Apricot Trees
From the same family as plums and peaches, apricot trees are an excellent fruiting tree for the home garden if you have a sunny position and a well drained, humus rich soil. Lots of varieties for sale with differences in fruit texture, taste and ripening times.
So we are looking for a position with as much sun as possible but with protection from frosts and winds. The good thing about apricots are that they are self pollinating, as long as you have bees they will set fruit. Ideally apricots will have a cold winter and a hot summer, so consider careful the planting position.
Apricot Tree Varieties
In terms of varieties we are looking at size and cold hardiness as well as ripening and taste characteristics.- Dwarf apricots, plants grafted onto dwarfing rootstock are also available, these are an excellent choice for growing in containers or pots. Look to buy the newer varieties for cold hardiness especially 'Isabella' an early ripening compact tree.
- Goldcott is from the USA and handles the cold, this one is a smaller growing or 'semi dwarf'. April gold is a prolific fruiter, a real apricot taste. All are excellent for eating as well as for making jams and preserves.
- Hargrand is another new cultivar, we know little about this one as yet.
- And of course Moorpark and Early Moorpark are excellent.
- 'Tomcott' is well suited to warmer areas of the UK.
Apricots are best pruned in late winter to early spring once the sap begins to rise.
Fig Trees are for sale online from the following nurseries
POMONA FRUITS
Pomona House, 12 Third Avenue, Walton-on-Naze, Essex CO14 8JU - Phone: 0845 676 0607 Fax: 0845 676 0608
Llarge selection of quality fruit trees and soft fruits online and by mail order.
www.pomonafruits.co.uk