MORDEN 604 apricot

🍑 Morden 604 Apricot Tree

• Full name
• Prunus armeniaca ‘Morden 604’
• Origin
• Canada, Morden Research Station, Manitoba.
• Parents
• Cross between ‘Scout’ × ‘McClure’ (hardy varieties).

🌱 Characteristics of the tree fruit

• Flowering
• White-pink flowers according to some nurseries. 
• Size & habit
• Medium to large tree, reaching ≈ 4-6 m in height and width according to sources. Rounded-pyramidal habit.
• Fruit
• Golden yellow base color, sometimes with a touch of red when ripe. Orange, sweet flesh. Fairly firm fruit, good for fresh consumption, but also excellent for preserves/jams.
• Maturity/Harvest
• Mid-August or around that time, depending on the region.

❄️ Hardiness, climate requirements & sensitivities

• Hardiness zone
• Approximately USDA zone 3 (or zone 3b according to some sources) for cold regions. This indicates excellent tolerance to winter cold.
• Spring frost tolerance
• Sensitive to late spring frosts. Flowers may be damaged if frost occurs after bud break.
• Pollination
• Self-fertile, meaning it can produce fruit without external pollination, but as with many apricot trees, the presence of other varieties can improve yield and fruit size/quality.

✅ Advantages

• Very cold-hardy, suitable for regions with harsh winters.

• Good quality fruit for fresh consumption and processing (preserves, jams).

• Tree with good ornamental potential (flowers, foliage) and decent yield.

⚠️ Limitations/challenges

• Sensitive to late spring frosts: if the flowers are frozen, the harvest may be compromised.

• According to some sources, the fruit has a pit that is difficult to remove (or slightly more adherent) — which may be a disadvantage for certain uses. Requires well-drained soil, full sun exposure, and a protected location (wind, late frost) to obtain the best yields.