Prunus armeniaca Fruit Me Apricot Me Pending - Apricot Tree

The Dwarf Apricot Tree Fruit Me Apricot Me Pending is decorative with its spectacular spring flowering and is characterized by its amazing ability to adapt its growth to the volume of soil available. It is suitable for gardens with limited space, for growing in containers on balconies or terraces, or for creating a small fruit hedge. Thanks to its small size, harvesting is simplified. It quickly bears fruit, offering a harvest of large apricots, measuring 5 to 6 cm (2in) in diameter and weighing about 40 to 50 grams, with an oblong shape. The velvety skin, orange-red in colour, encloses firm, juicy, sweet, and slightly acidic flesh around a flattened and rough stone containing an edible obovate kernel. This hardy (up to -15°C (5°F)), disease-resistant mini-apricot tree requires no pruning and is easy to grow with little maintenance. It is self-fertile and can pollinate itself.

Prunus armeniaca, commonly known as the Common Apricot Tree, belongs to the Rosaceae family, like the peach tree, cherry tree, and apple tree. It originates from Central and Eastern Asia, particularly China, where it has been cultivated since 3000 BC. It was introduced to the Mediterranean region, especially Armenia, and then to France in the 16th century.

The variety Fruit Me Apricot Me Pending is part of a very innovative series of semi-dwarf fruit trees recently developed in Spain. The use of appropriate grafting techniques on a very specific, latest-generation rootstock allows this fruit tree to adapt to the available soil volume while ensuring quality fruit production from the first years of cultivation. This mini-apricot tree has the ability to adjust its growth depending on the growing location. When planted in the ground, it develops a semi-erect, well-branched, and well-aerated habit, reaching a height of about 2 to 2.50 metres (7 to 8 feet) with a spread of 1.5 metres (5 feet) at maturity. In a container, it will not exceed 1.50 metres (5 feet) in height and 1 metre (3 feet) in width.

Its deciduous foliage consists of alternate, oval to elliptical leaves, 6 to 10 cm (2 to 4in) long, with a heart shape and irregularly toothed edges. The leaves emerge bronze and then turn shiny medium green, taking on yellow-orange autumn hues. The early flowering occurs in mid-March, before the leaves appear, which can expose it to spring frosts. The white-pink flowers, 2 to 3 cm (1in) in diameter, are solitary and appear on one-year-old branches. They can be damaged by frost at temperatures ranging from -2 to -3°C (28.4 to 26.6°F), so it is recommended to plant apricot trees in sheltered, west-facing locations protected from cold winds in regions with late frosts. However, the abundant flowering often leads to satisfactory fruit production. It is a remarkably decorative flowering tree in spring and is particularly attractive to bees and other pollinators. This hardy tree, which can withstand temperatures of around -15°C (5°F), is suitable for cultivation in all regions of France. It is said to be self-fertile, as its flowers can self-pollinate, but having another variety of apricot tree nearby will increase production.

The Fruit Me Apricot Me Pending is a very productive variety, bearing fruit quickly, around 2 to 3 years, and reaching optimal production after 5 to 6 years. The fruit is attached to the branch by a very short stem. Harvesting begins in mid-July and extends until early August. It is important to pick the fruit only when it is ripe, when it is golden, tender to the touch, and easy to detach from the tree. Apricots are simply harvested by hand, with delicacy.

Juicy, sweet, and subtly acidic, this apricot is delicious when eaten fresh, immediately after harvesting, as it does not keep well. In cooking, it reveals all its flavors in the preparation of clafoutis, cakes, crumbles, tarts, fruit salads, and as an accompaniment to savory dishes with white meats (turkey, chicken, veal, duck, rabbit, etc.) or cheese. They are also perfect for making jams, marmalades, jellies, preserved in syrup, or canned. Apricot juice is refreshing and can be mixed with a touch of peach juice to balance the natural acidity of the apricot. Its high content of beta-carotene, vitamins A, B, and C, phenolic antioxidants, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and a significant amount of iron, as well as its richness in trace elements and fibers, make apricot a health asset. The fruits can be stored for 2 to 3 weeks in a cool, airy place or in the refrigerator. They can also be frozen or dried after being washed and pitted.

Apricot is a summer fruit loved by both young and old. Among a wide range of apricot trees, it is easy to find the variety that best suits one's desires or needs. This mini-apricot tree, Apricot Me Pending, like all the fruit trees in the Fruit Me range, is also easy to grow, hardy, reliable, disease-resistant, and allows for the creation of a miniature orchard on a patio or balcony.