"A" is for Apples and Apricots

"A" is for Apricots

In the next few blogs I will have the pleasure of introducing you to the delicious fruit grown at Excelsior Orchard. Although Apple is alphabetically before Apricot, the apricots bloom first in the orchard so I figured it was more appropriate to start with apricots. Since they are the first fruit to bloom in the spring this also makes them the most vulnerable to freeze. In the last six years we have had only two years we haven't lost apricots either all of them or most of them to freeze.



Excelsior's Apricots

Excelsior has about 200 apricot trees of which 1/2 are a variety called Sungold and the other 1/2 Goldrich Although a some fruits are self-pollinating most fruits require two varieties or more for pollination. The Sungold, is a medium size apricot that is quite sweet to eat and makes excellent jam and jellies. The Goldrich is a large variety with bright dark orange color and strong apricot taste. The Goldrich is a hearty apricot that is easy to pick and store without bruising compared to the smaller, more delicate Sungold.



Pruning and Thinning i. e., work

The apricots are prolific trees and will over produce fruit. Part of our spring maintenance is pruning of the apricots where you top off and remove branches. This also helps remove some of the fruit. Then as with all the fruit you must thin by hand. That is pick off more than half the fruit before it begins to ripen. Rule of thumb is a fist between each fruit. This is really hard to do for a several reasons including it's a lot of work and it is hard to psychologically to do. Even though I know if we don't thin properly the fruit will be small and some damaged because they grow into each other and it overburdens the trees. I cringe knocking off those beautiful, potential fruits. Ah but it must be done. Thinning improves your product and produces the big, juicy healthy apricot that people really want. Now I will put in a plug for our apricots and our Farmer Market friends, Frank and Nancy Zinno of Z'best Scones, Taos, NM. A few years back when we had a ample crop of apricots, Nancy began using them in her scones. She cooked the apricots and even froze the puree. The apricot scones were a big hit with her customers and every year she talks about the apricots and hopes we will have another crop soon. Fortunately, this year I think we can get Nancy all the apricots she needs to make those delicious scones. So stop by the Taos, Los Alamos, and Santa Fe Farmers Markets for the best scones in NM. And I will be able to finish up my apricot jam that I have been hoarding and make room for new jam. I don't think I have ever met someone that doesn't love apricot jam.