To start an apricot tree from a pit is an exciting experience. People usually ask how can I germinate an apricot tree from a pit and how long it will take to go out from the seed and bear fruits. In this article we will go over some details hopefully you will find it useful and share it.
Selection and preparation of the finest seeds
To do that you will need a ripen apricot fruit usually around the summer that haven't been damaged by any external factors like insects or molding. Try to pick a variety that you like its taste and texture, although its not really guaranteed that the daughter will be like its mother tree due to cross pollination. Scrub the flesh completely and set to dry on thick paper towel or newspaper for couple of hours.
Chilling and Sowing the seeds
The apricot pit needs exposure to cold temperature of 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 months preferably in a fridge away from weather swings and rodents. This is called the after-ripening chilling hours. The best way to do it is to wrap the pit in a moist paper towel and place it inside a Ziploc bag inside the fridge where you can remember it. When chilling is done 60 days later, place the seeds in an individual 1-quart pots filled with seed-starter soil or soilless potting mixture to prevent the seeds from rotting. Sow the seeds 1 to 2 inches deep and water them lightly after sowing to settle the soil mixture around them.
Apricot seed germination
This step is also important as appropriate conditions will likely lead to success. Water them every time the soil just underneath the surface feel dry. They grow best at temperature ranging between 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit, little less or higher not a problem. The optimal conditions can be reached by placing them in one of these places:
-GreenHouse
-At a window inside the house
-Under a Grow Light
-Propagation heat mat in cooler cities
Expect the seedling to appear on 6-8 weeks, however, 3 months is also an acceptable time to wait as different varieties respond differently.
Upgrading Seedling container and site
At the stage where the seedling has few green leaves, move individual plants to separate one-gallon nursery pot containing potting soil. This time place the pots in a semi-sunny area like near a wall or so to prevent overheat or much wind.
Transplanting the baby apricot tree into earth
There is no clear cut guidelines when it comes to transplanting to the ground. You can either do it on the first autumn after the first rain or wait a whole growing season and transplant in autumn after the first rain as well. Choose an area with full sun exposure with well-drained soil separated by at least 10 feet depending on how aggressive you will be with pruning and to allow more space for root growing. Blooming is expected on average at age of 4 years, might be one year earlier or later depending on its built. Apricot trees prefer the low nitrogen fertilizer twice a year, one in the winter and the second after the fruit babies show out from the blooms. You can test the soil with this digital meter. You might want to get a full components fertilizer yet low in nitrogen like this Blossom Booster.