🍑 Sugar Pearls Apricot Tree

🌸 Origin and type

• Species: Prunus armeniaca

• Origin: New Jersey, United States.

• Breeder: Rutgers University.

• Selector: Dr Joseph Goffreda.

• Introduced: 2005.

• Selection name: NJA150.

• Type: White-fleshed apricot with very late flowering.

• Special feature: Developed to flower much later than most apricot trees.

• Uses: Fresh eating, drying and processing.

Sugar Pearls™ is especially appreciated for its white flesh and exceptionally sweet, honey-like flavour.

🌳 Tree characteristics

• Habit: Spreading, compact and stocky.

• Mature height: About 3.5 to 4.5 m.

• Spread: About 4 to 5 m.

• Hardiness: Zones 4 to 7.

• Exposure: Full sun.

• Soil: Fertile, deep and well drained.

• Growth: Moderate to vigorous.

• Time to bearing: Generally after a few years.

• Productivity: Good when pollination conditions are met.

• Special feature: Good tolerance of fluctuating winter temperatures.

🍑 Fruit

• Shape: Round to slightly oval.

• Size: Medium to large.

• Skin: Pale yellow to golden yellow with an orange to red blush.

• Flesh: White to cream, sometimes slightly golden.

• Texture: Fine, smooth, tender and juicy.

• Flavour: Very sweet, rich and aromatic, with honey notes.

• Stone: To be verified for the selection sold.

• Harvest: Late July to early August, depending on the weather.

• Uses: Fresh eating, drying, jams, compotes and pastries.

• Storage: Short to medium; keep cool after harvest.

White flesh and a rich, sweet, honeyed flavour are this variety's main distinguishing features.

🌼 Flowering and pollination

• Flowering: Very late, well after most apricot varieties.

• Flower colour: White to pinkish.

• Self-fertile: Yes, considered self-fertile.

• Pollination: Another late-flowering apricot tree is strongly recommended to improve production.

Recommended pollinizers:

• Honey Pearls Nectacot

• Harlayne

• Jerseycot

• Other compatible, late-flowering apricot trees.

Late flowering is one of Sugar Pearls™' main advantages, helping reduce the risk of damage from spring frosts.

🛠️ Growing and care

• Planting: Spring or fall, outside periods of frost.

• Watering: Regular during the first few years and droughts.

• Pruning: Light, preferably in dry weather after harvest.

• Thinning: Recommended when fruit is too abundant, to encourage good size.

• Fertilizing: Compost or fruit-tree fertilizer in spring, according to soil needs.

• Drainage: Essential to prevent root problems.

• Location: Choose a sunny spot with good air circulation.

🦠 Diseases and resistance

• Brown rot: Can affect blossoms and fruit in wet conditions.

• Bacterial canker: Monitor branches and the trunk.

• Bacterial spot: Can damage foliage and fruit.

• General resistance: Good tolerance of several diseases according to available horticultural descriptions.

• Prevention: Encourage good air circulation and remove affected fruit and branches.

🍽️ Uses

• Fresh eating.

• Dried apricots.

• Jams and jellies.

• Compotes and purées.

• Pies and pastries.

• Home preserving and processing.

💡 Highlights

✅ White flesh, an uncommon characteristic in apricots.

✅ Exceptionally sweet flavour with honey notes.

✅ Very late flowering helps limit spring frost risks.

✅ Juicy fruit with a fine, pleasant texture.

✅ Reportedly good hardiness suited to cold regions.

✅ Excellent for fresh eating and drying.

⚠️ Points to consider

• A second late-flowering apricot tree is recommended to optimize pollination.

• Despite late flowering, blossoms can be damaged by spring frosts.

• Requires well-drained soil.

• Ripe fruit needs careful handling.

• Monitor the harvest to pick fruit at full ripeness.

🌱 Why choose Sugar Pearls apricot?

Sugar Pearls™ is a remarkable variety distinguished by its white flesh, exceptional sweetness and delicious honey notes. Its very late flowering is also a considerable advantage for apricot enthusiasts growing fruit trees in regions where spring frosts can compromise harvests.

An unusual, delicious apricot tree that stands out for both its fruit and its late flowering!