In an extract from Grow Fruit and Vegetables in Pots, New Zealander Aaron Bertelsen, of the acclaimed English garden at Great Dixter, talks apricots - eating and planting.
Apricots
An apricot tree is an investment, particularly if you are treating yourself to a mature plant that will crop sooner than a young one, so it is worth seeking out a good nursery for the best choice and expert advice. Make sure your tree is grafted on to dwarfing rootstock and that it is self-pollinating: you don't want to wait years for your apricot to fruit only to find it is languishing for want of a lover. When your tree arrives, plant it straight into its "forever" pot, which should be 45–50cmin diameter. Don't worry if the tree looks too small to start with; it will soon fill out. The space around the tree's base is ideal for Alpine strawberries, a combination to make anyone swoon with joy. Give the plant a good soak once a week, or every three or four days if the weather is hot, and as needed throughout the winter. This is much more effective than more frequent, shallower watering.
FAVOURITE VARIETIES
Look for a dwarf type – the key words to look for on the label are "patio" and "pot". I have chosen "Isabelle", which fruits late in the season, after mid-summer. This makes sense in a temperate climate, where the fruit will need all the heat the summer can offer in order to ripen.
KEY DATES
My preference would always be to buy a bare-root tree in the early spring. Remember that you will need to deal with it as soon as it arrives, so have your pot and compost (potting soil) ready. A container-grown plant will be more forgiving but it is still a good idea to get it planted in the spring so that you are not struggling to keep it well watered later on in the heat. Use a liquid feed weekly throughout the spring and summer and top-dress with organic matter in the spring. After about five years, you will need to repot the tree to stop the plant becoming root-bound.
