Zone 9 · Stone Fruit Growing Guide

When to Plant Apricot
in Zone 9

Blooms early — the earliest of all stone fruits — making it highly vulnerable to late spring frosts. Site on a north-facing slope or near a building to delay bloom. Worth it when the timing works.

Plant outdoors
Jan 1 – Feb 15
Start indoors
Direct sow
Last Frost
~Jan 31
Days to harvest
1–2 years to first harvest
Difficulty
Hard
Ready to harvest — Zone 9
Harvest window: Mar – May

Planting Calendar

In Zone 9, Apricot should be planted outdoors Jan 1 – Feb 15, after the average last frost date of approximately Jan 31.

Low-chill varieties (400–500 hours). Katy and Gold Kist are reliable Zone 9 apricots.

Care Guide

Sunlight
Full sun · 6–8 hrs/day
Watering
Regular
Spacing
144–216 inches
Soil
Well-draining, fertile loam
Days to maturity
1–2 years to first harvest
Soil pH
6.0–7.0
plant tip · Zone 9

Low-chill varieties (400–500 hours). Katy and Gold Kist are reliable Zone 9 apricots.

Feeding Schedule

How often
twice a year
Feed type
balanced then high potassium
Key timing
early spring and after harvest

Feed balanced in spring. High-potassium feed after harvest builds wood for next season's fruit buds.

Companion Planting for Apricot

What you plant next to apricot makes a real difference — some plants actively help, others compete or attract pests.

Grows well with
  • Basil
  • Tansy
  • Comfrey
Keep away from
  • Tomatoes
  • Eggplant

These guides get better when growers like you contribute. If something’s wrong or you’ve learned something worth sharing, we’d love to hear it.

What needs correcting?

What should it say?

Your zone (optional)

Thanks — we'll review this and update the guide if needed.

Your growing tip for Apricot

Your name (optional)

Your zone (optional)

Tips are reviewed before publishing. Accepted tips earn you a Founding Grower badge when the plant app launches.

Thanks for contributing! We'll review your tip and be in touch before launch.

Common questions

In Zone 9, direct sow apricot outdoors Jan 1 – Feb 15 after your last frost date of approximately Jan 31. Low-chill varieties (400–500 hours). Katy and Gold Kist are reliable Zone 9 apricots.
Zone 9 has an average last spring frost of approximately Jan 31 and a first fall frost around Dec 15. These dates vary by specific location — use your ZIP code in the plant app for precision based on the nearest NOAA weather station.
Good companion crops for apricot include Basil, Tansy, Comfrey. Avoid planting near Tomatoes, Eggplant, which can compete for nutrients or attract pests.
Apricot typically takes 1–2 years to first harvest from transplant or direct sow to harvest in Zone 9. Expected harvest window: Mar – May.

Free app · iOS February 2028

Track your Apricot in plant

Get a live traffic light for every crop in your garden — zone-aware planting calendar, real-time weather alerts, and a community of growers near you.

Be first to back on Kickstarter and lock in the founding price.

Apricot in other zones
Trees & Shrubs