Apricots, sometimes referred to as Armenian plums, are bitter and delicious stone fruits grown through Apricot farming. They come from the apricot tree, a species in the Prunus genus. This fruit is grown in dry and mid-hill areas of India. They originally come from China, and there’s a wild kind called ‘Zardalu’ in India.
Apricot plants are self-pollinating which makes them bear fruit without a companion. These plants are widely used in everyday cooking in many countries. These plants are well in favourable winter climates and they don’t need much water to cook. Moreover, being a crop native to the Mediterranean, they thrive in hot, dry summers with little humidity.
At 15,789 tons, Ladakh is the Indian state that grows the most apricots. Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh come next. They are also grown in Uttar Pradesh and certain hilly regions of the Northeast in ideal quantity.
Learn more about Apricot Farming In India, varieties of Apricots, apricot benefits and the difference between peach and apricot in the blog below.
Is Apricot an Important Crop?
Do you know why apricots are so important in farming? These fruits are also officially known as Prunus armeniaca scientifically. Moreover, they can be eaten raw or used in sauces, desserts, and jams to improve flavour and colour. Apricots are incredibly nutritious in addition to being delicious. They have a high fibre content to aid with digestion and vitamins A and C for immunity and skin health.
Apricot farming benefits the environment in addition to producing delicious fruit! Apricot trees create homes for helpful insects like bees and butterflies, supporting pollination and keeping nature in balance on farms.
For farmers, growing apricots can be a good business. With more people wanting them, both locally and globally, farmers can benefit by cultivating apricots using the right methods and taking advantage of favourable weather. So, apricots aren’t just delicious; they’re a win-win for farmers and our health!
Can Apricot Farming Be Profitable?
The growing demand for apricots makes apricot cultivation an economically viable option for farmers.
Apricots are liked by people due to their sweetness and health benefits. This makes them popular in various foods like jams, desserts, and savoury dishes. Also, apricots last a long time without losing their taste or nutrition. This allows farmers to sell them over an extended period, potentially earning more, especially during off-seasons when supply is lower.
Another reason apricot cultivation in India is profitable is because apricots can grow in different climates and soils. This adaptability lets farmers explore local markets and even consider exporting their produce.
To make the most money, farmers can use smart orchard practices like pruning and pest control. By keeping apricot trees healthy, farmers can maximize their profits. So, yes, apricot farming can be a fruitful business!
Apricot Farming In India: How to Plant Apricot
Explore how to plant and grow apricots in simple steps. Understand the fundamentals of apricot farming, from seeding to harvesting an abundant harvest. Here’s a detailed how-to:
1. Site Selection:
Choose for well-drained soil to prevent waterlogging. Choose a location with sufficient sunlight (6-8 hours daily). Consider local climate conditions in line with apricot requirements for temperature and chill hours.
2. Preparing The Soil:
When planting, check the pH and nutritional content of the soil. Additives like compost can help the soil. This improves the soil’s fertility and facilitates water drainage, which benefits plants.
3. Variety Selection:
Select apricot varieties that are compatible with your climate and soil type. To achieve successful cross-pollination, plant appropriate kinds or give self-pollinating varieties more thought.
4. Planting:
- When the apricot trees are still dormant, plant them in late winter or early spring.
- Create a hole that is both deep and broad enough to hold the roots of the tree.
- Make sure the graft union is above the soil line when you plant the tree in the hole.
- After planting, give the tree plenty of water to promote the growth of roots.
5. Irrigation:
To prevent the soil from becoming too wet, water deeply and frequently, especially during dry times.
6. Pruning and Training:
Trim apricot trees to make them strong and remove branches that are dead or sick. Help the tree grow in a way that lets air and sunlight reach all parts.
7. Fertilization:
In early spring and late winter, apply balanced fertilizers according to the findings of a soil test. To avoid excessive vegetative growth at the expense of fruit output, do not over-fertilize.
8. Pest and Disease Management:
Watch out for common bugs that bother apricots, like aphids, spider mites, and fruit borers. Use ways to control these bugs, like helpful insects or, if needed, bug sprays. Remember to be careful not to harm the good bugs. Look for sickness like brown rot and do things to stop it, such as cutting some parts to let more air go through.
9. Thinning:
Prune tiny, green fruit clusters to promote the development of larger, healthier fruits.
10. Harvesting:
Early June is when apricots are usually ready to be harvested. When the fruits are completely ripe but still feel solid to the touch, harvest them. To protect the limbs, gently remove or twist the fruit from the tree.
11. Post-Harvest Handling:
For a longer shelf life, store apricots in a cool, dry area or refrigerate them.To preserve the apricots’ flavour and freshness, use or process them right away.
12. Puning and Winter Care:
Cut some parts of the apricot tree in late winter to get rid of branches that are dead or sick and keep its shape. When it’s very cold, cover the tree trunk with special material or guards to protect it.
Local Names Of Apricot In India
Do you know what apricots are called in India? In places like North-Western states, people call them Jardalu, Khubani, and Khumani. These fruits are delicate, and that’s why, after picking them during apricot farming, they don’t last long, so they’re often dried.
Varieties of Apricots
There are different kinds of apricots, like the shiny Gold Sweet with its golden colour. Each type has its taste and features. Whether it’s the early Tomcat or the late Autumn Royal, these apricots bring delicious flavours to your orchard.
1. Gold Sweet Apricot:
Gold Sweet is a beautiful apricot tree with pink-hued blooms, glossy heart-shaped leaves, and golden fruit with a delicate blush. It grows well in sunlight, and is self-fertile, but thrives better around other apricot trees.
