Growing Nectarine in Australia: The Complete Guide
Nectarine is a moderate stone fruit tree to grow, needing full sun with regular, deep watering.
Nectarine is one of the moderate additions to a home garden, and this article walks through everything behind our one-page printable guide in a bit more depth.
Chill hours matter
Essentially a smooth-skinned peach with the same chill hour requirements — check the variety's winter chill needs against your local climate before planting.
How to Plant Nectarine
Method — plant bare-rooted while dormant. Soil — well-drained, fertile. Timing — plant in winter while dormant.
Keeping It Growing Well
Keep these points in mind:
- Prune annually in winter — fruits on last year's wood.
- Thin developing fruit for good size.
- Water deeply through fruit development.
- Feed in early spring as buds swell.
Problems to Watch For
Worth paying attention to:
- Peach leaf curl — spray with copper in late winter before buds swell.
- Fruit fly — net or bag ripening fruit.
- Brown rot — improve airflow, remove affected fruit promptly.
- Poor fruit set — insufficient chill hours for the variety.
Harvest and Storage
Signs — full colour, gives slightly to gentle pressure, fragrant. Method — cup the fruit and twist gently. Curing — none needed. Storage — room temperature to ripen further, then fridge up to a week.
For the condensed, printable version of everything above, head to the main nectarine guide page.