Apricots
 

Apricot blossoms, cultivar "Gold Kist".

Re: Apricots
 

My Gold Kist opened the first blooms of the year the day before you posted your picture. Must be on the same schedule. This is a quality apricot for low chill areas, at least to my tastes.

Re: Apricots
 

I do have a Blenheim apricot tree which has produced some excellent fruit for me in the past. I was thinking of getting another Blenheim. Do you rate the fruits of Gold Kist higher than the Blenheim and does it produce better in our low chill Southern California?

Re: Apricots
 

I don't know the answer because I don't have both varieties, but maybe Richard knows. What I've read is that Blenheim needs more chill than Gold Kist, but it is generally viewed as the standard for great flavor. If you consistently get good production with your Blenheim, then I probably wouldn't bother with Gold Kist. Unless you just want to experiment.

Flavor Delight aprium would be another plant to consider. It is very low chill, very productive, very early, and quite tasty. Personally, it tastes like an apricot to me, not an apricot-plum hybrid (I don't detect the supposed plum parentage).

Re: Apricots
 

The Apriums released by Zaiger Genetics have been bred for Apricot flavor and increased "hang time" on the tree. Flavor Delight has a great flavor, so does the Cot-N-Candy. I'm growing the latter.

The Blenheim performs very well in Central CA - San Jose in particular. Results along the southern CA coast are mixed. It generally does well in areas with significant winter chill and sustained early summer heat.

I can't imagine growing two of the same variety of anything unless you're operating a commercial orchard where the packing house expects uniformity.

Re: Apricots
 

Richard, have you ever had the opportunity to taste Blenheim and Gold Kist side by side? Just curious how the compare in flavor.

Re: Apricots
 

Yes, in Redlands CA. The Blenheim beat Gold Kist, no contest.

Re: Apricots
 

Re: Apricots
 

I abhor apricots which is why the Manchurian Apricot bush TYVM I ordered for the ex (who decided he didn't like them either) grew so well.



No, I didn't prune it--it was supposedly a bush that wouldn't grow more than 12' tall. (The house behind is 3 stories tall!)

Yes, I got fruit--bushels of those nasty things. (I did give them away as I did my figs; they were appreciated.)