Do Nectarine Trees Self Pollinate? A Guide to Nectarine Pollination

Nectarines are a delicious fruit that many homeowners like to grow in their yards. Their sweet flavor and smooth skin make them a summertime treat. But before you can enjoy the bounty of fresh nectarines from your own tree you have to get the tree to produce fruit. One of the most common questions about growing nectarine trees is whether they self-pollinate. Understanding nectarine pollination will help ensure a good harvest each year.

What is Self-Pollination?

Self-pollination refers to a plant that can pollinate itself and produce fruit without needing to cross-pollinate with a different variety Self-pollinating plants have both male and female flower parts within each blossom, so pollen from the same flower or other flowers on the same plant can pollinate the pistil.

Many fruit trees are self-incompatible, meaning they require cross-pollination from a different compatible variety to set fruit. But nectarines are generally considered self-fruitful. This means nectarine trees can self-pollinate and do not require a different pollenizer variety to produce nectarines.

How Do Nectarine Trees Pollinate?

Nectarine trees bloom in spring, producing delicate pink or white flowers. Like other stone fruits in the Prunus genus, nectarines have perfect flowers, containing both male and female reproductive flower parts:

• Stamens – The male part that produces pollen. Nectarine trees have many stamens in the center of each flower.

• Pistil – The female part that catches the pollen. Nectarine flowers have a single pistil in the center with a sticky stigma on top to catch pollen grains.

For pollination to occur, pollen from the stamens must be transferred to the stigma of the pistil on the same flower or another flower on the tree. Since nectarine tree flowers contain both male and female parts, they are capable of self-pollinating.

Once pollination occurs, the fertilized flowers will develop into nectarines over the summer, ripening in late summer. Unpollinated flowers will simply fall from the tree.

Do Nectarines Need Cross-Pollination?

While nectarine trees are considered self-fruitful, cross-pollination with a different nectarine variety can improve fruit set and quality. Having two compatible nectarine trees that bloom at the same time will maximize the pollination and fruit production of both trees. The different varieties will exchange pollen back and forth, resulting in better pollination than a single self-pollinating tree would achieve on its own.

So while cross-pollination is not mandatory for nectarines, it is still beneficial. Planting a second nectarine variety will act as a pollinator and improve fruiting. Even if you only have room for one tree, situating it within 50 feet of a neighbor’s nectarine tree can help with cross-pollination.

Pollination Problems

Though they are capable of self-pollinating, nectarine trees can still run into pollination problems that prevent fruit production:

• Lack of pollinators – While nectarine flowers can self-pollinate without insect helpers, bees and other pollinators greatly improve pollination by transferring pollen from flower to flower. Make sure to avoid spraying pesticides during flowering so pollinators can do their work.

• Harsh weather – Frost, high winds, rain, or extreme heat during flowering can interfere with pollination by damaging flowers or keeping pollinating insects away.

• Poor timing – Cross-pollination requires overlapping bloom times. If local varieties are early or late bloomers, cross-pollination may not occur. Selecting early, mid, and late season varieties improves pollination timing.

• Sterility – Some nectarine varieties are not fully self-fruitful and require cross-pollination, or certain cultivars may be susceptible to physiological fruit drop caused by genetics. Consult pollination charts to determine compatible varieties.

• Lack of winter chill – Nectarines require winter chilling hours to stimulate flower bud development. Insufficient chilling can lead to poor flowering, lack of fruit set, or fruit quality issues. Provide adequate chill hours for your climate and variety.

Tips for Improving Pollination

If you are having problems with nectarine pollination, here are some tips to help:

• Plant a compatible early, mid, and late blooming nectarine variety within 50 feet of each other to maximize pollination potential.

• Make sure flowering times overlap for cross-pollination. Stagger planting dates if needed.

• Allow bees and other pollinators access to flowers by avoiding insecticides during bloom. Consider placing beehives nearby.

• Gently shake flower clusters during bloom to dislodge and distribute pollen.

• Use a soft brush or cotton swab to hand pollinate by transferring pollen from flower to flower.

• Provide shelter from winds, frost, or rain and mist blossoms during heat waves.

• Confirm the variety is suited to your climate’s chill hours and has a pollination match.

• Rule out other issues like poor care, disease, overcropping, or environmental stresses.

The Bottom Line

Nectarine trees are typically self-pollinating but cross-pollination with a compatible variety can greatly improve fruit production. Maximum fruit set occurs when nectarine varieties with overlapping bloom times exchange pollen back and forth. But even without a pollinator variety, individual nectarine trees are usually capable of adequately self-pollinating and producing fruit. Pay close attention to pollination needs to ensure your nectarine tree provides an abundant harvest.