In the practice of growing apricots, it constantly happens that seemingly healthy trees stop bearing fruit. They show no signs of disease, but year after year the owner is left without a crop. Why this happens will be discussed in this article.
Wrong variety selected
The variety should be zoned, that is, it should tolerate local winters normally. For example, for middle latitudes, the varieties Medovy, Triumph Severny, Snegirek, Resilient, Russian, etc. are suitable. Therefore, you need to find out in advance all the information about the plant variety and purchase young trees only in special nurseries or from trusted sellers.
If you want several varieties of this culture to grow in the garden at the same time, then it is advisable to choose options so that the fruits ripen at different times. In this case, the gardener will be able to harvest ripe apricots for two weeks, and in some - up to 1 month. Moreover, if the gardener is not engaged in industrial harvesting of fruits, then there is no need to plant several trees of the same variety at once.
You also need to remember that not all apricot varieties are self-fertile. Some require pollinators to bear fruit. In this case, the timing of flowering must coincide. Otherwise, pollination will not occur, so the ovaries will not begin to form.
Watering and feeding apricot
If the ovaries fall off the tree, then this is often due to the fact that the apricot has a moisture or nutrient deficiency. The tree is trying to survive, so it gets rid of the future harvest so as not to waste energy on it. Therefore, during the growing season, the apricot should be watered regularly so that there is no lack of water. Also, the tree needs to be fertilized correctly and in a timely manner.
Simultaneously with the first watering, it is necessary to carry out the first feeding. This is done before flowering. Nitrogen fertilizers are applied for the first time. You can use slurry, mullein, or urea.
The next time they water and feed after 15-20 days, when the flowering ends. It is necessary to soak the ground 1.5-2 m deep. Apricot roots go to such a depth. The second time they also feed them with nitrogen.
It is impossible to fertilize and water during flowering, since no tree forms an ovary.
The third feeding is carried out about a month later, when the fruits begin to ripen. This time you need to add nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. For example, urea, potassium sulfate and superphosphate can be used simultaneously.
After harvesting, you need to thoroughly water the apricot again and feed it. During this period, flower buds of the next year are formed on the tree, so there must be a sufficient amount of moisture and nutrients in the ground. But you cannot use nitrogen fertilizers. All you need is potassium and phosphorus.
In dry years, the apricot must be watered throughout the summer and fall. The main watering is carried out before winter. It is called water-charging.
Crown formation
If the inflorescences began to crumble after night frosts, then it will no longer be possible to help the harvest of this season. But you should take care of fruiting next year. The best fruits are obtained on the growth of the last year, therefore, it is necessary to cut the young branches by half in the first ten days of June. If the branch is weak, then it is cut off by a third.
After pruning, several shoots will begin to form from the axillary buds. In young plants, the growth is very strong, while in old plants it is slightly smaller and shorter. This growth will form flower buds next spring. This technique will help to postpone flowering for a week.
Having identified the reasons why the apricot does not produce fruit, it will be possible to adjust the process. It is only necessary to follow the simple rules of caring for the culture.