Apricots are one of those wonderful trees that are self-fruitful,
meaning you don’t need a pollination partner to get fruit. As you select a
cultivar, keep in mind some important apricot tree facts – these early bloomers
can be adversely affected by frost in some regions, so select a hardy variety
and plant where the tree will get some protection from sudden cold snaps.
Additionally, apricots need at least 700 to 1,000 chilling hours to set fruit.
Apricot Tree Facts
The blushed orange, velvety skinned apricot has been
cultivated for centuries and is an important food in many international
cuisines. Apricot tree growing is suitable in most western states and regions
with plenty of heat and sunshine. As a Mediterranean crop, apricots grow well
where spring and summer are warm and plenty of water is available.
Apricots are stone fruits, similar to plums,
cherries
and peaches.
They can be grown from that stone or pit, but trees are not true to the parent
and rarely produce fruit. Instead, they are grafted onto rootstock with
beneficial attributes. The early spring flowers are spectacular and the
brightly colored fruit are decorative. Apricots are either trained to a central
leader or open center.
Some excellent winter hardy varieties for cold regions are:
How to Grow Apricots
Once you’ve selected your cultivar, you need to know how to
grow apricots. Site selection and soil are the most important considerations.
The trees need deep, well-drained soil with plenty of organic
matter.
Apricot trees bloom early. There are times in apricot tree
care where a late frost is a problem, so be sure to plant your trees on higher
ground.
Do a percolation test prior to planting by digging a hole one
foot deep and wide (30 cm.). Fill with water and wait until the next day. Fill
the hole again and lay a stick or straight edge over the top. Measure the water
drop every hour. Ideal readings will be around 2 inches (5 cm.) per hour.
Once you have adjusted the soil to have adequate drainage,
dig a hole twice as deep and around as the root ball and plant your tree. Water
in well.
Care of Apricot Trees
Apricot tree growing is fairly simple, provided you have the
soil, sun, and drainage necessary. Apricots are not tolerant of high levels of
salt, boron, chloride and other elements. Feeding of apricot trees will be
important in their overall care. They normally get what they need from the soil
though, provided it was set up for apricot tree growing beforehand.
The trees will need an inch (2.5 cm.) of water weekly,
especially during bloom and fruiting. Use a drip irrigation system to avoid wet
leaves, flowers and fruit.
Be sure your apricot tree care includes thinning
of the fruit once it comes in; thin the fruits to 1 ½ to 2 inches (3.8 to 5
cm.) apart. This ensures that the fruit will be larger. If you don’t thin the
fruits, they will be much smaller.
Apricots
need to be pruned and trained annually in early summer to late fall. There
are several pests of apricots and numerous fungal diseases. Apply fungicide
sprays in spring to avoid such disease issues.
