Prunus armeniaca subsp. mandshurica
Origin: South Dakota
Improvement status: Improved breeding population
Seeds per packet: 8
BOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED
Life cycle: Perennial
Manchurian apricot is an apricot subspecies (sometimes considered a separate species) known for its impressive cold-hardiness (down to Zone 3!). Native to China, Korea, and Central Asia, the wild forms of this plant are considered inferior to cultivated apricots (more sour, smaller, sometimes bitter), but these seeds come from a South Dakota research orchard known for superior flavor. The fruits are still liable to be significantly smaller than commercial apricots. They can be eaten raw, dried, or cooked into jams, jellies, baked goods, etc. The juice can be made into a fantastic wine. The seeds, when not bitter, can be eaten — but only in strict moderation (for they are somewhat toxic). The oil from the seeds can be used in cosmetics and for other purposes. Please let us know if you end up growing any particularly good new apricots!
Our South Dakota-grown seed comes from the good folks at Sheffield's Seed in Locke, NY.
GROWING TIPS: Soak seeds 24 hours, then warm-moist stratify for 60 days and cold-moist for 120. Seeds should be producted from rodents during germination and seedling establishment. Fruits best in a sunny position with well-drained but moisture-retentive soil. Self-pollinating, but fruits better with more than one individual plant around.
NOTE: Image of flowers with bee is by Sminthopsis84 and is shared here under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Fruit image is by Karunakar Rayker and is shared under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license - it depicts Prunus armeniaca in the Nubra Valley of Ladakh (India), not the Manchurian subspecies, but they look basically the same (we couldn't find a good photo of the fruit). Other photo is in the public domain.
