Goldcot Apricot Fruit Tree

Goldcot is an apricot cultivar valued for hardiness in colder fruit-growing regions, medium golden fruit, and firm orange flesh. Its fruit can be eaten fresh or used for canning and other preserves. ## Profile [Utah State University Extension](https://extension.usu.edu/boxelder/agriculture/fruit-trees/apricots) describes Goldcot as an open-pollinated seedling of Perfection with medium, nearly round fruit, golden skin, and firm medium-orange flesh; it is somewhat self-fruitful and rated for USDA Zones 4–5. The [Oregon State University Landscape Plants record](https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/prunus-armeniaca-goldcot) notes white flowers, self-pollination, a mature height of about 15–30 ft, and its Michigan development. ## Planting and fruiting Choose full sun and well-drained soil. Apricots bloom early, so spring freezes can still reduce a crop even when the tree is winter hardy. Although Goldcot is described as self-fruitful, a compatible apricot flowering nearby may improve yield. ## Maintenance Water deeply but infrequently and avoid heavy, wet soils. Thin an overabundant crop when fruit is grape-sized, leaving about 4–6 inches between fruit on each branch. Maintain a strong, open structure and remove damaged or diseased wood; harvest as fruit softens and the golden skin reaches mature color.