Apricot Pollination 

 

Like peaches and nectarines all apricots are self-pollinating. None of them need another variety to pollinate. However, the Flavor Delight Aprium which is a cross between an apricot and a plum needs to be pollinated. Any apricot will do the trick.

About Apricots 

 

Apricots are thought to have originated in Asian region near Armenia. References to their cultivation in China have been found dating back to 3000 BCE. Today, they are a staple in the diet of most middle easterners from Persia (Iran) to the Levant.

 
Most of us have eaten dried apricots. They are a basic ingredient in almost all dried fruit mixes, trail mix, granolas etc. Fresh apricots, on the other hand, don’t keep well, which accounts for their scarcity on the grocery shelves. Occasionally, fresh apricots are found in American grocery stores and supermarkets. But like other commercially grown fruit, these supermarket products are wanting. Just like garden fresh tomatoes are so much superior to commercially grown ones, so it is true for apricots. Dried apricots are tangy and sweet, they bear little resemblance to the fresh product. A fresh apricot is like a fresh fig – indescribably delicious. It is worth the effort to try to grow apricots even if you only get a handful. They are out of this world.
 
One of the biggest problems with growing apricots is that they bloom very early. So the flowers are at risk of frost damage. So you might not get apricots every year, if the weather doesn’t cooperate, but believe me when you get them your taste buds will be rewarded. The good news is that your orchard will be abloom with hundreds of beautiful, white blossoms to celebrate the arrival of spring.

Apricot Pruning

 

First year pruning sets the eventual shape of the tree. If your tree is taller than 4-5' above ground, after its planted, trim it down to that height removing the central leader. Thin out the inward growing branches and any branches which are crossing over each other. Trim off the tips of the larger branches to encourage growth.

 

Unlike apples and pears, you are not trying to create a central leader (dominant vertical branch). Apricots are trained to an open, spreading, vase-like shape. Take out at least half of the new, lateral shoots to do this. The remainder of those shoots will produce your fruit for this year.

 

Apricots are small and they do not fill the tree, so fruit thinning is unnecessary. Besides, late frosts may do the job for you.

 

In later years, you should continue “shape” your tree. Apricot trees are best trained to a spreading, open, vase-like shape. It does not want to grow straight up like and apple or a pear, so the central leader will become much less dominant. It will want to spread and try to take over your orchard. This is the natural way your apricot tree will want to grow. Pruning will keep your tree vigorous, encourage the establishment of fruit buds and enable you to keep your tree down to a manageable size. Look at the pruning diagram for the Mature Tree Form. That is what you are aiming for over the first several years.

 

The best time to prune apricots is in the early spring. Try pruning after the last frost date for your area. At this time, most of the winter damage can be trimmed off and you will minimize the effect of late frost damage to your buds and blooms.