How to Grow Chinese Apricot 'Goldrich'

Chinese Apricot 'Goldrich'

Prunus armeniaca 'Goldrich'

fruit

Goldrich is a cold-hardy apricot cultivar developed for northern climates, producing large, golden-orange fruit with excellent flavor. This deciduous tree blooms early in spring and bears fruit reliably even in harsh winters. It's a self-fertile variety that requires winter chill hours to produce abundantly.

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, 8+ hours daily; essential for fruit quality and disease prevention

💧

Water: Moderate water during growing season; approximately 1-1.5 inches per week. Reduce watering after harvest. Avoid waterlogging; allow soil to dry slightly between waterings.

📏

Spacing: 18 inches

📅

Days to maturity: 2-3 years from transplant to first significant fruiting; full production by year 4-5

🌱

Planting depth: Plant at same depth as root ball; graft union should be 2-4 inches above soil line to prevent suckering

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil with good fertility

pH: 6.0-7.5

Amendments:

Compost Aged manure Perlite or coarse sand if drainage is poor

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Zones 3-7; exceptionally cold-hardy for northern apricot cultivation

3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a

Growth Stages

Dormancy & Winter Chill

November-February (3-4 months)

Bare branches in winter; requires 600-900 chill hours below 45°F for proper flower bud development

No pruning during dormancy. Protect young trees from harsh winds and extreme cold with mulch. Monitor for winter sunscald on southwest-facing bark.

Spring Bloom

2-3 weeks

Pink-white flowers emerge on 2-3 year old wood before leaves; blooms very early in spring (often March-April)

Flowers are cold-sensitive; late frosts can kill flower buds. Thin fruit clusters to 1 fruit per 2-3 inches of twig to ensure larger fruit. Ensure bee activity for pollination.

Fruit Development

6-8 weeks

Young green fruits swell rapidly; foliage emerges fully. Fruits develop from marble-size to full size (1.5-2 inches diameter)

Thin developing fruits when golf-ball sized to 1 every 2-3 inches. Water consistently—irregular watering causes fruit cracking. Apply 2-3 inch mulch layer. Watch for brown rot fungus in humid conditions.

Ripening & Maturation

2-3 weeks

Fruits turn from green to golden-orange; skin becomes deeper gold with red blush. Interior becomes sweet and juicy.

Avoid overhead watering to prevent fungal disease. Harvest when color is fully developed but fruit still has slight firmness. Do not let fruit overripen on tree.

Dormancy Preparation

August-October (2-3 months)

Leaves yellow and drop in fall; tree prepares for winter rest

Apply dormant oil spray in late fall to control overwintering pests. Prune only to remove dead wood. Do not apply nitrogen fertilizer in late summer.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Almond Peach Plum Raspberry Borage Calendula Lavender

Avoid planting near:

Black walnut (juglone toxicity) Fennel Other apricots within 15 feet (disease spread) Dense shade trees

Common Pests

Use kaolin clay spray before fruit set; remove and destroy dropped fruit; apply spinosad at 5-7 day intervals during June-July
Prune for air circulation; remove infected mummified fruit; apply sulfur or myclobutanil at bloom and fruit development stages
Pheromone traps to monitor; mating disruption using pheromone dispensers; spinosad sprays on developing fruit
Prune infected branches 12 inches below canker; disinfect tools between cuts; apply copper fungicide in fall
Strong water spray to dislodge; miticide sprays if population exceeds economic threshold; encourage predatory insects

Uses

🍳

Fresh eating and preserves

Culinary

Goldrich apricots are prized for eating fresh due to their large size and excellent sweet flavor. They are ideal for making jams, canned apricots, dried apricots, and apricot nectar. [source]

🍳

Baking and desserts

Culinary

The fruit works well in pies, tarts, cobblers, and baked goods. Their natural pectin content makes them excellent for jellies without added pectin. [source]

💊

Nutritional and antioxidant benefits

Medicinal

Apricots are rich in vitamin A (beta-carotene), vitamin C, potassium, and polyphenol antioxidants. Traditionally used to support vision, immune function, and digestive health. [source]

🦋

Pollinator and bird habitat

Wildlife

Early spring blossoms provide crucial nectar for emerging honeybees and native pollinators. Ripe fruit attracts birds and beneficial wildlife. [source]

🏠

Apricot kernel and oil

Household

Apricot kernels (removed from pits) can be roasted for a nutty flavor, and apricot seed oil is used in cosmetics and culinary applications. [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 fruit is fully golden-orange with slight give when gently squeezed (typically late June-early July in northern zones). Do not harvest based on size alone; apricots do not continue ripening off the tree. Gently twist and lift fruit upward; pick every 2-3 days as fruit ripens. Use hand picking to avoid bruising. Fruit will keep 1-2 weeks refrigerated, or freeze, dry, or can for longer storage.

Fun Facts

🌱 Goldrich was developed by the University of Minnesota specifically for cold northern climates, making it one of the hardiest named apricot cultivars available and capable of surviving temperatures down to -40°F.
🌱 Unlike most apricots, Goldrich is self-fertile and doesn't require a pollinator tree, though yields can improve with cross-pollination from other apricot varieties.
🌱 Apricots are one of the oldest cultivated fruits, originating in Armenia (hence the scientific name Prunus armeniaca), and have been grown for over 4,000 years.

Want personalized planting timelines?

Get started free