Apricot

Apricot fruit, raw. Scientific identity: Prunus armeniaca L. Edible part: Fresh fruit flesh and skin; the stone and kernel are excluded. Exact source form: Raw apricots corresponding to USDA FoodData Central FDC 171697.

A fragrant stone fruit balancing honeyed sweetness, floral aroma, and gentle acidity.

Common name

Apricot

Scientific name

Prunus armeniaca

Family

Rosaceae

Edition

Core Edibles

Flavor

Sweet · floral · lightly tart

Texture

Tender · juicy

Season

Late spring–summer

Best storage

Ripen out · refrigerate ripe

Great for

Fresh · roast · preserve

Know this

Do not eat the kernel inside the pit

The seed can produce a tree, but it will not reliably reproduce the parent fruit. Never eat the kernel inside the stone; this step is for planting only.

START WITH

The intact stone from a ripe apricot

CLIMATE

Cold enough for winter dormancy but with low risk of frost during very early spring bloom; often zones 5–8, depending on the seedling.

LIGHT

8+ hours of direct sun

SOIL

Deep, well-drained soil; avoid frost pockets and standing water

1. 1

   Start it

   Clean and dry the stone. Place it in barely moist medium in a ventilated bag in the refrigerator for 8–12 weeks. Check weekly. When it begins to split or root, plant 1–2 inches deep.

2. 2

   Give it room

   Pot the seedling deeply for its first season or plant it where it can have 15–20 feet of open space.

3. 3

   Water correctly

   Keep young roots evenly moist, then water deeply when the upper soil dries. Reduce watering as fruit ripens to limit splitting.

4. 4

   Care for it

   Train an open, well-spaced branch framework and remove dead or crossing branches. Protect blossoms when a late freeze is forecast.

5. 5

   Harvest

   Pick when fruit is fully colored, fragrant, slightly soft, and releases with a gentle twist. Discard the stones; do not eat their kernels.

A seedling often needs about 3–7 years to fruit, and the fruit quality is unpredictable.

Pick when fruit is fully colored, fragrant, slightly soft, and releases with a gentle twist. Discard the stones; do not eat their kernels.