Many of you might remember my issues with fruiting nectarines here in Phoenix. The two main theory’s are lack of adequate humidity to make the pollen “sticky” enough and thrip issues. This bloom season I made a spray of oil and insecticide just before bloom…so I am pretty certain that its not a thrip issue. As a few of my earlier varieties are drying up flowers im seeing the same old thing, little to no fruit set under those dried up flowers. They bloomed spectacularly…bee activity was excellent. I still have a number of varieties that are in early stages of bloom and they may yet prove my suspicions wrong but I doubt it. Its looking like a replay of the last 4 years of pathetic nectarine set. Weather has been dry and warm…so maybe Fruitnuts idea of lack of humidity is it. Not much that can be done there.
Im going to wait a few more weeks to see how things pan out but its looking like all be completely topworking all our 10 semi-mature nectarine trees over to peaches next month.
Maybe silly on my part but why not tent one in and crank on the sprinkler for an our inside the plastic tent. Theoretically if you Hand pollinate that would work correct? I’m asking because on a larger scale you could crank on the water inside a high tunnel with a hive of bees inside and get the humidity very high and meet pollination needs. You grow mangos and star fruit so I know you can find a way to grow nectarines.
Your right Clark…but im trying to grow these to sell. The tropicals I just grow for my family really. They dont have to make a profit. Thats a awful lot of trouble and expense when peaches set very well and sell very well for us.
Isn’t it odd that peaches work but not nectarines. Seems that both would struggle doesn’t it? I once had a nectarine in Austin that did this same thing, bloomed and grew great but never set fruit. Never did figure out why. It was the only nectarine I grew there but all my peaches worked fine. So far in Dallas I have been able to set either one.
My plan was to spray the trees with a misting of water a couple times a day during bloom. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a low humidity issue. And I’m not sure what the spray might do other than stick the pollen onto the stigma. It seemed to help inside my greenhouse.
Its odd as hell if you ask me. Ive heard reports of nectarines setting good fruit here but its rare. Far more common to hear the same stuff that ive experienced. Heard lots of excuses…tree not mature enough, thrips, etc. None makes alot of sense. Honestly im pretty burnt out on it, ive given it more chance than just about anyone. Ive got nearly every type of low chill nectarine here. None set worth a darn. When so many other quality fruit set beautifully here, why waste any more time on a fuzz-less peach?
Arctic Star is the only one that has been consistent. Eric and I have trees from the same grower in Glendale that were propagated on Hansen. The trees are doing well, but nectarine fruiting has been inconsistent – again, with the exception of Arctic Star whch fruits for me as well as any low chill peach. One of the issues may be the rootstock, as I’ve gotten more consistent yields on nemagard, especially with Snow Queen, but the trees lack vigor due to the alkalinity and heavy soil and often need to be replaced after 5 to 7 years.
The Western flower thrip issue is another problem plaguing nectarine growers out here. Not much an issue w Arctic Star, possibly since it blooms so early out here and thrip damage tends to occur in the latter half of spring here, but getting dwarf, misshapen cracked nectarines are common with all the other varieties that I have tried.
Im waiting to see if our Arctic Star sets. The blooms are still active so it will be another week. It has set light in years past and thrip scarring has been heavy. But you guys are right, its a divine fruit.
