Honey Bright® Yellow Flesh Nectarine Variety Data Sheet
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Fruit flesh color: Yellow
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Skin color: Bright red on a yellow background
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Size and Shape: Large caliber (2A/A), round shape
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Tree Size: High vigor, semi-erect habit
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Fruit Maturity: In season, approximately 7 to 10 days after Big Top®
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Fruit taste: Excellent taste quality, sweet and aromatic
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Earliness of the variety: Seasonal
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Disease resistance and storage: Good post-harvest storage (suggested by firmness).
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Variety yield: High caliber and production potential
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Commercial use: Mainly for fresh consumption. Well suited to all production areas.
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Is this a COV variety? Yes
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Comments: Honey series variety developed by Zaiger Genetics. Publisher: International Plant Selection (IPS). Allows to complete the calendar between Honey Blaze and Honey Flame. It is recommended to avoid post-harvest pruning in growing orchards, as the branches anticipate very easily [1].
Quick read / the essentials on Honey Bright® Nectarine
Honey Bright® is a yellow-fleshed nectarine variety developed by Zaiger Genetics, renowned for its generous size, sweet flesh and remarkable visual presentation . This category 2A/A fruit (7 to 8 cm in diameter) seduces with its bright, bright red skin covering more than 90% of the surface, and with juicy and aromatic yellow flesh displaying a high sugar level (12 to 14° Brix). This seasonal variety, ripening approximately 7 days after Big Top®, fits perfectly into a production calendar structured around the mid-July to early August varieties.
At Arboriverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of nectarine plants , we offer Honey Bright® to professional growers looking for taste quality, productivity and logistical support . Thanks to its semi-erect habit, high vigor and self-fertility, the tree is easy to train and adapts to different cultivation systems, in traditional or semi-intensive orchards. The good firmness of the fruit and its prolonged conservation after harvest make it a choice option for traditional and specialized circuits.
Buying Honey Bright® nectarine plants from Arboriverse means access to certified plant material, compatible with rootstocks such as GF 677, Cadaman, Montclar or Julior depending on your soil. As a specialist wholesale supplier of nectarine plants , we support you in the varietal choice and technical optimization of your plantations. Buying Honey Bright® nectarine plants means opting for a premium quality nectarine, capable of meeting the requirements of the fresh market.
Origin and status
Honey Bright® is a yellow-fleshed nectarine variety developed by Zaiger Genetics in California, USA. It is part of the "Honey" range, known for its very sweet fruit, good firmness and its positioning on the fresh market. This variety is protected by a Plant Variety Certificate (PVC) , which implies regulated propagation rights. In France, marketing is through International Plant Selection (IPS) .
Fruit characteristics
Honey Bright® fruits are distinguished by their large size , classified 2A/A , and reach approximately 7 to 8 cm in diameter. Their shape is round to regular oval , with a slight cup at the top.
The bright, bright red skin covers 90 to 95% of the fruit's surface, sometimes with very attractive orange-red hues. This very intense coloration makes it a visually attractive fruit, particularly suited to the requirements of the retail trade.
The yellow flesh is juicy, very sweet, mild and aromatic , with a high Brix level (around 12 to 14° depending on the source). The flavor is considered excellent , with a good sugar/aroma balance and little acidity, meeting the expectations of today's consumers.
Maintenance and conservation
Honey Bright® has good firmness and slow post-harvest development , which ensures satisfactory post-harvest stability . These qualities allow for good logistics management and reduce post-harvest losses. They also allow for flexibility in harvest and marketing periods.
Maturity period
The variety is classified as seasonal , maturing about 7 days after Big Top® , which is a benchmark variety. It fits into the harvest schedule between Honey Blaze® and Honey Flame® , which helps smooth out the supply of yellow-fleshed nectarines in a spread-out orchard program.
Harvesting generally takes place in late July to early August , depending on regional weather conditions.
Tree and vegetative behavior
The Honey Bright® tree is highly vigorous and has a semi-erect habit , facilitating cultivation and harvesting. At maturity, it reaches a height of 3 to 4 meters and a width of 2 to 3 meters , which is standard for a traditionally or semi-intensively managed orchard.
Staking is recommended during the first two to three years after planting to promote good structure and resist winds, particularly in exposed areas.
Fertility
Honey Bright® is self-fertile , which simplifies orchard management and reduces reliance on pollinating varieties. However, the presence of other nectarine trees in the environment can enhance cross-pollination and optimize yield .
Resistance to diseases and pests
Specific information on the disease and pest resistance of Honey Bright® is lacking or limited in sources. It is likely, as with most nectarines, that it is moderately susceptible to peach leaf curl, powdery mildew and aphid attacks . Regular plant health monitoring is therefore recommended, particularly in spring.
Pedoclimatic adaptation
No specific data are available regarding resistance to limestone , root asphyxiation or drought . However, nectarine trees generally prefer well-drained, low-lime soils and require regular irrigation during dry periods to optimize fruit size and quality.
Recommended rootstocks
Although specific data for Honey Bright® is scarce, the rootstocks frequently used for nectarine trees in France are compatible:
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GF 677 : vigorous, suitable for dry and calcareous soils.
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Cadaman : tolerant to root asphyxiation, suitable for heavy soils.
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Montclar : moderate vigor, suitable for light and fertile soils.
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Julior : semi-dwarfing, promotes higher planting density.
The choice of rootstock will depend on the characteristics of the soil, the desired cultivation method and the type of irrigation.
Performance and valuation
Although the average yield in kg per tree is not precisely documented for Honey Bright®, the variety is described as very productive , with a high potential for size and yield . In a well-managed mature orchard, a yield of between 30 and 40 kg per tree can be estimated, i.e. a potential of 35 to 45 tonnes/ha , comparable to other varieties in the Honey range.
The main commercial use is fresh consumption , justified by its attractive presentation, good conservation and taste quality. Its agronomic versatility and good adaptation to different French production areas make it a profitable variety in traditional and specialized distribution channels.
Conclusion
Honey Bright® is a promising variety for yellow-fleshed nectarine growers seeking a premium fruit for the fresh market . Its large size , deep red color , excellent sweet flavor , good post-harvest shelf life and high yield position it favorably among seasonal varieties.
For a successful implementation, it is recommended:
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To choose a rootstock suited to the orchard soil.
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To provide standard phytosanitary protection , in particular against blister.
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To position the variety in a well-sequenced harvest program (after Big Top®, between Honey Blaze® and Honey Flame®).
To summarize: Honey Bright® Nectarine
Honey Bright® is a yellow-fleshed nectarine variety that is particularly well-positioned in the seasonal segment. With a large fruit (2A/A), a very deep red skin, sweet and juicy flesh, and a high sugar level (up to 14° Brix), it perfectly meets the expectations of the fresh consumption market. Its harvest extends from late July to early August, filling the gap between Honey Blaze® and Honey Flame®. Its good post-harvest stability and flexible picking facilitate logistics and commercial management.
Arboriverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of nectarine plants , recommends Honey Bright® to professional arborists wishing to add a productive, aesthetic and tasteful variety to their range. Thanks to its vigor and semi-erect habit, it lends itself well to different cultivation systems, while its self-fertility guarantees regular fruit set. Adaptation to various terroirs is possible via proven rootstocks: GF 677 for dry soils, Cadaman for heavy soils, Julior for high-density orchards.
Buying Honey Bright® nectarine plants from a specialist nectarine plant wholesaler like Arboriverse means securing your planting with certified plants and benefiting from personalized technical support. Buying Honey Bright® nectarine plants means investing in a profitable, versatile variety that has a high market value on the French and European markets.
