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Fruit & Orchards

Need tips for planting a nectarine whip in warm weather?

12 years ago

I purchased an Artic Jay nectarine from Raintree , but they said they couldn't guarantee this late in the season that it would sprout to life and grow properly? I guess it is easier to plant whips in the late fall or very early spring for proper "sprouting", but more problematic in the late spring or summer? It is now in the mid 80's to low 90's during the day and the whip gets 80% full sun. Any tips to help ensure success? Will root prep fertilizer help, just keep the planting well mulched and watered until the buds open, prune a few branches to stimulate buds to open, start it in a pot in the garage a couple weeks until sprouting and then transplant????

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Comments (4)

rasputinj
12 years ago
I agree with everything you are thinking about doing except for root prep fertilizer, I would wait on fertilizer for a little while. I do not think you need to start it in garage.
Scott F Smith
12 years ago
That hot sun fries vulnerable first leaves. I would put shade cloth over your peach somehow, the kind that lets some light through but not nearly full strength. When it has some good-sized shoots you could start easing it into the full sun. What you don't want to do is just pop them into full sun one day. I did that once and the tree died. Extra watering would also help since roots dry out quickly in the hot sun.

The pot idea can also work but it needs to be in the pot a long enough time that it gets well adapted (at least a month) and when its ready you still may need to ease it into full sun. So, it doesn't seem worth the effort.

Scott
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olpea
12 years ago
" What you don't want to do is just pop them into full sun one day. I did that once and the tree died."

Scott,

Are you referring to trees already leafed out, or trees shipped in full domancy?

I ordered a couple of these late trees from Raintree as well (peach and nectarine) and they sent me the same email warning special care is needed if the temps are above 75F.

I've ordered a late tree from them once before and didn't have any problems, but I don't think it was quite this late in the growing season when I ordered from them before.

BTW-Dont be lured in to ordering any of their trees this late because of cheap pricing. They advertise these trees as a late season "special", but there really wasn't anything special about the price. It's just a marketing gimmick. By the time you pay the $30 shipping and handling fee, the total price of two trees was 32 bucks a piece. On top of that they say their regular guarantee doesn't apply to these trees.

I didn't order the trees because of the cheap pricing but because there was a couple varieties I wanted to try that only Raintree offers.
Scott F Smith
12 years ago
Olpea, I was referring to trees already leafed out. Once I got a potted cherry in the mail and kept it in the shade for a few weeks to recover and then I planted it directly out in very hot weather. The sun fried it and it died.

For peach trees they are much more able to take heat and I would not be too worried if it was in the mid-80's. Its the 90's you need to worry about. Even that could be OK if the tree was very healthy; the problem is you often can't tell by looking at it how much energy it has stored so its a crap shoot and its good to err on the safe side.

Scott

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