How to Grow Apricot Tree
Prunus armeniaca
The apricot tree produces sweet, fuzzy yellow fruit beloved for its flavor in pies and jams. Gardeners prize this deciduous variety for its stunning spring blossoms that precede the harvest season.
📷 Wikipedia: ApricotStarting Apricot Tree: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Apricot Tree is not usually started indoors.
Apricot trees are best planted as bare-root stock in late winter or started indoors well before the last frost date rather than being sown directly into the garden.
Soil, care & harvest
You cannot sow apricot seeds directly in early spring like cool-season crops; instead, start them indoors or purchase bare-root trees after the last frost when danger passes. If saving seeds, soak and scarify them, then plant 1/2 inch deep in pots with well-draining soil adjusted to a pH of 6.0–7.0. Germination takes several weeks to months under warm conditions.
Space your trees 15 to 20 feet apart to ensure proper airflow and sun exposure for full fruit production. Provide moderate watering, keeping the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged during dry spells. Apply a layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds, while feeding with balanced fertilizer in early spring.
Watch for aphids, scale insects, and fungal diseases like brown rot; prevent these by pruning dead wood and applying copper fungicides if needed. Harvest ripe apricots when they yield slightly to gentle pressure, typically occurring about 60 to 90 days after full bloom depending on the specific cultivar.
When to Plant Apricot Tree
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
