Buying Apricot Trees Online
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Prunus armeniaca Compacta Options Explained
St Julien A Bush Grows to 3.5m: Delivered as 100-150cm tall in a 12L pot and a bush shape for improved fruiting and disease resistance.2-3 years old.
Prunus armeniaca Compacta
This apricot tree has a lot in common with a toddler's tantrum because you get a lot from something so small. With an estimated mature height of around 200-250cm and a more upright shape, this makes it ideal for growing on patios and smaller spaces. It's not that upright that you could mistake it for the washing line pole, but if in August you find apricots in your socks, you should have gone to Specsavers.
The fruits are medium-sized and yellow-orange in colour with possible red shading, and the taste has been described as very apricoty by those with no idea how to write things for other people's benefit. More helpful people describe the orange flesh as sweet, juicy and a sugary flavour.
Apricot Compacta is freestone meaning that you don't have to pay for the stone in your fruit, or it can be removed easily from the apricot flesh.
Good cracking resistance which means you do not have to be extra vigilant with the consistent watering i.e. a downpour following a drought should not wipe out your whole crop from splitting.
Even ripening so you can harvest over a short window. Not to be confused with harvesting through a short window because the curtains will just get in the way.
Compacta is a great variety for reliable high-yield cropping and shows good disease resistance to common apricot threats.
Prunus armeniaca 'Compacta' Flowering and Harvest Times
Blooms in March with white flowers and has large harvests in late July to August. Compacta is self-fertile so no need for another apricot planted nearby although it will help increase crop yields. If you chose to do that, directly compatible with Compacta are Kioto and Pink Marry. Indirectly compatible with Compacta are Bergeron, Robada, and Pink Marry.
Planting Prunus armeniaca 'Compacta'
Frost-hardy and suitable for sheltered, sunny spots or walls in the UK. Prefers well-drained, neutral to chalk soil in full sun.
Other Information about Prunus armeniaca 'Compacta'
Developed by the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and introduced by Frank P Matthews in 2017 (the supplier of this apricot)
Keeps slightly longer once picked (typically 4–6 days at room temp, longer if refrigerated).
Compact habit ideal for containers or small gardens. Minimal pruning required.
As well as jam, works well for fresh eating, baking, and drying.
Makes a delicious jam. A very popular variety.
Planting In The Corner Of A Garden
Air and light is reduced in this location which could promote fungus and bacterial issues. Corners of houses and fences can also suffer leeching issues so we advise against it.
Apricot Tree Advice
Not a very demanding tree but a few things to remember.
- Make sure you plant the apricot tree in a well drained spot where there is a lot of sun.
- Balanced feed in early spring, NPK 10-10-10. No heavy nitrogen after June.
- Self fertile apricot fruit yields are improved by other compatible apricots nearby.
- Prune the tree every year to allow sun in and air to circulate into the centre.
- Fruits are ripe when you can pull them easily from the branch.
- A fleece over the tree or planting close to a wall can mitigate frost damage.
- Prune late winter. Aim for open vase shape. Remove dead, diseased and crossing branches.
- Consistent watering is essential. A dry spell followed by watering/heavy rain can split the fruit.
- All stone fruit, including apricots don't winter well in pots. Move under glass, near a wall and/or out of the wind. Thermally wrap the pot, mulch the surface and prevent freezing.
Apricot Fruit Thinning
Around 6 weeks after flowering, check the fruits. You want fruit spacing of around 15cm and 1-2 fruits per cluster. The ones to remove are those pointing up, smaller than the others, double fruited and odd shapes. Most fruit trees naturally drop fruits in June.
Thinning improves size of final fruits, branch breakages, uneven yearly crop sizes and air circulation.
