Why Is My Apricot Flowering but Not Setting Fruit?

Apricots bloom earlier than almost any other fruit tree in the UK — often in late February or early March — which makes them uniquely vulnerable to the problems that prevent fruit set. The flowers open, look beautiful for a few days, and then fall without leaving a single fruitlet behind. This is one of the most frustrating experiences in fruit growing, but the causes are well understood and most are preventable.

Frost damage to open flowers

The most common cause of fruit set failure in the UK is frost killing the open flowers. Apricot blossom is killed at around -1°C once fully open, and in the UK, February nights regularly drop below this temperature. The flower petals may look intact for a day or two after a frost, but the reproductive parts (pistil and stamens) are damaged and fertilisation cannot occur. Watch the weather during bloom and cover wall-trained trees with horticultural fleece or a polythene sheet on nights when frost is forecast. Remove covers during the day so insects can visit.

No pollinators visiting

Apricots are self-fertile — they do not need a second variety — but they still require insects to transfer pollen between flowers. Early in the season, bees and other pollinators are often inactive on cold or rainy days. If your tree blooms during a cold, wet spell without a single warm sunny day, the flowers may go unvisited. Hand pollination with a small soft paintbrush — transferring pollen from flower to flower on a warm morning — is simple and reliably improves fruit set in difficult years.

Wall-trained trees with restricted access

A tree trained against a wall is sheltered from wind but also partly hidden from pollinators if the surrounding planting is dense. Ensure there is clear access for bees to reach the blossom. Do not use any pesticides during the flowering period — even contact insecticides applied the day before bloom can deter pollinators for several days.

Cold temperatures during pollination

Even on frost-free days, temperatures below 10°C reduce bee flight activity significantly. If the entire bloom period consists of overcast, cold days with temperatures rarely exceeding 8°C, pollinator activity will be minimal even when the flowers are healthy. In such years, hand pollination is the only practical solution. Grow other early-flowering plants nearby to support early bee populations.