What are the excellent varieties of fresh-eating apricots? A detailed introduction in one article

Apricots have a number of excellent local varieties in various regions. Fresh-eating apricots generally require larger fruit, bright color, thick flesh with abundant juice, and a sweet or moderately sweet-and-sour taste.

(1) Honghebao apricot: a fresh-eating variety, mainly produced in the Lichang and Changqing areas of Shandong. The tree is vigorous, with an open canopy and strong adaptability. The fruit development period is 50-56 days, ripening in mid to late May. It is the earliest-ripening variety, fetching a high price and giving large returns. The fruit is oval, with a single-fruit weight of 45 g and a maximum fruit weight of 70 g. The skin is orange-red, with a slight patchy red blush on the sunny side. The flesh is fine, the taste sweet-and-sour, the juice abundant, the aroma strong, and the quality superior. The soluble solids content is 10-13%. Because of its early ripening period, the embryo is underdeveloped and the seed does not germinate.

(2) Tai'an water apricot: the main cultivar in Tai'an. The tree is vigorous, with an open canopy, and is fairly high-yielding. The fruit is flat-round, with a round apex. The average single-fruit weight is about 70 g, and large ones can reach 90 g. The skin is thin, the flesh fine and soft, the juice extremely abundant, and the taste sweet with a fragrant aroma. The soluble solids content is about 15%. Quality is superior. It ripens in early to mid June. It can bear high yields year after year.

(3) Zouping water apricot: produced in Zouping County. The tree is vigorous, with a fairly open canopy, forming a natural round-headed shape. It ripens in early June. High-yielding. The fruit is nearly round. The single-fruit weight is 56 g, with large ones reaching 80 g. The skin is orange-red, with a purple blush on the sunny side, attractive, and thin. The texture is fairly fine, with few fibers, moderate juice, a sweet and slightly sour taste, and a delicate fragrance. It contains 16.8% soluble solids. Quality is superior.