One of the delights of spring is seeing apricot trees erupt in beautiful white or pink blossoms before forming sweet, tangy fruits. But apricot bloom times can vary depending on climate, variety, and seasonal conditions. Read on to learn when you can expect apricot trees to flower based on your location.
Typical Apricot Bloom Period
Across their cultivation range, most apricot varieties flower in late winter or very early spring. Here are some general guidelines for expected bloom times:
-
In warmer southern climates, apricots bloom in January/February.
-
In temperate zones like the southwestern U.S., blooms open in February/March.
-
In cooler northern regions, apricots flower in March/April
A key factor influencing apricot bloom is exposure to winter chilling. All apricots need a certain number of chilling hours below 45°F during dormancy to flower properly. Insufficient chilling can delay flowering or prevent it altogether.
Varieties suited to warmer winter areas like California and the Southwest need as little as 300 chilling hours. Apricots adapted to colder climates need up to 800 chilling hours and bloom later as a result.
Regional Blooming Differences
Let’s take a closer look at typical apricot flowering times across different regions:
California and the Southwest
- Blooms open from late January through February.
- Popular varieties include Blenheim, Tilton, and Modesto.
- Trees require 300-500 winter chilling hours.
- Early blooms risk damage from erratic late winter frosts.
Pacific Northwest
- Bloom period runs from February through early March.
- Hardy varieties include Puget Gold, Goldbar, and Harlayne.
- 500-700 chilling hours needed.
- Wet spring weather can hamper pollination.
Midwestern States
- Flowers emerge late March into early April.
- Manchurian apricots are cold-hardy cultivars.
- Trees need 700+ chilling hours.
- Frosts less likely due to later bloom time.
Northeastern States
- Blooms in April, commonly early in month.
- Use extra-hardy Manchurian apricot varieties.
- At least 800 chilling hours required.
- Blossoms at lower risk of frost damage.
As you can see apricot bloom adapts to winter durations pushing flowering later in colder northern climates. Always choose chill hour-rated varieties matched to your area.
Factors Affecting Bloom Periods
Beyond winter chill requirements several other factors influence apricot flowering time
-
Variety: Early, mid, and late-season blooming varieties available.
-
Weather: Unseasonably warm winters hasten blooming. Cold springs delay it.
-
Age: Younger trees may not bloom until 3-4 years old.
-
Pruning: Cutting off too much old wood removes flowering spurs.
-
Stress: Lack of water, disease, or pests can prevent flowering.
-
Climate Disruption: Warming winters push bloom times earlier.
Pay attention to bloom timing over years to note impacts of weather and climate change on your tree. Keep detailed records to compare.
Managing Early or Delayed Flowering
If flowering happens much earlier or later than normal in your area, you can take steps to protect trees:
-
For early blooming, shield flowers from frosts or freezing with covers.
-
For delayed bloom, reduce pruning and stress to encourage flowering.
-
Choose varieties better matched to shifting weather patterns in your location.
-
Accept that certain years will simply not produce fruit due to unusual chill or warmth.
While you can’t control the climate, proactive management preserves apricot crop yield.
Enjoying Apricot Flowers and Fruit
Part of growing apricots means flexibly adapting to variable bloom periods affected by seasonal fluctuations. But once those blossoms finally emerge, exciting fruit formation follows!
Observe and record apricot flowering times annually in your orchard. Soon you’ll discover the bloom rhythms of your trees and region. Celebrate those delightful apricot blossoms as a harbinger of summer’s sweet harvest to come.
Planting against a wall
Apricot trees should be trained against a sunny wall to help the fruit ripen. However, the soil at the base of walls is often poor and dry, so it’s important to prepare it extra well. Spread out a lot of well-rotted manure or garden compost over the whole area. Then, plant the tree at least 30 cm (1ft) away from the wall, with its base leaning slightly toward it. Fan-trained apricots can eventually reach a width of 3. 5–5m (11–16ft), so make sure there is plenty of room on either side.
Planting in a container
Plum trees can be grown in big pots that are at least 45 cm (18 in) across and filled with peat-free soil-based compost, like John Innes No. 3. They will need regular watering and feeding, and usually annual pruning to keep them compact. You could also pick a dwarf apricot, like “Garden Aprigold,” which will grow into a small tree up to 1 5m (5ft) tall that needs little or no pruning. See our guides below for planting and growing advice.
Most apricot trees, especially those in containers, need regular watering, feeding and annual pruning. Because apricots are grown in the same way as peaches, our video guide to growing peaches has useful tips that you can also use for apricots.
- For newly planted trees, make sure to water them often for at least the first spring and summer until they are well established.
- Fan-trained trees may need more watering because the wall or fence often cuts down on the amount of rain they get.
- Trees in pots need a lot of water during the growing season because containers dry out quickly, especially when it’s warm outside, and rain alone isn’t usually enough.
- Established trees that stand on their own usually only need to be watered during dry spells when the fruits are beginning to swell to keep them from falling off.
- Apricots in a greenhouse: water often, up to every day in the summer
If you put trees in pots, make sure the water can drain out quickly. This is especially important in the winter, when the roots will rot in cold, wet compost. Also, raise the container onto ‘pot feet’ or bricks to keep the drainage holes clear and avoid waterlogging.
To keep the soil moist, put a 5 cm (2 in) layer of well-rotted manure around the roots in March or early April. This will help to avoid drought stress, especially in early to mid-summer when the fruits are swelling.
To get more fruit from apricot trees in late winter, feed them a general fertilizer high in potassium, like Vitax Q4 or fish, blood, and bone. Spread two handfuls of mulch around the tree’s base per square meter or yard. Give trees in pots a high potassium liquid feed every couple of weeks through spring and summer. Also, move them to a slightly bigger pot every few years in the spring, once their roots fill up the current one. Use peat-free, loam-based compost.
Do apricot trees bloom every year?
FAQ
Why is my apricot tree not blooming?
Do apricot trees flower before leaves?
Are apricot trees late bloomers?
What is the best month to prune apricot tree?
When do apricot trees bloom?
The exact time varies depending on the climate, but typically, the blossoms appear in March or early April. There is also variation by cultivar. Each different variety of apricot tree is classified into either early, mid, or late blooming within the overall early spring bloom season. Read on to learn all about when apricot trees bloom!
Do apricots bloom late in spring?
Apricots are the first fruit trees to bloom early in spring; planting apricots where frost comes late in spring is risky. Frost will kill flower buds and blossoms. In regions with a late spring, plant apricots on the north side of a building so they remain dormant longer and bloom later.
When should you plant an apricot tree?
However, planting an apricot tree requires proper technique and care to ensure that it grows and thrives. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps of planting your very own apricot tree. The best time to plant an apricot tree is in the late winter or early spring when the tree is still dormant.
When do apricot leaves come out?
Leaf buds emerge on apricot trees after the flowers bloom and fall off. Apricot trees are deciduous, so the leaves fall in autumn and the tree goes dormant to conserve energy and protect itself over the winter. As the weather warms, the flower buds form, then open, followed by the leaves.