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Apricot Aquarius is a variety that is deservedly popular in central Russia due to its good characteristics and excellent taste of the fruit. Compliance with planting rules and proper care of the plant will help the gardener to regularly harvest high yields without much hassle.
History of selection
Apricot variety Aquarius was bred and first described in the Main Botanical Garden of Russia in 1996. The authorship of the variety belongs to L. A. Kramarenko, who obtained Aquarius from the seeds of the Lel apricot through free pollination.
An entry about Aquarius in the State Register as an independent variety was made in 2004.
Description of culture
The description and photo of the Aquarius apricot give an idea of it as a powerful, tall (5–6 m) tree with a dense, raised, moderately spreading crown. Annual shoots are smooth-barked and straight, weakly branching.
Aquarius leaves are dark green, large, with a jagged edge and a slightly rough surface.Their tips are pointed.
Aquarius apricot flowers are relatively small (2.5–2.8 cm), white, and sit tightly on the shoots. Consist of 5 petals.
The fruits are round, large, and the longitudinal seam is clearly visible from the side. The skin is yellow-orange in color with a barely noticeable blush, slightly pubescent. The size of the seed is small (its weight is 8.5% of the weight of the fruit), and you can easily separate it from the pulp. The pulp is tender, orange, moderate density, very juicy. The pleasant sweet and sour taste of the Aquarius apricot is highly appreciated by tasters - according to various sources, it received from 4.5 to a maximum of 5 points.
This variety is officially zoned in the Central region, but is cultivated almost everywhere in the central zone of the country. In particular, growing the Aquarius apricot in the Moscow region has proven itself well.
Characteristics
In order to grow Aquarius apricot in your garden, you should take into account the characteristic features inherent in this variety.
Drought resistance, winter hardiness
The winter hardiness of the Aquarius apricot is high, like most representatives of the northern varietal group of this crop. It is able to withstand frosts down to -35 degrees.
The parent variety Lel Aquarius inherited good resistance to drought.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening time
Flowers on the branches of the Aquarius apricot, emitting a subtle honey aroma, appear in abundance before the vegetative buds bloom.
Fruit ripening occurs in the middle period and begins around mid-August.
Gardeners who want to know whether the Aquarius apricot is self-fertile or not can confidently answer in the affirmative.Pollinators are not necessary for it - you can get by with just one tree if, for example, the garden is not large enough.
Productivity, fruiting
Aquarius is one of the high-yielding varieties of apricots, since on average it is capable of producing 133 c/ha per season. If the plant is young, it is possible to collect 10–15 kg of fruit from it, while the yield of an adult tree reaches 25–30 kg.
Aquarius bears fruit regularly, every year, starting from 3–4 years of age.
According to reviews of the Aquarius apricot in the Moscow region, with proper care it can maintain productivity for up to 18–20 years.
The fruits of this apricot variety contain:
- 14.2% dry matter;
- 7.6% sugar;
- 2.7% acids.
Area of application of fruits
Transporting Aquarius apricot fruits is difficult due to the fact that they are poorly stored. However, due to their excellent taste, their purpose is universal.
Aquarius fruits are very tasty when freshly picked; they can also be frozen and dried. Jams, compotes and desserts made from them turn out excellent.
Resistance to diseases and pests
The resistance to the most common diseases and pests of stone fruit trees in the Aquarius apricot is considered satisfactory.
This variety has average resistance to hole spot (clasterosporia).
As for pests, it is known that the Aquarius apricot is almost not affected by aphids.
Advantages and disadvantages
A brief description of the Aquarius apricot variety can be presented as follows:
| Advantages | Flaws |
| Winter hardiness | tall tree |
| Stable, high yields | Poor transportability of fruits |
| Excellent fruit taste | |
| Self-fertility | |
| Resistance to clasterosporiosis and aphids |
Landing Features
Planting an Aquarius apricot has some features that a gardener should know.
Recommended timing
It is recommended to plant young apricot trees in the ground:
- in early spring, when the snow melts;
- in autumn (September or October).
Choosing a suitable location
The key to success in growing Aquarius apricots will be a correctly selected planting site:
- a well-lit area of the garden, protected from cold winds;
- light in composition and well-drained soil;
- soil reaction – neutral or slightly alkaline;
- groundwater should not lie too close to the surface.
