The Apricots of Summer
“If you have been sunned through and through like an apricot on a wall from your earliest days, you are oversensitive to any withdrawal of heat.
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Apricot, of several species in the genus Prunus (stone fruits). Usually, an apricot tree is from the species P. armeniaca, but the species P. brigantina, P. mandshurica, P. mume, P. zhengheensis and P. sibirica are closely related, have similar fruit.
Apricots are winter-deciduous trees that usually reach about 15’ tall with an equal-sized canopy. In the spring they bloom, before the leaves re-emerge, with white to pink flowers. The flowers are loved by nectar-loving insects like bees and butterflies. Fruits emerge in the summer. It is said to thin out fruits to encourage larger individual fruits, but in Arizona playing the numbers game is more beneficial since we have a lot of birds and other creatures that compete for the fruits.
Some people say to net trees to protect fruits. We encourage you to use this method with great caution since bird netting kills indiscriminately (many birds and other creatures get caught in the netting).
Plant in full to part sun in well-amended soil and mulch the roots well with a coarse mulch. Feed regularly with an organic fertilizer. Keep moisture even and regular but soil well-drained.
Varieties for SE Arizona
Castlebrite: Firm and juicy. Good flavor when fully ripe, otherwise somewhat tart. Good size. Bright orange with red blush. 450 chill hours. Self-fruitful.
Gold Kist: Excellent backyard apricot for warm winter climates. Freestone, very good quality. Heavy bearing. Early harvest, late May to early June. Requires 300 chill hours. Self-fruitful.
Katy: 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. Self-fruitful.
Modesto: Commercially grown for shipping. 300-400 hours chilling. Self-fruitful.
Patterson: 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. Self-fruitful.
Royal Rosa: 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. Self-fruitful.