Apricots from your own garden sound of the south, of the Valais or Hungary. In fact they can be grown here too, and in warmer wine-growing regions they bear reliably. The reputation for being tricky comes less from the winter climate than from a single critical moment in spring.
Because the apricot flowers earlier than almost any other fruit, often as early as March. If a frost night then catches it, the crop is gone. Anyone who grasps this one point and chooses the spot accordingly can enjoy their own apricots even north of the Alps.
The real problem: late frost
The winter hardiness of the wood is rarely the issue with the apricot, most varieties tolerate our winters. The dangerous part is the transition: as soon as it turns mild for a few days, the apricot opens its flowers. If a clear, cold night then follows, the open flowers and young fruit-set freeze.
So apricot growing revolves almost entirely around these few weeks in spring. You have two levers in hand: the spot and the choice of variety.
The spot: a warm wall
The best place for an apricot is a warm wall facing south or west. It stores heat by day and gives it off at night, which softens the frost risk. Trained as an espalier, the apricot makes the most of this warmth.
Also important is a slightly raised position, where no cold air gathers on clear nights. A hollow at the end of the garden is the worst place, cold air stands there like water in a tub. The soil should be free-draining and warm, the apricot cannot tolerate waterlogging at all.
How to secure the harvest
- Use a warm wall
A spot against a south- or west-facing wall brings the ripening forward and buffers night cold. As an espalier the apricot does this best.
- Choose late-flowering varieties
Varieties such as 'Ungarische Beste' flower a little later and thus dodge part of the late frosts. Robust new breeds are also less prone to disease.
- Protect on frost nights
If frost is forecast at flowering, throw a garden fleece over the tree or espalier. That often holds back the decisive two or three degrees.
- Avoid cold-air hollows
Do not plant in the lowest corner of the garden. A slightly raised, airy spot lets the cold air drain away instead of pooling.
It is not the winter that is the problem, but the early blossom. A warm wall, a late-flowering variety and a fleece on the frost night save the crop.
The core rule on apricots
Frequently asked questions
Can you grow apricots in Germany?
Yes. In warmer regions they bear reliably, and with the right spot further north too. The greatest risk is not the winter but the late frost during the very early blossom.
Why does my apricot not bear?
Usually a late frost has caught the early blossom. A warmer, sheltered spot, a late-flowering variety and a fleece on critical nights markedly raise the chance of a harvest.
Which spot is best for the apricot?
A warm, full-sun wall facing south or west, slightly raised and sheltered, with free-draining soil. Avoid hollows where cold air pools on clear nights.
Which apricot variety is the most robust?
Late-flowering and less disease-prone varieties such as 'Ungarische Beste' or new breeds like 'Kuresia' are considered reliable. They dodge part of the frost risk and stay healthier.
How do I protect the blossom from frost?
On forecast frost nights, throw a garden fleece over the tree or espalier, ideally already in the evening. That often holds back the decisive degrees. In the morning, when the sun comes, you take it off again.
