Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) DAIGA

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) Daiga

A Latvian variety with large, beautiful, and very tasty fruits.

'Daiga' is a proven Latvian apricot variety, prized primarily for its very beautiful, large, and deliciously flavored fruits. They have an attractive orange color with a red blush, and firm, juicy, aromatic flesh with a balanced sweet-tart taste. The stone separates well from the flesh. The tree has strong growth and good frost hardiness of both its wood and flower buds, making it a reliable choice for home gardens.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Large and very beautiful fruits: Attractive orange-red fruits are an ornament to the tree.
• Excellent sweet-tart taste: The flesh is firm, juicy, and very aromatic.
• Good freestone quality: Makes fresh eating and potential processing easier.
• Good frost hardiness: Resistant to winter frosts, and the flowers are also resilient.
• Good resistance to shot hole disease.

Origin and Registration

• Country of origin: Latvia, Dobele
• Origin: Selected by Pēteris Upītis
• Year of registration: 1999

Variety Characteristics

Tree

Growth is strong with an upright crown. Productivity is high, though it may have a slight tendency towards biennial bearing. It is cross-pollinated and needs another apricot variety blooming at the same time nearby to ensure a harvest (e.g., ‘Velta’).

Fruit

• Size: Large (though size can be uneven).
• Skin: Thin, smooth, orange with a red blush.
• Flesh: Firm, juicy, and aromatic. The stone separates well.
• Taste: Very good, sweet-tart.

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost hardiness: The wood has good frost hardiness; the flower buds have medium resistance.
• Diseases: It has good resistance to shot hole disease (clasterosporium) and medium resistance to moniliosis (brown rot).

Growing Recommendations

• Use: A top-quality dessert variety for fresh consumption.
• Processing: Due to its thin skin, it may fall apart when canned and is better suited for jams or purées.

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest time: Late July to mid-August.
• Transportability: Low. The fruits are intended for immediate consumption.