Apricot

Question: How do you grow an apricot from a apricot seed? I just ate an apricot and i saved the seeds can I plant the seeds and grow an apricot tree? How?Where? When?

Answer: wash the pit in 20% bleach (1 part bleach, 9 parts water) for one minute, rinse, dry, then put it in the refrigerator, in a plastic bag, for 6 weeks. Then carefully crack open the pit, remove the seed inside, soak the seed for 2 days in water (there are naturally occurring chemical germination inhibitors in the seed) then plant the seed.

Question: How long does Apricot wood need to dry before it can be burned? If a large portion of an apricot tree was just cut down, how long does it have to dry before it can be burned? Does it matter what size the logs that were cut are?

Answer: It depends on the weather and humidity and size of pieces. Minimum time is usually 2-3 weeks, and in some areas it can take 6 months.

Question: Has anyone tried a black velvet apricot or cactus pears? I have 1 apricot and 2 cactus pears, what do they taste like and whats a good way to eat/use the cactus pears. I am just going to try the apricot and maybe get more for a fruit salad if I like them, any other ideas.

Answer: Prickly pear fruit are delicious. The seeds inside somewhat resemble passionfruit and can be scooped out with a spoon.

Question: Can I grow an apricot from a pit? I just had the BEST apricot I've ever eaten, and I want to know if I can grow a tree from it's pit. I live in Orlando, Fl, and I also would like to know if I would need another apricot tree to cross pollinate for it to bear fruit. When would be the best time to plant it, and do apricots need a freeze to be able to bear fruit? Any advice?

Answer: You are better off planting the whole fruit, the pit may become too dry and the fruit provides nourishment.

Question: Anyone know how to make a good apricot chicken pizza? Should I soak the chicken in the apricot juice or something. I've made tonnes of pizzas before so the dough and everything is no problem, just need to know what the deal with apricots and chicken is.

Answer: Hope you like this! APRICOT CHICKEN DIVINE 2 tbsp. butter 2 tbsp. olive oil 8 skineed chicken breast halves 1/2 c. white flour 1 tsp. salt 1/2 c. apricot preserves 1 tbsp. dijon mustard 1/2 c. plain yogurt 1 tbsp. slivered almonds Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Melt butter with oil in a shallow baking pan. Meanwhile, shake chicken in a plastic bag filled with flour and salt until chicken is coated. Place chicken in a single layer in the baking pan and bake for 25 minutes. Combine apricot preserves, mustard and yogurt. Spread apricot mixture on chicken and bake for 30 minutes more or until done. Just before serving, brown almonds lightly in toaster oven. Sprinkle almonds over chicken and serve over rice. Serves 8.

Question: What is the proper way to care for apricot trees? I live in Nevada, just outside of Las Vegas. Needless to say, it gets unbelievably hot here. The place I bought has a lot of trees and one of them is an apricot tree. I went out to water it yesterday and noticed that there are only about 5 apricots on it right now, but the thing that really surprised me is that the leaves looks like they are wet/leaking and really sticky like a sap. Is this normal? Also, how often should I be watering this tree?

Answer: Growing an Apricot in the desert might be the hardest thing to do because Apricots usually want to grow where it's constantly wet. So you know what you have to do... constantly water.

Question: Apricot tree, dose it need watering at this time of year? I have a two year old wall trained apricot, it's growing on a south facing wall, and the leaves look a little limp. I live in Scotland and the summer has been really wet, so I'm surprised to see the leaves looking limp. Is it possible that it has been caused by a resent frost followed by some bright warm sun shine? Advice from keen and professional gardeners would be appreciated.

Answer: Any plant growing close to a wall or fence will receive less water than if it was planted out in the open. So if your tree is looking as if it requires water then it probably does. The frost then sunshine may have made the leaves a little droopy but it is likely that the tree needs water. Apricots are winter hardy so whilst the tree will lose it's leaves during winter it will survive. This link will take you to the RHS advice page for apricot trees. http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0805/apricots.asp

Question: How do you take care of an apricot tree? I have two 15 yr old apricot trees in my yard. I've never really tried the fruit off of it. Can it produce bad tasting fruit of it is not properly taken care of? The trees look healthy and have beautiful branches and the fruit actually does look very good. I just want to know how to maintain a tree that produces fruit, so any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Answer: the maintanance of your tree would not really affect the taste of the fruit. If it looks edible then it generally will be edible. Since your tree is already producing fruit it shouldn't be difficult to look after. Just make sure it gets enough water and, in winter, trim a couple of branches.

Question: How long does it take for an apricot tree to reach full size? The type of apricot tree is a Golden Sweet I think. Does the time it takes to grow vary on size?

Answer: Its about 10 years. They grow from 1-2 feet per year. All apricot trees grow at about the same rate.

Question: How deep do apricot tree roots grow? I have a large apricot tree stump right in the middle of my back yard and I need to pull it out to plant my lawn. Any ideas on the best way to do this?

Answer: burn the stump. drill some holes in it, fill with diesel, then start a "campfire" on top.

Question: When is an apricot ready to pick? I have a "Katy" apricot tree. It hasn't produced any apricots during the past two years, but this year I have several. How do I know when to pick the apricots? There are a few that are reddish, but they're still as hard as a rock.

Answer: when they pull away from the stem easily... with barely any effort! u might start to see some on the ground...that's ur "Q"....to get out there and pick em!

Question: Have you ever bitten into an apricot/ peach and found the inside to be moldy? I bought a box of apricots, some soft, some firm. I chose one of the soft ones to eat since I wanted to get rid of those first. Anyway, I bit into it and it didn't have any flavor. I looked at the pit and it was dark and the interior around it was a bit fuzzy (some dark color). The apricot looked fine from the outside. Has this ever happened to you or do you know if stone fruits grow mold from the inside? Thanks!

Answer: Yes. Many times fruit, especially which has been picked under ripe and held in cold storage, will start going bad from the pit-first. I just cut that part away and eat the rest. :)

Question: How to defrost frozen apricot pie? Hi, how should I defrost a frozen apricot pie? Leave it out at room temperature? Or let it defrost in the refrigerator? And for how long? Thanks! I made the pie last month, and froze it, but not sure how to defrost it. I made the pie last month, and froze it, but not sure how to defrost it.

Answer: i would defrost it in the refrigerator at least overnight

Question: How can you tell the difference between a peach and apricot tree? i have noticed fruit on it, but the fruits are still green and furry, still smaller than a apricot.

Answer: peach tree's have longer more slender leaves . apericot leaves are more rounded or oval and shorter.

Question: When and how should I prune my apricot trees? I have 2 apricot trees (Perfection and Rival), they grew a lot this season. I am going to cut the top off so it does not keep going high, other than that: When and how should I prune my apricot trees?

Answer: This specialist website should be of help to you with more information on that. http://www.au.gardenweb.com/forums/load/trees/msg0621330030917.html

Question: I have an apricot thats barely alive what do I do? I sprayed my apricot tree with an antifungal that used on my Peach tree for culy leaf. and I have only about 20 or 30 leaves in my apricot tree now and the rest of the tree looks dead. can it be saved?

Answer: This time of year, the leaves should just be coming in (or started in the last month) If you nkow for sure that this is not the case, you might want to try giving it a good does of fertilizer and see if that works. Good luck.