VIVAGOLD apricot

🧐 Description & origin

• Prunus armeniaca ‘Vivagold’ is an apricot variety described in cultivar guides as promising for slightly colder climates, particularly in Ontario.

• It ripens late in the season: about 6 days after the Veecot cultivar in Ontario.

• Intense orange base color with a “velvety” finish on the fruit.

• The flesh is fairly firm, making it a good variety for processing (preserving, cooking, etc.) as the fruit holds up better during handling.

✅ Strengths & uses

• Processing quality: the firm flesh helps limit damage during cooking or canning. Vivagold is described as having “excellent processing quality.”

• Taste & color: well-colored, attractive fruit, which is interesting for the fresh market, but also for presentation.

• Late variety: the fact that it ripens after other varieties can extend the harvest season if you have several apricot trees. It can also help avoid the risk of spring frost or damage from wet weather at the end of the season.

⚠️ Limitations & special features

• Poor self-pollination: Vivagold is self-sterile according to Ontario descriptions. This means that in commercial plantings or orchards, it should not be planted alone—it needs a compatible pollinator nearby.

• Sensitivity at harvest time: One of the indications is that the fruit must be picked “carefully” at the optimal moment of ripeness to ensure the best quality. If you wait too long or pick too early, it can affect the flavor or texture.

• Climate zones: Recommended for Hardiness Zones 5b to 9a. This means that in very cold regions or those with extreme winters, it may be less reliable without protection or a favorable microclimate.

📍 Timeline & cultivation

• Harvest: Late July/early August depending on the zone (mid-August in some nurseries).

• Growth: moderate growth.

• Exposure: full sun or at least plenty of light to ripen properly. Well-drained soil. As with most apricot trees.

🧪 Bonus: How to maximize pollination

• Plant the second tree less than 10-15 m away for the bees.

• Choose a sunny location for both.

• Add honey plants around them (lavender, phacelia, etc.) to attract pollinators.

• Do not prune heavily just before flowering (the flowers are key).