Apricot

Prunus armeniaca (Rosaceae) is a deciduous fruit tree native to Central Asia. It grows 15 to 30 feet tall with a rounded crown. White to pink flowers appear very early in spring on bare branches, making the developing fruit extremely vulnerable to late frost. The fruit is a soft, velvety-skinned drupe that ripens in summer.

Apricot requires full sun and well-drained soil. The primary challenge in cool, humid climates is that the very early bloom is frequently damaged by frost, resulting in inconsistent or no fruit production in many years. Brown rot and bacterial canker are the most significant diseases. The species needs a pollinizer in most cases. Hardy in Zones 5a to 8b.

One of the most difficult tree fruits here. Mild winter spells break dormancy early, exposing bloom to late frost. WSU Mount Vernon data shows full bloom March 16 - April 8; below 28°F kills the crop. Requires well-drained soil and slopes with air drainage, not valley bottoms. Bacterial canker thrives in our cool wet conditions. Puget Gold is the best cultivar choice for this region (late blooming); Harcot and Tilton also perform. Never apply sulfur. source: Cloud Mountain Farm Center; WSU Mount Vernon Research Station; WSU HortSense

— Chris Welch, ISA Certified Arborist