Apricot Orlik Stavropol'skogo

Variety selected at the Stavropol Experimental Station for Horticulture. Obtained by crossing the varieties Orange-red and Bulbonny. Breeders: Seredenko A.I., Starikh B.B. It was regionally approved in the Stavropol region in 2000.

Medium-sized tree, medium-growing. Round, raised, dense crown. Skeletal branches of medium thickness, with an angle of divergence of 45-50°. Branches of medium length, grayish-brown. Leaves medium-sized, inversely egg-shaped, dark green, smooth, matte. Flower medium-sized, solitary, white, with a pleasant aroma. Fruits are located on one-year growth and shortened branches (spurs).

Fruits are large, medium-sized, weighing 45-50 g, flat-round in shape. The fruit apex is round, slightly indented, the ventral suture is small and barely noticeable, does not crack. Fruits are light-yellow with a pale-orange blush on the sun-exposed side, subcutaneous dots are carmine, clearly visible. Skin is slightly hairy, woolly, without waxy coating, does not peel off the fruit. Flesh is orange, juicy, fibrous, sour-sweet in taste. Juice is colorless. Pit is large, oval, separates easily from the flesh. Seed is sweet. Fruits contain 15.8% dry matter and 10.9% sugars. Peduncle is short, thick, firmly attached to the pit.

Fruits ripen in mid-season (end of the first decade of July), 6-10 days earlier than Krasnochekoy, transportability is low, suitable for canning.

Blooms late, over 6-11 days. Self-sterile variety, best pollinators are Krasnochekoy and Stavropol Youth.

Early-bearing variety. Trees grafted onto peach, begin fruiting 3-4 years after planting. Yield at 6-7 years old is 40-50 kg/tree on average, at 17-19 years old — 85-100 kg/tree.

Exhibits good winter hardiness of the tree as a whole and generative buds. Drought-resistant. Preferably planted on elevated terrain with light loamy soils. Requires sunlight, warmth, and moisture. Responsive to fertilization. Requires measures for protection against diseases and pests. Pruning according to an improved open-tiered crown. Strong spring pruning is necessary to remove excessive fruiting wood.

Advantages of the variety: medium-sized tree, compact, low-volume crown, enhanced winter hardiness of floral buds and late prolonged blooming. Early fruiting, regular and high yield. Medium-ripening fruits, large, good taste.

Disadvantages: fruit size reduction and quality deterioration under heavy yields. Requires annual strong pruning of fruiting wood due to high fruit set on the tree.