How to grow Apricots

How to grow Apricots

Things are evolving in the fruit garden. Mild winters and sunnier summers are slowly changing what we grow, with new and previously coddled fruits increasingly able to stand on their own feet. Cue the apricot; a soft and succulent stone fruit whose time has finally arrived. It’s not just our changing seasons that have helped this sun-loving fruit tree – years of breeding in places such as New Zealand and the United States have yielded a new generation of hardier varieties that are ideally suited to our island conditions.

If you thought apricots were too fussy and not for you, now is the time to give them a second look. Cooler, northern gardeners can grow them as a fan against a south-facing wall that will soak up daytime heat to re-emit at night, while southern growers can try them as free-standing bushes, for a crop of up to 500 fruits per plant! 

With Britain seeing its first commercial apricot orchard in Kent, and as improved, self-fertile varieties make growing them a doddle, the apricot has truly come of age.

Are apricot trees easy to grow?

While modern varieties are certainly easier to grow, apricot trees in the UK will always perform best when given the sunniest spot in the garden. You can grow an apricot tree from a stone, but this is a pain; likewise with growing an apricot tree from a cutting. It’s worth bearing in mind that apricots do not grow true from seed. You’re much better off investing in a decent, young apricot tree.

They need free-draining soil that won’t become saturated in winter, and young apricot trees will require a fairly deep soil to get their roots into. Apricot tree lifespan is quite impressive: a tree will crop for at least a couple of decades, so pick your spot wisely. 

To prepare the ground, thoroughly dig it over and incorporate plenty of organic matter to give it a boost. If your soil is particularly heavy, mark out a trench where the apricot tree is going to sit, and add a layer of broken mortar or bricks to the base, before covering with turfs and refilling with soil. Before planting, fork in some general-purpose fertiliser.

Free-standing apricot tree height can reach 3.6m, and these trees require little further preparation, but apricots grown as a fan will need a suitable support system. Prepare a south-facing wall or fence that’s at least 2m high and 4m wide to allow the branches to spread. Space horizontal wires at 15cm intervals on the wall, holding these in place with vine eyes. 

Growing apricot trees in pots

With their preference for deep, well-prepared soil there is some argument against growing apricots in containers, but with the right rootstock, a big enough container and a good planting medium, you’ll have no problems. In fact, there are clear advantages to container growing – apricots can be moved around the garden to make the most of the sun, and are easily covered in winter or brought into the greenhouse to protect them from rain splash, which can spread disease.

You might find it tricky to find a dwarf apricot tree in the UK, so select plants grown on a ‘St Julien A’ rootstock. Choose containers at least 50cm-wide and add a layer of crocks or stones into the bottom to aid drainage. Use soil-based compost to plant your tree – John Innes No. 3 is just the ticket. 

Trees will rely on you for water and nutrients, so be on-hand with the watering can. Begin feeding your apricot plants once they set into growth, and until their fruits swell. A high-potash liquid feed – tomato feed is perfect – applied every two weeks will keep them happy. Replace the top inch of soil every spring.

Pruning apricot trees

The initial work involved in nurturing your apricot will be around establishing a healthy branch framework. Any pruning is always completed during the growing season, to limit the opportunity for disease to set in when the apricot tree is sluggish in winter. It’s also best to avoid pruning during very wet weather.

To train an apricot bush, begin by cutting back the main stems by about a third, cutting to an outward-facing bud. This will encourage the tree to fill out. Do this initial pruning in mid-spring. Thereafter, simply cut away any vertical stems that appear and remove branches that are crossing, rubbing or damaged, immediately after harvesting your apricots in July or August. 

Older branches can be removed from time to time to promote fresh growth. Fangrown apricot trees are usually bought with two branches radiating out from a central stump. Tie in new stems as they grow to fill out the fan and cover the wall. Cut out (below ground level) any vertical suckers that emerge from the rootstock.