Summer Beauty Nectarine is a flavorful and early-ripening yellow-fleshed freestone nectarine variety, prized for its juicy, sweet-tart flavor and attractive red-blushed skin. Maturing just after the popular ‘Redhaven’ variety, it offers growers and home gardeners a delicious, early-season fruit with excellent fresh-eating quality and good shelf life.
This variety is particularly suited for warmer climates, producing reliable crops of medium to large fruit with smooth, fuzz-free skin. Its vigorous growth habit and consistent yield make it a popular choice for both backyard orchards and small commercial growers.
Key Features:
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Fruit: Medium to large size; red-blushed skin over yellow background; firm, juicy yellow flesh with a balanced sweet-tart flavor.
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Type: Freestone – the pit separates easily from the flesh when ripe.
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Ripening Season: Early; typically ripens in late June to early July, shortly after ‘Redhaven’.
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Flavor Profile: Rich and aromatic, with excellent fresh-eating quality and good texture for slicing.
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Tree Habit: Vigorous and productive; requires regular pruning to maintain size and shape.
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Pollination: Self-pollinating, but fruit set and yield can improve with nearby compatible varieties.
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Chill Hours: Estimated 400–600 hours, making it suitable for a wide range of growing zones.
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Hardiness: USDA zones 6–9.
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Uses: Best for fresh eating, but also suitable for canning, desserts, or drying.