Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Make a Manchurian Apricot Tree Produce Fruit
How to Make a Manchurian Apricot Tree Produce Fruit. Manchurian apricots can be grown in USDA zone 3 to 7. The spreading tree can tolerate many types of well-drained soil, grows 20 to 30 feet tall, and can live to be 30 years old. It requires a moderate winter, and in the spring bears pink flowers that turn into edible fruit. While the tree is...
Manchurian apricots can be grown in USDA zone 3 to 7. The spreading tree can tolerate many types of well-drained soil, grows 20 to 30 feet tall, and can live to be 30 years old. It requires a moderate winter, and in the spring bears pink flowers that turn into edible fruit.
While the tree is the hardiest of apricot varieties, the fruit is small-- 4 to 5 inches--and contains a large seed. The trees typically produce a good crop of fruit just every other year, but it can be tricky to get the tree to produce at all. Left alone, it is an easy to maintain decorative tree. But to make sure the tree produces fruit, some planning and work are required, and it may be 1 to 2 years before your efforts pay off.
Things You'll Need
Two or more Manchurian apricot trees (or at least one other stone fruit tree)
Pruning shears
Plant another tree for cross-pollination. While it should preferably be a Manchurian Apricot tree, other stone fruit trees, such as plum and peach, will suffice. The Manchurian apricot begins to bear fruit between 3 to 5 years; if you are attempting fast fruit production from the established tree and the cross-pollinator, plant older trees rather than young saplings.
Inspect the tree carefully for insect infestations (such as worms in the fruit), or the start of disease (such as black spots on leaves, indicating fungus). Trees can be sprayed with insecticide in the fall to promote proper fruit development in the spring. Remove any chokecherry trees from nearby, as well--this particular tree shares diseases with the Manchurian apricot. If the apricot tree already appears diseased, destroy it--it will not bear productive fruit.
Remove any shade from around the Manchurian apricot, as it needs full sunlight. If the area is shady, fruit-bearing will be delayed, and the tree will bear less fruit that may not ripen properly. This may require cutting back trees and plants around the Manchurian to give it ample sunlight.
Prune the Manchurian in the late autumn or early spring, cutting back half of the new growth and discarding any damaged or dead branches. Keep new growth at 2 feet or less per year and make sure sunlight is hitting all branches. A properly pruned tree promotes fruit development in the spring.
Refrain from using any pesticide in the growing season on or around the tree. Honey bees are necessary for cross-pollination, in addition to other trees; insecticide may destroy your pollinators.
