JD Van Deventer's Kwekery/Nursery
Cultivar; Charisma -CM 280
Clone Number; CM 280
Origin; ARC Infruitec- Nietvoorbij
Royalties/ Levies; ZAR 8.82 Royalty
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Yield; very good, 15kg per tree
Fruit use; large apricots usually used fresh
Type; freestone, blush
Shelf-life; good storage, 7-8 days in cold storage or a fridge,
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Water requirements; 12957.1 m3 / ha
Soil type; loam, silt or sandy, well-draining soil with a pH of 6 to 6.5 is recommended. Apricots do not tolerate high levels of boron, chlorine, sodium or brackish soils
Sun requirements; 8 hours of full-sun
Chill hours; 200 to 400 hours
Pruning; It is best to prune apricot trees in late winter or early spring when the new leaves and flowers begin to show. Cut off the thinner branches with narrow crotches (ie; those flimsy branches that grow more up than outwards) . In addition, apricots should be thinned out once the fruit sets in, this is because a too heavily laden tree will produce smaller fruits than normal.
Soil depth; apricots require deep soil to grow well, a depth of 1,5 metres is recommended
Care; It is best to protect apricot trees from excessive winds, and ensure that you plant them in an area that receives little frost as they are susceptible to late frost. Painting the bottom of the trunk with a non-caustic, quick-drying paint can help reduce the effects of extreme cold and/or harsh sunlight as they are heat sensitive.
Fertiliser requirements; Apricots do best when Nitrogen, Phosphorous and potassium are applied
Pollination requirements; most apricot varieties are self-pollinating
Successful test-crosses; not applicable- apricots are self-fruitful
Bloom time; late August
Harvest time; late November
Vigor; moderate to strong
Size and shape; spreading tree, of medium build
Tree age; generally will fruit in it's second or third year, but may take up to five years to yield at it's maximum potential
Average life span; fruits for 20-25 years, lives for 40-150 depending on the rootstock used.
Susceptibility to pests and disease; not enough data
General notes; do not irrigate too close to harvest, blush is less apparent in warm conditions