Apricots – what should you know about growing them?

Apricots are a fruit that can be used to make homemade jams, pies, desserts … and also eaten fresh, straight from the tree. Of course, the best taste of apricots comes from your own garden. What can be done to make apricot trees grow and bear fruit?

Apricot trees have similar requirements to those of peach trees; so, if you have peach trees growing and bearing fruit in your garden, apricot trees will also establish themselves quickly. However, just like peaches, apricots need a lot of care and attention in order to grow healthy and for the gardener to enjoy tasty, sweet fruit. In this article you will learn how to grow apricots in your home garden

The hardest first step – planting and flowering

Apricot seedlings are planted into the ground in spring. These fruit trees bloom with beautiful, pink, delicate blossoms already from March, so you have to be very careful that the spring frosts don’t deprive the tree of the chance to bear fruit. So it is worth choosing varieties, which are characterized by late flowering. And rather should also consider whether this gardening mission has a chance of success, if we live in the colder regions of Poland

Since apricots are self-pollinating (or at least most varieties are), you can plant single trees in your garden. If you plan to plant several next to each other, keep at least 3 feet between each seedling

From seedling to tree

Apricots are rather picky plants when it comes to choosing the right location. The most important factor in growing apricots is that they hate frost and are very thermophilic. Therefore, apricot trees need to be planted in such a place so that they have as much access to light as possible, preferably on the south side. In addition to the cold, they are also affected by the wind, so it is advisable to plant them in sheltered places, such as near a wall. And never in depressions – you will expose the apricots to the cold

Apricots grow best in moderately firm soil. Before planting, dig a hole one meter wide and half a meter deep and fill it with fertile soil. After three years (when the first fruits possibly appear), fertilize the apricot with manure, compost and mineral fertilizers

Species of apricot

• Early Orange – this is a variety that blooms early and fruits already from July (and harvesting is necessary several times). Despite the fact that the flowers appear early, they can withstand frosts, because this variety is very resistant to frost. This American variety produces fruit that is slightly flattened on the sides, with sweet flesh that separates easily from the seed. This makes the fruit suitable for desserts and preserves
• Harcot – a Canadian variety, which bears big and tasty fruits, but it is demanding in cultivation. The tree itself is resistant to low temperatures, but the flowers are quickly damaged by frosts. In addition, it is not one of the self-pollinating varieties, it requires a pollinator. Harcot rewards its capricious nature with the taste of fruit – sweet, with a slightly orange flavor.
• Somo – polish variety, native, therefore, adapted to our climatic conditions. The whole tree and flowers are resistant to frost. Bears fruits quite late, only in August, but it grows strongly in small fruits. Fruits of the Somo variety can be used for desserts, as well as for delicious, aromatic compotes.

Read also: https://lovyard.com/rosliny/dynia-pizmowa-uprawa-i-pielegnacja/