Apricot (Prunus Armeniaca) #1 & #2, from seed - Progression

[stav121]

So, 6 months ago I decided to do a little experiment and germinate some Apricot seeds from some Apricots that I eat from a friend's grove. So, around September of 2024 I had many of them germinating and I have picked two of them to try and experiment to grow them as bonsais.

Apricot #1:

This one was placed in a very windy spot on my balcony so It has a weird looking shape that I really like, it was repotted into a wide pot and has just leafed out.
The growing tip has already broken off once from the wind about 1 month before it went dormant, but it had time to regrow a new one, I kinda like it, it has some style.

I plan on leaving it in the same spot this year as well - it is the windiest of the the entire balcony hopping it will keep growing in this weird looking style.




Apricot #2:

This one was grown indoors and was moved outside kinda late (around the end of January) so it went dormant much later.
Since it was grown inside it is much straighter but for some reason it has many small branches. It is not visible in the photos, but
I think it is coming out of dormancy as well, so I took the chance and placed it into a small pot that I think fits it's style.



I am also including some photos of back when it had leaves:


I had like 20 of them germinate (apricot is my favorite fruit) but I gave most of the away due to space restrictions.

Sadly I do not have any photo from the leaves before they drop, on #1 the leaves turn into an amazing mustard yellow before they drop, the other one just went brown/yellow and dropped.

If they survive the summer here (Greece) I will get some photos of them in the winter and post so you can see as well!

 

[stav121]

Just a small update, the tree is pushing new growth, those leaves are surprisingly small and bright!

 

[stav121]

Another update, I am letting it grow freely for now. I really want it to get thicker so I am letting the leader push as far as possible for now.

 

[roberthu]

Getting those seeds to germinate itself is a big accomplishment. Congratulations!

 

[stav121]

Getting those seeds to germinate itself is a big accomplishment. Congratulations!

Generally I've had great success with germinating apricots, patience is key. Thank you!

 

[stav121]

Apricot #1

Small update on the current state of this seedling, growing nicely. Got a bit heavy on top and started tilting.



Trying another planting angle for next year.

 

[stav121]

Summer has passed by but the weather is still warm here for a few more weeks, this little fella went through the heatwave of 40oC+ during the summer like a champ - but honestly I cannot wait for autumn. Still getting full sun (and wind).

 

[blackadam]

Generally I've had great success with germinating apricots

any stratification, removing outer shell from seed or just planting seed in pot?

 

[stav121]

any stratification, removing outer shell from seed or just planting seed in pot?

I have tried both ways, with stratification and without and the results I get are the same. Those specific ones sprouted at the end of August 2024 without any stratification - I took a few fresh Apricots from a neighbours tree, eat it, removed the outer shell and seed coat, placed them in water for 24h and after that in a zip locked bag with moist Sphagnum Moss for about a month or even less (until I saw little roots forming) outside of the fridge but in an area that got bright daylight. As soon as I saw roots coming out and the seeds splitting I placed them in a soil mix and they sprouted in less than a week.

Last year I had nearly 100% success in this way - I sprouted the seed of almost every single Apricot I ate that summer and ended up keeping only those two for myself.

If you ask me, they are fun to sprout and grow fast even in small time windows - the downside is that you never know if and when they are going to flower.

 

[stav121]

Also I want to add that this specific one has amazing fall color - a bright pure yellow that stays on until the leaves fall. Hopefully I will catch it around December and post a picture.

 

[blackadam]

i buried some apple, plums cheries and some peaches seeds fom eaten fruits near hedge, wonder if anything germinate in spring
costs nothing and may be fun (saving in progess)

 

[August44]

Generally I've had great success with germinating apricots, patience is key. Thank you!

I saved a bunch of seeds this fall and plan on trying to grow some from the seeds. I will plant them in some good soil and let them winter outside. I am assuming that one has to at least crack the shell or remove the shell all together before planting?

 

[stav121]

I saved a bunch of seeds this fall and plan on trying to grow some from the seeds. I will plant them in some good soil and let them winter outside. I am assuming that one has to at least crack the shell or remove the shell all together before planting?

If you plant them outside I wouldn't bother with cracking the shell, they should push through it on their own. But I if you have enough of them I would also try stratifying some of them in the fridge as well , on those I would take the pit off.

One thing from my experience, I used to start them in compost mix but last time I figured why not try 70% perlite and 30% Sphagnum and I think the early roots developed much better. They tend to throw a big tap root , perlite made it very easy to just take them off the container and just cut the tap root during the first month. They take it like nothing happened and keep growing.