Snow Queen Nectarine Tree

A sweet and juicy, white flesh freestone nectarine. It is a very delicious variety. Red color, smooth texture skin with yellow spots. Beautiful pink Spring blossoms, and early summer fruits. Low Chill. 250 Hours. Self-fruitful.

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Not compatible with your zone (2a)

General Plant Information

Snow Queen Nectarine Tree

The Snow Queen nectarine tree reigns as a taste test winner, celebrated for its exceptional qualities. This sweet and juicy early-season white freestone delights palates with its succulent flavor. Harvested in late June in Central California, it ripens an impressive 2-3 weeks ahead of the Babcock peach, making it an eagerly awaited treat. A long-time favorite in Southern California, this nectarine tree thrives in the region’s warm climate. With a low chilling requirement of 250-300 hours, it ensures a fruitful harvest, and being self-fruitful adds to its appeal as a valuable addition to any garden or orchard.

Snow Queen Nectarine Trees Fruit Description:

The Snow Queen nectarine boasts a royal allure with its luscious white freestone flesh. Exuding natural sweetness and juiciness, it pleases the palate with a delightful burst of flavor. Its early-season harvest makes it an irresistible delight for fresh consumption and culinary creations alike.

Snow Queen Nectarine Tree Description:

The Snow Queen nectarine tree graces the landscape with elegance and charm. Its blossoms herald the arrival of Spring, showcasing a captivating display of beauty and fragrance. The tree’s lush green leaves form a vibrant canopy, providing a welcoming shade in warmer months. Beneath the soil, the well-established root system ensures stability and efficient nutrient uptake, promoting its robust growth and productivity. The smooth bark adds to the tree’s overall visual appeal.

Uses:

The Snow Queen nectarine is a culinary gem, perfect for a variety of uses. Its sweet and juicy flesh elevates the joy of enjoying fresh, ripe nectarines during the early season. These nectarines are excellent additions to fruit salads, smoothies, and desserts, infusing them with their delightful flavor and eye-catching white flesh. Their early harvest also makes them ideal candidates for preserving in jams and preserves, capturing their essence for year-round enjoyment.

History

The Snow Queen nectarine’s storied history is rooted in its triumph as a taste test winner, earning it esteemed recognition for its outstanding flavor. It’s early-season nature and white freestone characteristics have made it a cherished favorite in Southern California, captivating the taste buds of fruit enthusiasts for generations. As a low-chill nectarine variety, it thrives in regions with milder winters, contributing to its widespread popularity. Being self-fruitful ensures a reliable harvest, and its versatility in culinary uses makes it a valuable choice for both home gardeners and commercial growers.

The history of nectarines and their various types is a fascinating journey that stretches back thousands of years. Despite its botanical name “Prunus Persica” linking it to Iran, genetic studies indicate that nectarines originated in China. While early cultivation was believed to have started around 2000 BC, recent evidence points to an even earlier origin in China’s Zhejiang Province, dating back to 6000 BC. From China, nectarines made their way to West Asia and Iran, where they were cultivated and appreciated for their unique qualities. Subsequently, they were introduced to Greece and Rome, becoming cherished fruit in these ancient civilizations. The allure of nectarines continued to spread, reaching northern Europe and England by the sixteenth century, capturing the hearts of people across various regions.

In the course of history, nectarines crossed the oceans and found their way to the United States, thanks to the efforts of the Spaniards who brought and planted them in California. This marked the beginning of nectarine cultivation in the United States, where they flourished in the sunny climate of California, contributing to the diversity of fruits available to Americans. Throughout the centuries, nectarines have undergone further cultivation and breeding, leading to the development of various types with distinct characteristics. Today, numerous nectarine varieties exist, each offering its own flavor, texture, and appearance. From traditional yellow freestone nectarines to white nectarines, each type holds a special place in the hearts of fruit enthusiasts and continues to be enjoyed worldwide. The journey of nectarines from their ancient origins in China to their spread across continents highlights the enduring appeal of this delectable fruit. As its popularity continues to grow, the history of nectarines stands as a testament to the appreciation of nature’s bounties and the ingenuity of human efforts to cultivate and cherish these remarkable fruits.


Mature Size and Form

Plant most fruit trees about 10 – 15 feet apart. Some varieties like Figs, Pomegranates, and Mulberries can grow larger quickly.

Planning is the most important step when planting a tree. Plant your tree where it has enough space to grow to its full potential. Otherwise, your tree will grow into your surrounding trees.  A tree that can grow taller with faster growth will overshadow nearby trees. You may need to move other trees to allow for the one that is thriving rather than cutting back one that naturally grows fast and tall.

