Home › Forums › WSB Reader Recommendations › Seeking Apricot tree suggestions
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January 25, 2009 at 2:02 am #589570
DMParticipantDoes anyone know of an Apricot tree variety that does well in West Seattle? I feel like plant’n.
January 25, 2009 at 3:48 pm #656045
AlcinaParticipantYou might want to check out the descriptions of the apricot trees on the Raintree Nursery site
http://tinyurl.com/cgf7kz such as Puget Gold and Harglow which they say will grow here. I’ve ordered numerous other types of fruit trees from Raintree and been very happy with the quality and service.
January 25, 2009 at 5:42 pm #656046
DMParticipantThanks Alcina!
January 25, 2009 at 5:50 pm #656047
AlcinaParticipantRaintree Nursery will also have a booth at the upcoming Northwest Flower and Garden Show
http://www.gardenshow.com/seattle/index/index.cfm
next month.
January 26, 2009 at 4:06 am #656048
timeslidParticipantApricots in Seattle are a hard go. I have Puget Gold apricot that I got 5 years ago. Its a real trooper and one that is specifically suited for Seattle. In the spring it has loads of blooms, but the unfortunate part is that it blooms in March when it is still cold and damp. There is little in the way of pollinating insects and the damp weather invites mold and fungus into the undeveloped fruit. I have yet to get a fruit of even cherry size.
Bottom line: if you like apricots so much that you have to have them off your own trees – move to Eastern Washington. Plant plums instead – I get billions and billions off my Italian prune tree.
Sorry its not better news – if you do try it please post your progress.
January 27, 2009 at 2:20 am #656049
DMParticipantThanks Timeslid. First hand experience in our area is what I was hoping for. I’m glad I asked. I’d never heard of apricots successfully growing in West Seattle, but I was hopeful. Thanks for the Italian Prune suggestion. That could work, depending on how big the tree grows.
January 27, 2009 at 4:40 pm #656050
AlcinaParticipantDM, the 4th Ave. Costco currently has bare root fruit trees for sale at really good prices. I just purchased a semi-dwarf Italian Prune there this past week for $10.79 that is about 6 feet tall. Normally, the ultimate height of a semi-dwarf Italian Prune is about 12-15 feet. They also have apple, pear, and cherry trees for that same price. Obviously, it is too early to plant fruit trees, but they can be kept in an unheated garage or other similar location until planting time.
I have never tried growing apricots here because of all the reasons timeslid mentioned. However, one of my neighbors appears to be successfully growing a donut peach. I don’t know the variety, but every year the tree is loaded with fruit, but the fruit seems slightly smaller than the donut peaches that one finds at the grocery store.
January 28, 2009 at 3:13 am #656051
DMParticipantHey Alcina, thanks for the tip about the fruit trees at Costco!
I’d prefer a productive fruit tree that is proven in our area. The semi dwarf Italian Prune is sounding better and better. Good to know there could be pollination…and the potential for gallons of chutneys in the years to come!
I love this blog. The access to local advice makes me feel like I live in a cozy small town!
January 29, 2009 at 10:24 am #656052
ws4everMemberAlso check out Molbak’s Planting Guide for Bare Root Plants (online article). From what I’ve read on many sites, you’ve purchased a dormant plant, so it’s best to hydrate roots and plant ASAP rather than waiting until things warm up. Seems counterintuitive somehow, but bare root (dormant) plants will have more transplant shock if planted when the plant is no longer dormant (buds starting to swell). Many good articles online.
My hillside in WS faces south, and apricot and peach trees don’t do well(disease/no fruit) here, either. At Gardenshow, Master Gardener booth and Seattle Tilth booth have info re best varieties/methods for our area.
During summer there were several craigslist Seattle “Free” offers for Italian prunes. Best is to freeze some and cook during winter–they taste like cherries!
It will be interesting to hear what you select,DM. I’m planting an Italian prune and a early Fuji apple from Costco, but passed on the apricot and peach.
January 30, 2009 at 2:45 am #656053
jschuMemberThe prune tree in our area is very fruitful. It can handle the cold and such. Prune cobbler and prune butter are great. Also prune oatmeal cookies. they are very moist and no ill effects :)
January 30, 2009 at 9:13 am #656054
alki_2008ParticipantDM – I’ve sent you a PM about an available prune tree. You can see it by clicking on Forums and scrolling down to the “Views” section, which is after the listing of recent threads. :)
January 31, 2009 at 3:47 am #656055
DMParticipantThanks everyone. The prune tree option is sounding better and better. This thread has been reassuring and insightful. “Bummer” about apricots not doing well here, but, that’s why I asked. This is me moving on and letting go of that idea. I’m already wrapping my mind around plum and prune recipes. jschu, your comments made me hungry….
Does anyone have any special tips or advice for Italian Prune tree maintenance? Things you’ve gleaned over the years?
January 31, 2009 at 4:18 am #656056
GenHillOneParticipantDM, mine was unstoppable and I really didn’t do much. Be sure to pick up fallen fruit though, because when a pit sprouts, it is REALLY sharp. If we missed one, we soon found it with bare feet hidden in the grass. Previous tennants had thrown fruit along the edge of our yard and before long, we had what may have had the only plum/prune hedge in town. Thin spindles that we trimmed and yes, it produced. :)
January 31, 2009 at 5:35 am #656057
DMParticipantGenHillOne, that’s what I’m hoping for: a fruit tree that can “play hurt” (or endure me as a gardener). But I am a little concerned about the prolific pit sprouting you mentioned. How fast did those little guys sprout? My intention is to harvest the goods when they come forth, but I don’t want to create an additional “sprouting where I don’t want it” problem. I’d be planting the tree by my alley. I guess what I’m asking is: did you ever feel like you were struggling with the plum pit sprouts to the point where it felt over whelming?
February 1, 2009 at 2:42 am #656058
AlcinaParticipantDM, having new trees sprout from dropped fruit shouldn’t be an issue, obviously, if you keep it cleaned up. The prune pits would have to be on the ground quite a long time before they would actually sprout. Normally, if you pick the fruit on any tree when it is time to do so, there isn’t much that ends up on the ground, but there always is some. If you leave dropped fruit on the ground for a long time, you will likely have assorted critters like racoons, rats, or opossums come to eat it.
It is my understanding that all plums, both flowering and fruiting, are a bit prone to root suckering. Google “plum tree suckering” and you will find lots of webpages about it. I have a very old (60-70 yrs.) flowering plum tree in my yard and it sends up a few suckers every year from its roots.
Some websites suggest using a product called Sucker Stopper RTU. I’ve not ever tried that because I don’t find removing the suckers all that problematic. It really isn’t much of a chore. Whenever I see one, I just cut it off–I probably spend less than a total of one hour doing this each year and I’ve got several trees that sucker. If your plum is planted near lawn, mowing will remove the suckers and discourage others from growing.
Other fruit trees, such as cherries, also send up suckers from their roots.
If you are new to growing fruit trees, every year there are often assorted low cost or free classes on growing and pruning fruit trees. When I first started, the appropriate pruning had me a bit mystified, but I eventually learned the correct techniques.
February 1, 2009 at 3:16 am #656059
GenHillOneParticipantDM, Alcina’s right, I was both on a learning curve and had a very productive tree. After the first summer, we learned to can and still had tons to share before it hit the ground. We also did a better job of mowing so fallen fruit was easier to see and found a good weeding tool (as a renter, I was lacking) to get those that got by us. The lawn seemed to be an especially good rooting material(?) Bottom line, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming – and I’d love to have my plum and pear trees back from that house!
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