Grow Your Own Magazine

madderbat · #1 (**permalink**) 28-01-2007, 07:32 PM

Hi folks, just wanted to share this with you.
I went into the yard a couple of weeks go and an apricot stone that had been left since summer (thrown away carelessly) had started to root. I potted it and put a plastic bag over it and it grew. I brought it in during the snow and its on my windowsil now, looking quite perky.
Had one a few years ago, about 5 years growth but I had to leave it when MrMB and I got together (he wasn't a gardener then), and I'm thrilled that it's happened again. '

Don't laugh, it's only a baby I know, but I'll take it to the lottie later in the year, keep it in a pot and overwinter it in the greenhouse.
Real fresh apricots are one of my favourite fruits

!!

pigletwillie · #2 (**permalink**) 28-01-2007, 08:32 PM

Fresh they certainly bare no resemblance to those dry things you buy as supermarkets Madderbat.

madderbat · #3 (**permalink**) 28-01-2007, 09:52 PM

will share the first crop PW. (May be a year or two yet though!)

gealbhan · #4 (**permalink**) 28-01-2007, 10:16 PM

and when you do get some apricots one day... don't forget to crack open the stone and eat the delish kernels that look like almonds inside. Very nutritious and loaded w/ Vit. b17

madderbat · #5 (**permalink**) 28-01-2007, 10:51 PM

Hi Gealbhan, welcome to the vine and thanks for the advice. I knew apricots were good with vits, but wasn't aware that the kernel held so much. (mind you, it was the kernel that started growing, so might keep them for an orchard??!)

Morty_007 · #6 (**permalink**) 29-01-2007, 08:48 PM

Keep it safe Jane...DH and I were in Tesco yesterday and saw a punnet of about 10 apricots for £4-49..

I kid you not.. We stood there for about 5 mins looking from one to the other and back at the (Solid Gold??!) punnet, speechless. I genuinely couldn't believe my eyes, had to keep looking to check I had read it right!!

NEWTO THE PLOT · #7 (**permalink**) 29-01-2007, 10:21 PM

simaler way we got our necterine tree that i dug out of the compost bin potted it up planted in the garden 2 years ago got 3 fruit on it last year,don't know what they tasted like my chloe had the lot,hope to get one this year lol

Snadger · #8 (**permalink**) 29-01-2007, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pigletwillie

Fresh they certainly bare no resemblance to those dry things you buy as supermarkets Madderbat.

I don't know!! I'm sitting munching a big bag of moist apricots which I got from Tesco's whole food counter and they are delish! Not dry at all, in fact quite moist and tasty, and at 85p for half a Kilo, a bargain!!

I've tried the fresh ones when I holidayed in Italy and they weren't a patch on these ones I'm afraid! I know that fresh should be nicer, but the flavour seems more intense once they are dried!

I also love Sun Dried Tomatoes (which I've also been munching today!) but I am not keen on fresh tomatoes!

I'm going to grow Roma tomatoes this year for drying and I might even purchase an apricot tree as well!

madderbat · #9 (**permalink**) 30-01-2007, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morty_007

Keep it safe Jane...DH and I were in Tesco yesterday and saw a punnet of about 10 apricots for £4-49..

I kid you not.. We stood there for about 5 mins looking from one to the other and back at the (Solid Gold??!) punnet, speechless. I genuinely couldn't believe my eyes, had to keep looking to check I had read it right!!

Yes, out of season - and I bet they travelled round the world too!!

Snadge- once global warming starts eating them warm off the tree will be quite another thing, but we can sun dry our own then..

madderbat · #10 (**permalink**) 03-02-2007, 10:16 PM

I can't believe it's only been 7 days since I posted about this, but here is the latest picture. It really has grown well. Do you think It's a triffid (although it's not a flowering banana)?

madderbat · #11 (**permalink**) 14-02-2007, 11:16 PM

I took some pictures today, playing with my digital camera and was astonished at how much it's grown in a couple of weeks.
I'm still keeping it on the kitchen windowsill, and have been putting it out in the sun each day, but hope that we can get the greenhouse sorted this weekend and then I can give it some proper light. Doesn't look too leggy though.

Mrs Dobby · #12 (**permalink**) 14-02-2007, 11:17 PM

Wow, I'm impressed Jane! Looks really good, and growing on a treat! Wonder when you'll get some fruit off it?

madderbat · #13 (**permalink**) 14-02-2007, 11:18 PM

LOL! Not this summer I fear!! Dunno, maybe next year if it keeps growing at this pace.

madderbat · #14 (**permalink**) 18-03-2007, 03:59 PM

Sorry to say that the little apricot tree gave up the ghost at the end of last week. I stupidly put it in the cold frame for a few days, having re-potted it and...
it threw in the towel.

I suspect that I damaged the roots when I re-potted it - they went brown and soggy. Maybe I watered it too much, and possibly left it in the cold frame too long.

Hope I get another chance in future and take more care.
RIP little tree.

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