Apricot Tree from Seed Growing Made Easy

Growing an apricot tree from seed can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it does require some patience and dedication.

Apricot trees grown from seed can take anywhere from 5 to 10 years to produce fruit, which is significantly longer than trees grafted from a mature apricot tree.

To increase the chances of success, choose fresh, healthy seeds with a high germination rate.

It's essential to plant the seeds immediately after harvesting, as they can remain viable for only a few months.

With proper care, your apricot tree will thrive and provide you with a bountiful harvest for years to come.

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To prepare apricot seeds for planting, you'll first need to extract the pit from a fully-ripe fruit. Scrub off any remaining fruit matter with a brush and let the surface dry.

You can use a hammer, nutcracker, or vise to crack open the seed, taking care not to crush it. If you're unsure, you can plant the entire pit, but germination will take longer.

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Once you've retrieved the seeds, allow them to dry on newspaper for a few hours. This helps prevent rot and promotes healthy growth.

Stratification is an important step in preparing seeds for planting. If you obtained the fruit from a farmers market or directly from a tree, you'll need to stratify the seeds for 60 days. You can store them in a cover jar or zip-top plastic bag in the refrigerator.

If you bought the fruit from a grocery store, the fruit has already been cold-stored, so stratification may not be necessary. In this case, you can wrap the seeds in a clean, damp paper towel and place them in a plastic bag in a window, keeping an eye on them and watering as needed.

Here's a simple step-by-step guide to preparing your apricot seeds:

Planting the sapling requires some care and attention to detail. Select a location with full sun and good soil that drains well but holds moisture. Apricots prefer a slightly alkaline soil in the pH range of 6.5-8.0.

Dig a deep hole, at least 6 inches deep, to accommodate the sapling's roots. For saplings, the depth will vary based on the sapling's size, but make sure it's deep enough to cover the roots up to where they were covered in the container. I've found that using a garden fork to loosen the soil makes it easier to dig the hole.

Place the sapling in the hole and soak it thoroughly. Carefully spread the roots in every direction in the hole, making sure there's no potential for root breakage. It's essential to handle the roots gently to avoid damaging them.

Cover the sapling with soil up to where it was while in its container. Water the area often, especially if you live in a hot climate, where you should water three times a week. In cooler climates, once a week should suffice.

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To start growing your apricot tree from seed, you'll need to extract the seed from the pit. Crack it open using a nutcracker or a light hammer blow. Refrigerate the seed, wrapping it with wet tissue paper and placing it inside a bottle, to let stratification kick start.

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Stratification can take anywhere from 60 to 70 days, depending on where you obtained the fruit. If you bought the fruit from a grocery store, it's less likely to need stratification. If you're not going to stratify the seeds, wrap them in a clean, damp paper towel and place them in a plastic bag in a window.

Once the seeds have stratified, you'll know it's time to plant them when you see roots emerging. Pot the sprouting seeds in a 4-5 inch pot, covering them with potting soil. Keep the seedlings in a sunny window, under grow lights, or in a greenhouse until they're big enough to transplant into the garden.

Apricot trees grow outdoors in full sun, in climates with cold winter to induce dormancy and warm summers. They require general tree maintenance, including fertilization in winter with a low-nitrogen, complete fertilizer, and pruning any branches or leaves that show signs of disease.

Here's a quick guide to apricot tree maintenance:

Remove the screen that protects your tree when you see it starting to grow, usually when it's just breaking through the top layer of soil. This will give it room to breathe and grow without being stifled.

Stake your tree within its first year of life to protect it from hungry animals. Place a metal stake 1.5 feet away from the tree on either side, and tie the center of the tree to the stakes with soft materials like canvas straps.

If insects appear, apply pesticides as needed. You can control brown rot with a Chlorothalonil spray on the branches just before bloom and after each rain during bloom.

Fertilize your tree in winter with a low-nitrogen, complete fertilizer. You don't need fertilizer when you plant the tree, but it's essential for fruit production.

Apricot trees typically produce fruit in 3-4 years, but be prepared to protect the blossoms from frost damage during winter.

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To promote healthy growth, thin the fruit to about 1-2 per cluster, removing any misshapen or damaged fruits. This will give the remaining fruits enough air and light to prevent fungal disease.

Keep an eye out for signs of disease, such as wilted blossoms, brown leaves, or shriveled fruit. Prune any affected branches or leaves to prevent the spread of infection.

Here's a quick checklist to keep in mind:

To grow your apricot tree from seed, you'll want to start by extracting the seed from the pit. You can do this by cracking it open with a nutcracker or a light hammer blow.

Choose a variety of apricot tree that has excellent fruit quality and disease resistance. However, if you've just picked one from the supermarket, you can skip this part.

Refrigerate the seed to stratify it, which will help germination kick start. You can wrap it with wet tissue paper and place it inside a bottle.

As soon as the seed sprouts, about 4-6 weeks after, plant it in a pot. Apricot trees grow outdoors in full sun, in climates with cold winter to induce dormancy and warm summers.

Here's a rough guide to the ideal growing conditions for your apricot tree:

Remove the screen when you see a little tree popping up, as you don't want your new tree to be stifled by its protective layer. You may also want to build a wire or wooden fence around your tree to protect it from hungry animals.

Stake the tree within its first year of life, placing a metal stake into the ground 1.5 feet away on either side of the tree. Tie the center of the tree to the stakes with a soft material such as canvas straps.