Scientifically known as Prunus armeniaca, Apricots are a kind of stone fruit. They closely resemble peaches in appearance and nutritional value but there are a few things that, of course, set them apart. Apricots are often beloved for their health benefits, sweet flavors, and vibrant appearance. Consuming home-grown fruits as compared to the commercial, store-bought ones is always a delight. So, why not grow those that bring multiple health benefits to the table with them!

With a bit of care and attention, you can successfully grow your own sweet and delicious apricots in the UK - here we show you how.

Apricots (Prunus armeniaca) are small, pitted fruit, about the size of a golf ball. They are similar in appearance to a small peach and have a very light fuzz on the skin. They range in color from pale orange to deep saffron, often with a tinge of pink or red blush.

The fruits are drupes with a large flat pit, or stone, within which is the seed. Similar in shape to a peach, the fruit is nearly smooth, round to oblong in some varieties, and somewhat flattened but with little to no hairiness when ripe. Its flesh is typically a rich yellow to yellowish orange.

Apricots tend to bloom very early so the blossoms are killed by early spring frosts. They grow best in deep, fertile, well-drained soil. They are not recommended for northern Illinois.

It is important to harvest fruits at the proper stage of maturity in order to maintain their nutrients as well as their quality and freshness. Factors that favor conserving quality and nutrients are: rapid harvesting, preferably done early in the day; prompt cooling; gentle handling; and proper storage if the fruit is not used immediately. Tree fruits (except pears) develop maximum flavor and quality when allowed to mature on the tree. All of the fruits on a tree do not mature simultaneously. To obtain maximum quality, therefore, several pickings are frequently necessary.

The wild American persimmon, is a native fruit that is ready to harvest in autumn and even early winter. Here’s how to identify, gather, and eat wild persimmons. Our native persimmon tree’s luscious fruits are ready to harvest in late fall and early winter, long after most other fruit crops are done. Wild persimmons (Diospyros virginiana) are smaller than their commercially grown cousins, but just as delicious.

Apricots are delicious soft tree fruits that are surprisingly easy to grow at home when the climate is right. Prunus armeniaca var. armeniaca is known not only for its fruit but also as a valuable specimen landscaping tree featuring glorious early spring blossoms and mid-summer shade.

Among fruit trees, the apricot tree is one of the easiest to grow. With patience and good care, you’ll have access to juicy fruit in spring and summer. It starts as a little tree, and quickly branches into a lovely arching structure with sweet-smelling blooms after a few years. Apricots are great stone fruits for a home orchard. One is great for your very own apricot tree guild too. You might think you live outside the range of apricot tree growing, but you might be surprised. Several varieties have cold hardiness built in. It will take a few years for a baby apricot to set fruit, but you’ll eat fresh if you hang in there. You may find you have plenty of baby trees to give to friends at that point too! When it comes to fruit trees, apricot is prolific. That means apricot tree growing can be easy.

It’s raining persimmons (Diospyros virginiana) here, and I know the trees are mocking me. I put so much effort into my apple trees, with careful pruning and repeated spraying of various organic concoctions, and what do those trees offer in return? Little. Sometimes nothing. This is admittedly a bad site for growing apples in terms of late frosts, damp air, and proximity to woods that harbor apple pests. The persimmons, though, I do practically nothing for them. Yet the fruit comes raining down, more than we can eat.

The best way to appreciate the berry some cultures call “the fruit of paradise” is to taste it. With up to 83 aromatic notes, pomegranate’s flavor profile combines the syrupy sweetness of Concord grapes, the refreshing astringency of cranberries, and the cooling quality of lemons. Each bite pops like tapioca. The easiest way to try it yourself? Growing pomegranate trees.