Nectarine
Prunus persica var. nucipersica
A fruit, planted at any time of year.
In September: pick the nectarines. It can be planted now.
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Nectarine, month by month
Bar: the usual months. Sprout: this month.
| Sowing, planting or job | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2027Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant a pot-grown nectarine. | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual |
| Plant a bare-root nectarine. | none | none | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none |
| Pollinate the nectarine by hand. | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual |
| Prune the nectarine while it is in growth. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | none | none | usual | usual |
| Thin the fruit on the nectarine. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | none |
| Pick the nectarines. | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual |
What to do, and when
The usual months for a UK garden. Your own plan gives the week.
Planting
Plant a pot-grown nectarine at any time of year, 3 to 5m apart depending on the rootstock. Strong source: RHS.
Plant a bare-root nectarine November to March, 3 to 5m apart depending on the rootstock. Strong source: RHS.
Pollinate the nectarine by hand
Over several dry, sunny days, gently dab a small paintbrush into the centre of every flower.
Usually February to August. Strong source: RHS.
Prune the nectarine while it is in growth
Prune on a dry day, with dry weather forecast for at least the next two days.
Usually April, and July to August. Strong source: RHS.
Thin the fruit on the nectarine
Thin to one fruit every 15cm once they reach walnut size.
Usually June to July. Strong source: RHS.
Pick the nectarines
Usually July to September. Strong source: RHS.
What the source words mean
Strong: the RHS page for this plant is among them.
What not to do
Don’t prune in autumn or winter
Prune stone fruit only in spring or summer, in dry weather, to lower the risk of silver leaf and bacterial canker.
October to March. Strong source: RHS.
Every line above names the page it comes from. Where we found no good source for a job, we left it out. Where the name “Nectarine” comes from.