Apricot (Berries, minor fruits and fruit trees)

An early apricot that ripens 5 days after Harcot. The fruit is very attractive with a good red blush, medium to large sized, slightly flattened, very firm flesh, good eating quality and freestone. The fruit is also very tolerant to bacterial spot, brown rot and skin cracking. The tree has moderate production, is canker tolerant and is hardier than Veecot. Must be protected from the harsh winds in zone 4b. For climatic zones lower than 4b, pot culture is possible and very easy like we do with the nectarines and peaches in colder zones.

A hardy apricot featuring showy pink flowers in early spring followed by tasty golden fruit in mid-summer, good for preserves; quite ornamental, ideal for the home orchard; needs full sun and a pollinator, flowers can be damaged by late spring frosts

Edible Qualities:

Westcot Apricot is a medium-sized tree that is typically grown for its edible qualities. It produces yellow round fruit (technically 'drupes') with gold overtones and gold flesh which are usually ready for picking in late summer. Note that the fruits have hard inedible pits inside which must be removed before eating or processing. The fruits have a sweet taste and a firm texture.

The fruit are most often used in the following ways: Fresh Eating, Cooking, Preserves

Westcot Apricot is blanketed in stunning clusters of fragrant shell pink flowers along the branches in early spring, which emerge from distinctive pink flower buds before the leaves. It has green foliage throughout the season. The pointy leaves turn yellow in fall. The fruits are showy yellow drupes with gold overtones, which are carried in abundance in late summer. The fruit can be messy if allowed to drop on the lawn or walkways and may require occasional clean-up.

This is a deciduous tree with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration.

Westcot Apricot will grow to be about 30 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 25 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more. This variety requires a different selection of the same species growing nearby in order to set fruit. This tree is typically grown in a designated area of the yard because of its mature size and spread. It should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This is a selected variety of species not originally from North America.

Ideal for pot culture in colder zones than 4b-5a. Self-fertile, but benefits from cross-pollination with another Apricot.

Tree selected from Canada. Frost hardy late bloom. Resists brown rot and perennial canker. Medium to large fruit with sweet, juicy, rich flavor - one of the best. hardy in zone 4b but we recommend more a zone 5a

An early apricot with an attractive red blush. It has good fruit quality for roadsides markets and direct fruit sales, but unsuitable for shipping or processing. Harcot has a sweet kernel, but this characteristic has been inconsistent at Vineland research station.

Ideal for pot culture in colder zones like 3a-3b. Protect from the cold. Suitable for zone 5a on the ground in full sun.

Goldrich fruit are large and oval, with firm, deep orange flesh and a fine texture, and has good flavour and quality. Goldrich trees are vigorous and productive. Only partially self-fertile and should be cross-pollinated with Rival or Moorpark for best fruit set.
 

Zone: 4 – 9
Pollination Group: 2
Ripens: Beginning of August
Fertility: Self pollinating
Skin Colour: Dull orange
Flesh: Orange. Firm and smooth. Freestone.
Flavour: Excellent flavour
Usage: Best for fresh eating
Storage: 4 – 7 days
Notes: Thin the crop for larger fruit size.

Zone: 4 – 9
Pollination Group: 2
Ripens: Beginning of August
Fertility: Self pollinating
Skin Colour: Dull orange
Flesh: Orange. Firm and smooth. Freestone.
Flavour: Excellent flavour
Usage: Best for fresh eating
Storage: 4 – 7 days
Notes: Thin the crop for larger fruit size.

An early apricot that ripens 4 days after Harcot, probably late july depending on your climatic zone. The fruit is attractive, red blush over half the fruit, oblong, medium size, very good flesh quality and freestone. The fruit has firm flesh and is moderately resistant to bacterial spot and skin cracking. The tree is hardier than Veecot, consistently productive, vigorous and canker tolerant. Hardy to zone 4b and over. Must be protected from the harsh winds in zone 4b

Zone: 5 – 9
Pollination Group: 2
Ripens: End of July
Fertility: Self pollinator
Skin Colour: Bright orange
Flesh: Good quality. Juicy. Freestone.
Flavour: Juicy. Good flavour.
Usage: Good for fresh eating, drying, and canning
Storage: 4 – 7 days

A promising new apricot variety for us. Very cold hardy and late blooming, which improves the chance of a crop in our climate. Small (3-4 cm) fruit with sweet flavour.

An apricot variety that can withstand cold winters -30°C. Researchers bred this tree in Michigan’s snow belt, so you can depend on its hardiness, vigor and production consistency, even in areas with lower-temperature climates. The fruit has a deep, tangy flavor — perfect for fresh eating or canning. Originates from Michigan, introduced in 1967. Freestone. Cold-hardy. Ripens in early July. Self-pollinating.

Zone 4b /  limited supply

Harglow Apricot is a very late-blooming and productive Canadian variety well suited to areas with late frosts. A proven winner in the Northwest for its resistance to perennial canker and brown rot, Harglow produces medium sized bright orange fruits with orange freestone flesh. Very sweet and flavorful!

