Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Wild apricot trees in their native range can grow 30 to 45 feet tall, but
cultivated apricots are generally kept to around 12 feet in height. The trees
tend to spread and are typically planted about 18 to 24 feet apart within and
between rows.
The fruits are 1.5 to 2.5 inches in diameter and have skins that are yellow
to orange, often with a red blush. The skins range from fuzzy to nearly
smooth. Most varieties have yellow flesh, but a few white-fleshed varieties
are available. The trees should bear their first marketable crops 3 to 5 years
after planting. The fruits are usually borne on rather short-lived spurs but
can be produced on vigorous 1-year-old shoots. A key purpose in pruning
and training is to keep the spurs well exposed to sunlight.
Fresh market fruit is hand harvested when the fruits are mature but firm.
Plan on picking each tree two to three times as the fruits mature. Apricots
destined for drying are allowed to fully ripen before harvest. Mechanical
shakers are sometimes used for harvesting apricots destined for processing,
although the trees are susceptible to damage from the shakers. Apricots do
not store well and should be refrigerated after harvest and used within 1 to
2 weeks.
Because of susceptibility to fungal and bacterial pathogens, open canop-
ies, good light penetration, and good air movement are critically important in
organic orchards. NOTE: Sulfur is toxic to apricots and must not be applied
to the trees for disease control. Apply fixed copper fungicides instead.
In general, apricots are managed similarly to peaches, although they re-
quire less pruning. The trees form heavier branches than peaches and can be
trained to either open-centered vase shapes (like peaches) or modified cent-
ral leaders (like apples). Open center training is the most common. Pest and
disease problems are similar to those for peaches.
Rootstocks.
Apricot trees are most commonly budded onto apricot or peach
seedling rootstocks using seed from varieties adapted to a particular grow-
ing area. Seedling peach rootstocks such as 'Lovell' are sometimes employed
on sandy soils in mild climates. In Michigan, 'Manchurian' and 'South Haven
