Apricot

Scientific Name: Prunus armeniaca L.
Family: Rosaceae

Recommended Temperature Zone:
Sunset®: 2-23 depends on variety
USDA: 5-8

Sun Exposure: Full sun

Origin: Northeastern China

Growth Habits: Small to medium deciduous tree with spreading shape, typically fast growing to 12 feet tall and wide (3.6 m), but able to get much larger, size varies with the variety and rootstock; cordate leaves, about 3 inches wide (7.5 cm)

Flowers: White flowers

Watering Needs: Moderate to regular water, needs good drainage, tolerates some alkalinity and salinity

Propagation: T- or chip-budded on seedling rootstock

Propagation: Seed or occasionally cutting, grafting/budding

• by hardwood stem tip cuttings, in autumn. Apply IBA Quick Dip 1000 PPM. Use intermittent mist. Root in 4-6 weeks.
• by 'T' grafts, in late spring. Use a P. besseyi as graftstock. P. besseyi is a dwarfing rootstock.
• by seeds, in spring. The seeds can be harvested in summer. The seeds need stratify 40F 2-3mo..

Selected Varieties

Variety	Zones (Sunset)	Season	Maturity Zone 13	Remarks
Castlebrite	12,13	Early	May	Freestone, excellent flavor. Firm and juicy. Good flavor when fully ripe, otherwise somewhat tart. Good size. Bright orange with red blush. 450 chill hours.
Gold Kist	12,13	Early	5/15-6/15	Freestone, excellent quality. Excellent backyard apricot for warm winter climates. Freestone, very good quality. Heavy bearing. Early harvest, late May to early June. Requires 300 chill hours.
Katy	12,13	Early	5/15-6/15	Excellent size and fruit quality. Freestone. Large, all purpose flavorful freestone. Tree ripe fruit is subacid (not tart). A favorite apricot for warm-winter climates. Early harvest, late May to early June. Requires 400 chill hours.
Modesto	2,10	Early	5/15-6/15	Commercially grown for shipping. 300-400 hours chilling.
Moorpark	2,3,6-11,14-16	Late		Large fruit and great flavor. Fruit may ripen unevenly.
Patterson	2,10,12,13	Early	June	A vigorous tree. Fruit are medium to large in size with good firm, modestly flavorful flesh. Good for freezing, drying, and canning. Requires 500 chill hours.
Royal (Blenheim)	2,3,6-23	Mid		Medium size fruit with excellent flavor and sweetness
Royal Rosa	2,10	Early	May	Extremely vigorous, more disease tolerant than other apricots. Bears young and heavy. Especially nice fruit: sweet, low acid, fine flavor. Very early harvest (early-to-mid May). Excellent backyard apricot. Requires 500 chill hours.
Tilton	1-8,10,11,18,20	Mid		Medium size fruit with excellent flavor.
Wenatchee	2,3,6,10	Mid		Large size with yellow skin and flesh.

Source: University of Arizona: Cooperative Extension

Blooming Habits:
White to pinkish flowers, up to 1 inch in diameter (2.5 cm), most US varieties are self-fruitful.

Culture:
To obtain optimum size and quality, the fruit should be thinned to about 4 to 6 inches apart (10-15 cm). The best time to do it, is when the fruit are about 0.5 inch in diameter (12 mm).
Apricots are very sensitive to sulfur, avoid any treatment conatining sulfur.