Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Katy Apricot
Katy is a favorite apricot for warm-winter climates, with large, flavorful freestone fruit that is sweet rather than tart when ripened on the tree. It ripens early, from late May into early June in the low desert, ahead of the worst summer heat. It sets fruit on its own, so one tree is enough. White to pinkish blossoms open in late winter and feed bees.
Best for: an early homegrown apricot crop, a single self-fruitful fruit tree in the backyard, and late-winter blossoms for bees.
Katy ripens from late May into early June in the low desert, before the hottest weeks of summer. The large freestone fruit is sweet and not tart when picked ripe, and it works fresh, canned or dried.
Katy sets fruit with its own pollen, so you do not need a second apricot. Give it a sunny spot with about 15 to 20 feet between it and other fruit trees.
White to pinkish blossoms open in late winter, ahead of the leaves. Bees work the flowers, and good bee visits during bloom help the tree set a full crop.
Katy needs about 300 to 400 chill hours, near the top of what the Valley gets. A warm winter can mean a lighter crop. A frost during bloom can take the flowers, and the trunk sunburns without white paint.
- Row of fruit trees15 ft apart
- Open planting15-20 ft apart
Soak the root zone at least 18 inches deep about every 1 to 2 weeks while the tree is growing and fruiting. Water about once a month in winter. Let the top few inches dry between soaks.
Prune while the tree is bare, before the buds break. Train it to an open, vase-shaped center and remove crossing and dead branches. Take off no more than about one-third in a year.
Apricots bloom early, so a late frost can take the flowers. On frost nights, drape frost cloth over the tree down to the ground at the branch tips. Take it off in the morning.
Feed in late winter or early spring, just before growth starts. On a heavy crop, thin the small fruit so they sit about 2 to 6 inches apart.
Paint the trunk and lower branches with white tree paint to prevent sunburn. Spread 3 to 4 inches of mulch over the root zone, keeping it a few inches off the trunk.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
Will Katy apricot fruit in Phoenix?
Yes, it is one of the apricots grown in the Valley. It needs about 300 to 400 chill hours, and most of the low desert gets about 300 to 400 a year. Cooler winters bring heavier crops.
When does Katy apricot ripen?
It ripens early, from late May into early June in the low desert. Let the fruit ripen on the tree, when it is sweet rather than tart.
Do I need two apricot trees for fruit?
No. Katy is self-fruitful, so a single tree sets fruit on its own.
Is Katy a freestone apricot?
Yes. The flesh pulls cleanly off the pit, so the large fruit is easy to eat fresh, can or dry.
How big does it get and how far apart should I plant it?
Plan on about 12 to 15 feet tall and 10 to 12 feet wide. Space it about 15 to 20 feet from other fruit trees. The Spacing tab shows both.
How often should I water an apricot tree?
Water deep, at least 18 inches, about every 1 to 2 weeks while it is growing and fruiting. Water about once a month in winter, and let the top few inches dry between soaks.
When and how should I prune an apricot?
Prune while the tree is bare, before the buds break in winter. Train it to an open, vase-shaped center, remove crossing and dead branches, and take off no more than about one-third in a year.
Should I thin the fruit?
Yes, on a heavy crop. Thin the small fruit soon after it sets so they sit about 2 to 6 inches apart, and the fruit left on grows larger.
How do I protect the blossoms from frost?
Apricots bloom early, so a late frost can take the flowers. On frost nights, drape frost cloth over the tree down to the ground at the branch tips, and take it off in the morning.
When should I fertilize an apricot?
Feed in late winter or early spring, just before the tree starts growing.
Does the trunk need protection from sun?
Yes. Paint the trunk and lower branches with white tree paint to prevent sunburn.
Are apricot leaves and pits safe for pets?
No. The stems, leaves and pits contain cyanide compounds that are toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Pick up fallen fruit and pits, and call your vet if a pet chews them.
Katy Apricot for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Katy Apricot is a self-fruitful apricot bred for warm winters, with large freestone fruit that ripens in late May and early June. Below is what to expect, including chill hours, harvest time, size, spacing, watering, pruning, thinning and protecting the blossoms.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Best apricot trees for Phoenix
Katy is one of the apricots grown in the Valley. It needs about 300 to 400 chill hours, sets fruit on its own and ripens before the summer heat.
When do apricots ripen in Arizona?
Katy ripens from late May into early June in the low desert. The large freestone fruit is sweet and not tart when ripened on the tree.
Is Katy apricot self-pollinating?
Yes. Katy is self-fruitful, so one tree sets fruit without a second apricot nearby.
How far apart to plant apricot trees
Space apricot trees about 15 to 20 feet apart. Katy grows about 12 to 15 feet tall and 10 to 12 feet wide.
Pruning apricot trees in the Valley
Prune while the tree is bare, before the buds break. Keep an open, vase-shaped center and take off no more than about one-third in a year.
Why is my apricot tree not fruiting?
The common causes are frost during bloom, too few bees while it blooms, water stress, or a winter without enough chill. Cover the blossoms on frost nights and water on a steady schedule.
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