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Melitopolski Cherny apricot trees

Prunus armeniaca dasycarpa
  • Picking season: Early
  • Self-fertility: Partially self-fertile

Melitopolski Cherny is a hybrid cherry plum / apricot with a dark red skin which turns almost black when fully ripe. These hybrids are often called Black Apricots.

Its shape resembles an apricot, and the bright orange flesh and flavour are also more reminscent of an apricot than a plum.

The fruits ripen in mid-July and are can be eaten fresh or used for cooking. The stone is semi-clinging.

Melitopolski Cherny is a good choice if you want to grow apricots but have a climate which is too cold in winter or spring.

Bio / Organic fruit trees

Melitopolski Cherny organic apricot trees for sale

  • 1Maidentree on St. Julien A rootstock 26.45€
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years) Bare-root
  • 2Maidentree on Myrobalan rootstock 26.45€
    Very large tree (5m-6m+ after 10 years) Bare-root
Delivery countries
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Growing and Training

Melitopolski Cherny flowers relatively late in the plum blossom season, and is partially self-fertile. Cropping will be increased in the presence of other apricots or plums in flower at the same time.

It is easy to grow in most soils, and has excellent cold-hardiness. The flower buds and blooms have some frost-resistance.


History

Melitopolski Cherny was developed at Melitopol in Ukraine. 'Cherny' means black in Ukranian, signifying that this is a (nearly) black apricot / plum when fully ripe. It is a hybrid of Prunus cerasifera (cherry plum) and  Prunus armeniaca (apricot) - these two species will hybridise naturally, as well as from deliberate cross-pollination, and are commonly known as black apricots. Some authorities categorise this hybrid species as Prunus x dasycarpa or Prunus armeniaca dasycarpa. Black apricots are often used in the development of new plum species, particularly when crossed with European plums.


Melitopolski Cherny characteristics

  • Gardening skillAverage
  • Self-fertilityPartially self-fertile
  • Flowering group3
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Climate suitabilityTemperate climates
  • Picking periodmid-Julylate July
  • Picking seasonEarly
  • Season of use2-3 weeks
  • CroppingGood
  • Food usesEating freshCulinaryDual purpose
  • Disease resistanceGood
  • Country of originUkraine
  • Flesh colourOrange
  • Fruit colourRed / Black
  • Fruit sizeLarge