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Growing Apricots Indoors in Pots/Containers

Introduction to growing Apricots indoors

Apricot tree growing is simple, provided you have the soil, sun, and drainage necessary. While growing Apricot in pots indoors, locate it near and on a south-facing window. To grow an Apricot indoors you should select a self-pollinating variety and position it somewhere that gets 6 to 8 hours of sunlight. You need to fertilize your tree once per year whilst keeping the soil moist but not soaking. Homegrown Apricots are delicious, packed with juice and delicate flavors eaten straight from the Apricot tree they are tastier than anything bought in a shop. As the Apricot plant enjoys a bright sun, it is always a good idea to place the pot in a sunny spot. In this article we also discuss below topics;

  • How do you care for potted Apricot plants
  • How long does Apricot plant take to grow
  • Apricot indoor care
  • Do Apricot do well in pots
  • How do you plant Apricot
  • Tips for growing Apricot plants
  • Growing Apricot plant problems
  • How do you grow Apricots at home
  • How do you germinate Apricot seeds
  • planting Apricot trees
  • Growing Apricots in pots
  • How do you propagate an Apricot tree

A step by step guide to growing Apricots indoors

Container size for growing Apricots indoors

A pot with 20 to 24 inches diameter is ideal for growing Apricot in pots, but if the plant is small or you’re growing Apricot from seed then starts in a small pot. Once it is root-bound, keep re-potting to the bigger pots. Use a commercial potting mix with a neutral pH level of 6-6.5.

Good quality soil for growing Apricots indoors

Use a good quality commercial potting soil to plant Apricot or prepare your own by mixing about 1 part coarse sand, 1 part perlite, and 1 part peat moss or coco peat. To make it rich, add about 1 part compost or aged manure. Then, take pots with proper drainage holes.

How much light does an Apricots tree require?

The more light you can get Apricot tree the better. Apricot trees will grow fine and produce fruit with as little as 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily. If you have a south-facing window or conservatory that would be ideal but if you don’t you can still grow an Apricot tree as they will produce healthily even if you just have a bright room. If you don’t think you can get your Apricot tree enough natural light you could always invest in an inexpensive LED grow light as they are very affordable to run and make impressive growing results.

Apricot plant propagation

You can propagate Apricots from seeds and cuttings or you can procure a grown-up tree from a nearby garden center to grow in a container.

Planting and growing conditions for Apricots indoors

Growing conditions for Apricots indoors.
Growing conditions for Apricots indoors.

Step 1) There are two ways by which you can grow Apricot plants in pots. The first method is through seeds and the second is through a sapling or re-planting one that already has a root ball. Growing Apricot from seeds is common but takes note that it will need a lot of patience. Nonetheless, Apricots favor outdoor environments, if you plan to grow it indoors, ditch the idea of using seeds. The external environment might not be suitable for their initial stages of plant development.

Step 2) First, start with the preparation of the container that you will use. Even the dwarf varieties of Apricots can reach a height of up to 6 feet, which makes it important to choose a large container. It must have a diameter of at least 20 inches. It will be good to put casters under the pot, which will make it easy for you to move it around. The bottom of the pot must have drainage holes. And, lay a screen mesh on the bottom, which will prevent washing out of the soil when you water the plant.

Step 3) Fill the container with your choice of potting mix and it is best to use perlite, peat, and sand. Fill the bottom of the pot and then place the root ball. You might want to trim the root ball first to control its growth. Once it is in place and covers it with the potting mix. Press the top part firmly and water.

Step 4) Now that your plant is ready, select the perfect location. Indoors, look for a location that is sunny, but not too hot as this can burn the Apricot plant. Water the Apricot plant every now and then, but avoid overdoing it. Do not let the potting mix dry out, but do not make it soggy.

How to germinate Apricots seed for growing indoors

  • If you have collected pits from Apricots you have bought you will have to remove flesh that remains on them by giving them a good scrub.
  • Once you have removed any remaining flesh off your Apricot pits you must leave them to dry for a few hours. To encourage successful seed germination it is best to remove the seed from the pit, use a vice, nutcracker, or hammer to do this.
  • When you have the seeds you now have to keep them in a fridge for 2 to 3 months in order to stratify them.
  • Next, wrap the seeds in a damp paper towel and put it in a plastic bag and keep it damp until plant roots sprout from the seed. When you see some roots sprout it is time to plant seeds in a pot.

Growing Apricots from pits indoors

Step 1) Purchase a commercial germinating mix, or make your own mix using 1 part moist sphagnum peat moss, one part sharp sand, and one part perlite or vermiculite. Then, put the moist germinating mix in a plastic, self-locking bag until the bag is one-half to two-thirds full.

Step 2) Cut a fresh Apricot in half with a sharp kitchen knife by cutting from the stem end toward the blossom end on opposite sides, splitting the Apricot fruit in half.

Step 3) Wash the Apricot seed to remove pulp and bury the seed in the germinating mix in the plastic bag. Put the bag in the refrigerator to cold stratify the seed for 3 to 4 weeks.

Step 4) Remove the bag of germinating mix with the stratified Apricot seed from the refrigerator and take the seed out of the mix. Rinse the seed in clear water.

Step 5) Then, crack the hard outer shell of the Apricot pit lightly with a nutcracker. Do not crush the shell, as the kernel inside the hard seed coat can be damaged if too much force is applied to the outer shell.

Step 6) Fill about 6-inch diameter flower pot to within 1 to 1 1/2 inches of the top with the moist germinating mix. Push the cracked seed into the potting mixture 1 inch deep and water the pot until water runs out the bottom. Allow the pot to drain for approximately 1 hour.

