10 Hardy Apricot Tree Starter Plants – Prunus armeniaca Fruit Bearing Bare Root

Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey with our selection of 10 apricot starter plants. These young Prunus armeniaca bare root trees offer an excellent opportunity for home gardeners to establish their own fruit-bearing orchard. Known for their beautiful white or pink blossoms in early spring, these deciduous trees will eventually produce delicious yellow-orange fruit. Apricot trees are a cherished addition to any landscape, providing both ornamental beauty and a bountiful harvest. Our starter plants are carefully prepared to ensure a strong beginning for your future apricot trees, making the process of growing apricot trees accessible and enjoyable for gardeners of all experience levels.

Each of these apricot starter plants is a live, bare root specimen, meaning it is shipped without soil or a pot, ready for immediate planting upon arrival. This method encourages robust root development once planted in your garden. The scientific name, Prunus armeniaca, signifies its historical origins and its place as a beloved fruit tree. With proper care, these young trees will flourish, transforming into mature, productive trees that yield sweet and juicy apricots, a true delight for any fruit enthusiast. Invest in these hardy apricot varieties and look forward to fresh, homegrown fruit.

Key Benefits

Our apricot starter plants offer numerous advantages for the enthusiastic gardener looking to cultivate their own fruit. These benefits extend from the initial planting phase through years of bountiful harvests.

• Delicious Homegrown Fruit: Enjoy the unparalleled taste of fresh, sweet, and juicy apricots picked directly from your own garden. These fruit bearing trees provide a rewarding harvest that far surpasses store-bought options in flavor and freshness.
• Beautiful Spring Blooms: Witness a spectacular display of white or pink flowers in early spring, adding significant ornamental value to your landscape before the leaves even emerge. These blossoms are also vital for attracting pollinators.
• Long-Term Investment: With proper care, these Prunus armeniaca bare root trees will provide decades of fruit production, offering a sustainable and delicious food source for your family.
• Relatively Compact Size: Apricot trees are typically smaller than many other fruit trees, making them suitable for various garden sizes, including suburban backyards. They usually reach heights of 15-40 feet with a spreading canopy.
• Educational Experience:Growing apricot trees from a starter plant is a fantastic educational opportunity for families, teaching about plant life cycles, fruit production, and sustainable living.
• Enhanced Landscape Value: Beyond their fruit, these trees contribute to the aesthetic appeal of your property, providing shade, seasonal color, and attracting local wildlife like birds.
• Hardy and Adaptable: These hardy apricot varieties are selected for their resilience and ability to thrive in a range of climates, ensuring a higher success rate for your planting efforts.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper care is essential for ensuring your 10 apricot starter plants establish well and thrive into productive fruit bearing trees. Upon arrival, unwrap your bare root trees immediately. If you cannot plant them right away, temporarily heel them into a trench or keep their roots moist in a bucket of water for a day or two. When planting, dig a hole wide enough to accommodate the roots without bending them, and deep enough so the graft union (if present) is above the soil line. Backfill with good quality garden soil, tamping gently to remove air pockets, and water thoroughly.

Growing apricot trees successfully requires attention to their specific environmental needs. They prefer a location with full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Well-draining soil is crucial; apricots do not tolerate soggy roots, which can lead to disease. A slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-7.0) is ideal. Water regularly during the first growing season to help establish the root system, especially during dry spells. Once established, they are relatively drought-tolerant but will benefit from consistent moisture during fruit development. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced fruit tree fertilizer, following package directions. Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring to shape the tree, remove dead or diseased branches, and encourage better fruit production. Keep an eye out for common pests and diseases, addressing them promptly to maintain the health of your Prunus armeniaca bare root trees.

Size & Details

This offering includes 10 apricot starter plants, provided as bare root specimens. These young trees are typically 1-2 feet tall upon arrival, ready for immediate planting. Being bare root, they do not come with a pot or soil, which allows for easier shipping and promotes stronger root development once planted in your garden. Apricot trees are considered relatively small fruit trees, generally reaching a mature height of 15 to 40 feet with a spreading canopy, depending on the specific variety and growing conditions. They have oval-shaped, pointed leaves with serrated edges and often feature reddish stems, adding to their visual appeal throughout the growing season.

The growth rate for these hardy apricot varieties is moderate, meaning they will establish and grow steadily over several years before reaching full maturity and peak fruit production. You can expect to see fruit typically within 3-5 years after planting, though this can vary based on care and climate. These fruit bearing trees are a long-term investment that will provide decades of delicious harvests. Ensure adequate spacing between each tree, generally 15-20 feet apart, to allow for their mature spread and proper air circulation. The bare root form ensures that the plant’s energy is focused on root and shoot development once it’s in its permanent home.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do these apricot starter plants get? A: These apricot starter plants are typically 1-2 feet tall when shipped as bare root. Once mature, these fruit bearing trees can reach heights of 15-40 feet, depending on the variety and growing conditions, with a spreading canopy.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: These are outdoor apricot starter plants. They are deciduous fruit trees that require outdoor conditions to thrive, including full sun exposure and seasonal temperature changes for proper fruit development.
• Q: How much sunlight do these apricot trees need? A: For optimal growth and fruit production, growing apricot trees requires a location with full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. This is crucial for developing sweet fruit.
• Q: What condition will the bare root plants arrive in? A: Your Prunus armeniaca bare root trees will arrive without soil or a pot, with their roots carefully packaged to retain moisture. They are dormant and ready for planting upon arrival to encourage robust growth.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Apricot trees are moderately easy to care for, especially these hardy apricot varieties. They require consistent watering during establishment, annual fertilization, and proper pruning, but are generally resilient once mature.
• Q: How long until these trees bear fruit? A: You can typically expect your apricot starter plants to begin bearing fruit within 3 to 5 years after planting, with full production increasing as the tree matures further.
• Q: What is the best time to plant these bare root apricot trees? A: The best time to plant bare root apricot trees is in late winter or early spring, before the trees break dormancy and begin to leaf out. This allows them to establish their root system before the stress of summer.
• Q: What kind of soil do these apricot trees prefer? A: Apricot trees thrive in well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-7.0). Good drainage is essential to prevent root rot.
• Q: Will these hardy apricot varieties survive winter in my zone? A: These hardy apricot varieties are selected for their resilience and are generally suitable for a range of USDA hardiness zones. Check your specific zone to ensure compatibility, though many apricots can withstand significant cold.
• Q: Do I need more than one tree for pollination? A: Most modern apricot varieties are self-fertile, meaning a single tree can produce fruit. However, planting multiple trees or different varieties can often lead to larger and more consistent yields.