How to Grow Apricot Blush
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Apricot Blush
Prunus armeniaca 'Apricot Blush'
fruitApricot Blush is a self-fertile apricot cultivar that produces sweet, medium-sized golden-orange fruits with a pink-red blush on the sun-exposed side. It's a deciduous stone fruit tree that blooms early in spring with delicate white-pink flowers. The variety is prized for fresh eating, preserves, and dried fruit production.
When should you plant Apricot Blush in your zone?
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Example Apricot Blush timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Apricot Blush
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Apricot Blush
Late summer into fallBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Apricot Blush dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in USDA zones 5-8; marginal in zones 4 and 9
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Dormancy/Winter
November-FebruaryBare branches; no visible growth. Tree is gathering chilling hours required for flowering.
Prune during dormancy (late winter). Remove dead, crossing, or diseased branches. Shape tree to open center form. No watering needed except in drought.
Flowering
March-AprilEarly spring emergence of delicate white and pale pink blossoms covering branches; appears before or as leaves emerge.
Monitor for late frost damage (flowers are frost-sensitive). Avoid overhead watering to prevent fungal issues. Do not prune during flowering.
Fruit Set and Growth
April-JuneSmall green fruit develops after pollination; gradual enlargement through spring and early summer.
Thin fruits to 2-3 inches apart when walnut-sized for larger, better-quality fruit. Apply nitrogen-based fertilizer in spring. Water consistently. Monitor for pests.
Ripening
June-JulyFruits transition from green to golden-orange with characteristic pink-red blush. Sugars increase; fragrance develops.
Reduce nitrogen fertilizer; increase potassium. Maintain consistent watering but allow soil surface to dry between waterings. Protect from excessive heat stress.
Harvest
July-AugustFully ripe fruits are soft to gentle pressure, fragrant, and come away easily with slight twist.
Pick regularly as fruit ripens to encourage continued production. Handle gently to avoid bruising. Can pick slightly firm and allow to ripen indoors.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Use pheromone traps, apply spinosad or neem oil in early summer, remove infested fruit promptly
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Shake branches onto tarps to collect beetles, apply kaolin clay spray, clean up fallen fruit
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Wrap base of trunk with tree guards, apply borer paste, prune out infested wood
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Increase humidity, spray with water, use neem oil or sulfur dust in hot weather
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Remove infected fruit and mummified fruit from tree, improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering
Uses
Fresh Eating and Preserves
CulinaryApricot Blush fruits are excellent for fresh eating with sweet, aromatic flavor. They are also ideal for making jams, preserves, nectar, and dried apricots. [source]
Nutritional Benefits
MedicinalApricots are rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fiber, supporting eye health, immune function, and digestive health. [source]
Drying and Storage
HouseholdThe fruit dries exceptionally well, concentrating natural sugars and creating shelf-stable snacks and baking ingredients with a long shelf life. [source]
Wildlife Support
WildlifeEarly spring flowers provide nectar and pollen for pollinators, and ripened fruit attracts birds and beneficial insects to the garden. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Harvest when fruits are fully ripe and yield slightly to gentle hand pressure, typically July-August. Ripe fruit should detach easily with a slight twist. For best flavor, pick in the morning after dew dries. Fruits can be picked at firm-ripe stage and allowed to soften indoors. Do not refrigerate until fully ripe; cold damages flavor development.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Apricot Blush is self-fertile, meaning it can produce fruit with its own pollen, though cross-pollination with other apricot varieties increases yields.
- 🌱 Apricots have been cultivated for over 4,000 years, originating in Central Asia; the name comes from Arabic 'al-barquq' meaning 'the plum.'
- 🌱 The kernels inside apricot pits contain amygdalin, which the body converts to cyanide; while whole pits should never be eaten, occasional consumption of small amounts is not dangerous.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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