Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) DIMAIJA

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) 'Dimaija'

A new, extremely frost-hardy Latvian variety with large fruits, standing as an absolute leader in vitamin and antioxidant content.

The 'Dimaija' variety is the result of a long-term Nordic breeding program aimed at adapting heat-loving apricots to the harsh conditions of Northern Europe. It stands out not only with its visually beautiful and large fruits but also functions as a true superfood in terms of health benefits. It is an ideal and reliable choice for small-scale growers and home gardens, even in colder regions.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Superfood: Among tested varieties, it has the absolute highest content of Vitamin C and beneficial antioxidants (polyphenols).
• High frost resistance: Excellent winter hardiness in the wood, while flowers can tolerate spring temperature drops down to -6 °C.
• Fruit quality: Large, round, and uniform fruits with an attractive red blush.
• Health: Good tree resistance to common fungal diseases (brown rot, shot-hole disease).
• Excellent freestone pit separation and selected for self-fertility.

Origin and Registration

• Origin: Latvia (Institute of Horticulture - LatHort, Dobele). Breeder: Ilze Grāvīte (based on older material by P. Upītis with Central Asian and Caucasian germplasm).
• Registration: Applied for official registration in 2023.

Variety Characteristics

Tree

• Vigor and Habit: Upright growth, forming a relatively narrow crown, and characterized by very healthy wood.
• Blooming and Pollination: Blooms mid-early to late. Flower buds are distinctly pink before opening, turning pale pink once bloomed. The variety was selected with an emphasis on self-fertility.

Fruit

• Size and Shape: Large for Nordic standards (mostly 30 to 50 g), round, and very uniform.
• Color and Skin: The light orange base color with a slightly matte finish is covered by an attractive red blush on the sunny side. The skin is smooth and thin.
• Flesh and Pit: Yellow, medium-firm, fine-grained, and juicy. The pit separates very easily from the flesh (freestone).
• Taste and Use: Harmonious and very tasty (although it has a slightly lower sugar content—11.3 °Brix—and a more refreshing acidity). The fruits are perfect for fresh consumption. Interesting fact: Due to the extremely high content of biologically active substances and antioxidants, the fruit may develop a specific, slightly bitter or spicy aftertaste when dried or candied.

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost: Excellent winter hardiness in the wood. The flower buds are also highly resistant; observations show they can tolerate frosts down to -6 °C during blooming (crop damage occurs only at lower temperatures).
• Diseases: Exhibits good resistance to fungal diseases, especially shot-hole disease (Wilsonomyces carpophilus) and brown rot (Monilinia spp.).
• Soil: Requires high-quality, well-draining soil (pH 6.0 – 6.5) with sufficient phosphorus and potassium.

Cultivation Recommendations for Cold Regions

• Pruning: In harsher areas, it is recommended to prune only in the spring (on sunny and windy days), when any winter wood damage is clearly visible.
• Planting Tip (Interstem Grafting): For the coldest Nordic climates, breeders recommend "interstem grafting" (the trunk is a hardy plum grafted onto a myrobalan rootstock, with the apricot grafted at a height of 1 meter). This protects the trunk from damage during winter snowmelt.

Harvest and Yield

• Harvest Time: Late July to the first half of August. The fruits ripen relatively evenly on the tree.
• Yield: The variety is productive and yields regularly (except in years with truly extreme weather fluctuations during blooming).