What crops can and cannot be planted next to apricots?
It is generally accepted that apricot, including Aquarius, is an “individualist.” It is recommended to plant it in such a way that there is a distance of at least 10 m between it and the plantings of other fruit crops or shrubs.
However, there are exceptions with which the Aquarius apricot can get along peacefully. Among them:
- some stone fruits (cherry plum, sloe, dogwood);
- umbrella vegetables and herbs (carrots, dill);
- thyme, lavender;
- apricot trees of other varieties that can be useful as pollinators.
Selection and preparation of planting material
For planting on a personal plot, it is recommended to purchase annual Aquarius apricot seedlings at autumn fairs or in nurseries.
Signs of a quality apricot seedling:
- healthy trunk;
- straight branches not damaged by pests;
- powerful, developed root system with straight, whitish root tips.
Landing algorithm
Planting an Aquarius apricot on a site is done as follows:
- a hole for planting (about 0.7 by 0.8 m in size) is usually dug in the fall;
- drainage is laid at the bottom of the hole, a mixture of soil, peat and sand is poured on top of it, and left until spring;
- in the spring, a part of the soil is removed from the hole, water is poured into the resulting depression and the seedling is carefully placed in the center;
- Having straightened the roots of the plant, the planting site is filled with soil mixture;
- compact the soil in the tree trunk circle, water it and mulch it.
The video will reveal the secrets of proper planting and caring for apricots in the garden:
Subsequent care of the crop
Aquarius apricot pruning is carried out annually either in March or at the end of October - November.
Need to trim:
- sick and old branches;
- shoots that thicken the crown;
- shoots are too long (shorten).
The cut areas should be covered with garden varnish or oil paint with a natural base.
After planting, the Aquarius apricot is regularly watered until the beginning of August, making sure that the circle around the trunk does not dry out. Then watering is stopped to give the plant a chance to prepare for winter.
In the future, it is recommended to water the tree in the spring and in the first half of summer, making sure that the amount of water is not excessive.
Caring for an apricot tree of the Aquarius variety also includes fertilizing.
The general rules for applying fertilizing are as follows:
- in autumn - organic (mullein, compost);
- in summer - phosphorus;
- in early spring - mineral (nitrogen-containing).
When preparing the Aquarius apricot for the winter, at the end of October - November you should:
- collect leaves that have fallen after leaf fall and destroy them (burn or bury);
- whiten the trunk, skeletal branches and, if possible, the bark of tree shoots with garden whitewash to protect from frost and prevent sunburn in early spring;
- To protect the trunk from rodents (hares), you can wrap it with coniferous spruce branches (needles down) or artificial material that allows air to pass through well.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
When caring for an Aquarius apricot, you should be able to distinguish between the most common diseases and know how to deal with them:
| Disease | Manifestations | Prevention and treatment measures |
| Scab | Spots of brown or greenish plaque on the leaves, drying out of the foliage, damage to flowers and fruits | Timely pruning and weed control. Treatment with Bordeaux mixture |
| Moniliosis | Drying of flowers and upper parts of shoots, reminiscent of “burns”, rotting of fruits on the branches | Prevention – competent tree care.Treatment – spraying with an aqueous solution of copper chloroxide, “Strobi”, “Topsina-M”, “Topaz” with the addition of soap |
| Clusterosporiasis | Brown spots on the leaves, where holes then form |
Knowledge of pest control measures will also help the farmer:
| Pest | Appearance and activity | Prevention and control measures |
| codling moth | A small brown butterfly, the caterpillars of which, penetrating the fruits, feed on their pulp | Spraying with “Metaphos”, “Sonnet”, “Bankol” |
| Weevil | A small beetle with a shiny green-purple back. The affected ovary of the fruit turns black and withers. Damaged (“gnawed”) leaves and fruits | Spraying with Metaphos, Decis, Intravir |
Conclusion
Apricot Aquarius is a winter-hardy, self-fertile, high-yielding, universal variety with excellent taste. Its disadvantages include high tree growth and poor preservation of fresh fruits. However, positive qualities undoubtedly prevail - accordingly, reviews of the Aquarius apricot among gardeners in central Russia are mostly good.
