Prunus persica var. nectarina 'Mericrest' typically starts flowering in late March or early April.
dwarf nectarine
Prunus persica var. nectarina 'Mericrest'
The dwarf nectarine (Prunus persica var.nectarina 'Mericrest') is an excellent small-space friendly plant for any garden or balcony. Its compact size makes it great for a patio garden or container planting. Its lush foliage of green vibrant leaves stay through the growing season, making it attractive even when not in bloom or in fruit. The flowers appear in late spring, and the mounded, upright fruit is ready for harvest from late summer to early fall. The fruit itself is unbelievably sweet, juicy and flavorful. It needs full sun for best performance and should be pruned annually to keep it to manageable size. A true delight in any landscape or container.
Cycle:
Perennial
Watering:
Average
Propagation:
Grafting Propagation,Budding,Layering Propagation,Cutting,Tissue Culture
Hardiness Zone:
5 - 8
Flowers:
Pink Flowers In Spring
Sun:
Full sun
Fruits:
yellow,orange Fruits Ready In Summer
Edible:
Yes
Leaf:
Yes
Leaf Color:
green
Growth Rate:
Low
Maintenance:
High
Care Level:
Medium
watering
The dwarf nectarine thrives in full sun and moderate temperatures. The soil should be well-draining and be kept evenly moist throughout the growing season. It is recommended to water the plant deeply once a week, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. As temperatures start to rise and the soil begins to dry out more quickly, the plant may need to be watered more frequently. It's also important to monitor the soil and adjust the watering schedule accordingly, being careful not to overwater the plant which can lead to root rot.
sunlight
Dwarf nectarines (Prunus persica var. nectarina 'Mericrest') need 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day to produce quality fruit. For optimal growth, this plant should be planted in a location that gets morning sunlight and then shade the afternoon. For areas with particularly hot and sunny summer days, a little afternoon shade will help to keep the plant from becoming sunburnt and dropping its foliage. In the spring and fall, dwarf nectarines can also do well in full sun all day.
pruning
For a Dwarf Nectarine (Prunus persica var. nectarina 'Mericrest'), pruning should be done when the tree is dormant (late winter or early spring) and should be limited to only the most necessary cuts. Pruning should remove any dead or damaged branches, and should thin out any congested areas. Heavy pruning should be avoided to prevent the tree from becoming too weak or overly stressed. In addition, pruning should be done at a height of 3-4 feet to help keep the tree compact and reduce the risk of branches breaking from heavy fruit.
Season
Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering
Harvest Fruit
Harvesting of Prunus persica var. nectarina 'Mericrest' typically begins in July and continues through August.
