Description

Full sun, Zone 5

*Not hardy in Alberta – must be grown inside!*

Prunus persica var. nucipersic ‘Prolific’

Pot size: 10″ Patio Pot (#2)

Though they are not hardy to grow in Alberta, you can still grow nectarines to eat and enjoy! The key is container growing.

The basic requirements of a productive container-grown nectarine are as follows:

• a container with drainage (at minimum a 5 gallon container – we prefer to use 22″ patio planters)
• a mixed blend of topsoil, potting soil, and compost
• a location that receives more than 6 hours of direct sunlight a day (more is better) from May through September
• a warm temperature from June through September (can be outside or inside, recommended 15 degrees Celsius or warmer, on average
• an indoor space to overwinter in dormancy (we recommend a temperature between 0-10 degrees Celsius to ensure dormancy. Nectarines require 900 chilling hours in order to produce fruit. The tree must go dormant (lose its leaves in the fall) over the winter.

As for the fruit, Golden Prolific is the ideal nectarine variety to grow here for a few reasons. The first – it is self fertile, which means it will produce fruit by itself, no second tree is required for pollination. The second – it naturally has a dwarf growth habit, so it stays compact and easy to work with as it matures. The third – the fruit is full sized and mouthwateringly delicious! Fruit ripens in late summer.

Mature Size: 4-8′ tall x 4-5′ wide *

*Mature size may be limited when container grown. In our experience, our Golden Prolific nectarines average 3-5′ tall x 3-5′ wide when grown in 22″ containers.