Apricot, Tilton

Tilton apricots are a well-regarded heirloom variety known for their distinctive heart shape, intense flavor, and excellent versatility. With a firm, juicy texture and rich, tangy-sweet taste, Tilton apricots are ideal for fresh eating, canning, and drying, where they retain their color and flavor exceptionally well. Blooming with delicate pink and white flowers in early spring and ripening in mid to late July, Tilton apricots add beauty to the garden while producing reliable, heavy crops. The tree grows to a mature height of 12-18 feet and performs well in USDA Zones 5-8, making it a great choice for home orchards in a variety of climates.

Key Characteristics

• Rich, Tangy-Sweet Flavor
  Tilton apricots offer a vibrant, tangy-sweet taste that makes them delicious for fresh eating and enhances their use in preserves, jams, and desserts, where their flavor shines.

• Excellent for Canning and Drying
  Tilton apricots are widely celebrated for their suitability for canning and drying, retaining both color and flavor during processing, making them a favorite choice for long-term storage.

• Heart-Shaped, Golden Fruit
  These apricots are easily recognizable by their unique heart shape and golden-yellow skin with a slight blush, adding visual appeal to orchard harvests and market displays.

• Early Blooming for Pollinator Attraction
  Tilton apricot trees bloom early in the season, with showy pink and white flowers that attract pollinators, bringing spring beauty and supporting orchard biodiversity.

• Reliable, Hardy Tree
  This apricot tree thrives in USDA Zones 5-8, tolerating a range of soil conditions and climates. With a mature height of 12-18 feet, Tilton is manageable for small orchards and home gardens.

Product Details

• Sun Requirements: Full sun
• Soil Requirements: Well-draining, loamy or sandy soil
• Bloom Time: Early spring
• Bloom Color: Pink and white
• Fruit Qualities: Tangy-sweet, firm, heart-shaped, golden-yellow skin with a blush
• Fruit Uses: Fresh eating, canning, drying, preserves, baking
• Fruit Ripening Month: Mid to late July
• Winter chilling: Approximately 600 hours.
• Pollination: Self-fruitful; a second cultivar is not required for fruit set. Bees and other flower visitors still help move pollen.
• Mature Height: 12-18 feet
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8

Tilton apricots bring both beauty and flavor to the orchard, producing hearty crops of delicious, versatile fruit perfect for fresh eating and long-term storage.