Evaluation of several apricot cultivars and clones in the Lower Silesia climatic cinditions. Part I: Blossoming of trees, yield and fruit quality

Blooming, yield and fruit quality of several apricot cultivars were evaluated in two experiments conducted from 1988 to 2005 at the Fruit Experimental Station near Wroclaw in south-western Poland. In the first experiment, the cultivars studied were 'Harcot', 'Morden 604' and 'Early Orange'. All were grafted on 'Myrobalan' seedling rootstock. In the second experiment, the cultivars evaluated were 'Early Orange', 'Harcot', 'Morden 604', 'Moorpark', 'Somo', 'Bergeron', 'Hargrand', 'Karola', 'Ungarische beste', 'Veecot', 'Velkopavlovicka LE 12/2', 'Velkopavlovicka LE 19/2' and three clones which had been bred at the Fruit Experimental Station in Albigowa: LS-4, LS-5 and LS-7. All were grafted on 'Somo' seedling rootstock. In the Wroclaw region, yield in apricots was primarily determined by weather conditions. In the first experiment, yields were recorded in only three out of eight years, and in the second experiment, yields were recoded in six out of ten years. The main reason for crop failure was damage to buds, blossoms and fruitlets by winter and spring frosts. In only two years were high yields recorded for most of the cultivars evaluated. Apricot production in Lower Silesia is therefore possible, but risky. On the combined basis of blooming period, harvest time, yield and fruit quality, the cultivars most suitable for commercial production in Lower Silesia are 'Harcot', 'Moorpark', 'Hargrand', 'Bergeron' and 'Karola'. 'Somo' can be recommended only for home gardens because of small fruit size.