Apricots

Chapter 21

Production

• The lowest production of the all stone fruits produced in the US.

• This is due to a very early bloom.

• The top producing countries in the world are: Turkey, Spain, Italy, France, & Greece.

• The US produces 170 – 200 million lbs. per year which is only 4% of the world market

Yields

• California avg. is 3 ½ to 4 ½ tons per acre.

• 1/3 to ½ of yields are for fresh market the rest go to processing.

Fruit and Tree growth habits• Small trees that grow 25’ tall.• They can grow for 30 to 40

years.• They come into production in

their 4th. Leaf.• Fruit on spurs.• Zaiger’s produced a hybrid,

ApriumTM which is ¾ Apricot and ¼ Japanese plum.

Site Selection & Preparation• Choose the most frost free site

available.• Apricots are very adaptable to

soil types.• pH of the soil between 6.0 to

8.5

Rootstocks

Choosing Cultivars

Orchard layout and planting• Page 432

Orchard floor management, irrigation, & fertilizers.

Insects - MitesBrown Mite eggs &

adult European Red mite

Obliquebanded leafroller

Shothole borer

Peach twig borer

KatydidsAdult Nymphs

Diseases – Phytophthora root & Crown rot

Crown gall

Oak root fungus

Brown rot

Verticillium wilt