North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Douglas Woodard <dwoodard@becon.org>]

I have no experience of it anywhere, but from reports I very much doubt 
tht Moorpark would survive with you for long, certainly not through a 
test winter. The Summerland station of Agriculture Canada put out a 
booklet on tree fruit cultivars in the 1970's which rated apricots for 
hardiness among other things. I can't lay my hands on my copy but from 
memory Moorpark was far from the hardiest.

You are in about the same zone as Creemore, Ontario where Ken Taylor's 
"Precious" and siblings were selected (Windmill Point Farm, Notre Dame 
Ile Perrot by Montreal).
See
http://www.seeds.ca
for a link to Windmill Point.
Westcot and Morden 604 from Morden, Manitoba (zone 3b) are other 
possibilities.

Note that apricot roots like sandy well drained soils.

Apricot is compatible with Brompton plum, St. Julien A (a little 
hardier), and Pershore Yellow Egg (a little hardier yet) roots. Brompton 
or St. Julien A might serve if you have reliable heavy snow cover. 
Krikon Damson (hardy at Morden I believe) just might work.

Disease might be an issue as well as dormancy problems. Ken told me that 
he got a crop about 2 years out of 5.

Perhaps Claude Jolicoeur could comment.

Doug Woodard
St. Catharines, Ontario



Caren Kirk wrote:
> I told myself I wouldn't but I just got all excited about apricots 
> again.  Never mind that I'm still waiting for my Reliance peach that I 
> planted last year to open it's buds!
>  
> Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has any experience/ advice for 
> Moorparks up in the northern parts.  I'm in Quebec, Ag Can Zone 4b/ 5a ( 
> about -22F).
>  
> I know I'm crazy but I just can't help myself!
>  
> Caren,
> Quebec.