Crop Rotation Group
Miscellaneous
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Soil
Deep, moisture-retentive but well-drained, slightly alkaline soil.
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Position
Best grown against a sheltered south-facing wall in cool climates. Elsewhere apricots need full sun to limit disease and produce high quality fruit.
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Frost tolerant
Yes, but it is important to choose varieties known to grow well in your area to reduce risk of losing blooms to spring freezes. Cold damage to apricot blossoms is a major limiting factor in where they can be successfully grown.
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Feeding
Feed with balanced organic fertilizer in early spring. Keep the area beneath apricots mulched with wood chips, straw, or another mulch that helps maintain soil moisture.
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Companions
Corridors within the orchard that are planted with clovers and other legumes contribute to soil fertility and attract pollinators.
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Spacing
Single Plants: 9' 10" (3.00m) each way (minimum)
Rows: 9' 10" (3.00m) with 9' 10" (3.00m) row gap (minimum)
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Sow and Plant
Prepare a large hole by breaking up the soil and adding plenty of well-rotted organic matter. A wide hole is better than a very deep one. Mulch after planting, and encircle the trunk with a wire cage or protective pipe to protect the young tree from animal and insect pests. Young apricot trees are at high risk for damage from insects that bore into the main trunk.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
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Notes
Prune in spring or mid to late summer in the cool climates. Elsewhere prune apricots in late winter. Healthy apricot trees will bear for ten to fifteen years or more.
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Harvesting
Harvest when the fruit is soft and can be pulled easily from the tree. Ripe apricots fall to the ground.
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Troubleshooting
Dieback and oozing resin can often be remedied by improving growing conditions. Mulching, watering, feeding, weeding and hard pruning can all help. In humid climates, apricots often develop problems with fungal diseases such as brown rot. Preventive sprays with organic fungicides are often needed to grow good quality apricots. Plum curculios feed on buds, flowers and unripe fruits. Control by allowing hens to feed around trees, or shake branches to dislodge the insects onto a sheet then plunge into very hot water. Remove any fallen fruits as soon as possible.
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