July Rose (June Rose, Early Comet)

Seedling of the 'Kubanskaya Comet' variety from open pollination. Originator — Crimean Experimental and Selection Station of the All-Russian Research Institute of Plant Growing named after N.I. Vavilov. Authors: G.V. Yeremin, S.N. Zabrodina. Introduced into the State Register for the North Caucasus region in 1999.

Medium-sized tree, with a flat-round crown of medium density. Stem gray, smooth, medium thickness, with medium amount of lenticels, medium size. Shoots are horizontal, medium thickness (25-35 mm), sparsely branched, terminal bud green, sun-burned shoots on the sunny side are reddish-brown, developing branches are short (bouquet branches) and short-lived — up to 2-3 years. Flower bud small, pressed, rounded. Color of scales on developing buds is green. Leaf blade, at the beginning of growth, oriented upward, then takes a horizontal position, large, oval, length 64 mm, width 44 mm, base rounded, apex strongly pointed. Upper side color green, glossy of medium intensity, smooth. Lower side leaf hairs weak. Leaf margin serrated, wavy weakly. Nectaries present at base of leaf blade. Petiole medium length (16 mm), medium thickness (1.6 mm), with deep groove, anthocyanin coloration intense. Two flowers develop from bud, many flowers on shoot. Flower size small, 18-20 mm, corolla slightly closed. Petals white, small — length 7 mm, width 7.5 mm, rounded, moderate wrinkling, apex margin wavy. Many stamens — more than 30, length 3-5 mm, slightly curved, anthers yellow. Style of pistil 10-11 mm long, slightly curved. Stigma higher than anthers, round. Ovule unpilose. Calyx bell-shaped. Calyx lobes pressed against petals. Pedicel medium length — 10-13 mm, unpilose, medium thickness.

Fruit medium or large size, height 41 mm, width 37 mm, thickness 37 mm, mass 32 g, egg-shaped, maximum diameter closer to base, asymmetrical. Ventral suture poorly expressed, uniform along entire length. Apex rounded, cavity medium depth. Waxy coating very weak. Peel separates from flesh with difficulty, elastic. Main peel color yellow, covering color red with pinkish hue, uniform. Subcutaneous spots medium quantity, yellow. Flesh yellow, medium density, fine-fibrous, low juicy. Sugar and acidity medium, aroma weak. Pit separates incompletely. Flesh darkens slowly in air. Pit medium, length 19 mm, width 13 mm, thickness 8 mm, mass 0.7 g, 2.74% of fruit mass. Shape oval, from ventral suture elongated-elliptical, symmetrical, maximum width in middle. Ridge not developed, surface rough. Fusion of dorsal suture edges absent, dorsal suture edges entire. Ventral suture wide, base of pit wide, narrowly-rounded, apex pointed, color cream. Pedicel medium length — 12 mm, thin — 1.2 mm, unpilose.

Fruits are good for fresh consumption, but also suitable for conservation. Evaluation of preserves: juice with pulp — 4.0 points, compote — 4.4 points, jam — 4.5 points. Fruits contain on fresh weight: dry matter — 9.80%, sugars — 7.0%, acids — 2.3%, sugar-acid index 3.0, ascorbic acid — 6.67 mg/100g.

Blooms early — at the beginning of April, partially self-fertile. Ripens very early — at the end of June, opening the season of fruit ripening for apricot. High and regular yield. High winter hardiness, medium drought resistance. Resistant to diseases. Highly adaptable.

Advantages: very early fruit ripening, high adaptability and productivity, good fruit quality.

Disadvantages: uneven fruit ripening.