Photo: Apricot Orchard South Tyrol Northern Italy

An Apricot orchard has trees in full blossom on a lovely Spring day in the South Tyrol in Northern Italy in Europe.

Although Italy is the third largest producer of apricots in the world - Turkey and Iran being number one and two - apricot trees can be seen in many countries of the world. Whether grown in orchards or in backyards, as long as the soil is well-drained, apricots seem to flourish during the Spring.China was the first cultivator of the apricot, around 3000BC, and as the Silk Road joined China to Armenia, Greece, and the rest of the western civilization in trade, apricots also found their way west. Armenia was the first place to start growing this 'gift' from China, and for many years it was thought to be the country of origin of this delicious fruit.The apricot tree is not very large, between 8 and 12 meters in height, and just like the peach, plum and cherry, the apricot is considered a 'drupe', having a centre stone or pit which contains the seed. In ancient times, the apricot tree probably ... continue below the picture...

... would be grown from the 'seed', but over the centuries different flavours, size and colour have been developed by grafting existing apricot branches to peach or plum rootstocks.The area of the South Tyrol near Unterinnerhof in Northern Italy, Europe is just one of the regions of Italy which grow apricots. The fruit is very versatile, can be eaten straight from the tree, dried, cooked, made into jam and preserves and is the main flavouring for Amaretto liqueur.Every orchard found throughout Northern Italy, and elsewhere throughout the world where this fruit is grown, needs to be cared for in order to produce a good crop.Apricot blossoms at Unterinnerhof, Italy, South Tirol, Sued Tirol, Europe, Europe 2006.