Prunus armeniaca 'BELLA D'IMOLA'

Imola is a town in Italy renowned for the race track The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari. It is close to Bologna in a region called Emilia-Romagna, possibly the most important Italian region for production of fruit.

Bella d’Imola is an early apricot tree variety which originated in one of Imola’s orchards. It produces oval to rounded fruit of deep orange colour with some red russets. The flesh is aromatic, juicy, medium firm, and the taste is slightly acidic which makes it an excellent variety for heat processing such as canning, making preserves or using in sweet cuisine where its sharp taste stands out and the sweetness level can be balanced with a suitable sweetener. It ripens approximately from the first decade of July and is suitable for warmer areas.

It is self-fertile (needs no other tree to pollinate its flowers) and productive but will benefit from a different variety grown nearby. Apricot trees are best with no pruning. Still, if you need to cut it do so after flowering when leaves are borne, or immediately after harvest. This way it will have enough time to produce new twigs and flower buds for the following year.

The tree grows moderately vigorously into an evenly upright and spreading canopy. It needs a sunny and warm place sheltered from strong winds, and good, humus-rich soil. Hardy to about -26°C (USDA zone 5b).

Last update 17-01-2023