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Apricot Black Velvet - a kind of hybrid black apricot - an outwardly unusual variety with good botanical characteristics. Comparing the advantages and disadvantages of this culture will allow the gardener to decide whether to grow it on his site.
Breeding history
The Black Velvet Hybrid is actually not quite an apricot. It was obtained by crossing American black apricot and cherry plum. The slow pace of development in spring and the late flowering time he inherited from the latter, contribute to stable yields, since they naturally protect the tree from spring frosts. Black Velvet took over the taste and aroma of the fruit from the apricot.
The merit of the birth of this variety belongs to G.V. Eremin and A.V. Isachkin - researchers of the Crimean Experimental Breeding Station of VNIIR named after V.I. N. I. Vavilova (Russia, Krasnodar Territory). The apricot variety Black Velvet was identified by them in 1994.
In 2005, he was included in the lists of the State Register.
Description of culture
The description and photo of the apricot Black Velvet clearly explain why the people like to call this hybrid "apricot". The tree is characterized by medium growth (no higher than 4 m), round, slightly flattened crown of medium density.
The leaves of its rich green color, medium, have an elongated shape and pointed ends. The flowers are large, white or pale pink.
The fruits of this variety are multiple, but smaller than those of most common apricots. Their average weight is 25–35 g, the shape is oval, a sharp "nose" is noticeable near the stalk. The skin is of medium thickness, slightly pubescent. In unripe fruits, it is green in color, then it acquires a rich brown or dark purple color.
An interesting characteristic of the Black Velvet apricot variety is an unusual, two-colored fruit pulp. Near the stone, it is bright yellow, but closer to the skin it becomes pinkish.
The taste of the fruit is pleasant, sweet with a noticeable sourness, slightly tart, with a bright aroma inherent in apricot. The bone is small. It separates from dense, juicy, slightly fibrous pulp without much effort.
Initially, the variety was zoned for the North Caucasus region, but it grows quite successfully in central Russia, which has a temperate climate.
A general idea of black apricot will help you compose a video:
Characteristics
Thanks to the painstaking work of breeders, the Black Velvet variety managed to embody many of the strong qualities of both apricot and cherry plum.
Drought resistance, winter hardiness
The indicators of winter hardiness and resistance to low temperatures in Black Barakhat are high - in this it is not inferior to frost-resistant varieties of cherry plum. The flowers of this black apricot variety are practically not afraid of recurrent spring frosts.
The summer drought tolerance of Black Velvet is lower than that of common apricots.
The ideal conditions for a stable, regular harvest from a tree of this variety are warm, sunny and low wind summers.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening times
Black Velvet belongs to the partially self-fertile apricot varieties. In order for the yield to be higher, it is recommended to plant potential pollinators near the tree, blooming with it at the same time:
- common apricot;
- plum (Russian or Chinese);
- turn;
- cherry plum.
Black Velvet blooms later than other varieties of apricots. Its fruits ripen by the end of July (in the south) and at the beginning of August (in the middle lane).
Productivity, fruiting
Black Velvet has a medium early maturity. It usually takes 3-4 years from planting a grafted seedling in the ground to collecting the first fruits.
This variety is recognized as high-yielding: one tree is capable of producing 50-60 kg of fruit per season. It bears fruit regularly, almost every year.
The Black Velvet crop is excellently transported and stored. Slightly unripe fruits, laid in boxes in 2-3 rows in a well-ventilated cellar, are quite capable of lying there for 3-4 months.
Scope of the fruit
The purpose of the Black Velvet fruit is universal. They are eaten fresh, frozen for future use, used in the preparation of sweet desserts. Jam and jam made from the fruits of this variety are distinguished by their excellent taste with tart notes and a bright, rich color.
Disease and pest resistance
Black Velvet, like most dark-fruited apricot hybrids, has an increased resistance to moniliosis, clasterosporium and cytosporosis, which traditionally affect stone fruit crops.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages and disadvantages of apricot Black Velvet can be briefly described as follows:
Benefits | Weaknesses |
Increased winter hardiness and tolerance of return frosts | Sour taste, slightly tart |
Small, compact tree | Relatively weak drought tolerance |
High and regular yields | Not very large fruits |
Excellent transportability and long shelf life of fruits |
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Universal table purpose |
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Resistance to fungal diseases |
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Landing features
Growing apricot Black Velvet on a personal plot basically follows the same rules that are developed for conventional apricots.
Recommended timing
The timing of planting Black Velvet in the ground depends on the type of seedling:
- bare-root are advised to plant with the onset of spring;
- container - from early spring to mid-autumn.
