Nectarine
Prunus persica var. nucipersica
A fuzzless peach; same care.
Hardiness: zones 5 to 8
Light: full sun
Size: about 12 ft tall, 12 ft wide
Harvest: July to August
From: China
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food.
Native to: East Asia. Hardy in zones 5 to 8.
The story
A smooth-skinned form of peach from China and Central Asia. A nectarine can grow on a peach tree from a bud mutation, and the reverse happens too.
Planting
Full sun. Soil: well-drained loam (pH 6.0–7.0). Spacing: 12 ft. Pollination: self-fertile.
Growing
Water: even moisture while fruit sizes. Winter: Prune like a peach in late winter. Optional organic copper spray before bud swell if leaf curl was a problem. Spring: Protect blooms from frost. Summer: Thin fruit hard. Smooth skin is more prone to brown rot and curculio than peach. Fall: Remove mummified fruit.
Harvest and use
Harvest: July (June Princess is an early variety). First crop: 2–3 years.
What to watch for
Brown rot, plum curculio, leaf curl.
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General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home