With their sweet flavor and velvety texture, apricots are a tempting fruit to grow in home gardens. But not all climates are suitable for apricot cultivation. These trees have particular climate requirements when it comes to winter chill hours, summer heat, and potential for spring frosts.
Read on to learn exactly where apricots can be grown successfully and how to choose the right varieties for your region
Overview of Apricot Climate Needs
Apricots originate from warmer regions, but modern varieties have expanded their growing range. Here are the key factors that determine where apricots will thrive:
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Winter chill hours – Most apricots need 100-600 chill hours below 45°F over winter for proper dormancy and spring bloom.
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Hardiness zone – Apricots can be grown in zones 5-8 with some hardy varieties surviving zone 4 winters.
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Summer heat – Warm summer temperatures are needed for fruit ripening Consistent heat above 85°F is ideal.
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Spring frosts – Flowers bloom early, making apricots prone to late spring frost damage in cooler areas.
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Climate adaptability – Some newer apricot cultivars are more flexible for marginal climates.
Selecting varieties suited to your region is crucial for success. When climate conditions match the cultivar’s needs, you’ll be rewarded with bountiful, sweet apricot harvests.
Best Climate Conditions for Apricot Trees
The optimal climate for apricot growing has these key features:
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Minimum winter temperatures around -10°F to 10°F
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100-600 chill hours below 45°F accumulated in winter
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Long summer growing season with hot temperatures
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Peak summer heat averaging 85-100°F
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Low risk of spring frost during flowering
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Low humidity with dry weather before harvest
Regions matching this ideal scenario include:
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Intermountain West – Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Colorado
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Pacific Northwest – Interior valleys away from marine influence
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Southwest – New Mexico, Arizona, parts of Texas
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Midwest – Protected microclimates in southern Ohio, Indiana, Illinois
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California – Central valley, interior foothills
Coastal climates are often too cool in summer or lack sufficient winter chill for apricots. Keep reading for tips on stretching the limits of where apricots can grow.
Expanding the Growing Range of Apricots
With careful variety selection and protection methods, apricots can be grown in marginal climates, including:
Colder Zones
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Choose late-blooming varieties to avoid flower damage from spring frosts.
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Provide wind protection which prevents desiccating and cold injury.
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Train trees against walls or trellises to trap heat.
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Drape plants to protect early blooms from frost.
Warmer Zones
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Select low-chill cultivars needing under 200 chill hours.
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Provide shade in peak summer to prevent sunburn.
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Rely on varieties adapted to subtropical climates.
Coastal/Maritime Climates
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Focus on disease-resistant cultivars that tolerate humidity.
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Provide afternoon shade to compensate for cooler temperatures.
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Grow in microclimates away from wind and ocean influence.
With extra care, you can push the viable growing range into zones 4, 3, and even warmer zones like 9 and 10. Just adjust your planting site and practices to account for climate limitations.
Best Apricot Varieties by Growing Zone
Here are some top recommended apricot varieties for different growing zones in the continental United States:
Zone 4
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Manchurian – Extreme cold hardy apricot for zone 4. Lovely orange fruit.
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Moongold – Productive later bloomer good for short summers.
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Sungold – Very hardy apricot ripens early. Sweet flavor.
Zone 5
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Harglow – Reliable variety for Midwest, blooms late.
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Moorpark – Longtime favorite with exceptional flavor.
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Wilson Delicious – Tasty fruit on a hardy, heavy bearing tree.
Zone 6
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Harlayne – Heavy crops of sweet fruit, self-pollinating.
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Goldbar – Early harvest of richly flavored fruit. Self-fruitful.
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Riland – Productive tree with firm, juicy apricots. Late bloom.
Zone 7
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Blenheim – California commercial variety, aromatic fruit.
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Katy – Mild-flavored apricots yield heavily in zone 7.
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Robada – High-quality fruit for warm winter areas.
Zone 8
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Flaming Gold – Good pollinator with pretty pink blossoms.
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Golden Amber – Heat tolerant, ripens early. Freestone.
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Poppy – Low chill apricot adapts well in subtropics.
With the right varieties, you can succeed in growing apricots from Minnesota to Florida’s Gulf Coast and points in between!
Growing Apricots in Cool Summer Climates
Cool coastal and high mountain regions present challenges for apricot cultivation. Short summers don’t allow fruit to properly ripen. Still, you can grow apricots in these marginal climates with a careful approach:
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Plant against heat-retaining walls, rocks, or containers.
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Train trees as espaliers to maximize sunlight exposure.
