Content
Apricot Shalah (Prunus Armeniaca) is in great demand in Russia and other countries. The popularity of the crop is explained by its ease of care, high yield and taste of the fruit. The description of the variety and photo of the Shalah apricot is accompanied by positive reviews from gardeners.
Many gardeners also know this species under the names “Apricot Shalagi”, “Apricot White Shalakh”, “Lemon” or “Yerevan”
History of selection
The Shalah apricot variety was bred by Armenian breeders. The culture came from Yerevan to Russian territory 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 high level of resistance to climate and disease.
Description of the apricot variety Shalah
The trees of the Armenian apricot Shalah reach an average height of 4-5 m. They have a wide, sparse, rounded crown, dense and prone to thickening. A tree with large, curved and thick shoots and large cream-colored inflorescences with a light yellow tint. The leaves are heart-shaped, emerald green, and the bark is gray.
Shalah fruits are characterized by their large 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 purchasing Shalah apricot seedlings, it is important to carefully study all the features of the variety. This will help ensure proper care of the crop, and most importantly, normal growth and development of plants.
Drought resistance, winter hardiness
The Shalah variety is characterized by a high level of drought resistance. Despite this, trees cannot develop normally from rainwater alone: apricots need regular watering, especially during the flowering period.
The Shalah variety is quite winter-hardy and can tolerate frosts down to -25 °C. This indicator is optimal for the southern regions, however, when grown in the north, trees will require additional protection.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening time
Apricot Shalah is classified as a self-sterile variety. To maintain productivity, it needs pollinators (apricot, peach) with identical flowering periods.
This is an early variety, but the time of collection directly depends on the climate of the area where the tree grows. In Armenia and other southern regions, Shalah ripens in early June and immediately appears on local shelves. In 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 a little, which is why the fruits are collected from them a couple of weeks later
For commercial use, it is better to harvest the fruits at the stage of technical maturity. If apricots are grown for consumption, then it is better to leave them until final ripening. Then the pineapple taste and aroma will fully appear.
During the flowering period, large inflorescences (up to 3 cm) in size with white petals of a pinkish tint appear on the branches. On a tree under 4 years old, it is recommended to shake off the flowers so that it becomes stronger and produces a rich harvest.
Productivity, fruiting
Apricot Shalah is characterized by a high level of productivity. From one tree you can collect up to 150-200 kg of fruit per season. Under favorable weather conditions and proper care, this number can reach 350-400 kg. It is better to collect fruits by hand, especially for fresh consumption. The fruits are quite easy to remove: you just need to shake the tree and the fruits will fall to the ground.
It is better to harvest in dry weather; 5-7 days are often enough for this. Apricots are placed in cardboard or wooden boxes. To increase the shelf life of fruits, napkins can be placed between the fruits.
Area of application of fruits
The fruits of the Shalah variety have an average level of sweetness and excellent taste.A small orange seed is easily separated from the pulp.
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.
In the South Caucasus, this variety is traditionally used in the field of canning production
In addition to excellent taste, Shalah apricots have many beneficial properties for the human body. Thus, it is recommended to use them in dried form for people with cardiovascular diseases. Apricots of this variety also help strengthen the immune system and improve skin condition.
However, doctors do not advise people with diabetes to consume the fruit due to the high sugar content in the product.
Resistance to diseases and pests
One of the main advantages of the Shalah variety is its high resistance to the main diseases of stone fruit trees.
The crop is especially resistant to moniliosis, clasterosporia, and leaf curl.
In order to prevent pest damage to the tree, it is enough to carry out regular treatment with standard protective agents.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Shalah variety is able to quickly recover after freezing.
Thanks to late flowering, the likelihood of frost damage to the tree is reduced.
Advantages:
- high level of resistance to moniliosis, leaf curl and clasterosporiosis;
- self-fertility of the culture;
- resistance to frost and dry weather;
- high yield of the variety.
