible to.
Breeders endowed the Son of Red-Cheeked variety with high immunity. Therefore, with proper care and maintenance, the tree will not suffer from diseases or insect pests. In addition, preventive measures and attentive attitude will help protect the fruit plant.
Conclusion
The description of the apricot variety Son of Red-Cheek shows the undoubted advantages of the culture that were instilled by breeders. They have achieved the fruit tree's endurance under adverse weather conditions and resistance to diseases and pests.An important advantage of the variety is that during heat treatment the fruits retain their shape, bright color and taste.
Reviews of apricot variety Son of the Red-cheeked
