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Apricots
 We have three apricot blocks, one of large vase-shaped trees, the main block planted on the 'open V' trellis system, and three rows in our new mixed block planted in 2010. In the trellis block we
have used a system called 'horizontal-vertical cordon' to train the trees to fill the trellis space quickly, while keeping the fruit mostly at ground level. This also makes pruning a breeze!
Open V trellis trees planted in 2005
| Bebeco |
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Small, round, pale orange. Quite sweet
and juicy. Good for bottling because freestone and hold
their shape quite well in the bottle. Not a strong cropper.
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Picking Dates: mid Jan
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| Castlebrite |
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Early apricot, orange skin with sight
red blush. Good eating, sweet & not too acid, Stones
have some adherence. Trees prone to blossom blight.
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Picking Dates: late Dec
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| Earlicot |
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One of the earliest apricots, ripening just before Castlebrite. Light orange with a nice red blush, it has a good apricot flavour.
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Picking Dates: late Dec
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| Goldrich |
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Large, flat, oval, bright orange. Very
tart until properly ripened on tree (about two weeks after
they look ripe!) and then strong, sweet flavour with high
acid. Good for jam because set easily and freestone, but
very dark in colour and strong in flavour.
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Picking Dates: early to mid Jan
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| Katy |
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Medium, slightly oblong and light orange coloured. Ripens early and has good flavour, being sweet and juicy. Ripens about a week after Castlebrite.
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Picking Dates: late Dec to early Jan
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| Moorpark |
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Heritage variety (UK, 1668). Late season,
medium orange skin, can be soft at the tip. Can ripen unevenly
(and from the inside out) making harvesting difficult. Soft
orange flesh, beautiful rich apricot flavour, sweet even
when only lightly coloured. Freestone, an old
favourite for jam but not the best bottling apricot because a bit
soft.
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Picking Dates: mid to late Jan
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| Poppicot |
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Medium sized rounded fruit that is light yellow to pale orange in colour. Good flavour and ripens very early.
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Picking Dates: late November to mid-December
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| Rival |
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Oval, reasonably large, orange skin with
sight red blush. Colours before ripe (like Goldrich) but
not as acid. Excellent eating, freestone, versatile – good
for jam and bottling.
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Picking Dates: late Dec to mid Jan
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| Trevatt |
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Heritage variety dating from 1900s in
Mildura. Medium to large round fruit,
pale orange skin with deep orange flesh. Very sweet even when not
completely ripe. Tendency to softness inside and can go mushy if
left too long on the tee, so best picked slightly green. Slight tendency
to freckle. Versatile – good
for eating jam and bottling.
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Picking Dates: early to mid Jan
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