Turkish Cowboy is the name we have given to an old, tasty apricot tree growing in Missoula. The tree is located close to the river and therefore sees colder temperatures due to wind and frost running through the river valley. The tree is over 40 years old and bears heavily every year, as it tends to flower late. The name comes from the fact that when eaten fresh, Turkish Cowboy’s are slightly crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside whilst still juicy. Imagine a dried Turkish apricot that is juicy.

The flavor is above average, sweet and somewhat tart with an intense dried apricot flavor. The apricot can turn a beautiful dark orange/red when exposed to the sun. The size of the apricots is medium (up to 2 inches). Since these apricots have survived over 40 years in Missoula and have seen sub-30 degree temperatures, these are a zone 3b and quite possibly zone 3a apricot. Whether you’re growing Turkish Cowboy in a cold climate to get true-ish to type apricots that will resemble the mother, or whether you want to use these seeds for breeding work, these are good seeds to grow out. Zone 3b (possibly 3a).