All fruit trees certified virus free with a Limited 3 Year Fruit Tree Warranty. Click here for our FREE FRUIT TREE OFFER. All basic pruning requirements completed before delivery.
Prunus Apricot Bergeron Options Explained
St Julien A Bush Grows to 3.5m: Delivered as 150-200cm tall in a 12L pot and a bush shape for improved fruiting and disease resistance.2-3 years old.
Prunus Apricot Bergeron
There are many things that are attractive, large, with a yellowish-orange colour and red blush. These include a Koi carp with an eating disorder (a fishy tale if ever we heard one), an embarrassed mango (probably got caught getting fruity), and a chunky golden retriever that has got into the make-up box. There are also the apricots from Prunus Apricot Bergeron. They are aromatic, sweet and slightly juicy, making them great dessert fruits eaten fresh. The slight hint of acidity makes them suitable for cooking, plus their ability to hold their shape well in tarts and pies. Of all the cooking apricots, this is one of the better ones.
Average fruits are round to slightly oval and about 50-60g each. As it is French, i.e. a metric species, it does not grow imperial apricots. Ripe fruits have a yellow/orange colour with a distinctive red blush on the sunny side, and the flesh is a deep orange, firm and juicy. Stores and travels well, which we assume means you can put it in a lunch box and it will remain intact and not that it can use the public transport network without issue.
It has good disease and cracking resistance with 5-7 day shelf life of fruits, longer if refrigerated.
Not only does it stand outside, it stands out!
Prunus Apricot Bergeron Flowering And Harvest Times
Mid–late season pink blossoms (reduces frost risk compared to early apricots) and harvest late July to early August in the UK. Being Self-fertile, it does not require another apricot nearby to produce fruit, but if there is one, fruit crop size will likely be improved. Directly compatible apricot trees are Koorong, Early Orange, and Moorpark. Indirectly compatible are Compacta, Kioto, and Pink Marry.
Due to the heavy cropping, you may need to thin them out.
Planting Prunus Apricot Bergeron
Prefers to be planted in a sheltered but sunny location. Good frost resistance and reliable in cooler climates. It will grow well outside in the UK from the south to central UK. Further north would benefit from being under glass.
Other Information About Prunus Apricot Bergeron
This variety accounts for around 25% of apricot production in France and was discovered in the Rhone Valley, France, as a seedling in the 1920s.
It is apparently well known in the jam preserve community.
The high sugar content makes it suitable for dehydrating.
Moderate vigour with spreading habit – needs space unless pruned.
Rich, honeyed flavour when fully ripe.
Good pollinator for other mid-season apricots.
Retains colour/flavour when dried.
Quick Fruit Tree Links
Take a look at our TOP SELLING FRUIT TREES, Wet ground issues then choose a PEAR TREE first, followed by APPLE TREES. For more information on pollination please look at choosing the CORRECT POLLINATION PARTNER
Fruit Tree Life Expectancy
Most fruit trees will give you AT LEAST 40 years of fruit. Pears can go to 70. Records of 200 year old trees exist but this is the exception, not the rule.
Do I Need To Stake My Bare Root Fruit Tree?
9 out of 10 times the answer will be no, especially if under 200cm tall. However our article on Tree Staking should help guide you.
Climate Change
Climate Change has increased aesthetic foliage issues such as Powdery Mildew, Shothole, Rust, frost damage etc These are not terminal issues and will usually last a season or less. All trees are inspected before being sent out to ensure they are fundamentally healthy and will bounce back.
Planting In The Corner Of A Garden
Air and light is reduced in this location which could promote fungus and bacterial issues. If the corner is of the house and a fence then you also have leeching issues to contend with from cement and wood preservatives. Also when it rains, that area would experience higher water levels so we advise against it unless the plant is very hardy.
Fruit Tree Heights
Taller does not mean more value for money. A 1 year old fruit tree can easily be substantially higher than a 2 year old, this is because they are hard pruned at 1 year old to create the desired shape. Some trees have over 100cm of height removed. They can then have another pruning at 2 years old to increase fruit growing real estate. Most fruit trees will benefit from having a third to half of the seasons new growth cut back in the Autumn to prevent long whippy branches which break easily. Age and pruning completed determine real value.
Apricot Rootstocks Explained
Rootstocks are literally roots of another plant and are used to change characteristics of the Apricot tree such as disease resistance, fruiting ability etc. New rootstocks are used all the time as new ones are developed. Below is a brief explanation of Apricot rootstocks.
VVA1: Expected to grow to around 2.5m tall.
Torrinel24: Expected to grow to around 3.0m tall.
Montclere: Expected to grow to around 3.0m tall.
Ferlenain: Expected to grow to around 3.0m tall.
Wavit: Slightly less vigorous than St Julian, circa 3-3.5m apricot tree and crops a little earlier. Some chalk tolerance.
St Julian A: Expected to grow to around 3.5-4m tall and is quite vigorous with some chalk tolerance.
Myrobalan Seedling: A vigorous rootstock and ultimate height of 4m or more. Full cropping is longer than previous rootstock.
Peach Seedling: Better tolerance to water logging and firmer/sweeter flesh than Myrobalan. Grows to around 4m.
The trade off with a taller tree is more growing real estate but a smaller tree will fruit a little quicker. Ultimate height can be determined with manual pruning.
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.
