Apricots

Richard · 02-11-2014, 02:25 PM

Apricot blossoms, cultivar "Gold Kist".

venturabananas · 02-12-2014, 03:08 AM

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.

crazy banana · 02-12-2014, 01:25 PM

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?

venturabananas · 02-12-2014, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy banana

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?

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).

Richard · 02-12-2014, 02:07 PM

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.

venturabananas · 02-12-2014, 02:37 PM

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

Richard · 02-12-2014, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by venturabananas

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

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

sunfish · 02-14-2014, 05:43 PM

Kat2 · 02-14-2014, 06:16 PM

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.)

02-11-2014, 02:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 861,602 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,537 Times in 4,719 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	Apricots Apricot blossoms, cultivar "Gold Kist". __________________ Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

02-12-2014, 03:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
venturabananas venturabananas's Photo Gallery Location: Ventura, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Mark Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,845 BananaBucks : 273,014 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,752 Times Was Thanked 3,969 Times in 1,713 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 39 Times	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. __________________

02-12-2014, 01:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
crazy banana Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,641 BananaBucks : 19,727 Feedback: 73 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,023 Times Was Thanked 2,962 Times in 1,115 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,000 Times	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?

02-12-2014, 02:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 861,602 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,537 Times in 4,719 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	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. __________________ Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

02-12-2014, 02:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
venturabananas venturabananas's Photo Gallery Location: Ventura, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Mark Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,845 BananaBucks : 273,014 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,752 Times Was Thanked 3,969 Times in 1,713 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 39 Times	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. __________________

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02-14-2014, 05:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 1,419,415 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,593 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: Apricots

02-14-2014, 06:16 PM	#9 (permalink)
Kat2 Location: Now nesting in Titusville, FL Zone: 10A or 9B ish. Like it matters? Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 2,153 BananaBucks : 287,620 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,921 Times Was Thanked 2,669 Times in 1,322 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 595 Times	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.) __________________

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