Nectarine Tree - Flat Peach with Yellow Flesh Organic

The Organic Yellow Flesh Flat Nectarine is an original variety. Its colourful and flattened fruits are refreshing and low in calories. In late summer, you can enjoy them every day. It produces a medium-sized nectarine, measuring 7 to 9 centimetres (3 to 4 inches) in diameter, weighing 110 to 150 grams, with a round shape and a very distinct flatness at both ends. The skin is fairly thin, smooth, and shiny, with dark red colouration on a yellow-orange background. The yellow flesh is fine and filled with sweet and fragrant juice, surrounding a stone that separates easily from the pulp. After a striking flowering in March, the fruit ripens in August-September. Like the peach, its close relative, the nectarine is susceptible to peach leaf curl and spring frosts, preferring a warm, well-ventilated, sunny, and sheltered location. Slightly less hardy than the peach, it is a small tree with a short lifespan, lasting no more than 15 to 20 years.

The Prunus persica (Common Peach) is a fruit tree belonging to the Rosaceae family, originally from China in the Sichuan and Guizhou regions around 500 BC. It appeared in Europe in the 6th century and experienced significant development in the 19th century. From there, numerous selections aiming to improve the fruit's taste took place. The Nectarine, scientifically known as Prunus persica nucipersa, originated from a natural mutation of the peach that occurred in the 16th century. In France, the difference between nectarines and flat peaches is determined by the adhesion of the stone to the flesh. If the flesh separates easily from the stone, it is a nectarine; otherwise, it is a flat peach.

The Yellow Flesh Flat Nectarine variety forms a small tree with a fairly upright structure and a spreading habit, reaching approximately 3 to 4 metres (10 to 13 feet) in height and 2 to 3 metres (7 to 10 feet) in diameter when fully grown. Its habit is well-suited for low forms (bushes) or trained forms. Its foliage consists of lanceolate leaves measuring 8 to 15 cm (3 to 6in) long and 3 to 4 cm (1 to 2in) wide, with serrated and wavy edges, a vibrant green colour, turning yellow-orange in autumn before falling. The leaves have a slight almond fragrance. In late March, pale pink flowers, measuring 2 to 3 cm (1in) in diameter, appear solitarily, before the leaves on the previous year's branches. They can be destroyed by frost from -2 to -3°C. It is a fairly hardy tree, tolerating temperatures down to -15°C, and can be grown in all temperate regions, with a preference for the southern half of continental Europe. Its spring flowering, which is quite early, can be damaged by late frosts. This necessitates placing the tree, if grown in northern regions, in a particularly sunny and sheltered location. It has a remarkably decorative spring flowering, which is highly attractive to bees and butterflies. A self-fertile variety, not requiring other peach trees nearby for pollination, but the presence of another nectarine tree will improve fertility.  To obtain beautiful nectarines, it is possible to remove some fruits as soon as they appear.

This variety, being self-fertile, produces a harvest that can be more or less abundant depending on the year. It begins fruiting quite quickly, around 3 to 5 years, with optimal production reached after 5 to 7 years. The fruits are harvested from mid-August to mid-September, as they ripen. As nectarines are fragile, they are harvested by hand with care. Low in calories, they are rich in antioxidants, beta-carotene, and potassium. Additionally, their high content of vitamins C, E, and B3, along with their richness of dietary fibre, makes nectarines a healthy choice. They are invigorating, energising, and hydrating. Nectarines picked slightly unripe will continue to ripen in the house and can be stored for a week in a cool, dark place.

The delicious fruits can be eaten fresh as soon as they are picked. They are also ideal for making compotes, smoothies, ice creams and sorbets, tarts, clafoutis, pastries, fruit salads or preserves, as accompaniments to savoury dishes with meats (duck, rabbit, chicken, etc.) or fish (salmon, cod, etc.). They are also perfect for making juice or fruit syrups. With its high water content, nectarines are refreshing and thirst-quenching. Being very fleshy, they provide a great feeling of satiety.

Like many fruit trees, nectarine trees prefer rich, deep, and well-drained soils. They do not tolerate excess water, heavy and compacted soils, or limestone soils. They prefer a sunny location, sheltered from drafts and cold winds. A southeast or southwest exposure is ideal. In regions that frequently experience late spring frosts, they can be trained against a south-facing wall. Very popular due to their fruits, nectarine trees find their place in the garden for the enjoyment of both young and old. With a wide range of varieties, it is easy to find the one that best suits your preferences.