apricot [Flavorcot]

Apricots flourish on deep, moisture-retentive, well-drained, ideally slightly alkaline soils and struggle in poor, shallow soils. Although fully hardy, they bloom early, and the flowers are vulnerable to frost, so trees need a warm, sheltered position. Protect blossom from frost at night, and hand pollinate if insects are scarce. See apricot cultivation. Thin heavy crops when the size of hazelnuts. See fruit thinning

May be trained as a fan on a warm wall, or as a free-standing bush in milder areas. Prune only in spring, as the sap is rising, or between the end of July and the end of August

Propagate by grafting. Seed-raised plants are likely to be inferior to the parent

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite. Birds and squirrels may damage fruit

May be susceptible to silver leaf, bacterial canker, blossom wilt and brown rot. Not usually affected by peach leaf curl