How to grow an apricot from a seed in a pot at home

Apricot is a thermophilic tree that can fully grow and bear fruit only in the southern regions of our country. There are hybrids with increased cold resistance, they reproduce only vegetatively. However, apricot lovers grow an ordinary tree right at home in a pot, regardless of the region.

It is quite possible to propagate an apricot tree in a generative way, that is, grow from a stone. And with proper care, such a plant will also bear fruit. How to grow an apricot in a pot at home, read on.

Planting apricot pits

Before growing an apricot from a stone, you should understand how appropriate it is. After all, this way of propagating trees takes a long time.

During generative propagation, the plant often does not retain varietal characteristics.... In this case, its fruits will be smaller than those of the mother tree.

Note! Wild apricots also taste sweet.

A tree grown from a bone will begin to bear fruit much later.than propagated vegetatively. On average, this occurs 3-5 years after planting.

Has a generative way of reproduction and dignity... These include high endurance and resistance of the seedlings to negative environmental factors.

The bone tree is formed correctly, has a more beautiful and uniform crown... Gardeners note that such plants often have an unexpressed central trunk. Without much formation, they resemble a bush.

Apricot obtained from the stone is grown as a houseplant at home or transplanted into open ground. It is not always possible to achieve fruiting in a pot.

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The choice of planting material

How to germinate an apricot kernel and get a quality plant with a tasty and bountiful harvest? It is important to choose the right fruit. Pay attention to the following signs:

1. The size... You should not take very large fruits for reproduction. These are hybrids from which trees without maternal traits will grow. Preference is given to small apricots of local varieties. They have increased tolerance to negative environmental factors, are adapted to the climate of a particular region, and a plant with tasty fruits grows from them.
2. Appearance... The apricot must have the correct shape. It is important that the skin is uniformly colored, free of spots, growths, rot, green areas and other signs of infection and pests. It is important to use the most ripe fruits, or better a little overripe.
3. Taste... You need to give preference to fruits with sweet juicy pulp. It is highly likely that a tree will grow from such planting material, giving crops with the same taste characteristics.
4. Bone... Must have a hard coat with a uniform color, without damage, spots or holes.
5. Kernel flavor... Gardeners recommend trying an apricot kernel from a purchased batch. It should be sweetish.

For cultivation, it is recommended to harvest fruits directly from the tree... If this is not possible, you can use purchased ones.

Note! If you plan to transplant a bush from a pot into the ground, it is recommended to give preference to frost-resistant varieties. These include Edelweiss, Alyosha, Countess, etc.

Preparation of planting material

There are two ways to plant apricot pits. In the first case, it must be planted as soon as it is removed from the fruit.... It is important that the seed does not dry out by this time. Otherwise, it will not germinate. Gardeners call this method Michurin.

The second option involves preliminary seed stratification... It is the closest to the natural one, since under natural conditions the bones spend winter in the ground and only then germinate. Planting material that has undergone such training is distinguished by the best germination. It is used in cases where the bone was not planted immediately after separation from the pulp.

A step-by-step guide to stratification for beginners:

1. Apricot pits are soaked in a light pink solution of potassium permanganate for 2 hours. Then they are soaked in water at room temperature for three more days, changing the water daily.
2. A layer of sand or sawdust is placed in the container. Bones are laid out on them. From above they are covered with a layer of substrate, which is moistened with water.
3. The container with bones is covered with a bag and placed in a refrigerator or cellar. It is desirable to maintain a temperature of + 2 ° C. It is important to ensure that the bones do not dry out.

In such conditions, apricot seeds germinate in an average of three months.... Before planting, they are placed in water and those that have sunk to the bottom are used.

Note! It is important to constantly check the apricot kernels during stratification for mold.

Preparation of soil and containers

So that the seeds germinate, and the plants do not get sick and do not die, it is important to pay enough attention to the preparation of the soil and containers.

Seeds are planted individually in individual pots... Since the root system of the plant is pivotal, they take deep containers for planting. In the early stages, it is convenient to use disposable half-liter cups or cut bottles. Plastic pots are also suitable.

Plants are transplanted as they grow... To grow an adult plant at home, you will need a container with a volume of 10-30 liters. Ceramic pots are best for shaped apricots. They allow air to flow to the roots and absorb excess moisture, preventing both stagnation of liquid and drying out of the soil.

It is imperative that the liquid does not stagnate when growing the apricot. Therefore, drainage holes are made in the bottom of the planting containers.

Apricot is not particularly demanding on the composition of the soil... For its cultivation, universal seedling soil is suitable. Prepare the soil mixture yourself. To do this, take:

• garden soil - 10 kg;
• biohumus - 1 l;
• vermiculite - 1 tbsp.;
• coconut substrate - 1 briquette.

Coconut substrate is poured with 2 liters of water and wait for it to swell. Then all the ingredients are mixed. The resulting soil mixture is watered with a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate or a solution prepared from 10 liters of hot water and 1 tbsp. l. copper sulfate. Another option is to ignite the soil in the oven (a 5 cm layer is kept for half an hour at 70-90 ° C).

The containers are also disinfected by soaking in a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate or sterilizing with hot steam.

In addition to capacity and soil, drainage will be needed: fine expanded clay, crushed stone, chipped ceramics, shell rock, etc. Drainage is also disinfected with boiling water or a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate.

