Nectarine
Can I Grow Mericrest?
Mericrest is the hardiest nectarine available — surviving winters that kill other nectarine varieties. It brings smooth-skinned stone fruit to northern gardens where nectarines were previously impossible.
Growing Requirements
Chill Hours
800
Hardiness Zones
5-6-7-8
Harvest
August
Results
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Pruning dates, harvests, spray schedules, what worked. The gardeners who get the most from their trees are the ones who kept records.
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About Mericrest
Mericrest is the hardiest nectarine available — surviving winters that kill other nectarine varieties. It brings smooth-skinned stone fruit to northern gardens where nectarines were previously impossible.
Mericrest requires 800 chill hours — the number of hours between 32°F and 45°F during winter dormancy. Without enough chill, the tree may fail to flower properly or produce poor fruit.
⚠️ Common Challenges
Smaller fruit than southern varieties; flavor is good but not exceptional; still needs fungicide program.
❌ Common Misconception
Can I grow Mericrest in Zone 9 or warmer?
No. While Mericrest is listed for zones 5-8, it requires 800 chill hours to produce fruit. Warm zones like 9+ typically receive only 200-400 chill hours. The tree may survive but will not fruit reliably. Consider low-chill alternatives like Anna apple (200h) or Tropic Snow peach (200h) instead.
If you plant it, write it down.
Variety, rootstock, planting date — and every pruning and harvest after that. Future you will thank you.
Free for up to 30 plants. No card needed.
Other Nectarine Varieties
Chill hour data from Open-Meteo Historical Weather API. Variety information compiled from university extension services.