Of course, everyone knows such a fruit as an apricot. These are round orange-colored fruits with velvety skin, growing on trees. Apricot can be found in southern countries and in the south of our country. This fruit is sensitive to sunlight and absolutely undemanding to the soil.
The most delicious are Armenian apricots grown in the South Caucasus in the Ararat valley, as well as in its foothills. This fruit, which has absorbed all the energy of the hot sun, can rightfully be considered the most useful. Along with Central Asia and China, Armenia can also be considered the birthplace of the apricot. According to the apricot pits found during the excavations, scientists found out that this fruit has been growing here for more than 3,000 years. Let's take a closer look at the most popular Shalah apricot variety, how to care for it and what its beneficial properties are.
Description of apricot
Gardeners call this fruit variety Shalah (its other name is Yerevani) universal. The tree is vigorous, it can reach a height of 5-6 meters, the fruits of early or medium ripening. Fruiting in seedlings begins on the fourthyear of life, it lasts from 14 to 30 days.
The tree is quite capricious, tender, afraid of severe frosts. Among all Armenian apricots (and there are about 27 of them), Yerevani is rated as the most delicious. Use the fruit fresh, after conservation. They also make dried apricots: apricots and dried apricots. In Azerbaijan and Georgia, these fruits are used in canning.
Growing places
The Shalakh variety of apricots was especially popular in Yerevan. But over the course of 10 years, it also spread across the territory of various Asian countries. In the Crimea, in the Nikitinsky Botanical Garden, it was brought before the 17th year of the last century. In the south of Russia, this variety of Armenian apricots appeared in the 30s.
Flowering
The tree of this variety of apricots can bear fruit and bloom in early and medium terms. Climate influences flowering time:
- in southern climatic zones it happens in early June;
- in colder - in July.
The apricot flower is large - 2.8 cm, white with a hint of pink, with a pleasant honey aroma, the petals are slightly curved, have a rounded shape.
Fruits
The fruits of these Armenian apricots are valued for their excellent taste and fairly large size (at least 90 g). They have a sweet fragrant pulp and a small bone inside. The apricot is also beautiful in appearance: the creamy skin of the fruit with a raspberry blush on the sides.
Dignity
Among the advantages, one can single out the average frost resistance, productivity, resistance to diseases andpests. In addition, this variety is transportable. This allows it to be stored in refrigerators or specially designed rooms. This variety is also good for planting by cuttings, as well as for grafting onto other trees, such as plum, cherry plum or peach.
Armenian apricot ripening period
The ripening of apricots directly depends on climatic conditions and on the variety. In the south of Russia, as in Armenia, fruiting begins in late May and early June. On the territory of the regions of the central Black Earth region, ripening will begin in late July-August.
Interesting facts
Apricot fruit extract is known to be included in many medicines for heart disease. The Greeks call this fruit the Armenian plum, and the Italians call it the Armenian apple.
Apricot in Armenia is one of the symbols of national culture. At the annual film festival in the city of Yerevan, the winners are awarded the "Golden Apricot". The duduk is the most popular Armenian musical instrument. It is now very popular in Western countries as well. In Armenian, this instrument is called tsiranopokh, which translates as “apricot tree trumpet.”
Manufacturers of musical instruments tried to make a pipe from a pear, plum and apple tree, but an instrument with a special velvety voice is obtained only from the Armenian apricot. Shvi and zurna, musical wind instruments, are made from the same wood.
How to eat Armenianapricots
Apricots contain vitamins A, B and C. The fruit is rich in iodine, iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus. The fruits contain acids, fiber, tannins. Consider how to eat Armenian apricots correctly in order to bring the maximum benefit to the body. It is worth considering that:
- Apricots contain a large amount of potassium, which normalizes blood pressure, has a beneficial effect on blood vessels, rids the body of unnecessary fluid and, most importantly, strengthens the muscles of the heart. People with cardiovascular disease should eat apricots or dried apricots daily, especially after a heart attack.
- The presence of carotene has a positive effect on the skin and vision, improves immunity. It is enough to consume these fruits up to 300 g per day to get the daily requirement of vitamin A.
- Apricots contain more iron than apples. For people with anemia, they are simply necessary in the diet. Fruits with constant use maintain the level of hemoglobin, saturate the cells with oxygen.
- The content of magnesium and phosphorus in apricots normalizes metabolism. Magnesium is able to restore nerve cells, and phosphorus improves memory.
- Nutritionists talk about the benefits of apricots for digestion. Fruits keep the acidity of gastric juice normal. Fiber favorably affects the digestion of food, normalizes stools, and relieves bloating.
- Sweet varieties of apricots contain iodine, which is very useful for the thyroid gland, as well as for increasing intelligence.
- The calcium found in apricots makes bonesand teeth stronger, improves blood clotting.
- Pectin contained in fruits helps to remove toxins from the body.
But there are contraindications. It is not recommended to use this product for people suffering from hepatitis and diabetes.