Choosing the right place
The area of the garden where the Black Velvet apricot will grow should have the following features:
- good illumination (ideally south side);
- next to it, a wall of an outbuilding is desirable, capable of serving as a shelter from the wind;
- groundwater should lie at a depth of at least 1.5–2 m from the surface;
- light sandy loam or loamy soil with acidity close to neutral.
Poorly tolerates this variety:
- placement in the shade;
- stagnation of water at the roots;
- heavy soils with a predominance of clay and sand.
What crops can and cannot be planted next to an apricot
It should be remembered that the apricot is reputed to be an individualist and rather whimsical in the choice of neighboring plants.
He will react positively to those growing nearby:
- apricots of the same or different varieties;
- potential pollinators (cherry plum, thorns, some types of plums);
- dogwood.
Apricot will not like the close proximity:
- cherries;
- walnut;
- cherries;
- red rowan;
- apple trees;
- pears.
Selection and preparation of planting material
The best option for growing Black Velvet apricots in your own garden is to purchase a seedling at the age of 1-2 years in a specialized nursery.
Signs of a quality seedling:
- the plant is healthy, has an attractive appearance;
- bark without visible damage, dried and flaking areas;
- the root system is lively, developed and elastic.
Just before planting, the branches of the seedling can be cut off.
Landing algorithm
Correct planting of apricot Black Velvet takes place in several stages:
- if there are several seedlings, the distance between them should be observed (at least 4–5 m);
- the size of the pit for planting is 0.8 per 1 m, it is being prepared in the fall;
- drainage should be poured onto the bottom (gravel, broken brick, pieces of large branches), then - fill the hole with a mixture of soil with humus, peat and sand;
- lower the seedling into the hole, carefully spreading the roots and making sure that the root collar is 5–7 cm above the surface;
- fill the hole with prepared soil mixture, pour a bucket of water over the apricot, mulch the soil with earth or sawdust.
Follow-up care of the culture
Caring for the Black Velvet apricot is easy.
Prune the tree as follows:
- up to 5 years of age, the crown is cut to give it a comfortable shape ("bowl");
- further pruning is carried out in autumn and spring, is of a regulatory nature and serves to prevent crown thickening and prevent diseases.
Watering the apricot Black Velvet is advised 4-5 times a month from May to June. One adult tree will need 1-2 buckets of water at a time. From the middle of summer, watering is advised to stop in order to prevent a protracted period of shoot growth.
Black Velvet, like any apricot, needs moderate feeding. The general rules for fertilizing are as follows:
- in early spring, it is advised to enrich the soil with nitrogen-containing complexes;
- in early autumn, the best feeding option is superphosphate along with potassium salt;
- in late autumn, organic matter is introduced into the soil.
Despite its high cold resistance, Black Velvet is still recommended to be sheltered for winter. Young seedlings can be hidden under a dome of coniferous branches. It is enough to wrap the trunks of older trees with spunbod or paper.
In autumn, it is advised to pollinate still green leaves with wood ash powder - this will speed up the leaf fall process to better prepare the tree for winter.
To avoid sunburn, the trunks are covered with a layer of garden whitewash enriched with copper sulfate. They do this twice a year: in late autumn and early spring.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Although Black Velvet is highly resistant to many fungal diseases, you should know how to deal with the main ones:
Disease | Manifestations | Prevention and control |
Moniliosis | Shoots, leaves and flowers dry up in spring, turn brown, as if "burnt". Summer fruits rot | Collection and destruction of affected fruits and leaves, destruction of diseased shoots. Processing before and after flowering with Kaptan-50, Topsin-M. |
Clasterosporium disease | Rounded spots on the leaves of a reddish color | |
Cytosporosis | Withering tops of shoots, brown streaks on the bark | Removal of affected branches. Spraying for prevention in spring and autumn with Bordeaux liquid |
Insect pests can cause considerable damage to the apricot tree and fruits:
Pest | Appearance and activity | Prevention and control |
Gall midge ocellar | Gray-yellow six-legged "mosquito", the larvae of which, biting into the buds, grind numerous passages in the wood | Preventive spraying with Fufanon, Karbofos. Timely destruction of the affected parts |
Fruit moth-stripped | Brown caterpillars with yellow stripes on the sides. Damage to buds, ovaries and leaves of stone fruit trees | Preventive spraying with the same drugs as against gall midge. Glue belts on trunks for catching butterflies and caterpillars |
Shy leafworm | Brown warty caterpillars skeletonizing fruit skin and leaves | Preventive spraying with the same drugs as against gall midge |
Conclusion
Apricot Black Velvet is an interesting hybrid variety of black apricot, which has adopted high winter hardiness and disease resistance from cherry plums. The unusual appearance of the fruit, along with simple care requirements, attract the attention of farmers to it. However, not very large fruits and their tart taste with sourness often push gardeners to opt for a regular apricot.