2. Autumn Glo Tree:
The Autumn Glo apricot has a sweet yellow colour, retains its vibrancy in storage, and is great for pies and preserves. It’s a dwarf tree, reaching 10 to 12 feet, and supports 4-in-1 or 3-in-1 planting methods for a longer harvest window and space-saving.
3. Golden Kist Tree:
Golden Kist is an early-ripening, large-sized apricot with orange freestone skin, ideal for cooking, canning, and drying. It thrives in rich, well-drained soil.
4. Tomcot:
Tomcot is a medium to large-sized apricot with pale orange skin, sweet mellow flesh, and is not suitable for canning.
5. Rival:
Originating in France, Rival is a big yellow apricot with pink cheeks. It’s picked in the middle to the end of summer and is an important part of apricot farming.
6. Autumn Royal:
Autumn Royal, originating in southern California, is medium to large, with a slightly yellow to orange hue. It is harvested in the late season from May to July.
7. Perfection:
Perfection, originating on the Russian-Chinese border, is harvested in early to mid-season. It displays a light yellow to orange colour during this period.
Top 5 Health and Nutrition Apricot Benefits
Apricots are small, yellow fruits that look like tiny peaches but taste a bit tart like plums. They’re not just tasty and they also make your digestion better and keep your eyes healthy. Learn more about the apricot dry fruit benefits below:
1. High in Nutrition
Vitamins A, C, and E, as well as potassium, are prominent in apricots. Since the skin is so full of fibre and antioxidants, eating them raw is ideal. Just keep in mind not to consume the inner stone!
2. High in Antioxidants
Apricots have high antioxidants called flavonoids that protect your body from damage caused by oxidative stress, which is often linked to chronic diseases.
3. May Promote Eye Health
These fruits are highly rich in vitamins A and E in apricot farming. They assist in preventing night blindness and save your eyes from damage. The yellow-orange colour comes from beta-carotene, which turns into vitamin A. Moreover, other compounds like lutein and zeaxanthin in apricots also protect your eyes.
4. Good For Skin
Eating apricots can protect your skin from the sun and environmental damage. Apricots contain vitamins C and E that help prevent wrinkles and promote skin strength. While beta carotene may protect against sunburn, offering extra skin protection along with sunscreen use. The apricot seed contains a kernel that, when crushed, releases oil used for various purposes, including cooking and cosmetic applications.
5. Improves Gut Health
Eating apricots, rich in fibre, supports beneficial gut bacteria, regulates blood sugar, and reduces the risk of obesity. Including a few at once is convenient for your health even though each apricot has a modest amount of fibre, having a few at once is convenient.
What Is The Difference Between Peach And Apricot?
While both peaches and apricots are delicious stone fruits that are available in the summer, they are not the same in many ways. This section provides the apricot and peach differences based on size, botanical classification, taste and culinary uses.
Size
- Peaches: Small peach (130 grams)
- Apricots: One apricot (35 grams)
- Comparison: Apricots are approximately 1/4 the size of a small peach.
- Calories: Apricots have only 17 calories, while a small peach contains 50 calories.
Botanical Classification
- Both belong to the rose family, Rosaceae.
- Peaches: The scientific name is Prunus persica, originating in Asia but abundant in Persia (modern-day Iran).
- Apricots: The scientific name is Prunus armeniaca, also known as Armenian plums due to historical growth in the region.
Taste
- Peaches: Sweeter taste with higher sugar content (11 grams in 130 grams).
- Apricots: More acidic and tart, with only 3 grams of sugar in one apricot (35 grams).
As a result, despite coming from different fruit categories, peaches and apricots have similar colors and shapes. Apricots have a somewhat sour taste, whilst peaches are recognized for having a sweeter and more juicy flavour. Because apricots are sold dried, their price is slightly greater than that of peaches. Notwithstanding these variations in flavour, both fruits are quite nutrient-dense and adaptable, which makes them great options for a range of meals, sweets, and preserves.
Conclusion
In conclusion, apricots play an important role in agriculture and nutrition. This fruit comes with a unique taste and dry apricot benefits such as promoting eye health and gut health.
Growing apricots can make good money if you take care of them well. With proper management, you can get a lot of high-quality fruits that people want to buy, both locally and globally.
Usually, apricots grow in not-too-hot places like Central Asia or the Mediterranean. But some places with warmer climates, like the Philippines, have also successfully grown them. However, in warm areas, farmers need to do extra things, like making sure the apricots get enough cold hours during certain times, to get the best fruit production and profit.
Apricot farming is a mixed farming, staying healthy, and taking care of the environment. This makes apricots a top choice for both people who love to eat them and farmers who grow them.
FAQ About Apricot Farming
Q1. What is apricot?
Ans: Apricots, a type of stone fruit, come from China and are grown all over the world. The trees are medium-sized, around 30 feet tall, with broad leaves and small white or pink flowers.
Q2. How to cultivate Apricot Farming?
Ans: Cultivating apricot farming involves selecting a well-drained sunny site, testing and amending the soil, and choosing suitable varieties. Planting is done in late winter, followed by consistent watering, pruning for structure, and managing pests, diseases, and harvesting when ripe for optimal results.
Q3. What type of soil is best for apricot trees?
Ans: Apricots prefer well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Adding organic matter can enhance fertility and drainage.
Q4. Where do apricots grow best?
Ans: Apricots like to grow in places that are not too wet and have moderate winters. They enjoy well-drained soil and do well in areas with hot, dry summers.
Q5. How long does it take for apricots to grow?
Ans: In pots, apricots can start bearing fruit in around 2 years. In the ground, it often takes 3 to 4 years for apricot trees to produce their first harvest.
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