Japanese Apricot from seed

[GSCarlson]

Here is two years of progress on my Japanese Apricot:

 

[parhamr]

Rad! Gently give it a larger pot if you want to thicken it up

You’re doing well to keep it alive.

Mine is about to bloom. Please post pics when yours does!

 

[Giga]

Cute, give it ten years! it'll be a sight and have a great history!

 

[GSCarlson]

Two more years on..

 

[Pitoon]

Where did you get the seed from?

 

[GSCarlson]

Where did you get the seed from?

I’m pretty sure I ordered seeds on eBay. Only one sprouted out of a half dozen.

 

[Pitoon]

I’m pretty sure I ordered seeds on eBay. Only one sprouted out of a half dozen.

We're they actual mume seeds? Or normal culinary apricot seeds?

 

[GSCarlson]

We're they actual mume seeds? Or normal culinary apricot seeds?

The ad said “Japanese Apricot”

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Size of the seed would give a clue as to whether or not the seed was Ume or culinary apricot. Ume fruit are smaller than an apricot, the seed is closer to the size of a cherry stone (seed) than a culinary apricot seed.

Otherwise you have to wait for flowers to be certain.

Uncertainty around identity, is one reason seed from a company with a brick & mortar address, and a reputation for good provenance, and fresh viable seed is worth the higher price. Fresh seed should have given you 4 or more sprouting for a pack of 6 seeds.

But this is just for fun, and you have done well with your seedling, so far.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

By the way, culinary apricot bloom later than Ume, but they still bloom before foliage appears. They make similarly lovely bonsai. The later bloom means in North America, you can winter them outdoors and get to see flowers, as they usually will wait to bloom until after the last hard freeze, well usually 4 out of 5 years. Where ume will bloom before last freeze, requiring us to do the "in and out dance" or have a frost free greenhouse 4 out of 5 years.

Ume bloom almost a month earlier than culinary apricot. It makes a difference. In SW Michigan the blooming sequence is short, most fruit starts blooming within a 3 week period, usually first is culinary apricot and plums, then blueberries, cherries and peaches, then the early apples start. It is a sight to drive the same road over the course of 2 or 3 weeks and see the changes, as fields burst into color.

 

[GSCarlson]

My 4 year old apricot died spring ‘20. It’s leaves came out just fine, they wilted, and that was the end. I was pretty bummed.
So now I’m starting over from the beginning.. this time I will no fail..