Nectarines are yellow to reddish colored shiny and glossy fruits that look similar to apple. Mature Nectarine fruit size is 6-7 cm in diameter. Their skin is smooth and doesn’t have a fuzz that can be seen on peaches. Their flesh can be yellow or white depending on the variety of the fruit.
Nectarine fruit flavor can be explained as something between tartness and sweetness, with juicy and strong structure. Nectarines are aromatic fruits with slightly tangier taste than peaches. Like peaches Nectarines also have stone pit in the center which is inedible.
Nectarine and Peach plants look similar. These are Medium sized plants that can reach 21 feet in height. Usually Nectarine plants are kept 10-13 feet tall by regular pruning. Its leaves are glossy green, and long pointed ends. Leaves have glands at their basis which attract insects and ants. Flowers bloom at the axils of the leaf and are arranged singly or in the groups of two or three flowers. Flowers grow on the nodes of previous year grown stems. Nectarine flower has 5 petals of Pink color and sometimes it can produce flowers of white color.
Nectarine plants grow well in well-drained, sandy and loamy soil, and it can also grow in other soil types as long as it has good drainage. Too much water and frequent watering can lead to root rot and fungal diseases. The pH of the soil should be between 5.8 and 6.8. Soil should be prepared with manure and organic matter before plantation to get good yield. During dry spells nectarine plants require consistent watering but should not be waterlogged. Proper drainage is important for the plants like nectarine and peach.
Nectarines are self-pollinating plants and these don’t require other trees for pollination. Even a single tree in your yard shall be able to yield fruit to its maximum potential. Presence of bees will enhance the yield of plants.
Best time to plant Nectarine plants is spring time (Feb-March). Choose the best site for plantation. Post treatment of the land with manure and other organic fertilizers will boost the plant growth and yield in future. Dig a small pit almost twice the depth of the plant root cap. Plant it with utmost care and water it properly.
Nectarines are medium sized plants so distance should be 15 feet from line to line and plant to plant. In this way total number of plants per acre will be 200 plants per acre.
Nectarines are shrubby plants which require regular pruning to maintain its size and shape. Usually pruning is done in the month of December during dormancy. Be sure to cut overlapping branches which protect sunlight to reach all parts of the plant. Other than regular pruning water sprouts and suckers should be removed regularly.
Nectarine fruit has typical shelf life of 4 weeks. It has export potential and expensive fruit in countries like China, UAE and European countries. Its fruit can be processed in number of ways to produce other beneficial items such as Jams, Muraba and Juices.
