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 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.
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.
