As with peaches and apricots most soil types are acceptable for planting nectarines. Should the soil be heavy, improve the drainage by adding gravel or stone to the bottom of the planting hole. As a rule, a sheltered, sunny position on a south wall or fence will offer optimum conditions for ripening fruits. However, sheltered East walls also benefit from having less Spring heat – thereby delaying the crop and giving better protection from late frost. A support system of trellis or wires is also needed for training the tree and supporting the heavy crop. Pot grown trees may be planted at any time of the year but bare root trees should be planted in early/mid Winter or Spring. In both cases mulch to a depth of 6”’15cm, to a 4ft’/120cm diameter around the tree. Pot-grown trees must be protected during winter. 

Pruning

To exclude any risk of disease entering the tree never prune in Winter but only when the sap is starting to rise in early Spring, or at harvest time, and apply wound paint to any exposed surfaces. 

Feeding and watering

On an annual basis, mulch well and apply a balanced fertiliser in February/March. Make sure the tree does not dry out in the first year, as this will hinder establishment and fruit production. Liquid feed container trees, from May to when the fruits start to ripen, with high potash feed (e.g. a tomato feed) every 10-14 days. Beware erratic watering at any stage, which can cause splits to the fruits. 

Pollination and Frost Protection

Both are essential for outdoor grown peach, nectarine and apricot. These trees flower in early spring when very few insects are on the wing to help with pollination, so additional help by hand will pay dividends. Using a soft brush gently transfer pollen between the flowers. This is best done on sunny days over the flowering period. Protection from frost in early Spring is also required, in the form of horticultural fleece, or polythene sheet. 

Disease prevention

Protection with fleece etc. will also help control Peach Leaf Curl – which peaches and nectarines are prone to but not apricots. The fungus which is responsible for Peach Leaf Curl is set by rain so can be minimised by the frost protection used or by keeping the tree ‘top’ dry during late Winter and Spring. Any infected leaves should be removed and burned. A copper spray, applied at leaf-fall and fortnightly from the end of January to mid-February, will also help protect against this disease. 

Thinning -

Thin the fruits when they are thumbnail–sized to ensure good even-sized fruit and to stop the fruit rubbing against each other which would affect the quality of the ripe fruit. Aim for 6”/15-25cm between fruits; do not thin once the fruit are walnut sized or bigger.