Apricot
Family: Rosaceae
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Recommended Temperature Zone: sunset: 2-23 depends on variety USDA: 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) Watering Needs: Moderate to regular water, needs good drainage, tolerates some alkalinity and salinity Propagation: T- or chip-budded on seedling rootstock |
| 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. |
Cultural Practices:
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.
Blooming Habits:
White to pinkish flowers, up to 1 inch in diameter (2.5 cm), most US varieties are self-fruitful.
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