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    Apricot Sundrop

    Apricot Sundrop

    $80.00
    $80.00
    Sale Sold out
    Taxes included.
    Pot Size/Grade

    Apricot 'Sun Drop' is a productive apricot variety that produces medium to large golden-orange fruit with sweet, juicy flesh and excellent flavour. Ripening during the height of summer, it's perfect for eating fresh from the tree, preserving, bottling, baking or making delicious homemade jams.

    In early spring, the tree bursts into a spectacular display of delicate white to pale pink blossom, providing valuable nectar for bees and a beautiful seasonal feature before the fruit begins to develop. Hardy and dependable, 'Sun Drop' is an excellent choice for home orchards throughout New Zealand.

    Why You'll Love Apricot 'Sun Drop'

    • Sweet, juicy golden apricots
    • Reliable and heavy crops
    • Beautiful spring blossom
    • Excellent for fresh eating, bottling and preserving
    • Attractive deciduous tree with year-round seasonal interest
    • Frost hardy once established
    • Ideal for home orchards and lifestyle blocks
    • Easy to grow in sunny positions

    • Expected 5 Year Height 3.0 M Width 3.0 M

    Is Apricot Sundrop suitable for my garden?

    Apricot Sundrop is best suited in a position that gets

    • Full sun

    Apricot Sundrop is

    • Frost Tolerant
    • Deciduous
    • Edible
    • Flowering
    • Attracts pollinators
    • Cold hardy

    Apricot Sundrop will thrive in soil that is

    • Nutrient rich
    • Free draining

    How to establish your Apricot Sundrop?

    Plant Apricot 'Sun Drop' in full sun.

    For the best fruit production:

    Choose a warm position receiving at least six hours of direct sunlight daily.
    Select a site with good airflow.
    Shelter young trees from strong prevailing winds.
    In colder districts, plant against a north-facing wall or in a protected location to reduce the risk of blossom damage from late frosts.

    How to maintain your Apricot Sundrop once established?

    Water deeply once or twice each week during the first summer.

    Water during:

    Extended dry periods.
    Fruit development.
    Hot summer weather.

    Consistent moisture encourages larger, juicier fruit while avoiding prolonged waterlogging.

    Feed annually in late winter or early spring using a balanced fruit tree fertiliser.

    For continued healthy growth:

    Apply compost around the drip line each year.
    Mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
    Avoid excessive nitrogen, which encourages vigorous leafy growth rather than fruit production.

    Apricot 'Sun Drop' is self-fertile, so a single tree will produce fruit without requiring another apricot nearby.

    Although not essential, having bees active during flowering will help maximise fruit set.

    Prune during late summer after harvesting.

    Remove:

    Dead or damaged branches.
    Crossing growth.
    Vigorous upright shoots.

    Maintain an open canopy to improve airflow, sunlight penetration and fruit quality.

    Avoid pruning during wet winter conditions to reduce the risk of disease.

    Fruit is generally ready from January to early February.

    Harvest when the fruit:

    Develops a rich golden-orange colour.
    Feels slightly soft when gently squeezed.
    Lifts easily from the branch.

    Enjoy fresh or use for:

    Preserves
    Bottling
    Drying
    Baking
    Desserts
    Smoothies
    Frost and Winter Care

    Apricot 'Sun Drop' is highly frost hardy once established.

    However, because it flowers early:

    Late spring frosts may damage blossoms and reduce fruit production.
    Planting in a sheltered position can help improve cropping.
    Young trees benefit from mulching around the base during winter.

    The tree also benefits from sufficient winter chilling to encourage abundant spring flowering.

    Pest and Disease Management

    Regularly inspect for:

    Aphids
    Leaf curl
    Brown rot
    Scale insects
    Silver leaf disease

    Good pruning practices, orchard hygiene and maintaining an open canopy will help minimise disease pressure.
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