In comparison between the Chinese apricot to Harcot apricot which one is your choice? you may consider one of them more delicious but it depends on your taste. Generally, frost and cold resistant, Prunus armenica 'Chinese' is a small to medium-sized apricot tree that produces many fragrant white flowers in early spring. This is followed in early summer by medium-sized, yellow-orange, gem-shaped fruits that have a sweet, light flavor and are a great addition to pies and pies. The Chinese apricot tree is recommended for use in harsh climates prone to late spring frosts. Here, you'll learn everything you need to know about this hardy type of apricot tree. 
The history of the apricot tree The apricot fruit originated in China, where it walked along the Great Silk Road with merchants. From there, the fruit gradually found its way to Armenia, where it was called the "Armenian plum". In the early 1700s, the fruit was brought to Virginia and settled there as part of Thanksgiving preparations, but it was nearly a century before the fruit gained widespread popularity in North America. This delay in recognition was largely related to the lack of settlers across the country at the time. Eventually, things and people started moving again, bringing apricots with them, and gradually the fruit became the most accessible staple it is today. It gained traction mainly because it was not only delicious but also easy to grow and process. Since then, apricots have expanded and evolved into many different types, each with slight differences in flavor, color, and texture. At least by name, the Chinese apricot can be directly linked to the origin of this long and winding line of fruit trees. Characteristics of the Chinese apricot tree While most apricot trees bear fruit in the spring, the Chinese apricot bears fruit in early summer. As with all fruit trees, the fruit must be picked at the right time to ensure quality texture, and flavor. Fruits of medium size, yellow-orange in color, should have a uniform color and uniform strength. Both are good signs that the fruit is ripe and ready to pick. The Chinese apricot tree will bear yellow-orange stone fruits that ripen in early summer. While these trees begin to bear fruit in their second year, a full harvest is not possible until the third to fifth year. This tree has a chilling period of 700 hours until its buds open in the spring. The fruit they produce has a juicy texture and a mild sweet flavor. The Chinese apricot tree is very productive and self-pollinating, although you may still want to plant some pollinator partners to help increase the size of your crop. It is considered a semi-dwarf tree, usually 15-20 feet tall. 
Size and spacing Chinese apricot is considered a semi-dwarf variety. However, it regularly reaches 15 to 20 feet tall and is best planted at least 8 to 10 feet from yards, water lines, and sewer pipes. 6 to 10 feet in height is best for garden use, but the tree can be trimmed to any size you like. pollination Chinese apricot trees are considered self-fertilizing, which means they can be pollinated by their flowers, or the flowers of another tree of the same species, although the harvest will be greater than by more than one tree. This is one of the reasons why this variety is still popular among gardeners today. Self-fruiting trees are generally easy to grow, care for, and harvest in large numbers, making them an ideal choice for anyone looking to harvest and then sell fruit. Chinese Apricot Tree Care sunshine As with all apricot trees, Chinese apricots can only grow in full sun, preferably with fertile, deep, moist, well-drained soil. water Regular watering is best. The Chinese apricot tree will do best with weekly watering -- more often if you're dealing with extreme heat. pruning All apricot trees will need pruning to maintain their health and growth. Prune out any dead, diseased, or crossed branches to help the tree grow evenly and without lasting problems. Thinning the small fruit allows it to grow to its proper size, and helps promote proper air circulation, reducing the risk of disease. 
Oh, and be sure to watch out for pests like aphids, moths, and squirrels. Common uses of Chinese apricots Taste: The fruit of the Chinese apricot tree is yellow-orange and has a mild sweet taste. Over the years, many different types of apricots have been developed, so it's a good idea to try several of them to get a feel for what you like. Cooking: All kinds of apricots can be turned into pies and pies with different flavors. They can also be grilled and eaten with ice cream for an easy summertime treat, and they are a staple in mid-autumn cooking. Eating raw: Any type of apricot can be eaten raw and many are deliciously fresh. It can also be enjoyed as part of a smoothie or as a fruit salad on a hot summer day. Canning, drying, and freezing: All types of apricots tolerate canning and freezing well, and their high sugar content makes them ideal for drying into candied slices for year-round enjoyment. Health benefits of Chinese apricots Aside from being fun to eat, apricots also have a variety of health benefits. For example, they are:
- Hydration
- High in potassium
- High in antioxidants
- The high content of vitamins and minerals
- The high content of nutrients for calories
- It May be beneficial for eye health
- It May be beneficial for gut health
- It can be beneficial for skin health
- May protect the liver
Chinese apricot trees are unique among the apricot species due to their winter hardiness and are one of the most beautiful and amazing fruit trees. Its canopy reaches up to the top and creates a gorgeous spread, making it a lovely addition to your lawn or garden even during the winter months. It is an early, heavy-yielding species recommended in challenging climates with late spring frosts. Like all apricot trees, they will begin fruiting in their second year, but may not be fully harvested for three to five years. They do best when placed in full sun with deep, rich, well-drained soil, and watered once a week—if you are in a drought or extreme heat. The fruit they produce has a velvety texture and tender pulp with a mild and sweet flavor. Pruning will be necessary, as with all trees, especially apricot trees. Chinese apricot trees do best when V-shaped. Of course, basic tree care also applies here. Be sure to cut back any crossed branches, diseased branches, or dead branches to give your tree the best chance of growth. Remember to thin out the small fruit for everyone for proper air circulation around and across the tree. It also helps reduce the risk of diseases such as brown mold and powdery mildew. In general, it is a useful and beautiful tree, valued not only for its fruits but also for its ornamental qualities. 
