California Source of Sugar Pearls Apricot

[DragonflyLane]

Anyone know where I can get a Sugar Pearls apricot tree in California or at least, will ship to California?

I got a Harcot as a pollen friend for Blenheim and then my Blehneim died (no idea why).

Now I am looking at Sugar Pearls to be a pollen friend to my Harcot.

Thanks!

[Ahmad]

I have Sugar Pearls, Lasrgerdi Mashhad, Cot’n Candy and White Knockout (all are white cots). While Sugar Pearls is good, the other three are significantly better. I would recommend White Knockout, which is self pollinating, heavy producer of very large, very tasty and sweet apricots. It is also a few weeks earlier than Harcot (or Blenheim), so you would get good spread of your harvest. It is available from several CA nurseries, including Bay Laurel:

Apricots: White Knockout Apricot - Standard

Notes:
1- Blenheim is self-pollinating and does not need cross pollination.
2-Harcot is mediocre tasting cot, I would top-work that tree with another variety. There are so many better tasting cots out there. See the links below for some examples:

Stan’s harvest diary 2021

Moniqui white apricots. Love white apricots, they have a unique flavor. [2021-06-10_Harvest_Apricot_Moniqui_IMG_0836]

Stan's harvest diary 2019

Let’s start with early apricots. My earliest is Apache, two fruits on a 2018 graft, picked May 12. Below average size, nice aroma, not very sweet or particularly flavorful, but decent for such an early season. Much better than nothing, which is the alternative. [Apricots_Apache_2019-05-12_photo-1] [Apricots_Apache_2019-05-12_photo-2] Next is Royal Rosa, three fruits on two 2018 grafts, picked May 29-31 (one fruit a day). Nice looking fruit, medium size. However, low sugar, not very flavorful…

[DragonflyLane]

Thanks for your recommendations!

I thought it was widely accepted that even self-pollinators crop better with a pollination partner?

[Ahmad]

I am not sure that statement is universal, I think it depends on the variety and possibly climate too.

I can tell you that both my Blenheim and White Knockout are very heavy producers.

[DragonflyLane]

I am sad to lose my Blenheim but the Harcot is doing well. I am 8A in a Mediterranean climate with late spring frosts. I was told Harcot handled late spring frosts, is why I picked it.

I just have the one Harcot in apricots and was wanting to get a white variety, thanks for the recommendation and link to White Knockout.

I am still going to give Harcot a shot, you never know, might be better in my location?

[Ahmad]

If I were you, I would keep one or two scaffolds of the Harcot, and graft the others with more reputable varieties.

[DragonflyLane]

I just scored a white knockout apricot at Costco, thanks for the recommendation.

[Ahmad]

Congratulations! I hope it survives your spring frosts, and you get to enjoy its prolific crops…

[DragonflyLane]

Me too I do feel bad for trees. I buy at Costco in spring because they’re all awake and then I dragged them all the way after 4200 feet where it’s a lot less friendly for trees that are awake.

Right now, my Harcot is still sound asleep and the Moorpark just started showing the very faint tip of pink.

So White knockout will have a rough start. I’m sure that should adapt to a different week of time and its new location next year.

[Ahmad]

@DragonflyLane

Right now, my Harcot is still sound asleep and the Poor Park just started showing the very faint tip of pink.

It is interesting what elevation does to climate! I am in Z6A, and my cots are at popcorn stage; I would have never thought that my trees will be ahead of yours.