How to Grow Apricot Delight
Wikimedia Commons
Apricot Delight
Prunus armeniaca 'Apricot Delight'
treeApricot Delight is a compact, self-fertile apricot tree cultivar that produces sweet, golden-orange fruit with excellent flavor. This dwarf variety is ideal for small gardens and containers, typically reaching 8-10 feet in height. It combines ornamental spring blossoms with reliable fruit production and low chilling hour requirements.
When should you plant Apricot Delight in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Apricot Delight timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Apricot Delight
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
Harvest Apricot Delight
Late summer into fallBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Apricot Delight dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-9, with best performance in zones 6-8
Sign up free to see if Apricot Delight grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Apricot Delight timeline →Growth Stages
Establishment
First 1-2 yearsYoung tree focuses on root and branch development with minimal flowering
Water regularly, stake if needed, remove any early flowers to encourage vegetative growth. Mulch around base with 3-4 inches of organic matter.
Flowering
2-3 weeks in springPink to white blossoms appear in early spring (February-March depending on location) before leaves emerge
Protect flowers from late frosts with frost cloth if necessary. Do not apply nitrogen-heavy fertilizers as this reduces flowering.
Fruit Development
6-8 weeks post-floweringSmall green fruits develop rapidly after pollination, enlarging throughout spring and early summer
Thin fruits to 4-6 inches apart for larger individual fruit. Maintain consistent watering. Monitor for pests and diseases.
Ripening
3-4 weeksFruits transition from green to golden-orange color, developing sweet flavor and aroma
Reduce watering slightly as ripening approaches. Do not harvest early; fruit must fully ripen on tree. Support heavy branches if needed.
Harvest & Dormancy
August-September harvest; October-March dormancyFruit ready to pick; tree prepares for dormancy with leaf drop in fall and winter rest
Harvest when fruit yields slightly to gentle pressure. Prune in late winter while dormant. Reduce watering and withhold fertilizer.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Use pheromone traps, apply spinosad or kaolin spray every 2 weeks from post-bloom through early summer, remove fallen fruit promptly
-
Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap in spring; encourage natural predators like ladybugs
-
Prune for air circulation, remove mummified fruits, apply sulfur fungicide at bloom and pre-harvest, avoid overhead watering
-
Increase humidity with spray irrigation, use miticide if infestation is severe, release predatory mites
-
Prune out infected branches, improve drainage, apply wound dressing after pruning, reduce nitrogen fertilizer
Uses
Fresh eating and preserves
CulinarySweet, aromatic apricots are excellent for fresh consumption, jams, jellies, dried fruit, and baking applications. The compact tree size makes harvesting convenient for home use. [source]
Ornamental value
HouseholdBeautiful pink blossoms in spring provide decorative appeal, and the compact growth habit makes it suitable for small gardens and container cultivation. [source]
Nutritional and wellness
MedicinalApricots are rich in vitamin A, potassium, and antioxidants, supporting immune function and eye health. Dried apricots provide concentrated nutrition year-round. [source]
Kernel use
CraftApricot kernels can be used for culinary applications (with caution) and cosmetic oils, though commercial apricot oil is typically extracted professionally. [source]
Pollinator and bird support
WildlifeSpring flowers attract bees and other pollinators, while ripening fruit provides food source for birds and wildlife in summer. [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 apricots in mid to late summer (typically July-August) when they are fully colored and yield slightly to gentle pressure. Pick with a slight twist and lift, or allow fully ripe fruit to fall into collection cloths. Apricots do not ripen further after picking—harvest only ripe fruit. Can harvest 20-30 pounds of fruit per mature tree annually.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Apricot Delight is self-fertile, meaning it can produce fruit with its own pollen—no second tree is required, though cross-pollination with another apricot variety increases yields.
- 🌱 Apricots have been cultivated for over 4,000 years, originating in Central Asia and valued in ancient Chinese medicine for their warming properties.
- 🌱 The 'Delight' cultivar has particularly low chilling hour requirements (400-600 hours), making it adaptable to warmer climates where standard apricots struggle.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Apricot Delight planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Apricot Delight seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Apricot Delight timeline →