Necessary care in the cultivation of apricots

Apricot cultivation

apricot cultivation

One of the most consumed fruits both natural and in jams is the apricot. Surely you are used to it and eat it often, enjoying its flavor and nourishing yourself with all the health benefits it has. Its scientific name is Prunus armeniaca and we are going to talk about its cultivation in the garden or a small vegetable garden. If in your house you have a small hole where you usually have plants, I advise you to try growing the apricot.

We tell you in this article the needs and care that apricot needs in its cultivation.

Key features

Apricot characteristics

Apricot characteristics

It is a plant that comes from Asia and that has required several genetic modification processes to be able to adapt them to different environments. Thanks to these genetic adaptations it can be grown almost all over the world. This allows us to distribute them in a more efficient way, taking advantage of all the nutrients it has. Its tree provides a very pleasant shade in the place where we sow it.

Its care is a little more difficult to carry out, so we are going to dedicate the entire article to it. Once you get them ready, you will be satisfied with everything you have achieved. Here we are going to make your work as easy as possible.

Since he hails from the Mediterranean, We must create the necessary conditions of the environment to recreate it as much as possible. The same thing happens in most plants. If we want to cultivate them in another place that is not their natural habitat, we will need a recreation as close as possible to the environmental conditions of origin.

Requirements

Apricot care

Apricot care

We are going to analyze in more detail the requirements that the apricot needs for its cultivation.

  • I usually. The soil must be rich in organic matter. Most of the soil should be compost, fertilizer, various organic compounds, and sawdust. They are plants that need a large amount of nutrients, so the soil must be well supplied with them. It cannot be sown in poor soil in any way. If you plant it directly in normal soil, it will not grow or flower. The soil must be plowed to combine all the nutrients in the soil and have the soil it needs.
  • Weather. Since we cannot modify the climate, we have to try place it in an area where they are protected from the strongest rains but which can give it the sun’s rays during the day. They do not tolerate shade, as they need many hours of sun to grow. The best area is near a wall or fence that will retain the sunlight for a longer time.
  • Space. Apricot needs enough space for the roots to spread and there is no competition for soil nutrients with other plants. It must be located as we have mentioned before and with sufficient living space.
  • Drainage. The soil must have good drainage. Although the apricot withstands low temperatures and some frosts well, it does not support excess accumulated water. We must bear in mind that at the time of watering the soil does not puddle and it can drain well so as not to accumulate too much water that damages the roots.

Apricot care

Apricot requirements

Apricot Requirements

Taking into account the requirements you need, it is now easier to be able to describe all the care. As we have said before, it is a rather difficult plant to care for, but if all the aspects that we are going to mention are taken into account and carried out, the work can be much easier.

Keep in mind that if we do not meet the requirements, the tree will bear fruit for you and will not look at all healthy. For the apricot to be in good condition we have to take into account all its care.

We start with irrigation. Once a week is more than enough. When we water, we will do it until the soil is well soaked. If the soil has a good drainage, it will take care of itself not to accumulate irrigation water and drain it well. If there have been enough days that it has not given the sun and the temperatures are lower, it is not necessary to water it. It is better to prevent and not water than its roots end up rotting.

On the other hand, it is important that the soil is always rich in organic matter. It is common for the soil to lose quality and nutrients over time. Either because the plant picks them up or because of erosion, etc. Thus, We must guarantee a renewal of the substrate every 6 months. Autumn is the best time of year to change the substrate. So that the tree does not suffer from any stress, the ideal is to combine the substrate with the same nutrients that you used when growing it.

Plagues and diseases

Apricot pests

Apricot pests

If we do not take special care of the external aspects, it is possible that our apricots are attacked by some pests and / or diseases. One of the most common pests is White fly. These are some small, gray insects that go to fruit trees to spawn on fruit. Once they have spawned, lThe eggs hatch and the youngsters eat the fruit to feed themselves. If this pest is not dealt with quickly, the apricot may end up damaged forever.

For these reasons, we must not neglect our fruit tree at any time. You have to treat them with insecticide as soon as you see any signs of their appearance.

Another of the pests that usually attack this tree is the flower beetle. They are parasites that are found hovering in the cocoons and devour them in a couple of minutes. You can remove them manually or attack them with the insecticide.

Finally, we are going to give some extra tips to ensure success in cultivation. If you want to plant them in your garden or urban garden, it is best to plant them at the end of winter or mid spring. These environmental conditions will be more favorable for its growth. Do not sow it in summer, since the drought and high temperatures make it difficult for it to grow.

If the first flowering you have is excessive, better cut some branches because it won’t have enough energy to turn all the flowers into fruit.

Hope these tips help you grow and enjoy apricot.

Necessary care in the cultivation of apricots

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