The Harcot Apricot Tree
The Harcot apricot tree, Prunus armenica, is a hardy, small to medium-sized apricot tree. It produces an abundance of pink flowers in spring, followed by medium-sized orange fruit in midsummer. The meat is juicy and sweet with a rich flavor. Harcot apricot tree is recommended for use in cold regions due to its cool late bloom. If you are considering planting one of these beautiful fruit trees, here is everything you need to know about the Harcot variety of apricot trees. History of the Apricot Tree Harcot The apricot fruit originated in China, where it traveled with merchants along the Great Silk Road. It was not long before this fruit reached Armenia where it got its name - the Armenian plum. It wasn't until the early 1700s that the fruit reached America. Although it managed to produce solidly as a Virginia Thanksgiving staple, it took nearly a century to gain popularity throughout North America. It wasn't the fruit's fault - it wasn't because there weren't many settlers around the country at that time. However, eventually, as former Europeans moved across the country, bringing their love of apricots with them, the fruit began to become a staple food for almost everyone. Apricots quickly gained momentum due to their delicious and easy-to-process fruit, as well as the ease of cultivation in some parts of the country. Apricots are well known by gardeners, growers, and orchards as having slight variations in flavor depending on the variety of the apricot tree. We've seen many different species evolve as a result of small changes in the environment and some creative breeding. The result is a fruit that can be perfect in a variety of dishes and seasons. The Harcot apricot tree was introduced in 1977. Developed in Canada, this new tree withstood cold weather that was too harsh for other apricot tree species. It has also been shown to be resistant to many of the problems that afflict other species, such as brown rot and perennial canker. 
Harcot Apricot Tree Properties While most apricot trees bear fruit in the spring, the Harcot variety blooms a little later and bears fruit in mid-summer. As with all apricots, the fruits must be picked at the right time to ensure quality in terms of flavor and texture. The uniform orange color with blush and uniform firmness on these medium-sized fruits are good indicators that they are ripe and can be picked safely. The purplish apricot will begin to bear fruit in about 2 years, but a large harvest will not be possible between 3 and 5 years. Harcot has rich, juicy meat with a rich flavor. It has about 700 hours of cold time in the winter to open its buds in the spring. In general, Harcot apricots are highly productive, self-fruiting, and resistant to many common apricot tree problems such as brown rot and perennial canker. The tree forms a rounded crown with branches reaching upwards. Size and spacing One of the largest, the Harcot apricot tree typically grows 15 to 25 feet tall and wide. As a result, it is recommended that it be installed at least 8 to 10 feet from patios, sewer lines, and water pipes. Thinning is recommended in most cases, as the canopy can be thick. Pollination Like all apricot trees, Harcot apricots are self-fertilizing, which means they can be pollinated by their flowers. However, you may still want to plant some pollinators to help increase the size of your crop. Self-pollinating trees are generally easy to grow and care for in large numbers, making them a great choice for not only gardeners but growers and orchards as well. 
Harcot Apricot Tree Care Sunshine The Harcot apricot tree will thrive best in full sun and rich, fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Water Harcot apricots do well in dry climates. While they prefer regular watering, the excess water should be able to drain away to prevent the risk of root rot. Water carefully. Pruning Like all apricot trees, the Harcot variety needs regular pruning to thrive and produce bountiful crops. Be sure to thin the young fruit to allow proper air circulation and help prevent disease. Additionally, make sure you take care of the tree's basic health by pruning and dying, diseased, or crossing branches. Canning, Freezing, and Drying: All types of apricots are well canned and frozen for later use. Due to their high sugar content, apricots are also useful for drying. Harcot apricots are no exception to this rule. They also retain their rich flavor, which you might want to note by distinguishing them from other types of apricots. The Harcot Apricot Tree is another unique variety of the apricot tree because it is more cold-tolerant than the standard apricot tree. It is also resistant to many of the problems commonly encountered by apricot trees, such as brown rot, bacterial spot, and perennial canker. Harcot late blooms, it is decorated with pink flowers in spring and fruits in mid-summer, medium-sized orange fruits with a blush. The fruit has a rich, sweet flavor and is perfect for drying, canning, cooking, or eating raw from the tree. 
These trees are very large and strong and will require a lot of initial pruning and care to thrive. Apricot trees do best when trimmed to a V shape. Basic tree care is applied here as well - be sure to cut back any dead, diseased, or crossed branches and thin out the tree to encourage proper air circulation. This will also help avoid diseases.