Nectarine trees

Nectarines are smooth-skinned peaches, and nectarine trees are grown in the same way although their requirements are slightly more demanding.

• Garden Beauty

  Garden Beauty is a slow-growing dwarf nectarine variety, ideal for pot culture.

  • Picking season: Mid
  • Self-fertility: Self-fertile
  • Flesh colour: Golden / Yellow

• Lord Napier

  

  Lord Napier is the best white-fleshed nectarine for the UK climate.

  • Awards: RHS AGM (former)

• Mesembrine®

  

  Mesembrine is a sweet-flavoured flat nectarine with yellow flesh.

  £43.75buy

  • Picking season: Mid
  • Self-fertility: Self-fertile
  • Flesh colour: Golden / Yellow

• Nectarella

  

  Nectarella is a genetic dwarf nectarine, ideal for growing in a pot.

  £57.00buy

• Pineapple

  Despite the name, Pineapple is actually a yellow-fleshed nectarine, ripening in early September.

  £43.75buy

  • Picking season: Early
  • Self-fertility: Self-fertile
  • Flesh colour: Golden / Yellow

How to choose Nectarine trees

Nectarines are essentially smooth-skinned peaches. They can be grown successfully in the southern parts of the UK, but for best results they should be planted in a shelted location in full sun.

Most nectarines are self-fertile, but cross-polinate readily with other nectarines and also peaches.

All nectarines are susceptible to peach-leaf curl, a fungal infection which causes the leaves to curl up in early spring. Although not harmful to the tree in the longer term, a severe infection will prevent the tree cropping. The problem is easily avoided by covering the tree with horticultural fleece in winter and early spring - since the infection is spread in rain drops.

As with peaches, be careful not to over-water nectarines.