Anyone who loves growing fruit trees will need to give the Puget Gold Apricot Tree a chance next time they want to add a new plant to their garden. This small cultivar, known botanically as Prunus armeniaca ‘Puget Gold,’ offers a large harvest of beautiful golden apricots. The Puget Gold Apricot Tree also has great cold hardiness and is typically quite easy to care for, even if you have minimal gardening experience.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Puget Gold is arguably one of the easiest apricot varieties to grow, while still boasting an amazing flavor. It is incredibly disease-resistant and hardy as its late blooming period makes it less susceptible to late frost. Additionally, the pale pink blossoms are showy and fragrant. You can rely on this variety to consistently produce high yields of golden apricots year after year.

It is a self-fertile variety but yields will increase when cross-pollinated. Fruit is ready to harvest in late August. The large, elongated fruits have a complex apricot flavor and intense sweetness.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
The Puget Gold Apricot Tree can grow in either full sunlight or partial shade.
Watering and Fertilizing

Typically, the Puget Gold Apricot Tree needs a relatively high volume of water throughout its life. During the early stages, you should water this plant often enough to maintain consistent soil moisture. After this tree has established itself, you can reduce your watering schedule to about once per week or once every other week during the growing season. The best way to feed a Puget Gold Apricot Tree is to apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer as soon as the fruits begin to develop on the branches.
Planting Instructions
The location in which you plant your Puget Gold Apricot Tree should receive between four and eight hours of sunlight per day. It’s best if the soil in that location is somewhat moist but well-draining. Start by digging a hole that is as deep as the root ball is tall and at least twice as wide. After that, place your Puget Gold Apricot Tree in the hole and backfill the hole with nutrient-rich soil. Be sure to provide plenty of water during the planting process and cover the area with mulch after you are finished.
Pollination

The Puget Gold Apricot Tree is a self-fertile cultivar, which means that a single plant is capable of pollinating itself. As such, you only need to buy one if you want to enjoy this tree’s lovely fruits each year. However, planting more than one is typically favorable as this allows for cross-pollination, which often leads to better quality fruits and higher yields during harvest time. Whether you plant one or more, your Puget Gold Apricot Tree will rely on insects to conduct the pollen transfer.
Pruning
It is important to prune your Puget Gold Apricot Tree if you want to see the best results out of this plant. The best time of year to prune is during winter while this tree is in its dormant growth phase. Your first goal during pruning should be to remove any branch that is dead, damaged or diseased. You should also work to thin the canopy of your Puget Gold Apricot Tree, which will help prevent disease. It’s also best to encourage horizontal branches, as those are the ones that are most capable of holding heavy fruits.
Pests and Diseases

Sadly, there are several pests that can harm your Puget Gold Apricot Tree. Mites, caterpillars, sapsuckers, aphids, borers and Japanese beetles are among the many insects that can infest this plant. However, it is possible to treat most of these infestations if you catch them soon enough. Additionally, while pests can be an issue for the Puget Gold Apricot Tree, diseases rarely are since this plant has fantastic disease resistance overall. Planting this tree in the right place and giving it proper care are the best ways to prevent both pest and disease issues.
III. Uses and Benefits
These apricots are freestone and versatile, They can be enjoyed fresh or used in a variety of culinary creations.Whether you’re looking to can, jam, dry, or freeze them, you can’t go wrong with Puget Gold.
IV. Harvesting and Storage

The harvest period for the Puget Gold Apricot Tree typically takes place during the mid to late summer months and will often last for about three weeks. During that time, you’ll likely have many apricot fruits that you’ll need to harvest. Fortunately, removing ripe apricots from your Puget Gold Apricot Tree is quite easy to do. In most cases, a light twisting motion is enough to remove a ripe apricot from its branch. The surest way to see if your fruits are ready for harvest is to taste one to see if it is sweet and soft.