YMC wrote:

"Totoblue" wrote:
YMC wrote:

I was thinking of growing a Nectarine tree in my backyard. My Uncle
used to have a really great one - it produced these fantastic fruits
which we allowed to ripen on the branch - then we plucked them when
they were ripe. They were the most sweetest things I've ever tasted.
But they were very easily damaged by that stage; so I suspect thats
why you can't buy them at the supermarket.

Any recommendations for a Nectarine tree?

We are in Melbourne eastern suburbs (clay soil). We have from memory
a Nectarine Goldmine. It is fantastic. Doesn't need spraying for
anything (did have leaf curl when it was younger but that is easily
fixed with a copper spray).

The variety that would suit you depends on where you live. Also in
some locations i believe you are obligated to perform certain pest
control activities such as spraying on certain fruits.

I recommend you get a free-stone nectarine. You do get the odd bug
in the fruit and with a free-stone nectarine, you can easily remove
the stone to look for insect damage (and cut that bit out - the bugs
seem to eat mostly near the stone but they don't eat much).

Thanks for that. I'm also living in the Melbourne Easter Suburbs near
Warrandyte. The soil here is mainly clay. But thanks to mulching and
composting we have brought up the top soil level a bit. Thank God for
the mulch. I bought about $200+ for the mulch and using old newspaper
- placed mulched over the entire beds. The roses are much happier as a
result.

Back on topic - do you have any specific recommendations - names? for
the Nectarine?

As I said, IIRC ours is a Nectarine Goldmine. But we got it 15 years ago.