In colder zone... can be grown in pot and keep under the snow during winter

One of the best apricots in cultivation! Fruit has a pleasant apricot flavor with plenty of juice, sensational for fresh-eating, canning, and even drying. High in vitamins and antioxidants. Tree is hardy and a beauty in the landscape with heart-shaped foliage and showy pink-white spring blossoms – an early wildlife attractant! Flowers give way to large, golden-yellow fruits in summer. Introduced in the late 1600s. Freestone. Ripens in mid-July. Self-pollinating.

For zone 3...self fertile

An almond-apricot cross, coming from a 100-year-old tree in southern Ontario province.  Sweet kernels.  Tree is self-fruitful, hardy into the –40s F., spreading growth habit.  Fruit is small to medium sized, thick skin, sweet flesh.  Resistant to late spring frosts and bears well in Quebec, eastern England, and SW Idaho.  Does best in humid or subhumid climates.

Precious is a very hardy variety that is smallish, yellow orange and with softer flesh.  Good for cold marginal areas.  It ripens in mid-season and is self-fertile.

Zone 4b. Self-fertile, but benefits from cross-pollination with another Apricot.

Officially named and introduced by Washington State University (WSU). It sets and sizes fruit in cool frosty spring weather where all other varieties fail. The prolific bearing tree produces large elongated fruit of very good flavor. The tree blooms in early March and the fruit ripens in early August. A natural semi-dwarf, the tree can easily be maintained at 15' height and spacing. It's self-fertile.

One of the most hardy apricot

The cultivar was developed in Morden, Manitoba 1937. The fruit is bronze gold, blushed with red. Good for canning and jam, fair for eating. Blooms early May. Produces more fruit with a pollinator. For zone 4a

Zone 4b.

An all-time favorite for flavor, offering large, firm fruit, golden in color with a red blush. Tilton is excellent eaten fresh and considered the best for freezing, drying and canning. Self fertile/mid-season. An excellent pollenizer for other varieties. This vigorous, adaptable tree is hardy and resistant to late frosts.

Zone 4b / Self-pollinating and ripens: early August

Still the benchmark cultivar for the mid-season. It has a highly attractive, smooth finish and a deep, dark orange ground colour. It hangs well at maturity, but because of its intense colour, must be picked carefully for optimum maturity. Bacterial spot can be a problem some years, but tree health is excellent. Recommended for the fresh market and home canning.

Developed at Vineland, ON and matures about one week after Goldcot. The skin is an intense dark orange colour when ripe. The flesh is juicy and smooth-textured. Recommended Use: canning, fresh eating.

zone 5

Fruit has a light orange colour and velvety finish
Hard flesh makes its processing quality very good
Fruit must be picked carefully for optimum maturity
Ripens: late August

Zone 4b

Harogem is a Canadian variety that crops in early July in southern Ontario. Regular high productivity of medium-sized red fruits. Flesh is sweet and freestone, juicy and aromatical with good firmness. The fruit is ideal for fresh consumption and market sale. The tree is medium vigor, nearly upright. Older popular variety, with good healthy fruit characteristics. Beautiful white flowers in the spring!

History: Bred by Richard Leyne from Harrow, Ontario, Canada in 1979.

Apricot Growing Tips: Only prune in the early summer as part of the fruit thinning operation in heavy cropping years or after picking in light cropping years. If there is no crop, do not prune. Apricots do not suffer from peach curl disease but be aware they do get bacterial canker quite badly during prolonged wet weather. Pot growing is acceptable provided there is even moisture. Good drainage is essential and for the very best success a southerly wall is perfect...they deserve a prime position!

For zone 4-5

Self-fertile, but benefits from cross-pollination with another Apricot.

History: Montrose's parent tree was discovered growing in Montrose, California, by Lloyd Rosenvold after he purchased the land in 1952. He was surprised to find a large apricot tree growing quite high up on a hill in an area where the winters could get quite cold, yet the tree still produced large crops of excellent fruit. When he moved to Idaho in 1966, Rosenvold took seeds from the apricots of this tree to see how they would fare in an even colder climate. The best of these trees he named 'Montrose.'

Why We Grow It: Montrose produces medium to large freestone apricots that are yellow with a pleasant red blush. They have an excellent sweet flavour and even the pit is edible, being similar to an almond. Most importantly for us, these trees are quite hardy and bloom late, making them more reliable in our climate compared to other varieties. 

For Zone 4

This prairie cultivar has hardy flower buds and produces large, golden, freestone fruit. Used as boulevard trees in Edmonton – and have historically done fabulously in the area. Requires a second apricot for cross-pollination.

PARENTAGE: Scout x McClure

FRUIT COLOUR: Golden Yellow
FRUIT SIZE: 3.5 – 4.5 cm

1X Frost Peach or Hardy Red Nectarine

1X Puget Gold Apricot

1X Stella Cherry or Lapin Cherry

1X Italian Prune     

Small fast-growing tree. Rounded, spreading form, winter-hardy, and drought resistant. Native toManchuria and Korea. Attractive white flowers,golden orange fall color and edible fruit. Early flowering makes fruit production susceptible to spring frost damage.
The largest tree in North Dakota is 26 feet tall with a canopy spread of 32 feet.
Cold Hardiness USDA and Canadian Zone 3

Fruit Color - Fruits are yellow sometimes with a blushof red.
Growth Habit - Spreading.
Texture - Medium, summer; medium, winter.
Crown Height - 10 to 15 feet.
Crown Width - 12 to 18 feet.