Landing algorithm

Even a beginner can handle the planting of apricot pits. If all the conditions are met, the probability of seedling emergence is high.

How to plant an apricot seed at home in a pot:

1. A 3-5 cm thick drainage layer is poured into the bottom of the pot. The rest of the volume is filled with soil so that 2 cm remain free to the edge. The soil is compacted and watered with warm water.
2. One bone is planted in each container with soil. They are placed in the pot with the spine down.The depth should be such that only the germinated part is underground. When deeply deepened, the seeds will not germinate.
3. The soil is moistened with warm water. Containers with crops are covered with foil and placed in a warm place.

Read also:

The best varieties of apricots for central Russia

Variety of apricot varieties for different regions

Care during germination

During germination of apricot, it is important to provide proper care. Basic rules are presented in the list:

1. The containers with crops are opened daily and ventilated for 15 minutes. Condensation is removed from the film.
2. The soil is moistened as it dries. It is important to water it sparingly so that the water does not stagnate. Otherwise, the bones will rot.
3. When shoots appear, the duration of airing is gradually increased. When the airing time reaches a day, the film is removed.
4. Sprouted apricots should be in a well-lit place - on the southern or southwestern windowsill. In the daytime in summer, the windows are shaded with a translucent curtain so that the plants do not get burned.

Home care for apricot

The apricot tree can be grown as a houseplant. In this case pay special attention to care behind him:

1. Watering... Water the tree as the soil dries. In summer, on average, 3-4 waterings per week will be required. In winter, the soil is moistened once a week. Water at room temperature is used for irrigation. The soil is moistened in the morning or evening when the sun is inactive.
2. Spraying... The apricot is sprayed every two days with warm water from a spray bottle.
3. Loosening... The soil in the pot is loosened at least 1-2 times a week. This is necessary to break down the earth crust, which interferes with normal root air exchange and causes fluid stagnation.
4. Temperature... During the growing season, the optimum temperature for growing an apricot tree is + 24 ... + 26 ° C. In late autumn and winter, when the plant has shed its leaves, it is moved to a room with a temperature of 0 ... + 2 ° C, for example, on a glazed balcony or in a cellar.
5. Lighting... In summer, if the tree grows on a southern windowsill or balcony, it does not need additional lighting. In winter, too, if the tree is in the cold, additional light is not needed. If there is a phytolamp at home, it is used in early spring and autumn.
6. Top dressing... In the first year of cultivation, the apricot tree is not fed. This negatively affects its development. From the second year, they begin to make top dressing. The first time the tree is fed in the spring, when the buds swell, then in the summer (in July) and in the fall. Mineral (superphosphate, potassium sulfate and ammonium nitrate) and organic (mullein or chicken manure solution) fertilizers alternate.
7. Formation... The apricot tree needs shaping. At home, the main stem is pinched when its height reaches 15-25 cm. The branches of the first order are pinched when their length reaches 20 cm. The 3-4 most developed and strong branches are left at the same level, and the weak ones are removed. This is done with all shoots of the following orders. When the crown is formed, a supportive pruning and shearing is carried out to give the desired shape. Places of cuts must be treated with garden pitch.
8. Sanitary pruning... It is held at the end of each season. Old, weak, damaged branches are removed. If there are areas with cracked bark on the trunk, they are covered with garden pitch.
9. Bloom... When the tree blooms, it will need artificial pollination (if it is in the house at that time). To do this, the pollen is transferred between flowers with a soft brush. To increase the chances of fruiting, it is advisable to have two apricot trees.
10. Fruiting... In the first year, most of the ovaries are removed, leaving no more than two fruits on the plant. Then their number can be increased.
11. Transfer... The tree is replanted as its root system fills the pot.It is transferred to a new container along with a clod of earth, removing only the drainage and the top layer. The missing volume is filled with new soil. In the first year, three transplants will be needed, then the pot is moved to a new container once a year. The formed plant is not transplanted, but only the top layer of the soil is replaced.

It is recommended to take the apricot out to the balcony in the warm season, a loggia or a garden, in a well-lit place protected from the wind.

Advice! If the apricot is taken outside in summer, it is recommended to spray it with copper sulfate in early spring and after leaf fall to prevent diseases.

Is it possible to transplant an apricot from a pot to open ground

The seedling grown in a pot is also suitable for transplanting into open ground, provided that he is at least one year old and not older than two years. The plant should have a well-formed root system, firm, non-dry branches and live axillary buds.

Before planting in a permanent place, a tree in a pot is started to be taken out into the street, gradually accustoming it to new conditions and hardening. They begin to do this already at the beginning of spring.

For apricots, choose a well-lit and wind-protected area of ​​the garden... Groundwater should run no closer than 2 m to the ground surface.

Wood planted in a hole that matches the size of the pot... The plant is moved into the hole along with a lump of earth, without deepening the root collar.

Conclusion

Apricot pits have a high germination capacity, so even a novice gardener can cope with their cultivation. A tree grown from seed planting material does not retain its parental characteristics, but even the apricot wild gives sweet and tasty fruits.

Apricot grown from a stone can be grown as a houseplant in a tub. In this case, he will need regular and proper care. In four years, it will give its first harvest.