Imagine basking in the warm summer sun, plucking juicy, ripe apricots straight from the tree in your own backyard. Not only is growing apricot trees a delightful experience, but the taste of homegrown apricots is unrivaled. We’ll walk you through the steps of how to grow apricots for sweet success, covering everything from selecting the right variety to harvesting and storing your delicious fruits.
How to grow apricots
Apricots are delicious soft tree fruits that are surprisingly easy to grow at home when the climate is right. Prunus armeniaca var. armeniaca is known not only for its fruit but also as a valuable specimen landscaping tree featuring glorious early spring blossoms and mid-summer shade.
Apricots can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 5-9. They grow best in dry climates with cold winters, warm springs, and no wide springtime temperature fluctuations. Apricot trees bloom quite early in the spring, and the blossoms can be damaged by a late spring frost, leading to little/no harvest in poor growing years.
Most apricot varieties are self-fruitful, so you typically need only one tree to get fruit. A mature apricot tree in good health is typically about 12-15 feet tall and wide and will yield 100-150 pounds of fruit per tree each harvest season.
Plant your apricot tree where it receives ample sunlight. In terms of soil, these fruit trees prefer soil that drains out excess water easily (typically a sandy loam if possible). As for pH, a neutral or even slightly alkaline pH is ideal but not required.
Carefully monitor pest and disease levels. Apricot trees are somewhat susceptible to pests, including the plum curculio and the Oriental fruit moth. In terms of disease, brown rot is the most common apricot disease in many regions.
Selecting the right apricot variety
Apricot trees are typically the first tree fruit to blossom in the spring. Because of this early bloom, the yield of the tree can be reduced by harsh early spring frosts that destroy the fruit blossoms. Fortunately, there are appropriate varieties for different types of climates.
Selecting an apricot variety that complements your climate, harvest time, and tree size is key to successful growth. Most apricot trees are not grown from seed. Most trees in the nursery are actually branches off a mother variety that have been grafted onto a seedling rootstock.
Apricot cultivars that are quite susceptible to early season temperature fluctuations tend not to fruit regularly in the colder areas of eastern North America. In these regions, choose cold-hardy options that can be grown in more humid areas. Some good options are ‘Alfred,’ ‘Veecot,’ and ‘Vivagold.’ The cultivar ‘Alfred’ is a good one to look for, as it is both disease-resistant and self-fertile.
In western North America, older self-pollinating English varieties like ‘Blenheim,’ ‘Moorpark,’ and ‘Tilton’ can do quite well. Both ‘Blenheim’ and ‘Moorpark’ bloom quite early and are better suited for warmer areas like California. ‘Moorpark’ tends to have larger, sweeter fruit that’s good for eating fresh, while ‘Blenheim’ is a preferred canning variety.
Cold climate growers may wish to choose a Canadian variety. Introduced by the Harrow Research Station, these varieties are cold-hardy and tend to bloom later in the spring. Examples of these cold-hard varieties include the productive ‘Hargrand,’ the compact ‘Harglow,’ the attractive ‘Harogem,’ and the disease-resistant ‘Harlayne.’
While most common apricot cultivars are self-pollinating, there are some cultivars that are not reliably self-fruitful. Cultivars that typically need a pollinator partner tree include ‘Goldrich,’ ‘Rival,’ ‘Skaha,’ ‘Sungold,’ and ‘Sundrop.’ For these varieties, be sure to look for a locally available pollinator cultivar that blooms at the same time.
Site selection and soil preparation
Opt for a planting site that offers well-drained soil, generous sunlight, and safeguards against frost pockets to set your apricot tree off to a good start. Abundant sunlight ensures optimal growth and fruit production while well-draining soil is essential for apricot trees as stone fruits.
Be sure to plant your apricot tree at least 15-20 feet away from other trees or full-sun-loving plants to provide enough space for growth. Take care to prune and train your young tree to set up a good structure of branches.
Sunlight requirements
Apricot trees need at least 8 hours of sunlight per day for optimal growth and abundant fruit production. They flourish in full sun and perform best with direct morning light. That said, a bit of shade during part of the day typically isn’t going to keep them from fruiting.
Annual pruning helps promote healthy growth by allowing sunlight to penetrate the canopy, urging the plant to produce fruit. Fruit thinning is an additional technique that can be applied but is not strictly necessary.
Soil type
Apricots require deep, fertile soil that is able to retain moisture. It should be slightly acidic to neutral for optimal health. Appropriate drainage is equally significant. If your soil is heavy clay or lacks proper drainage, you can improve its quality by adding organic matter, such as well-rotted compost, to help retain moisture and ensure a healthy root system.
When planting your apricot tree, dig a hole twice the width and the same depth as the container for potted trees or slightly wider than the roots for bare-root trees. Such planting techniques contribute to robust root growth and establishment, paving the way for a thriving apricot tree yielding tasty fruits in the subsequent years.
Avoiding frost pockets
Frost pockets are low-lying areas where cold air collects, which can be detrimental to apricot blossom during early spring blooms. Nesting apricot trees in a protected location helps shield them from frost damage during the early spring blossoms – a crucial factor for successful cultivation.
In colder zones, consider a planting site that offers protection from strong winter winds to ensure the trees grow well.
When to plant apricot trees
Apricot trees thrive when planted during their dormant phase, between late autumn and early spring, when soil conditions remain warm and moist, fostering robust growth and higher fruit-producing potential. Planting apricot trees in late winter or early spring is most common. You can also plant them quite successfully in the fall. Summer planting should be approached with caution, as the trees need to be watered very regularly for the first year or two as the roots become established.
