Growing Apricot Trees for Profit

Apricot tree cultivation –if done rationally and on a scalable basis- can be a good source of income. First of all, tree cultivation such as Apricot, requires many years of land exploitation, so, in order to start Apricot cultivation, you should have your own field; otherwise, the fixed cost for rent will be very high and can increase in the long term.

Most commercial Apricot growers start the orchard from 1-year-old grafted young trees. A few months before the planting procedure, they prepare the field. They till the land, remove any previous cultivation remains and weeds, and integrate in the soil the basal fertilization combined with well-digested manure. They also design the irrigation system. When they are ready for planting, in winter, they dig holes and plant the bare-root young Apricot trees at the same depth as they were at the nursery. Fertilization, Pruning, Training, Drip Irrigation and Weed Management are applied in most cases. In fact, training and pruning are really important because apart from maintaining the optimum shape of the trees, they also regulate production. Most commercial Apricot varieties can be harvested from spring to fall. Harvesting time depends on the variety, the training and pruning system, and climate and soil conditions prevailing in the area. Harvesting is nowadays being made either manually, when it comes to table varieties or through large harvesters when the fruits are transferred for processing. After harvesting, Apricot growers irrigate the plants to help differentiate their buds. 

The restrictive factor when growing Apricots is the climate. The plant thrives in areas characterized by cool winters and warm, dry summers, while it also has certain needs in cold [ (300-1100 hours in temperature lower than 7°C  (44.6°F)] depending on their variety, in order to break the dormancy of its buds. In case these needs are not met, the flowery buds of the tree die, and we have huge production losses. The plant can tolerate summer temperatures up to 35  °C  (95°F) and winter temperatures up to -30 °C  (-22°F). However, some varieties start to have problems already in higher temperatures. Frosts during blooming time can seriously damage the flowers.

Apricot trees start to produce fruits from the 2nd- 3rd year, but they do not produce a good yield until the 4th or 5th year of orchard establishment, even with high-quality management from experienced growers. A grower has to be patient and of course, proactive to carry the costs of the first years without expecting remarkable income. The apricot tree sometimes suffers from biennial bearing. This means that in some cases, we have greater than average yield in one year and lower than average yield in the next year, something that causes many problems to the grower’s routine, schedule and financial planning. 

Apricot Tree Information and Varieties

Nutrition Value, Health Benefits, Uses, and Interesting facts about Apricot

Growing Apricot Trees for Profit

Apricot Soil Requirements, Soil preparation, and Planting

How to Propagate and Pollinate Apricot Trees

How to Train and Prune Apricot Trees

Apricot Trees Irrigation – How to water Apricot trees

Apricot Tree Fertilizer Requirements

Harvesting Apricot Trees – Apricot Tree Yield and Storage

Apricot Pests, Diseases, and Physiological Disorders

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