HARCOT apricot tree (prunus armeniaca)

🍑 Origin & background

• Harcot is a Canadian variety developed at the Harrow Research Station in Ontario around 1977.

• It was selected in particular for its late flowering, which helps to avoid the spring frosts that are all too common in cold climates.

✅ Main characteristics

• Hardiness / USDA zone: Approximately zones 4-9 according to some descriptions.
• Chill hours : Approximately 700 hours below ≈ 7-8°C for proper vernalization.
• Flowering: Late. Flowers appear a little later in the spring than earlier varieties, reducing the risk of frost.
• Fruit: Medium to large size. Orange-yellow skin, often with a slight red blush on the sunny side. Firm, sweet, juicy flesh with good flavor.
• Use: Good for fresh consumption, but also for picking, preserving, and cooking. Not very good for long-distance transport or prolonged storage.
• Pollination : Self-fertile, which means that a single tree can bear fruit. However, production may be better if other apricot trees are nearby.
• Disease: resistance Good resistance to brown rot and perennial canker, and some varieties show moderate resistance to bacterial spot.
• Habit/size : Medium to large tree; often reaches 4.5-6 m (≈ 15-20 ft) in favorable conditions. Similar width.

⚠ Limitations & challenges

• Although Harcot is hardy, zone 4 is often cited as the reliable lower limit. Below this, the tree may suffer serious damage depending on the winter and the protection provided.

• Wet or poorly drained soil is problematic: Harcot does not tolerate waterlogged soil well, which can lead to root diseases or other problems.

• The fruit does not keep very long: it is better fresh or processed (jam, cooking) rather than for prolonged storage or transport.

• For regions with extreme late frosts, even late flowering may not be enough.