Planting apricot trees
The process of planting an apricot tree isn’t too difficult. Preparing a proper planting hole and staking the tree for support will also contribute to a successful planting and thriving apricot tree.
How to plant apricot trees
For an apricot tree, dig a planting hole that’s twice the width and the same depth as the container for potted trees. For bare-root trees, dig a large enough hole that you can lay out the roots radially away from the base of the trunk.
The hole should be just deep enough that the root flare of the tree is just above the soil line. Proper hole preparation ensures successful root growth and establishment, allowing your apricot tree to thrive and produce delicious fruit.
Water the tree well after planting. You may also wish to add a couple of inches of organic mulch on the soil around the base of the tree. Just be sure to keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk of the tree itself.
Caring for newly planted apricot trees
A healthy apricot tree requires proper care, including adequate watering, fertilization, and regular pruning. Catering to your tree’s needs with proper care and attention guarantees robust growth and a rich yield of tasty apricots for your indulgence. You’ll also want to pay special attention to pruning and training a young tree.
Watering
Young, year-old apricot trees require about 1-2 inches of water per week, while mature trees require less frequent watering. It is important to adjust the amount of water according to the climate and season, as well as the tree’s growth stage.
Drip systems, soaker hoses, or hand watering the soil near the base of the tree are all great options for watering apricot trees. These methods help keep the top foot of soil moist throughout the growth period, ensuring your apricot tree remains healthy and productive.
Fertilizing
Feeding an apricot tree annually in late winter with a general fertilizer high in potassium is a great way to ensure its health, vigor, and vibrant apricot blossom. High potassium fertilizers can contribute to the growth and quality of the apricot fruit.
Pruning
When the tree is young, take the time to prune it into a specific fruit tree form. Apricot trees are most commonly pruned into open-center trees or modified-central-leader trees.
For open-center trees, select 3 to 4 branches that originate 18 to 24 inches above the ground and are hopefully evenly spaced around the tree. This will create the main “scaffold” branches which are essential for optimal fruit production. If the tree has one main central branch, it usually makes more sense to prune it into a modified-central-leader form.
Apricot trees typically start to bear fruit about three years after they are planted, with a larger harvest starting about five years after planting. Apricot trees grow their fruit on branches that are 1-3 years old, so you want to prune the tree a bit each year so that really old branches are removed, and new ones can take their place.
Pruning apricot trees annually in late winter or early spring helps maintain their shape and remove any dead or damaged branches. In areas with wet winters, mid-summer pruning may be more appropriate. Hard pruning will reduce the number of apricots the tree grows, but the ones that it does grow will be bigger. That said, try not to remove more than 1/3 of the tree’s canopy each year.
Pollination and fruit set
Effective pollination and fruit set are fundamental for a fruitful apricot harvest. Most (but not all) varieties are self-fruitful and do not need a pollination partner. That said, a nearby tree of a different variety (that blooms at the same time) can help increase pollination and fruit set. Planting self-fruitful varieties or providing a suitable pollinator tree nearby can help ensure that your apricot tree produces a bountiful crop of delicious fruits.
Pests and diseases
Apricot trees can be affected by various pests and diseases. In terms of pests, the biggest insect problems are generally caused by the plum curculio and the peach tree borer. In terms of disease, the most common ones affecting apricot trees are peach leaf curl, brown rot, and black knot.
One common pest is the plum curculio. They are mainly a problem in eastern North America. These nasty little weevils feed on the immature fruit of certain trees (like plum, cherry, peach, quince, nectarine, apricot). General hygiene around the tree can reduce their population, as can nematode and organic insecticide application when timed correctly.
Another common pest is the peach tree borer. Their larvae burrow through the bark at the base of peach-family trees (including apricot, nectarine, cherry, and plum). The wound at the base of the tree can be so destructive in some cases as to girdle and kill the tree.
Peach leaf curl is a fungal disease that causes curled leaves on peach-family trees (including apricots). As the leaves grow from these infected buds, they curl and twist. This fungus usually overwinters on the tree’s branches and infects the young overwintered buds in late winter/early spring. Covering trees in early spring can lessen infection, as can the application of lime-sulfur spray of the branches in fall and early spring.
Brown rot is a fungal disease that commonly affects apricot fruits. Sometimes there are brown spots on the blossoms, but usually the soft round spots appear on the fruit (and expand). The best control is typically to quickly remove any infected fruit. Collect and remove them from the area. Prune out dead twigs, keep the base of the tree tidy, and consider lime-sulfur spray.
Black knot is a fungal disease that presents as brown or black swelling areas on branches. Prune out any of these knots as soon as you see them (and remove the trimmed bits from the area). You’ll also want to check nearby plums, cherries, and peach trees, as they can also be affected by this fungus.
Harvesting and storing apricots
As soon as your apricot tree begins fruiting, it will be time to gather the ripe apricots and implement proper storage techniques to retain their freshness. By picking the apricots at the right time and using proper storage techniques, you can enjoy the delicious taste of homegrown apricots throughout the season.
Harvest
The best time to harvest apricots is when they are fully ripe and ready to be picked off the tree. Ripe apricots should be slightly soft to the touch and have reached their full color. Both color and firmness can vary depending on the cultivar, so get to know your specific variety and your preferences in terms of ripeness.
Storage
Ripe apricots can be stored on the counter, in the fridge, frozen, canned, or dried. Whichever storage method you choose, you’ll be able to savor the taste of your homegrown apricots long after the harvest season has passed.
