Changes

| common_names = Apricot

| common_names = Apricot

| growth_habit = [[Tree]]

| growth_habit = [[Tree]]

| high =  

| high = 15 ft

| wide =  

| wide = 15 ft

| lifespan = [[Perennial]]

| lifespan = [[Perennial]]

| exposure = Sun

| exposure = Sun

| hardiness = Hardy to -30C

| hardiness = Hardy to -30C

| usda_zones = 5-8

| usda_zones = 5-8

| sunset_zones =  

| sunset_zones = 3-24 (see text)

| name = Apricot

| name = Apricot

| image = Apricots.jpg

| image = Apricots.jpg

Apricot cultivars are most often [[grafting|grafted]] on plum or peach rootstocks. A cutting of an existing apricot plant provides the fruit characteristics such as flavour, size, etc., but the rootstock provides the growth characteristics of the plant. Apricots and plums can hybridize with each other and produce fruit that are variously called pluots, plumcots, or apriums.  

Apricot cultivars are most often [[grafting|grafted]] on plum or peach rootstocks. A cutting of an existing apricot plant provides the fruit characteristics such as flavour, size, etc., but the rootstock provides the growth characteristics of the plant. Apricots and plums can hybridize with each other and produce fruit that are variously called pluots, plumcots, or apriums.  

Apricots have a chilling requirement of 300 to 900 chilling units. They are hardy in [[Hardiness zone#North American hardiness zones|USDA zones]] 5 through 8. Some of the more popular cultivars of apricots include ''Blenheim'', ''Wenatchee Moorpark'', ''Tilton'', and ''Perfection''.  

Apricots have a chilling requirement of 300 to 900 chilling units. They are hardy in [[Hardiness zone#North American hardiness zones|USDA zones]] 5 through 8. Some of the more popular cultivars of apricots include ''Blenheim'', ''Wenatchee Moorpark'', ''Tilton'', and ''Perfection''. Most will grow in Sunset Zones 3-24, but thrive in 8, 9, and 14.  Some hardy Manchurian varieties (Prunus armeniaca mandschirica) will grow in zones 2 and 35-41. Extremely hardy types like 'Manchu', 'Moongold' and 'Sungold' may succeed in Zone 43.

There is an old adage that an apricot tree will not grow far from the mother tree. The implication is that apricots are particular about the soil conditions in which they are grown. They prefer a well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. If fertilizer is needed, as indicated by yellow-green leaves, then 1/4 pound of 10-10-10 fertilizer should be applied in the second year. Granular fertilizer should be scattered beneath the branches of the tree. An additional 1/4 pound should be applied for every year of age of the tree in early spring, before growth starts. Apricots are self-compatible and do not require pollinizer trees, with the exception of the 'Moongold' and 'Sungold' cultivars, which can pollinate each other.  

There is an old adage that an apricot tree will not grow far from the mother tree. The implication is that apricots are particular about the soil conditions in which they are grown. They prefer a well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. If fertilizer is needed, as indicated by yellow-green leaves, then 1/4 pound of 10-10-10 fertilizer should be applied in the second year. Granular fertilizer should be scattered beneath the branches of the tree. An additional 1/4 pound should be applied for every year of age of the tree in early spring, before growth starts. Apricots are self-compatible and do not require pollinizer trees, with the exception of the 'Moongold' and 'Sungold' cultivars, which can pollinate each other.