Nectarine(Prunus persica var. Nucipersica) is a botanical variety of peach, distinguished primarily by its smooth skin without hair. In terms of cultivation requirements and cutting methodnectarine trees are treated very similarly to peachesHowever, it must be remembered that nectarines have higher thermal requirements and are more sensitive to frosts. Get to knownectarine varietiesrecommended for cultivation in gardens and find out what kind of care these trees require.
Nectarine - Prunus persica var. nucipersica
Fig. pixabay.com
Nectarine - varieties
Nectarine 'Fantasia'- a tree of medium growth, early flowering. The fruits are large, oval, with a light orange peel, more than 60% covered with a red blush. Firm, yellow flesh, slightly colored around the stone, sweet and sour. It comes off easily from the stone. The fruits reach harvest maturity at the beginning of September. Average frost resistance. The variety is suitable only for cultivation in the warmest regions of Poland (included in the plant frost resistance zone 6B).
Nectarine 'Harblaze'- a tree of medium-strength growth. Medium to large, oval fruit. The peel of the fruit is yellow, almost entirely covered with an intense, carmine-red blush. The flesh is yellow, firm, juicy, with a sweet and sour taste, well off the stone. The fruits ripen in mid-August. Average frost resistance. Frost resistance zone 6B.
Nectarine 'Harko'- a tree of medium-strength growth, flowering slightly later than other nectarine varieties.The fruit is medium or small, spherical in shape. A yellow skin covered with a red-violet blush. Light yellow flesh, medium firm, juicy and tasty, it goes well with the stone. Harvest maturity is reached in mid-August. Frost resistance is slightly better than that of other nectarine varieties, but it may freeze in the east of the country (plant frost resistance zone 6A).
Nectarine 'Red Gold'- a tree with strong growth, yielding profusely. The fruit is large, oval with a beetroot blush. Yellow, sour-sweet flesh, firm, well off the stone. Harvest maturity is at the beginning of September. Plant frost resistance zone 6B.
Nectarine - cultivation
Nectarines require a warm and sheltered position . For this reason, it is recommended to plant nectarines next to shelters or buildings facing south or south-west. The best conditions for their cultivation are in the western part of Poland.
In terms of frost damagenectarine cultivation is unfortunately more risky than peach cultivationTherefore, it is worth planting them in the garden only if we are able to provide them with a sufficiently warm and sheltered position. It is also worth choosing the most frost-resistant variety, i.e. the nectarine 'Harko'.
Due to the early flowering date and sensitivity to late spring frosts, during the flowering periodthe crowns of young nectarine treesshould be covered with agrotextile at night, and the covers must be removed during the day. This is an additional difficulty in the cultivation of nectarines, because of which nectarine trees should be planted only in home gardens, and avoid cultivation in allotment gardens that are visited irregularly.
Nectarine - Prunus persica var. nucipersica
Fig. pixabay.com
Nectarines require a fertile and permeable burr, but also retain moisture well.It is especially importantwatering young nectarine treesto prevent the root ball from drying out. Such a risk exists especially in the case of trees planted against walls or walls of buildings. The recommended soil pH for nectarine is 6.5 - 7.0.
Nectarines require proper fertilizationIn early spring, multi-component mineral fertilizers are used, and after the emergence of fruit buds, it is worth adding an additional dose of potassium-rich fertilizer. Autumn is a good time to sprinkle a layer of compost under the trees. Natural bas alt flour will also be useful for fertilizing nectarines during fruit formation and in the fall.
Nectarines bloom very earlywhen pollinating insects are scarce. For this reason, a better yield can be obtained by manual pollination. For this purpose, during the flowering of trees, the flowers are lightly touched with cotton balls or a soft brush.
Harvesting nectarinesis best done when they are fully ripe.Then they taste best. Ripe fruit flesh softens around the peduncle, and the skin takes on a distinct blush. When you slightly lift the fruit in your hand and gently turn it over, it should easily detach from the stalk.
Harvested at full maturitynectarine fruits can be storedfor 1 week in a cool place, arranged in a single layer in open boxes. Fruits harvested earlier can be stored longer, but when ripe in storage they do not taste so good.
Nectarine - cut
Due to the sensitivity to frostnectarines should not be trimmed too earlyPrune them in the spring, but only when the buds are clearly visible, which usually takes place in April. You can even wait until flowering begins with pruning.
Nectarine trees require annual intensive pruning , carried out in such a way that the tree produces as many annual twigs as possible, because only on them will fruit appear .The recommendedform of nectarine guidance is thecauldron crown, which is quite thin inside, empty, and more compact on the outside, without a clear conductor. This way of leading guarantees the best lighting of the fruit, which affects their ripening and taste.
Nectarines are best planted in spring and trimmed immediately after plantingThe top part of the tree is cut at a height of 120 cm, while the lower side branches are removed to a height of 50-60 cm to the ground. The lowest branches are removed entirely by cutting right next to the trunk.
From the remaining branches, 4 to 5 strongest branches are selected, evenly spaced around the trunk, and shortened to a length of 20-30 cm.The nectarine shoots are always cut just above the bud facing outwardsso that the new twigs will grow outside, not inside the crown. The rest of the twigs are cut whole, cut right next to the trunk.
The following year, if the tree produces a new conductor, cut itso that the nectarine does not grow excessively upwards The remaining side branches are shortened by about half.
In the following years,intensive nectarine cuttingis performed, consisting in cutting out all weakened, withered and excessively thin branches. We leave stronger branches, which are shortened more or less above the eighth bud. Remember to thin the inside of the crown and cut branches that grow too high.
Become confident in pruning fruit plants
"If you are unsure how to make a cut or are just afraid to do it, the fantastic book "Cutting School 2" ontrimming fruit trees and shrubs
This is the second part of the best-selling book "Cutting School", in which the authors Lucyna and Alicja Grabowskieexplained in a simple and clear way the secrets of cuttingornamental plants. The first book The School of Cutting for its simple language and clear, accurate drawings was loved by garden owners all over Poland.The book quickly became a bestseller- 20,000 copies sold! "
"Cutting School 2" will make youconfident in pruning fruit trees and shrubsand learn to cut plants so that they grow according to your expectations and bear fruit abundantly. After reading this book, your approach to pruning plants will probably change completely!
