The Tropical Fruit Forum

Temperate Fruit & Orchards => Temperate Fruit Discussion => Topic started by: CherimoyaDude on September 04, 2019, 09:29:41 PM

Title: Topworking apricot tree, looking for suggested cultivars to graft (SoCal)
Post by: CherimoyaDude on September 04, 2019, 09:29:41 PM
What varieties do people recommend? This is in Santa Barbara region. Rootstock is old apricot that doesn't produce anymore. I'm new to grafting so less finicky varieties are a plus. I enjoy pluots and nectarines the most but I am not sure what is compatible with apricot.
Title: Re: Topworking apricot tree, looking for suggested cultivars to graft (SoCal)
Post by: Samu on September 09, 2019, 11:10:28 PM
I highly recommend “Flavor grenade” pluot; my best tasting stone fruits (4) that I grow...
Title: Re: Topworking apricot tree, looking for suggested cultivars to graft (SoCal)
Post by: Oolie on September 10, 2019, 04:32:09 AM
I am looking to do the same thing to the CnC I just lopped.

FG is still under patent, but I would not be opposed to approach grafting, but that would mean seeking out an already grafted one which is far more difficult than getting the budwood of an off-patent but similarly appreciable variety.

I've already decided some of the tree will be an apricot. Maybe there are some similar low-chill pluots that members of this forum could recommend.
Title: Re: Topworking apricot tree, looking for suggested cultivars to graft (SoCal)
Post by: Samu on September 10, 2019, 01:21:48 PM
I am looking to do the same thing to the CnC I just lopped.

FG is still under patent, but I would not be opposed to approach grafting, but that would mean seeking out an already grafted one which is far more difficult than getting the budwood of an off-patent but similarly appreciable variety.

I've already decided some of the tree will be an apricot. Maybe there are some similar low-chill pluots that members of this forum could recommend.

Yes Oolie, thanks for the added info, I was thinking maybe the OP needs to go get to purchase the tree instead, thus providing multiple potential scions, since OP likely needs to do multiple grafting on the multiple sprouts that would normally come out from a topped tree. The concern that we have in SoCal is the chill requirement of the FG; Dave Wilson site says it needs 500-600 hours, but I see OP said this is for Santa Barbara region, which is further North than LA/San Diego. My tree is still young, in fact it fruits the first time this season even in my less than the chill requirement specified above, so Santa Barbara's location should be an advantage in this department.

Just for and added note, I even regard the FG flavor to be even better than the rave reviews of SpiceZee nectaplum: a lot juicier, sweeter and as the name implied "imploding" flavor like a grenade, as one magazine described it...
(I didn't bother typing more earlier since it was awkward to do so on a tiny smartphone screen...). By the way, I still can't figure out what CnC stands for, it shows I am still a newbie... ;D

Correction: Double check the chill hrs. of FG: "300-400 hours below 45°F"  Samu 09/11/19
Title: Re: Topworking apricot tree, looking for suggested cultivars to graft (SoCal)
Post by: Oolie on September 11, 2019, 02:54:54 AM
CnC is Cot-n-Candy.

I've noticed that some of their listed chill hours are approximate, and many will do just fine with less chill hours ymmv (your mileage may vary).

I'm not sure if that is still OK under the plant patent regime, but I don't see anyone complaining. I found Spice Zee to be somewhat underwhelming, and would prefer a cultivar as you describe.

Any of the plants under discussion should graft just fine to the same rootstock, as long as it's Prunus.
Title: Re: Topworking apricot tree, looking for suggested cultivars to graft (SoCal)
Post by: Samu on September 11, 2019, 05:27:05 PM
CnC= Cot-n-Candy; yeah, I 've heard this before, but couldn't recall it!
This one stone fruit tree that I don't have, and considering to get one
this Winter; wondering of why did you top it Oolie?
Title: Re: Topworking apricot tree, looking for suggested cultivars to graft (SoCal)
Post by: SoCal2warm on September 14, 2019, 03:00:03 PM
Sometimes apricot trees in that region can produce off and on. When there are not quite enough chill hours for the tree, the tree might produce fruit every other year, and this might not even correlate to how cold each particular winter happens to be. If you didn't get any fruit this year, wait and see if it produces next year.
Title: Re: Topworking apricot tree, looking for suggested cultivars to graft (SoCal)
Post by: SeaWalnut on September 14, 2019, 06:14:33 PM
Manny stone fruits are alternate bearers,making fruits one year and not the next year.This happens in the perfect enviroment for them with enough chill hours.
This year i barely found a hand full of sour cherryes in my little sour cherry forest.But next year year they will have a heavy crop like usual.
Title: Re: Topworking apricot tree, looking for suggested cultivars to graft (SoCal)
Post by: SeaWalnut on September 14, 2019, 06:18:39 PM
I highly recommend “Flavor grenade” pluot; my best tasting stone fruits (4) that I grow...
Plum X Apricot hybrids i also consider them the best of stone fruits and on par with Mango.
I have one real big such hybrid eich makes lots of fruit but i only got to eat just 2 fruits this year ,because family was faster than me.
Title: Re: Topworking apricot tree, looking for suggested cultivars to graft (SoCal)
Post by: Oolie on September 14, 2019, 09:29:49 PM
CnC= Cot-n-Candy; yeah, I 've heard this before, but couldn't recall it!
This one stone fruit tree that I don't have, and considering to get one
this Winter; wondering of why did you top it Oolie?

It only had a single living branch due to borers. It also had been a historically poor producer of subpar fruit.

I compared a thriving tree side by side with a seedling apricot, and decided the next day that it was done.

I would recommend an apricot like tropic gold or a pluot instead of CnC, any other fruit really.
Title: Re: Topworking apricot tree, looking for suggested cultivars to graft (SoCal)
Post by: Samu on September 17, 2019, 02:16:38 AM

I would recommend an apricot like tropic gold or a pluot instead of CnC, any other fruit really.

Thanks for your reply Oolie, I keep this in mind!
Title: Re: Topworking apricot tree, looking for suggested cultivars to graft (SoCal)
Post by: Totally-Fruity on October 16, 2019, 07:22:10 AM
Plums, pluots and prunes are your best bet as the apricot and plum are fairly closely related... In fact, pluots are hybrid crosses of plums and apricots ;D

It might be an idea to just get a new tree as apricots are not the greatest rootstocks, and the age of the understock may make it tricky for the graft to take, but I wish you all the best of luck.