Prunus armeniaca

Rosaceae

Apricot

Apricots are self fertile, so it is not necessary to grow more than one variety for pollination.  There cold requirement for adequate fruit set is about 800 hours.  This means that apricots will grow in slightly warmer climates than most other stone fruits.  They prefer neutral soil pH and will not tolerate waterlogging.  Poor drainage will also increase their susceptibility to Verticillium Wilt disease.  For this reason also, they should not be grown near Tomatoes, or on ground where Tomatoes have previously been grown.
One of the greatest needs of Apricots on Australian soils is Nitrogen, and regular applications of suitable fertilizer may be necessary during the growing season.

Uses

The fruit has a wide variety of uses, including fresh, canned or dried fruit, juice and preserves.  Extracted seed oils also have some a use in cosmetics and health products.  This latter use, however, requires involved processing, as the seeds themselves are poisonous.

Culture

No information available at this time...

Propagation

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Cultivars

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Plant Health

There are many pest and fungal diseases of apricots.  The most troublesome are the root and wood rotting fungi.  Pest problems include Light Brown Apple Moth and Scale.  The greatest requirements, however, are for proper feeding and cultural practices.

More info

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