Flaws:
- if the fruits are overripe, this leads to a deterioration in their taste, and the pulp becomes fibrous;
- ripe apricots may fall off earlier;
- short storage period (up to 7 days);
- If water stagnates in the root system, the crop quickly becomes ill and dies.
Landing Features
Despite the ease of care, the Shalah variety has several planting and cultivation features. Before planting a tree, it is important to carefully read the following nuances.
Recommended timing
The method of planting the Shalah apricot is similar to the Dobele variety. The crop is self-fertile, which is why it is recommended to plant trees in mid-spring or autumn. The best option would be the last days of April or mid-September.
Choosing a suitable location
Apricot Shalah is recommended to be planted in loamy soil with a neutral acidity level. In clayey and heavy loamy soils, crop yields decrease and the tree may die. Apricots 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 secure the tree.
What crops can and cannot be planted next to apricots?
Gardeners unofficially call apricot a solitary tree; the crop does not get along well with other fruit trees:
- The apple tree does not directly harm the apricot, but it seriously competes with the crop for nutrition and moisture. A distance of at least 6-8 m must be maintained between trees.
- A pear should absolutely not be planted near an apricot: during the growth process, the stone fruit crop can “strangle” the weaker tree.
- The plum is considered the only representative of stone fruits that can grow without problems near apricots. At the same time, it is important for both crops to provide all the necessary conditions for growth.
- Most stone fruit crops (cherries, sweet cherries, peaches), as well as apple trees, compete with apricots 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 neighbor of the crop is the conifer, the litter of which leads to acidification of the soil, which is unacceptable.
Selection and preparation of planting material
It is important that the seedlings are purchased from a trusted place, ideally at the market or nursery. There should be no physical damage to 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 a semi-wild culture; such a specimen is not worth buying.
Landing algorithm
To plant a seedling in the soil, you need to prepare a mixture of peat and ordinary soil in a ratio of 1:2. 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. The soil must be compacted and then the seedling must be tied to the inserted peg. For rapid development, the tree needs to be provided with regular, abundant watering. The first is immediately after planting, so that the water reaches the root tips.
Subsequent care of the crop
The Shalah variety is unpretentious in maintenance, but care must be systematic. In the first month after planting, water the soil twice a week (in case of heavy rainfall, once).One tree requires 1 bucket of water, but the amount of moisture also depends on the groundwater level, type of soil, 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 spread in a dense layer of 8-10 cm.
The Shalah variety is pruned once a year, in the spring (before the sap flow begins) or in the fall. Loosening and weeding are often carried out after watering, removing all weeds with seeds and roots in the tree 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 against pests once a year.
Diseases and pests
The Shalah variety is characterized by good resistance to insects and diseases. However, in the absence of proper conditions, gum formation may occur.
To avoid the problem, the tree must be treated with antifungal drugs every 2 months
The following pests may be unsafe for the Shalah variety:
- Plum aphid. The pest attacks young leaves, causing them to wrinkle and wither. If a problem is discovered, the tree needs to be sprayed with an insecticidal preparation. Fitoverm and Bitoxibacillin are good options.
For prevention in spring and autumn, it is recommended to dig up the tree trunk to prevent the appearance of insect nests
- Yellow plum sawfly. The insect attacks the seed and pulp of the fruit, causing it to stop growing and developing.
For prevention, you need to whitewash the wood with lime and copper sulfate.
Another crop pest is the leaf roller.
This is a caterpillar that eats flower buds and leaves, the method of getting rid of the insect is identical to the fight against the sawfly
Conclusion
The description of the variety and photo of the Shalah apricot prove that the crop is one of the most popular among gardeners. It is characterized by good yield, ease of care, high resistance to drought, frost, diseases and pests. Fruits with excellent taste are universal in use. After planting a plant on a site, it is important to provide it with proper care and timely processing, then the tree will reward you with long flowering and a bountiful harvest.
