How to grow and care for an apricot tree

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) trees produce delicious fruit in summer, and growing your own means the fruit can be enjoyed when they are sweet and meltingly ripe, unlike shop-bought fruit, which must be harvested early to be transported while firm. Apricot trees can be grown successfully outside in warmer parts of the UK, notably the south-east of England. Elsewhere, because the beautiful pink blossom is usually borne in late winter or early spring and is therefore liable to frost damage, only grow apricots in large pots and keep under cover for the colder months. When planted in the right conditions, an apricot tree should start producing fruit within two or three years and live for decades.

Only one tree is needed to produce fruit as apricots are self-fertile. Generally, apricot trees are relatively high maintenance because the emerging flower buds and blossom usually needs protecting from frost in late winter or early spring, then in summer the fruit needs protection from birds and wasps in order to ripen fully on the tree, which gives the best flavour and texture. All parts of apricot trees, other than the flesh of the fruits, are harmful to pets and humans if eaten.

Apricot tree size and rootstocks

Apricot trees vary considerably in size from as little as 1.2m in height to 5m, according to the type of rootstock they are grafted onto.

Grow an apricot either as a free-standing bushy tree or train as a fan against a wall. Ready-grown fan-trained trees are available to buy, although they are expensive.

How to grow an apricot tree

Grow apricots in fertile soil in a sunny, sheltered site in the ground or, with compact varieties, in a large pot. It may be necessary to hand-pollinate the flowers if the tree is growing under cover or if there is insufficient pollinator activity at the time of flowering, and it's a good idea to thin out overcrowded or misshapen fruits when they are small. Protect the ripening fruit from birds and wasps using fine mesh, then harvest in summer, when the fruit easily detaches from the tree.

Where to plant an apricot tree

To fruit successfully, apricots need a period of winter cold, a fairly warm, dry spring and a hot summer, so it's important to give them the conditions they need. In warmer, drier regions of the UK, you can grow apricot trees outdoors, preferably in a sunny, sheltered spot such as in front of a wall. Avoid low-lying sites (known as ‘frost pockets’) where cold air gathers. Apricot tree leaves are deciduous, so when choosing their position, bear in mind that the tree will be bare over winter.

In colder areas or less favourable sites, choose a compact or dwarf apricot tree to grow in a large pot and keep in a greenhouse or conservatory.

Soil for growing apricot trees needs to be fertile, rich in organic matter and free-draining. Neutral to alkaline soil is best for apricots, with a pH of 6.5 to 8.

How to plant an apricot tree

Planting during the dormant season is best for trees to establish, although container-grown trees may be planted at any time of year if kept regularly watered for the rest of the growing season.

In the ground, dig a planting hole sufficiently wide for the roots to be spread out. Ensure the top of the rootball is at soil level by placing a cane across the top of the planting hole. Backfill the soil around the roots, firm in well, water in, and mulch the soil surface with compost or chipped bark to improve moisture retention and discourage weed growth. Stabilise the tree with a short stake, secured to the trunk using a tree tie.

To plant a compact-growing apricot tree in a pot, choose a large container (minimum 45cm high and wide) made of a heavy material such as thick terracotta – this helps prevent the top-heavy plant from toppling over. Plant using a soil-based potting compost mixed with a quarter by volume of coarse grit.

How to care for an apricot tree

Watering

During the first full growing season, keep the tree watered during dry spells, watering thoroughly once every few days to encourage deep roots to develop. Keep the ground around the base clear of grass and weeds for at least a 1m circle to avoid competition for water and nutrients.

Water regularly during dry spells in spring and early summer, particularly trees that are growing against walls, where the soil is likely to be drier and is often sheltered from much of the rainfall.

Pot-grown apricots must be watered regularly throughout their lives. Ensure surplus water drains away freely by standing the pot on gravel or raising just off the ground with pot feet.

Feeding

Feed an apricot tree annually, in late winter, with a general fertiliser that is high in potassium (potash).

Pollination

One of the challenges of growing apricot trees in the UK is that most varieties bear flowers in late winter or early spring, when there are fewer pollinators about. A lack of pollinators will also be an issue with trees grown under cover, so it may be necessary to hand-pollinate the flowers using a small paint brush to transfer pollen from one bloom to another.

Fruit thinning

When an apricot tree starts to produce a heavy crop of fruits, thin them once they reach the size of a marble. First take out any poorly shaped fruits, then thin the remainder so they are spaced around 8cm apart.

Flower and fruit protection

If you are concerned about overnight frosts damaging flower buds or flowers, thus impeding fruit production, protect outdoor-grown trees with thick horticultural fleece through the period in which frosts are predicted. Unless you plan to hand-pollinate the flowers, it will be important to remove this fleece during the daytime, or once the cold snap is definitely over, otherwise insects will not be able to access the flowers.

As fruits start to ripen, the crop will entice wasps and birds. Protect the fruits with fine mesh so they can ripen fully on the tree.

How and when to prune an apricot tree

Once established, only fan-trained apricot trees need regular pruning to maintain their shape, encourage fresh growth and keep them close to the wall. Because apricots fruit best on two- and three-year old wood, you need to prune up to half of the shoots that bore fruit last season down to about 3cm, close to a bud – this will encourage fresh new growth which will bear fruit in the next two or three years.

Bush-form trees only need pruning to remove dead, damaged and overcrowded growth.

Prune apricot trees in late spring or early summer – never in autumn or winter, when mild, damp conditions make infection with silver leaf (a plant disease affecting apricots, plums and cherries, among others) much more likely.

Pests and diseases of apricots

Apricot diseases include bacterial canker, silver leaf, blossom wilt and brown rot. These can largely be prevented by growing your apricot tree in the right site and soil, ensuring that it receives enough water and nutrients, and pruning only in late spring or the summer. If disease occurs, prune off and dispose of the infected shoots.

Apricot varieties to grow

The best apricot trees for the UK are those that have been bred for cooler climates, such as Flavorcot™ and 'Tomcot'.

Apricot Flavorcot™ has sweet, well-flavoured fruit that ripens in August. Height x Spread: 2.5m x 2.5m

• Buy apricot Flavorcot from Thomson & Morgan
• Buy apricot Flavorcot from Suttons

'Tomcot' bears very large fruit of good flavour, in late July. H x S: 4m x 3m

• Buy apricot 'Tomcot' from Thomson & Morgan
• Buy apricot 'Tomcot' from Suttons

Sibley’s Patio Apricot Flavourcot and Sibley’s Patio Apricot 'Tomcot' are produced using special grafting techniques so that the tree remains dwarf at around 1.2-1.8m high. H x S: 1.2m x 1.2m

• Buy Sibley’s Patio Apricot Flavourcot from Pomona Fruits
• Buy Sibley’s Patio Apricot 'Tomcot' from Pomona Fruits

‘Moorpark’ is an old variety originally introduced in the 17th century that bears very large, well-flavoured fruit in late August. Still widely grown today, although it is prone to diseases. H x S: 4m x 2.5m

• Buy apricot 'Moorpark' from Marshalls

‘Golden Glow’ is a British-bred variety that copes well with damper conditions, bearing good crops of fruit in early August. H x S: 3.5m x 2.5m

• Buy apricot 'Golden Glow' from Marshalls