Detailed Explanation of Nectarine Cultivation Techniques and Management Points

The scientific name of the nectarine is Prunus persica var. nucipersica; the nectarine is a variety of the common peach (whose skin is covered with fuzz). Wild nectarines grow in the northwest region of our country, where they are locally called "Liguangtao" (Li-smooth peach). Its adaptability to soil and climate and its cultivation techniques are basically the same as those of the common peach. Based on past mistaken understanding, the "Taoboli" was believed to be a fruit produced by grafting a peach onto a plum tree of the same genus, or a hybrid of peach and plum, "therefore" its appearance is as smooth as a plum, but its taste and texture are similar to those of a peach.

Nectarine cultivation techniques are basically the same as those for other peach trees, but in order to fully preserve the characteristics of this variety and achieve high and stable yields, the following cultivation technique points are specially introduced:

Selection of Orchard Site

The nectarine has a relatively short dormant period, sprouting and blooming early, likes sunlight, is not tolerant of shade, fears waterlogging, and is not suited to clay soil and other characteristics, so a plot should be chosen that has a relatively high temperature, a good microclimate, few late frosts, is sheltered from the wind and faces the sun, and has loose, fertile soil with good aeration and drainage.

Selection of Varieties

Nectarines are divided by ripening period into early, mid, and late; the choice of cultivated varieties can be flexibly determined according to the local market supply.

Raising Seedlings

Propagation can be carried out by grafting to raise seedlings, top grafting to change the head, and other methods, with wild peach or sour peach used as rootstock.

Pollinator Varieties

Nectarine flowers have a large amount of pollen and strong self-pollination ability; cross-pollination can enhance their fruit characteristics, so when cultivating, other nectarines can be appropriately mixed in, and the fruit quality will be even better.

Field Planting

Field planting is best done after the soil thaws in spring and after leaf fall in autumn, with a planting density of 55--64 plants/mu being suitable. Planting method: furrow planting or large-hole planting can be used, with planting holes required to be 80--60 cm. Use 10 kg of stalk straw and 200 kg of farmyard manure per plant, then cover with soil in layers and plant the tree; do not apply chemical fertilizer. After planting, immediately head the tree according to the intended tree shape, and cover the tree basin with plastic film.

Soil, Fertilizer, and Water Management

1. Soil management. The purpose is to create a deep, loose, nutrient-rich soil environment for the root system. Before building the orchard, deep plowing and fertilization should be carried out, or pits should first be dug and fertilizer applied in a concentrated way, and afterward, combined with autumn application of base fertilizer, the holes should be gradually expanded.

① Intertillage and weeding. Nectarine has a well-developed root system and requires good aeration conditions. During the growing season, intertillage and weeding should be carried out several times to keep the surface soil loose, which is beneficial to the rapid growth of nectarines.

② Reasonable intercropping. In young orchards, to improve the use of land, light and heat, and water and air resources, appropriate intercropping can be done, but only with low-stalk, short-canopy crops such as green manure, melons and vegetables, and beans that do not affect growth and development, do not spread related pests and diseases, and do not compete with the trees for fertilizer and water.

2. Fertilization. Base fertilizer is mainly farmyard manure, supplemented with superphosphate; starting from the second year after planting, apply 150--200 kg of base fertilizer per plant each year. For young trees (2--4 years), nitrogen fertilizer is the main type, with 1--4 kg applied per plant each year, and an appropriate amount of phosphorus and potassium; after entering the fruiting period, gradually increase the proportion of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, generally requiring 2:3:2 as suitable, and appropriately supplement other trace elements.

3. Irrigation. In areas with annual rainfall above 500 mm, irrigation may not be needed, but because spring in our region is relatively dry, irrigation is required to ensure normal development or avoid late frost damage. It is required to give one thorough irrigation during the sprouting period after thawing, and one irrigation before the soil freezes.

Training and Pruning

The nectarine tree has relatively strong apical dominance, many branches, fast new shoot growth, and easy flower bud formation. Early training of a high-yield tree shape is especially important. The three-main-branch natural open-center shape and the two-main-branch open-center shape, and the short-close-distance layered shape, are often used, but this should be flexibly controlled according to the cultivation method, density, and so on.

1. Open-center shape. This canopy is relatively tall and large, has many fruiting positions, can fully utilize space, and gives high yields, and is suitable for a pure peach orchard. Training generally requires two or three main branches, that is, head the tree at 50--60 cm in the current year, then select and retain the first main branch at 40 cm from the ground, and select and retain the second and third main branches at about 20 cm from the first main branch. The retained main branches are required to be robust and to grow evenly and flatly in three directions around the trunk; all other branches are to have their growth controlled and kept as auxiliary nurturing branches. During winter pruning, appropriately shorten the main branches to let them extend and expand the canopy; leave 2--3 side branches at intervals of about 30 cm on each main branch. For the remaining branches, according to their growing positions, carry out pruning by the method of removing the weak and keeping the strong, removing the upward and keeping the lateral, and removing the distant and keeping the near. In summer, when new shoots grow to 40 cm, promptly pinch the tips to promote secondary shoots, and thin out the water sprouts on the back and dense branches, so as to achieve ventilation and light penetration and to train the fruiting framework early.