Apricot Trees dropping green fruit - Ask Extension
Fruit production started on our apricot trees (2) last year and all the green fruit fell off. The same just happened this week. Last year, there were ...
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Apricot Trees dropping green fruit #930691
Asked May 05, 2026, 1:17 PM EDT
Fruit production started on our apricot trees (2) last year and all the green fruit fell off. The same just happened this week. Last year, there were high winds , and this year wind noted too , but not enough to knock off fruit . Peaches and apples are fine . Plums still on the trees, but last year all fell off at the same timeframe as apricots .
So, sending a picture of fallen apricot fruit .
I have been reading about Apricot trees and they are sensitive due to shallow roots .
The pictured fruit looks “sick” to me and it just seems that the fruit should also be fairly equal in size . I do not know the brand name of the apricot trees that we planted .
Thinking for next year, mulching and paying attention to watering along with rain timelines,, not sure if not enough water or too much .
Thank You for any advice
Anne Arundel County Maryland
Expert Response
There could be several (possibly overlapping) reasons for the fruit drop. Most of Maryland experienced a frost/freeze overnight around two weeks ago that damaged or killed the flowers on early-blooming plants, and apricots flower so early that they are notorious for running into cold damage problems in spring. If flowers were not well-pollinated due to the cold (either cold keeping bees grounded or actually damaging the flower parts), they can fall not long after the fruit has started to form.
Plum Curculio is a very common orchard insect pest that can damage the fruits on a variety of stone fruit and pome fruit trees, including apricot. Their damage begins early in the season since adult beetles overwinter and begin laying eggs not long after temperatures moderate (or we have a mild/warm spell for a couple of days). They chew into the skin of the fruit and lay eggs, and the larvae tunnel into the fruit, which can prompt the tree to drop the affected fruits. You can learn more about this insect and other common stone fruit tree issues on the linked pages.
Have you used preventative pest and disease sprays on the fruit trees thus far? They are usually needed to protect the tree overall as well as the harvest every year, and even if you opt to use organic pesticides, multiple sprays each year are typically needed to reduce the risk of outbreaks and damage. The stone fruit page includes a link to a pest management guide by Virginia Tech that discusses spray options and timing.
Drought stress could be playing a role if the tree hasn't been periodically monitored for watering needs. Stone fruit roots are sensitive to being over-watered, which can lead to a root rot infection, but unless you've been watering frequently and heavily, that is unlikely for the past year or so given the worsening drought and our notable rain deficit.
Miri
Plum Curculio is a very common orchard insect pest that can damage the fruits on a variety of stone fruit and pome fruit trees, including apricot. Their damage begins early in the season since adult beetles overwinter and begin laying eggs not long after temperatures moderate (or we have a mild/warm spell for a couple of days). They chew into the skin of the fruit and lay eggs, and the larvae tunnel into the fruit, which can prompt the tree to drop the affected fruits. You can learn more about this insect and other common stone fruit tree issues on the linked pages.
Have you used preventative pest and disease sprays on the fruit trees thus far? They are usually needed to protect the tree overall as well as the harvest every year, and even if you opt to use organic pesticides, multiple sprays each year are typically needed to reduce the risk of outbreaks and damage. The stone fruit page includes a link to a pest management guide by Virginia Tech that discusses spray options and timing.
Drought stress could be playing a role if the tree hasn't been periodically monitored for watering needs. Stone fruit roots are sensitive to being over-watered, which can lead to a root rot infection, but unless you've been watering frequently and heavily, that is unlikely for the past year or so given the worsening drought and our notable rain deficit.
Miri
