I'm keeping an eye on the nectarine tree in our orchard here at Struan Farm. It's laden with fruit this year, I just want to make sure the fruit is ripe before we pick it. Stone fruit (nectarines, plums and peaches) do not ripen once picked, although they do soften. The fruit is ready to be picked when it comes off the tree easily.
John brought this tree home from Dargaville a few years ago when he was commuting north for a governance gig in Kaipara. For many months he stayed several nights each week at the Awakino Point Boutique Motel, and the owner June gave him a wee self-seeded tree to take home to Piopio. At the time John told me it was a peach tree, which it isn't. No fuzz. It's planted near several other peach trees and the Luisa plums. It's very happy here as you can see.
My cunning plan is to pick the fruit before the birds notice it, but who am I kidding, the birds are doing the same thing that I am-- waiting for ripe fruit!
Comments