Apricot 'Moorpark'

Where to Plant
Choose a warm, sheltered position in full sun, ideally somewhere south or west facing. 'Moorpark' is one of the more reliable apricots for growing in Britain, but plenty of sunshine and warmth are still important for good fruit development and ripening. Avoid obvious frost pockets, as the early blossom can be damaged by cold weather.

Plant in fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil and avoid sites that become waterlogged. Apricots can also be trained against a sunny wall, where the additional warmth and shelter can help the fruit ripen.

Planting Your Bare-Root Tree
Plant while the tree is dormant, avoiding periods when the ground is frozen or waterlogged. Unpack promptly and soak the roots in a bucket of water for around 30 minutes before planting. Dig a hole wide enough for the roots to spread naturally without bending or crowding them.

Position the tree at the same depth it was previously growing, using the soil mark on the stem as a guide and keeping the graft union above soil level. Spread the roots naturally, backfill with soil, gently firm and water thoroughly. Stake the tree if needed to keep it secure while the roots establish.

Watering & Feeding
Water regularly during the first growing season and during prolonged dry spells. Consistent moisture is particularly important while the fruits are swelling and developing. Feed in spring with a suitable fruit tree fertiliser and mulch around the base with well-rotted compost or organic matter, keeping the mulch clear of the trunk.

Pruning
Apricots should be pruned in spring or summer rather than during winter. Choose a spell of dry weather and remove dead, damaged, diseased, crossing or badly positioned branches while maintaining a healthy, open framework.

Do I Need Another Apricot Tree?
No. 'Moorpark' is self-fertile, so a single tree can produce fruit without another apricot variety nearby.

Early Spring Blossom
Attractive pink-tinged white flowers appear early in spring, before the fruits begin to develop. The blossom attracts bees and other pollinating insects, but its early appearance also means it can be vulnerable to frost.

Protecting the Blossom
Choose a warm, sheltered position away from obvious frost pockets. If frost is forecast while a smaller or wall-trained tree is flowering, protect the blossom overnight with horticultural fleece, removing it during the day so pollinating insects can reach the flowers.

Developing Fruit
The young fruits develop and swell through summer, gradually turning golden orange and often developing a warm reddish flush as they ripen. If your tree sets a particularly heavy crop, thinning some of the young fruits gives the remaining apricots more room to develop.

Top Tip:
Don't let the fact that apricots enjoy warmth put you off growing one. 'Moorpark' has a long history of cultivation in Britain – just give it one of the sunniest, most sheltered positions in your garden to help it perform at its best.

When to Harvest
'Moorpark' apricots generally ripen during August. The exact timing will vary according to the weather and where you garden, so use the colour and feel of the fruits rather than a particular date to decide when to pick.

How to Tell When Apricots Are Ready
Look for fruits that have developed their characteristic golden-orange colour, often with a reddish flush where they've caught the sun. Ripe apricots should feel slightly soft when gently pressed and come away from the tree readily.

How to Pick
Handle ripe apricots gently as their soft flesh can bruise easily. Cup each fruit in your hand and carefully lift it from the branch rather than pulling or squeezing it.

Enjoying Your Harvest
Homegrown apricots are at their best allowed to ripen fully on the tree and enjoyed soon after picking. If you have more than you can eat fresh, the fruits can be cooked, preserved, dried or prepared for freezing.

Top Tip:
Check your tree regularly as the fruits begin to colour and pick individual apricots as they ripen. This lets you enjoy each fruit at its best rather than harvesting the whole crop at once.

Fresh from the Tree
Allow 'Moorpark' apricots to ripen fully and they're delicious eaten just as they are. The golden-orange fruits have sweet, juicy flesh and a rich flavour that makes them particularly rewarding to grow at home.

Jams & Preserves
A generous harvest can be turned into apricot jam and preserves, capturing the flavour of your summer crop to enjoy later in the year.

Tarts & Puddings
Use your apricots in tarts, cakes and crumbles, gently poach them or simply halve and bake the fruits for an easy summer pudding.

Preserving Your Harvest
Ripe apricots don't store for long, so make the most of a large crop while the fruits are at their best. They can also be dried or prepared for freezing for use in cooking later.

Top Tip:
Taste your fruit before adding lots of sugar when cooking. Apricots allowed to ripen fully on the tree can develop plenty of natural sweetness.

Bare-Root Trees
Your tree is supplied bare root while dormant, without a pot or compost around its roots. It will usually arrive with a woody stem and branches but little or no foliage. This is completely normal and fresh growth will begin as the tree comes out of dormancy in spring.

On Arrival
Unpack your tree promptly and don't allow the roots to dry out. If you can't plant immediately, keep the roots moist and the tree somewhere cool and sheltered until you're ready to plant.

Grafted Fruit Trees
Apricot 'Moorpark' is grafted, combining the fruiting variety with a rootstock that helps determine how strongly the tree grows. You'll usually be able to see the graft union towards the base of the stem. Keep this above soil level when planting.

Prunus Myrobalan Rootstock
Your tree is grafted onto Prunus Myrobalan rootstock. This produces a strong-growing tree, so allow it plenty of room to develop. Its eventual size will depend on growing conditions and how the tree is trained and pruned.

What to Expect After Planting
Your young tree won't look like a mature fruit tree straight away. During its first few years it will establish its roots and develop its framework of branches, with cropping increasing as the tree matures.