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Choose early and mid-season apricot varieties adapted to your chill hours.
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Rely on low-chill cultivars (under 300 hours).
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Drape or enclose trees in poly fabric to trap warmth.
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Try dwarf or container-grown trees for added warmth.
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Mulch heavily around the base to retain soil heat.
While you may get reduced harvests, it’s possible to savor a few homegrown apricots even in cooler areas. Focus on early ripening varieties and microclimate selection.
Ideal Apricot Growing Regions Around the World
Beyond North America, apricots grow best in regions with cold winters and hot, dry summers. Premier apricot producing areas include:
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Mediterranean – Southern Europe, Turkey, Middle East
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Central Asia – Xinjiang province in China, Uzbekistan
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South America – Andean valleys in Chile and Argentina
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South Africa – Western Cape province
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Australia – Riverland region, Tasmania
Globally, the highest volume apricot production occurs in the Northern Hemisphere between latitudes of 30° to 45° where climate conditions perfectly suit this fruit. But with the right variety choices and care, you can push the viable growing range beyond these ideal regions.
In zones 5-8, apricots can be grown as a fruiting backyard tree. They perform best in areas with cold winters, hot summers, and low humidity. But with careful cultivar selection and microclimate adjustments, you can stretch the growing range into marginal climates.
The keys are choosing varieties matched to your chill hours and summer heat, and siting trees in protected locations. With some added effort, you can succeed in raising apricots even in cooler climates. Let climate help guide your variety picks and growing practices for apricot success.
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.
What and where to buy
Apricot trees are sold either bare-root (without soil) or in pots. Bare-root trees are usually less expensive, but you can only get them from late fall to early spring, usually from specialized stores. Potted trees are sold all year round and more widely available. It’s best for apricot trees to be grown as a fan, so you might want to buy a two- or three-year-old fan that’s already partly trained instead of a younger tree that you have to train from scratch. Pre-trained trees are more expensive and usually only available from specialist fruit nurseries. It’s possible to grow your own apricot tree from a store-bought fruit stone, but it might not do well in the UK. If you want an apricot tree that will reliably bear fruit in the UK, you should buy a good quality grafted tree of the right variety from a reputable UK supplier.
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The best place to plant an apricot tree is next to a wall or fence that faces south, south-west, or west. This way, the trees can be trained to face these directions and get the most sun and heat. Since they flower early in the spring, pick a spot that doesn’t get heavy or late frosts, which can hurt the flower and make it harder to harvest. See our guide to positioning fruit trees. Dwarf types, which are often sold as patio fruit trees, do well in pots but do best in a greenhouse that isn’t heated over the winter. In milder regions and/or very warm, sheltered, sunny locations, apricots may also crop successfully as free-standing trees. In very cold regions, they’re best grown in an unheated greenhouse or polytunnel. Apricots like deep, fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil that is ideally slightly acid to neutral. Avoid planting in poorly drained soil, which can cause the roots to rot. Apricot trees don’t do well in light or shallow soil. To make the soil better, add a lot of garden compost or well-rotted manure. From November to March, when the tree is dormant, is the best time to plant an apricot tree. Fall is the best time because the soil is still warm and damp. See our planting guides below for full details.
How to Grow Apricot from Seed – A Quick Guide on How to Germinate Apricot Seeds
FAQ
Where do apricots grow in the US?
What zone can you grow apricots in?
Where is the best place to plant an apricot tree?
Are apricots easy to grow?
Where do apricot trees grow?
All apricot trees are best grown in a warm, sheltered sunny site in a deep, moist yet well-drained soil, ideally slightly alkaline. Trees grown next to a south-facing wall have the benefit of extra protection but will blossom earlier as a result.
How do apricots grow?
Apricots are propagated by bud grafting. The fruiting portion of the tree is grafted to a root system suitable for regional growth. Apricots begin to fruit two to four years after planting. The apricot harvest occurs mid to late summer. A single tree will ripen its fruit over a period of about three weeks.
Where should apricots be planted?
In regions with a late spring, plant apricots on the north side of a building so they remain dormant longer and bloom later. In cool summer regions, fan train apricots against a south or southwest fence or wall or grow them in containers in a greenhouse or sunroom. Plant apricots in full sun.
Do apricot trees grow well?
For golden orange or red-blushed, sweet, and juicy apricots it’s best to grow your own. Here is your complete guide to growing apricot trees. Good Products to Control Animal Pests at Amazon: Apricots grow best in Zones 5 to 9. Select a cultivar that grows well in your area. Contact the nearby Cooperative Extension Service for recommendations.