No variety of nectarines is recommended for northern and central Illinois as they are not winter hardy. Most varieties are self-fruitful. Standard trees that are grafted on Lovell or seedling rootstocks are preferred. They can also be grown in favorable locations in central Illinois.

Nectarines need the central part of the canopy open. They need severe annual pruning as the fruit is borne on one year old wood. Caring for nectarines is similar to care for peaches as the fruit is borne on one year old wood. Disease management is similar to peach disease management. Some of the suggested varieties include 'Early Flame', 'Sunglo', 'Redchief', 'Cavalier' and 'Redgold'.

The pruning system for dwarf nectarine trees is the same as for standard trees.

Pruning at planting time. If unbranched trees are planted, head them back to 27 inches above the ground. If branched trees are planted, the permanent- scaffold system may be selected if desirable branches are present. Scaffold branches should arise from the trunk at least 15 inches, but no more than 30 inches, above the ground. They should be evenly spaced around the trunk. The branch structure of some trees is most easily adapted to two scaffold trees, some to three scaffold trees, and some to four scaffold trees.

Look over the branch structure on each tree and decide whether it should be trained as a two, three, or four scaffold tree.

• If scaffolds can be selected, remove all other branches flush with the trunk and cut out the top at the level of the highest scaffold. If the scaffolds are about equal in size, shorten them to 10 to 15 inches long. If they are unequal in size, cut each back to 3 to 5 inches long and leave two buds.
• If desirable branches for scaffolds are not present, top the tree at 27 to 30 inches and cut back the branches leaving them 3 to 5 inches long. Scaffolds will then be selected after 1 year’s growth.

Pruning after 2, 3, and 4 years.

Complete scaffold selection if needed. Prune as little as possible. How- ever, the scaffolds must be kept nearly equal in size and the center must be kept open. Prune out branches arising on the scaffolds within 18 inches of the trunk. Branches arising from the trunk that are not selected as scaffolds should be pruned out. Peaches and nectarines should start bearing during their 3rd year in the orchard.

Pruning after 5 years.

After 5 years, nectarine trees should be in heavy production. These trees grow rapidly and branch profusely. Thus, moderate to heavy pruning each year is needed to produce healthy bearing wood and to prevent trees from becoming too dense, too tall, and too spreading. In general, the older the tree becomes, the heavier the pruning required to maintain production and vigor.

Scaffolds must be thinned out and shortened and the center must be kept open. If the limbs are allowed to grow too large or too long, they may break under a load of fruits. Also, follow the general pruning rules.

Neglected trees will be too dense, may be too tall, will have dead wood, and will be lacking in vigor. They need heavy pruning to invigorate them and produce new fruiting wood. They can tolerate heavy pruning. First, select scaffolds to keep, then remove the other ones. Remove all dead, diseased, and injured branches. Then shorten and thin out the selected scaffolds.

Sometimes the most practical method of revitalizing neglected trees is dehorning, cutting scaffolds back nearly to the main trunk.

Dehorning frequently will revitalize old peach and nectarine trees, though a year’s crop will be lost. This may be done all at one time, preferably during a no crop year when the fruit buds have been killed by winter cold, or one scaffold a year may be cut back. This staggered dehorning reduces but does not eliminate the crop.