Apricot Seeds, Manchurian Apricot
(Prunus armeniaca var. Mandshurica) Deciduous. Zones 3-7.
Manchurian Apricot is incredibly cold hardy! Hailing from Northeastern Asia, this quick growing, medium sized tree can produce fruit in as little as three years!
Manchurian Apricots are dark yellow, with a pinkish blush and about the size of a golf ball. These juicy apricots are free-stone, making them excellent for drying, canning and making other preserves. Of course, eating them fresh off your tree is pretty spectacular too!
Well drained, loamy soil is best for Manchurian Apricot trees. They are slightly drought tolerant but cannot handle any long term saturation of the soil.
Although these trees are very cold hardy, their flowers are susceptible to frost damage! There are a couple of ways to protect your trees and ensure a plentiful crop.
You can plant your trees in a sheltered, South-facing micro-climate on your property, where a late frost would be less likely to hit.
Alternatively, plant Manchurian Apricot on a North facing slope. This may seem counter intuitive, but the colder Northern positioning will slow the development of flowers, forcing blooming into the later half of Spring. The slow blossoms will avoid the risk of late frosts.
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Cold Hardiness: Zones 3 - 7
Edible: Yes
Size: Small Tree
Growth Rate: Medium
Nitrogen Fixer: No
Native Plant: No
Germination: 60 - 80%
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Soil Preference: Loam
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GROWING INSTRUCTIONS
- Soak Seeds 24 hrs. Follow with 60 days warm, moist stratification, followed by 120 days cold, moist stratification. For more information on stratification, check out our article "How To Start Your Tree Seeds".
*If you are doing the cold period in your fridge, please check on your seeds. 120 days is an estimate & they may sprout sooner.*
- Plant stratified seeds in pots or a nursery bed using standard potting soil. Heat mats are NOT required & can hinder germination!
- Protect young tree seedlings from slugs, cutworms & rodents. Slugs especially can eat primary leaves as soon as they come up, so be vigilant!
*Excited about growing Fruit Trees from seed? Learn more HERE.*
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Available direct from Incredible Seeds, a Canadian Heirloom and Heritage Seed Company, offering only the best natural, non-GMO, open pollinated and untreated seeds, located in Mi'kma'ki / Nova Scotia.
