Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Having your own apricot tree (Prunus armenia) in the garden is a real pleasure. Being able to go down and pick ripe, truly fresh apricots is a feeling that can't be compared to buying apricots. The sooner you plant an apricot tree, the sooner you will get really tasty apricots.

Steps

1. 1 Make sure you have the right growing environment for your apricots. It should be a variety that is adapted to your local climate. Apricots tend to prefer cooler climates, but can be grown in subtropical climates, provided the winters are not too warm (this causes early fruiting).
2. 2 Decide whether you want to purchase a young tree that is already bearing fruit (usually grafted onto a rootstock) or grow from seed. Growing from a seed takes a lot of patience and you will need to stratify the seed in order for it to germinate.
   • Think about the size of the tree. Bonsai are best for small gardens.
   • If you are buying a tree with an open root system, get a tree that is 2-3 years old.
3. 3 Choose a suitable location. Apricot needs a lot of heat during the summer season. The tree must be protected from frost and wind. This protects the fruit as well as the insects that are supposed to pollinate the flowers.
   • The apricot tree is very responsive to growing near a wall. Choose a wall that gets a lot of sun if you're in a cooler area.
   • Do not plant an apricot tree where the following crops are grown: eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, raspberries, and strawberries. This is because these crops can be a source of verticillium wilting.
   • Apricots can be grown successfully in containers. Such a tree can be planted at any time, except when it is very hot.
4. 4 Prepare the soil. The soil should be well-drained, but retaining moisture, saturated and loamy. Apricots prefer slightly alkaline soil in the 6.5-8.0 pH range. The place should be well weeded. Dig in rotted manure or compost.
   • Apricots do not grow well in light, sandy soils.
5. 5 Plant an apricot tree in winter or early spring. The only exception to this is the mild climate, when planting in the fall is acceptable. Water well once planted and add a light layer of mulch around the tree. Don't let the mulch touch the bark.
   • Plant the apricot 15 cm from a wall or fence.
6. 6 Water thoroughly every week. Apricots can suffer from root rot, so do not overfill; watering abundantly once a week is best. There must be good drainage in the soil.
7. 7 Fertilize. Fertilizer (compound and low nitrogen) can be applied later in winter and then again during fruiting to help the tree cope with nutrient depletion during fruit formation.
8. 8 Expect fruit within 3-4 years after planting. Be aware that flowering apricots are very susceptible to frost and may need to be protected.
9. 9 Thin fruit. It is a good idea to thin out the fruit at the same distance. Start when the fruit is about the size of a cherry and finish when it is nearly full. Focus on removing poor quality, misshapen, or unhealthy looking fruit. If there are more than 3-4 apricots in a bunch, thin them so that the apricots in a bunch are fully ripe.
10. 10 Harvest your crops. Apricots are usually ready to harvest from summer to early fall.This will depend on the variety. They should be a little soft. Be careful when ripping them off so as not to rip the skin of the fetus.
    • The yield depends on the type of tree, its size and age.
11. 11 Cut off. The apricot tree produces the highest quality and highest yield on short branches, two or three years old. Therefore, do not prune too much or you will get a bad harvest. Prune lightly, if necessary, for the first few years. Prune old branches every four to six years to make room for new shoots; choose those that no longer bear fruit.
    • If you are forming a fan-shaped crown, you will need to trim it accordingly. Do this in early spring, before growing.
    • To get an apricot bush, prune the leading branches back in early spring. Over the years, the central branches will become unproductive, cut off one third of the main branches after harvest. This will stimulate explosive growth. Cover the sections with a special product or rubbing alcohol to prevent infection.

Tips

• Manual pollination is sometimes necessary if there are few insects nearby.
• The fan shape is ideal for small spaces, but be aware that this also limits the yield.
• A new tree does not have to bear a large harvest of fruit; Thin the fruit a lot to prevent this.
• Another tree that you would like to try is aprium - a cross between apricots and plums.

Warnings

• Apricots are susceptible to brown rot in warm, humid weather, during flowering and three weeks before harvest.
• If late frosts are transmitted, protect the flowers by throwing a light blanket over the tree.
• Over-pruning can lead to bacterial cancer and silver leaf fungus.

What do you need

• Digging tools
• Compost / mulch
• Fertilizer
• Open-rooted apricot tree or seeds
• Irrigation accessories