Nectarine
7
5
5Will it grow where I live?
Nectarine is hardy to zone 5 – that covers all of Central Europe and the British Isles, and every USDA zone from 5 upwards.
Or check it for your location right here:
Profile
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Habit
- Tree
- Height
- 6 m
- Spread
- 6 m
- Growth
- medium
- Lifespan
- 30 years
- First yield
- after 3 years
- Hardiness
- zone 5–9
- Shade tolerance
- full sun
- Soil
- Sand, Silt
- Soil moisture
- dry – moist
- pH
- 6 – 7.5
Flowering & harvest
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowering | ||||||||||||
| Fruit harvest |
Varieties (13)
13 varieties of Nectarine are listed in the Permaplans variety finder — each with its own page: taste, ripening time, disease resistance, parentage and use.
- Arctic Star Very early, white-fleshed nectarine of the Arctic series with pronounced sweetness and low chill requirement.
- Big Top Very firm, sub-acid yellow-fleshed nectarine – the dominant commercial variety in the European fresh market.
- Fantasia Large, yellow-fleshed commercial nectarine with vivid red-and-yellow skin – one of the most widely grown varieties worldwide.
- Fire Sweet Large, firm yellow-fleshed nectarine with fiery-red skin and high sweetness for the fresh market.
- Flavortop Aromatic yellow-fleshed nectarine with intensely red skin and outstanding flavour.
- Harko Cold-hardy, self-fertile yellow-fleshed nectarine from Canada for cool climates.
- Independence Sturdy, self-fertile yellow-fleshed nectarine with bright red skin – the go-to variety for the home garden.
- Nectared 4 Cold-hardy yellow-fleshed nectarine of the Nectared series for cooler climates.
- Nectared 6 Slightly later, firm-fleshed yellow nectarine of the hardy Nectared series.
- Nectaross Large, late-ripening yellow-fleshed nectarine – an Italian commercial standard.
- Silver Lode Early-ripening, white-fleshed nectarine with sweet, aromatic flavour for mild-winter areas.
- Snow Queen Early, white-fleshed nectarine with very sweet, juicy flesh and low chill requirement.
- Stark Red Gold Large, late-ripening yellow-fleshed nectarine with red-gold skin and long shelf life.
Uses
Growing
Needs a warm, full-sun, sheltered site with deep, well-drained soil. Early-flowering and therefore prone to late frost; annual pruning promotes a rich harvest.
⚠️ Hazards
Toxic kernels and leaves, toxic to dogs, cats and horses As in all Prunus species, the seeds, leaves and bark contain cyanogenic glycosides that release hydrogen cyanide when chewed or crushed. A single intact stone swallowed by accident is harmless, larger quantities of chewed kernels are not, and home-made kernel extracts are best avoided. The same plant parts are considered toxic to dogs, cats and horses. The flesh of the fruit itself is harmless. The gum that exudes from wounds indicates pruning at the wrong time of year, not a hazard.
Frequently asked questions
Nectarine: how big does it get?
Nectarine (Prunus persica nucipersica) grows as a Tree and reaches roughly 6 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 6 m. Growth is medium.
Nectarine: what site does it need?
Nectarine tolerates full sun. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt. Soil moisture should be in the range dry – moist. The pH may lie between 6 and 7.5.
Nectarine: is it hardy?
Nectarine is listed as hardy in zone 5–9 and survives normal winters outdoors there.
Nectarine: will it grow in Central Europe?
Nectarine is hardy to zone 5 – that covers all of Central Europe and the British Isles, and every USDA zone from 5 upwards.
Nectarine: when does it flower?
In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate it flowers from April to May.
Nectarine: when is it harvested?
In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate the fruit ripens from July to August.
Nectarine: is it poisonous?
Individual parts of Nectarine are noted as mildly problematic — the plant does not count as poisonous. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone, only on a confident identification.
Nectarine: what is it used for?
Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 7/10, Medicinal 5/10, Other uses 5/10.
Which Nectarine varieties are there?
The Permaplans variety finder lists 13 varieties of Nectarine, including Arctic Star, Big Top, Fantasia, Fire Sweet, Flavortop, Harko, Independence, Nectared 4, Nectared 6, Nectaross, Silver Lode, Snow Queen and 1 more. Each variety has its own page with taste, ripening time, disease resistance and parentage.
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