Step 7) Then, cover the pot with transparent plastic film to conserve moisture. Locate the pot in a warm location with strong light, such as near a window, but not in sunlight while the plastic is in place. Keep the germinating mix moist, but not wet, until the Apricot seed sprouts. Remove the plastic film and move the sprouting seed to strong light, such as a sunny south-facing window.

Step 8) Pot in a larger size container after the plant roots fill the pot, but before they begin to wrap around the inside edges of the pot. Use a commercial potting mix with a pH level of 6.0 to 6.5 or make your own mix using coarse sphagnum peat moss, sterilized topsoil, sand, and vermiculite or perlite, in equal proportions. If you make your own mix, soil test it and adjust the pH level with the addition of lime to raise the pH level, or use sulfur to increase the acidity, as indicated by test results.

How to plant Apricot trees from saplings

Most saplings gardener purchases will need 2 years of care before they’ve matured enough to start producing Apricots. In the location you’ve selected, dig a deep hole, and then add lots of decomposed organic material mixed with high-quality garden soil.

If your Apricot sapling came equipped with its own peat pot, leave the pot around the Apricot tree when you plant it. You can cut slits into the container to give the sapling’s plant roots a head start at branching out, but take care not to slice into the roots when you add these slits. If the tree came enclosed in a bag, remove the bag before planting.

Watering and fertilizing requirement for growing Apricots indoors

During the growth phase, the Apricot tree requires consistent watering. In cold regions, you can water once a week, whereas, in hot climatic conditions, 2 to 3 times a week is going to be sufficient. In the summer season, you will have to water them more frequently. The Apricot tree needs plenty of water to thrive.

Feed container Apricot tree with a complete granular fertilizer that has an equal NPK ratio in the spring when the new growth spurts. You can fertilize it with 10-15-10, once the tree is mature enough to fruit to provide more phosphorus. Mulching the container with a layer of compost or aged manure occasionally is beneficial. If you’re not using granular fertilizer, give a timely dose of balanced liquid fertilizer to Apricot plant according to the product’s instructions.

Apricot tree pruning

While growing Apricot in pots, prune the Apricot tree twice a year once in spring, and again in summer. Snip off about one-quarter of the new growth each time. Also, remove leggy, damaged, and diseased branches as soon as they are noticed. Regular pruning is going to keep the tree in the desired size and shape, encouraging new growth and fruit production.

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Apricot tree pruning.
How to prune Apricot tree

When you are growing an Apricot tree or other fruit tree indoors you will have to stick to a quite severe pruning regime in order to keep its dwarf size and stop it developing into a full-size tree. The best time to prune an Apricot tree is in spring as the Apricot tree is starting to grow at this time of year which will help it heal where you cut it. When pruning you must cut off any dead or unhealthy branches to keep it healthy. Remove any branches that are growing up the way instead of out the way as this helps keep your Apricot tree shorter.

Apricots growing problems indoors

When growing Apricot in pots, they can be affected by Eutypa Dieback. You can take care of the same by pruning the affected tree branch. To avoid Phytophthora, make sure that you are not overwatering the Apricot plant. Then, spray with a jet of water to remove common garden pests such as aphids.

Harvesting Apricots

Apricot fruits are best when picked ripe from the tree. While it is easy to tell if an Apricot is ripe, it can be tough to tell whether it’s good. Look for Apricot fruits that have a deep orange-gold color rather than those that are pale orange or yellow. They must be plump and firm, with just a little softness to them.

Commonly asked questions about growing Apricots indoors

What to do if the Apricot tree stops producing fruit?

If your Apricot tree has stopped producing fruit the first reason is watering and fertilizing your tree the required amounts. If you give your tree too much water or fertilizer or not enough water or fertilizer it will affect how many Apricots your tree produces. Apricot trees need a period of cool temperature during the winter season and if it doesn’t get this it might not produce fruit the next season.

How much time it will take for an Apricot tree to bear fruit?

Apricots are semi self-pollinating, but produce better crops with 2 varieties. Apricot trees should bear fruit in 3-4 years, with full fruiting in 5-7 years.

Can I grow Apricot in containers?

Apricot trees grow well in containers and a good choice for gardeners with big plans but limited space.

Do Apricots continue to ripen once picked?

Apricot fruits continue to ripen after picking. They must be stored at room temperature, away from sunlight and heat until they give softly to the touch and have a sweet aroma. Once ripe, refrigerate apricots as necessary to prevent spoiling, but cold temperatures can change their texture and taste.

Why is my Apricot tree dropping fruit?

Apricots can drop off the tree before they are ready for harvest and this is a built-in safety mechanism if the tree produces a larger than a normal number of blossoms. If too many of the flowers are pollinated, the tree will produce a large amount of Apricot fruit and drop some of it to lighten the load.

Why are my apricots splitting?

Apricot fruit splitting is caused when there is a period of drought followed by a drenching rain. The tree is so parched it sucks up the water faster than it can grow, causing the fruit’s skin to stretch and crack. Apricots are harvested before the fruit has fully ripened on the Apricot tree.

Can you grow Apricot trees from cuttings?

Attempt to root and grow Apricot branches by taking multiple cuttings toward the end of the winter season and in early spring. Select cuttings from the Apricot tree that are 9 inches or more in length and have a few leaves on them.

Why has my Apricot tree died?

Phytophthora Root Rot and Euypta Die Back are the two main causes for sections of the canopy in Apricot trees to die. They affect major and minor branches or limbs.

Where do Apricot trees grow best?

In order to thrive and produce fruit, Apricot trees require to be planted in a location that does not have long periods of freezing weather or late frost.

Do Apricots get leaf curl?

Leaf curl is a disease of peaches and nectarines, though it may also affect almonds and Apricots. It is caused by the fungus Taphrina deformans and occurs wherever peaches and nectarines are grown.

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