Additional Information

Harvest Time : Summer
Watering : Regular
Sun Exposure : Full Sun
Plant Type: Deciduous
USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-10
Chill Hours: Less 300 hours below 45°F
Pollination: Self-Fruitful / Self Pollinating

Planting Information

Step One:

Soil and Planting: Plant in soil that drains well. Dig a hole that is as deep as the tree’s roots and at least twice as wide.

Step Two:

Place the tree in the hole and backfill around the plant’s roots with a mixture of the native soil and high-quality planting mix that has washed sand and organic fertilizer.

Step Three:

Create a basin around the roots drip zone so that water collects. Water deeply until the roots and nearby soil is saturated and reaches field capacity.

Plant Care Information

How To Water - Frequency and Duration to Irrigate

Irrigation Water Quantity and frequency based on tree maturity – Fully saturate the soil with water once per week during the early spring. Increase to twice per week as the weather warms. Water 3 times per week or more during hot summers. Provide about 5 gallons of water for a 5 gallons size plant, 15 gallons of water for a #15 size container plant, and 25 gallons for a #25 depending on soil type. Sandy soils can hold less water required more frequently, while clay soils can hold more water and require less frequent irrigation. Young trees with less developed roots require water more frequently while mature plants with developed roots will require less frequent watering.

Fertilizer and Plant Nutrition

Fertilize your tree every 3-4 months. Use a complete balance fertilizer with a 1-1-1 or 2-1-1 NPK ratio during the Spring and Summer growing season, and a formula with more phosphorus and potassium before the tree flowers to improve fruit production and development.

Winter Pruning and Summer Thinning

Prune your tree to allow light into its center for proper growth and fruit production. 

Prune fruit trees in the Winter to maintain size and shape to prepare for Spring growth. Thin the tree in the Summer, and remove excessive fruits. Remove any dry twigs and branches. Cut off any new growth below the graft or very low in the tree, this will direct the plant’s energy to its main branches. Thin your trees during the Spring and Summer seasons to ensure the plant’s energy is directed as desired. Harvest ripe fruit to prevent undesired pests.

Harvesting and Pest Management

The basics of integrated pest management is cleanliness and the use of a combination of methods. This means we use an organic pesticide when the pest population reaches a threshold that requires action. Horticultural oils such as Neem oil is an organic pesticide that controls tiny, soft bodied insects. Use organic Bordeaux and Liqui-cop to manage fungus causing diseases such as powdery mildew, rust, and leaf-curls.

Keep a clean environment, free of weeds and dropped fruit that host insects or attract animals. Harvest when fruit reaches size and store indoors. Use repellants and bird netting to protect your harvest from other animals.

Sun Exposure: Full Sun

Deciduous trees need about 5 hours of direct sunlight for proper growth and fruit production.

Sunlight Sensitive plants like Cherries, Persimmons, and Plums can burn in hot climates if they lack water. Use afternoon shade to prevent this damage. A lack of light will stunt growth; balance is key. 

Limited Guarantee and Returns

Our plants are guaranteed to be true-to-name as labeled and in good condition when received. “Local pickup” means the customer will pick up at our nursery.  “Delivery” does NOT include planting, and customer must arrange to receive items once offloaded from our truck. Our driver may move items as a courtesy, but is not responsible for moving items further onto your property. Returns/Refunds are subject to a 10% restocking fee.

Compatibility

The two factors that determine if a deciduous fruit trees will grow well and produce fruit in a certain area are the Chill Hour Requirement and the Cold Hardiness. “Chill hours” are the amount of cold a deciduous fruit tree need to produce fruit. This is measured in the number of hours below 45 degrees Fahrenheit a plant must experience during its winter dormancy. Paradise Nursery only grows Low Chill fruit trees that meet the chill requirements of all areas of the United States.

The second factor is Cold Hardiness. Cold Hardiness refers to the minimum temperature a plant can tolerate. The USDA’s Cold Hardiness Zones indicate the average minimum winter temperatures of areas. Based on the shipping zipcode, our website will only allow you to add plants to your cart that grow within your USDA Hardiness Zone, and tolerate your climate.

Pollination & Propagation

(Grafting/Cutting) Most of Paradise Nursery’s edible plants are self-fruitful. Self-pollinating trees do not require an additional tree to produce fruit. For your convenience, we have indicated which trees require a pollinator, and their associated pollinators. Only the sweet cherries, avocados, and some plums require a pollinator. All of our other propagated edible plants do not require a pollinator. All of our edible plants are either grown from cuttings, budded, or grafted. This way, we can ensure that our plants are high quality and fruit immediately. Plants will generally begin fruiting within a year of planting.