Nectarine Fantasy

Fantasy nectarine is a welcome guest in many southern gardens. The plant was bred in sunny California, so it needs an abundance of sun. The tree grows high enough, it needs space on the site. High marks from gardeners, good winter hardiness and stable early fruiting are just a small part of the advantages of this popular variety, also known under the international name Fantasy.

The plant was bred by specialists from the University of California. When crossed, the varieties Red King and Gold King were used.

The trees are vigorous, up to 5 m tall. The crown is spreading. Shoot formation is average, foliage is low. Strong thinning of the crown is not required. The flowers on the tree are pink, abundantly covering the crown with a lush cap, exude a pleasant aroma.

Nectarines on the tree ripen medium and very large, regular round shape. There is no pubescence on the smooth skin. The color is golden yellow, with ruddy stains of a dark carmine shade. The average weight of the fruit is 120-180 g. The pulp inside is tender, yellowish, the stone is well separated.

The variety has a sweet taste with a pleasant sourness and light aroma. Fruits are suitable for various processing methods; fresh are stored for 2-3 weeks.

Nectarine begins to bear fruit 3-4 years after planting. In terms of ripening, the variety is classified as early. Ripe fruits are harvested at the end of September.

More than 15 kg of fruits are removed from the tree. According to this property, the variety is considered a high-yielding variety.

The variety is adapted for planting in regions with a mild southern climate. It takes root well in the Krasnodar Territory and the North Caucasus.

Fantasy is a self-fertile nectarine. The variety is self-pollinated, does not need other trees of the same species nearby.

For planting, it is worth choosing young trees aged 1-2 years old, acclimatized in the conditions of a particular region. It is important that the roots and shoots are well developed, the grafting site does not have drips, sagging, build-ups. A site with sandy loam or peat sandy soil is being prepared for planting. It is important that the soil is loose, air permeable, and groundwater does not lie too close to the surface. The place is selected open, well-lit, out of contact with the shadow of large-sized animals.

Planting pits for the Fantasy nectarine are prepared large, spacious, with a diameter and depth of 70 cm. The soil to be removed is mixed with superphosphate, humus. They fill the hole with it by 2/3, carefully spill it with water. The pledged fertilizer is sufficient to ensure plant nutrition during the first years after planting.

When planting, the inoculation site is not deepened, leaving it 20-30 mm above the edge of the pit. Then the hole is filled with soil residues, compacting the surface. If the subsidence is too strong, the soil level can be raised again. The space around the trunk is mulched with sawdust, a thick layer of peat. Water abundantly.

In the future, the tree is watered as necessary, the soil around the trunk is loosened. Annual pruning is mandatory. The crown must be formed in the form of an oval, with strong skeletal branches. Longitudinally growing shoots are removed.In the spring, frozen and dry branches without fruitful buds are harvested.

The variety is successfully propagated by the stock. You can get the planting material yourself. Apricot trees and peaches are suitable as a stock.

Nectarine has high winter hardiness. It tolerates a drop in winter temperatures down to -20 degrees. In frosty, snowless winters, it is recommended to cover young trees from freezing.

The variety is highly resistant to the most common diseases. Does not suffer from leaf curl. To protect against fungal diseases, planting nectarines in the same garden as peaches should be avoided. This will eliminate cross contamination.

Fantasy is an unusual nectarine that can be grown on dwarf and semi-dwarf rootstocks. As summer residents point out, in this case, the tree turns out to be more compact, it is easy to harvest from it. Otherwise, the variety has received numerous positive reviews for its excellent yield indicators. From an adult tree, it is possible to collect up to 30-40 kg of nectarines in a good season. The taste of the fruit also gets high marks, it is close to peach, quite sweet. In the conditions of the Krasnodar Territory, Ukraine, peaches fully ripen on the branches.

The disadvantages are also quite obvious. Ripe fruits are poorly suitable for transportation, easily crumpled, do not lie for a long time. The trees themselves are quite whimsical to climatic conditions; they do not take root well in every region. Plants must be shaped so that their crown looks beautiful and neat.