Wish for Zone 9a South Louisiana. Hot , humid summer, warm (relatively speaking) alternating humid and dry winter.
Perhaps 2 each peach and nectarine. 250-450 chill hours. May be branch grafts or a multi tree as opposed to independent trees. If any do well I can graft a new tree.
Next they should be known for less rather than more problems. If I can’t grow it, it doesn’t matter how it tastes. I’ve heard peaches may fair a bit better because they have thicker skin?
Early, mid, late. Free, semi-cling, cling. Not as concerned though it would be nice to spread the Harvest out some. Cling or not doesn’t bother me. I’m a homeowner growing for myself and friends.
I’ve read that many early varieties of stone fruit aren’t known as much for their flavor but that is just what I take from what I’ve read. I think earlier rather than later might be less pest/disease/heat related problems, though that might not be proper thinking.
Looong growing season here -
Average First Frost Date: November 11 - 20
Average Last Frost Date: March 11 - 20
I put on two Arctic Star Nectarine grafts on a plumcot tree this past spring. They took but are only a foot or two long. That’s the only variety I already have.
I know the few forumites who have posted growing many peach and nectarine varieties live in different climates than here, but those folk’s ideas will still be better than my guesses from reading descriptions from various nurseries trying to sell their products, and more often than not, copying and pasting the same descriptions.
We really like our Snow Queen nectarine and Spice Zee nectaplum. Both do well in 10b. The Spice Zee ripens first followed by the Spice Zee so the harvest is spread out somewhat.
I believe you can also graft plums onto nectarines/peach trees. I have a Santa Rosa plum that does well here too.
Honestly I’ve always been curious about my soil. I’ll find out more this weekend as I install two H-braces for a short vineyard row. I’ll check out the soils to about 2.5 feet.
I know I have full soup from the builder. I think below they is sandy loam.
I found a description of my soils from the library of congress of all places.
I grow in zone 8b/9a on Gulf coast near Beaumont, about 30 miles north of Interstate 10. I have 2 Arctic Star, which has good vigor and sets many fruits. However, for me it is a brown rot magnet, but I think all of the nectarines will be that way due to the smooth skin. I do spray fairly often, crop looks good but about 2 to 3 weeks before harvest brown rot hits and wipes out over 90% of the nectarines. Plum curculio hits Arctic Star and Spice Zee first, with multiple bites.
My 2 best producers have been Tropic Snow and Tropic Beauty, both low chill peaches that should do well in your area. Still need spray, but makes early and brown rot seems to be controlled with fungi spray every couple of weeks. Older varieties such as Rio Grande have done well for me also. You want a little fuzz to help limit the brown rot and worms.
Perfect comparison to my area (close enough at least). Exactly what I need to start out with something I may succeed at.
That is what I’ve heard about peaches versus nectarines. Originally I thought the fuzz would invite things like mold or mildew, but less insect pressure makes sense.
While reading up on Tropic Snow and Beauty, I see this site with a photo of fruit after a rain. Is this what rot looks like? If you read the description they mention this seems to occur after a rain when the peach is actually ripe.
Just google brown rot in peaches and you will find pictures. The spores can get on the fruit early, stay dormant and start growing around the time the fruit ripens. Starts out as grey spot and quickly covers the whole fruit. Most if not all fungal sprays are preventative, and if the spores are already on the fruit the future sprays will not control it. Like a ticking time bomb, you can not see it but it is there, waiting to grow. The spores are usually spread after a rain, so best to spray before the rain, just not right before. If you wait until after the rain stops the spores may have already established. Beware of PHI (pre harvest interval). Some fungal sprays have a long PHI so you want to make your last spraying about 3 weeks before the fruit ripens, if I remember correctly. Always check the label.
It is heart breaking when you spend all the time, looks to be a good crop and it is wiped out by brown rot. I think I need to spray earlier, right after the petal fall. I have waited till they were about the size of grape, probably too late. I was waiting until the worms first hit, and then sprayed for both. I guess I need an earlier spray for just brown rot.
Here’s an article about the Peach and Nectarine breeding program at the U of Florida.Quite a few varieties are listed and may work for your area.
Ralph Sharpe wasn’t only a Blueberry guy.He started with stone fruit.
Yes I’ve looked at all the southern states programs for low chill fruit development. I don’t find a source for scionwood for most of the varieties I’ve read about though.
I have the rootstock and limited space, so I’m looking to graft a new multi tree or add wood to existing ones.
This post is to get actual home growers experiences, positive and negative, if available.
Since I was not looking at peaches or nectarines in the last few springs, I’m not sure what the local box stores and nurseries even carry here. I don’t think they have more than 2 or 3 varieties offered in general.
I can’t find a scion wood source for spice-zee nectaplum, usually get mine from fruitwood nursery, but can’t find that and sweet treat pluerry anywhere. I’d like to try those two this winter/spring
I have sweet treat pluerry. I think I’ve looked before and it was off patent? You can also contact me in January.
Fruitwood hasn’t updated their inventory yet this year so perhaps we will see more choices there.
Edit:
OK, nevermind about the Sweat Treat… Assuming this is the right patent, it won’t expire until the next decade.
I posted elsewhere how confusing it is when the patent information doesn’t include the common name a cultivar is sold under. In this case I think Sweat Treat is Sweet Pixie 2.
It’s nothing fancy but we are very similar climates and my red haven produced plentifully. It’s waist high and produced 37 peaches that I didn’t spray once. Granted it was a very dry summer but still it was as low maintenance as a peach can come
